Philatelic Study Group: [1]
Hong Kong Security Markings and Perfins
Group IV : Miscelaneous Security Markings
Compiled & augmented
by Philippe Orsetti & Peter Pugh
from an original list provided by the
Hong Kong Study Circle
and from information received from members and collectors.
(First publication October 1992, 12th revision as of January 1, 2010)
       
Note 1: Names are recorded the way they are struck,  i.e. capital or lower-case letters,
space or not space between Hong and Kong and fonts as similar as possible.
However, if a name is preceeded by (**), it means that the authors have not seen the marking
and only the name has been recorded, regardless of the exact way it appears.
Note 2: An S in the first column (S) indicates that a scan of this marking is displayed on the website.
A small number in the column (N) indicates an embedded note in regard to the corresponding name.
Note 3: The column (Known) indicates that the marking is known on cover (C), on document (D),
on postcard (PC), on postal stationery card (PS), on piece (P), or on wrapper (WR)..
Note 4: A red entry denotes a marking struck on postage stamps for fiscal purpose only.
S Type Size Frame   Marking Name N  Letters Source Dates Known          Remarks
Height Color earliest  latest
a - Symbols :
S 1 O 16 Circle Star "Seven pointed star" 16 black HK 1869 C "Seven pointed star"
S 2 O 8 Cogwheel 11 spikes Cornabe & Co. violet WeiHaiWei 1910 1912 11 spikes off 3mm circle
S a O 8 Cogwheel 15 spikes Cornabe & Co. violet WeiHaiWei 1910 1912 15 spikes off 3mm circle, also Liu Kung Tau
S 3 23x28 Shield Full name DOUGLAS LAPRAIK & Co. 2 blue HK QV Shield & Coat of Arms, fiscal
S 3A 16x16 None Rhomboid of dots F.F. Ferris [2] black Ningpo 1895 1896 Recorded in Webb as Ningpo Type  C, from a hiil-station
S 4  8x8 Symbol   )( violet Yokohama Y1 joined C & inverted C
S 5 20x20 Symbol Flower H. Price & Co. / HK black HK QV envel. PC 8 petal floral emblem
b - Miscellaneous :
6 circle Full name (**) The Bon Marche 3 Shanghai 1905 Intaglio
S 7 vertical line vertical line Harry Wicking & Co. HK black HK 1904 1910 C vertical line in centre
S a cross lines various HK C, PC
S b cross lines various Shanghai
S 8 5x52 unframed Full name "HYDRANGEA" 5 purple KE KGV serif. British fleetsweeping fighting ship.
c - Stamped [3]
9 unframed C.N.S.P./Stamped (**) Chung Ngoi San Po  (See II-23b) 2 black HK 1883
S 10 32x17 oval STAMPED BY KER & CO. / MANILA 2 black Manila B62 Known on 1862 issue
S a 21x8 unframed STAMPED BY KER & CO. 2 red Manila B62
b 21x8 STAMPED BY (**) KER & CO. 2 black Manila QV diagonal
11 unframed STAMPED (**) L & Co. red 1885
12 18x11 unframed STAMPED (**) L.C. & Co. (Lane Crawford & Co.) 4 purple HK 1895 1902
S a 31x10 unframed STAMPED L.C. & Co. (Lane Crawford & Co.) 4 red HK 1893 1901 across 2 stamps
S 13 18x5 unframed Stamped (handstamp) 5 violet 1903 script
S a 39x3 unframed Stamped (handstamp) 3 black Hoihow 1898 script upright
S b 28x4 unframed STAMPED (handstamp) 4 black Canton 1898 block letters, no serif
S c 31x3 unframed STAMPED (handstamp) 3 violet HK QV c block letters, serif
S c1 31x3 unframed STAMPED (handstamp) 3 violet Shanghai QV block letters, serif
S d 50x5 unframed STAMPED (handstamp) 5 black QV block letters
S e various various STAMPED (various manuscript) HK QV various writings
S f various various STAMPED (various manuscript) Shanghai QV various writings
S g various various STAMPED (various manuscript) Canton QV various writings
S 13 A 30x9 unframed STAMPED WOO TEK SENG 2.5 violet HK 1902 serif
d - Manuscript :
S 14 12x3 unframed a.c.r  a. c. r. 3 red HK 1901 manuscript initials
S 15 unframed a s y  a. s. y. 4 black HK QV manuscript initials
16 unframed B & K (**) 7 black Canton QV manuscript initials
S 16A 10x6 unframed F S.  F S. 6 black 1881 C manuscript initials
17 unframed Reuter (**) Reuter 9 black HK 1885 manuscript name
S a various unidentified Unidentified manuscript names used as security HK
S b various unidentified Unidentified manuscript names used as security Canton
S c various unidentified Unidentified manuscript names used as security Amoy
S 17A various Instructional Sea Post Office HK B62 Instructional marking used as security marking
e - Goverment Agencies : [4]
S 18 36x26 unfram. oval Royal Arms BRITISH CONSULATE / BANGKOK 2 black Bangkok 1880 1881 C serif, Coat of arm in centre
S a 36x26 unfram. oval Royal Arms BRITISH CONSULATE / BANGKOK 2 red Bangkok 1880 1881 serif, Coat of arm in centre
S 18A O 35 double circle Royal Arms CONSULAT DE BELGIQUE A HONG-KONG  ] 2.5 blue HK 1898 PS serif, on Post Card
S 18B O 28 double circle Full name CUSTOMS  *  KOWLOON * 2.5 black HK 1892 1898
S 1 O 28 double circle Full name CUSTOMS  *  KOWLOON * 2.5 red HK 1892 1898
S 2 Retangle Full name KOWLOON CUSTOMS / MAIL MATTER 4 violet HK B62
S a O 26 double circle Full name CUSTOMS  *  PAKHOI * 2.5 black Pakhoi 1895 1903
S b O 27 double circle Full name CUSTOMS  *  SHANGHAI * 2.5 black Shanghai 1903
S c O 26 double circle Full name CUSTOMS  *  CHEFOO * 2.5 black Chefoo 1879
S d O 30 double circle Full name CUSTOMS  *  KIUNGCHOW * 2.5 black Kiungchow 1897
S 18C 39x9 unframed Full name HARBOUR DEPARTMENT / HONG KONG 2 black HK KE All words with larger capital
S 19 15x2.5 unframed H. B. M. C. Her Britannic Majesties Consulate 2.5 purple Shanghai 1899 1900 no serif
S 20 16x4.5 unframed I.M.C. Imperial Maritime Customs 4.5 black HK QV/KE 1904 C serif
S a 12x8 dotted lines I. M. C. Imperial Maritime Customs 4 black HK QV KE C script
S 20A 24x24 Shield Full name PROVINCIA / MARITIMA / DE FILIPINAS / Y ESPANA / _______  / HONGKONG 1.5 purple QV
S 21 42x25 double oval Full name U.S. CONSULATE  GENERAL   * HONGKONG. * 2 blue HK QV 1905 C empty centre
S a 42x25 double oval Full name U.S. CONSULATE  GENERAL   * HONGKONG. * 2 red HK QV 1904 C empty centre
S 22 48x27 double oval Full name U.  S.  Consulate General, /  date / Hongkong,China. 2.5 red HK 1901 1904 C script, date in centre
S a 48x27 double oval Full name U.  S.  Consulate General, /  date / Hongkong,China. 2.5 violet HK 1901 1904 C date in centre
22A 36x24 double oval Full name (**) U.S. CONSULATE GENERAL / SHANGHAI 2 red Shanghai 1904
S 23 O 21 circle Full name U.S.LEGATION / BANGKOK /  ] 3 black Bangkok 1884 serif
a O 21 circle Full name U.S.LEGATION / BANGKOK /  ] 3 blue Bangkok 1884 C serif
S 24 O 21 circle Full name U.S.CONSULATE / BANGKOK /  ] 3 blue Bangkok 1884 C serif
a O 21 circle Full name U.S.CONSULATE / BANGKOK /  ] 3 black Bangkok 1884 serif
f - Naval and Military :
S 25 16x6 unframed Full name H. M. S. / AURORA. 2 blue HK 1899 1900 C Battleship markings
S 26 22x2 unframed Full name H. M. S. IMMORTALITE. 2 purple HK 1895 1899 Battleship markings
S 27 38x3 unframed Full name H. M. S. RATTLER. 3 black HK 1899 Battleship markings
S a 38x3 unframed Full name H. M. S. RATTLER. 3 violet HK 1899 Battleship markings
S 28 27.5x3 unframed Full name H. M. S. TAMAR. 2.5/3.5 black HK 1898 C Battleship markings
S 29 unframed Full name H. M. S. VICTORIOUS 4 black HK 1899 Battleship markings
S a unframed Full name H. M. S. VICTORIOUS 2 black HK 1899 Battleship markings
S 30 49x29 oval Full name CHIEF ORDNANCE OFFICER /  date / CHINA 3 violet HK 1897 1903 serif
S a 49x29 oval Full name CHIEF ORDNANCE OFFICER /  date / CHINA 3 black HK 1902 serif
S b 49x29 oval Full name CHIEF ORDNANCE OFFICER /  date / CHINA 3 blue HK 1900 serif
S c 40x28 oval Full name SENIOR ORDNANCE STORE OFFICER / ________ date * CHINA * 3 violet HK 1994 serif
S 30A 48x32 triple oval Full name COMMANDING ROYAL ENGINEER * WEI HAI WEI DISTRICT * black WeiHaiWei 1900 date in centre (2mm)
S 31 40x10 unframed Full name Principal Medical Officer / H.M. Forces / China and Hongkong 2.5 violet HK 1898 1899 Three lines
S 32 45x28 oval Full name ROYAL GARRISON ARTILLERY OFFICE * HONGKONG * [5] 3 black HK QV 1904 date in centre
S a 45x28 oval Full name ROYAL GARRISON ARTILLERY OFFICE * HONGKONG * 3 violet HK QV 1903 date in centre
S 32A oval Full name ROYAL ARTILLERY.........  *  HONG KONG  * violet HK 1902 serif
S 32B 56x3 unframed Full name VICTUALLING STORE OFFICER. 3 violet HK KE P
S 32X 41x20 oval Full name …………….OFFICER / date  /  *  SOUTH-CHINA  * 3 violet HK QV 1904
g - Chinese Chops : Translation:
S 33 21x21 square Full name Tsao Su Hun black Shangai 1898 C
34 37x25 oblong Full name Soy On Chong & Co. HK 1902
35 40x12 oblong Full name Man Yik Co. HK KE
S 36 9X22 unframed Full name POSTAGE 10 red KE 2 vertical chin. char.
S 37 10x10 unframed 4 Chin. Char. The Kowloon Dairy, Ltd (Wai Kee Dairy) 4 blue HK 1970' D On 15c stamp duty
38 39x7.5 tombstone mult. Chin. Char. 7 black C
S 39 17x17 square mult. Chin. Char. Rice & Co. black QV Probably fiscal
S 40 12x53 unframed 5 Chin. Char. Jian Xian Hua Book Store red HK 1898 on PS
S 40A      x12 unframed 3 Chin. Char. Dai Yeung Hong" (meaning "Large Trading Company").  12 blue Shangai 1908
S 40B 24x15 double oblong 2 Chin. Char. Fook Yuen 8 red QV Probably fiscal
S 40W Unidentified Chinese chops Revenue use
S 40X Unidentified Chinese chops Postal use
S 40Y Unidentified Chinese manuscripts Revenue use
S 40Z Unidentified Chinese manuscripts Postal use
h - Date markings: [6]
S 41 various Manuscript Dates were also used as security markings, (if associated to postal cancel). Not individually recorded for lack of positive company identification. HK 1892 1901
S a various Manuscript Dates were also used as security markings, (if associated to postal cancel). Not individually recorded for lack of positive company identification. Amoy 1891
S b various Manuscript Dates were also used as security markings, (if associated to postal cancel). Not individually recorded for lack of positive company identification. Shanghai 1886
S c various Manuscript Date in Hindi script HK
S d various Manuscript Date in Hindi script Shanghai
S e various Handstamps Dates were also used as security markings, (if associated to postal cancel). Not individually recorded for lack of positive company identification. HK
i- Payment or Received Payment:
While these markings have only a fiscal purpose, they are recorded for firm names completeness, as long are they are struck on a postage or on a postal-fiscal adhesive.
S 41A unframed Full name Received with thanks / date / BREWER & Co 3 purple 1902 fiscal
S 42      x1.5 unframed Full name Payment, / DAKIN  CRUICKSHANK …. 1.5 violet fiscal, the 2 lines may represent 2 separate chops
43 unframed Full name Received payment /….GIR….. 3.5 violet QV fiscal marking, no serif
43A unframed Full name Received Payment / Hong Kong & Shanghai Banking Corporation 3 blue fiscal marking, script
43B unframed Full name RECEIVED PAYMENT / HONG KONG DAILY PRESS blue KE fiscal marking, no serif
43C 46x21 unframed Full name RECEIVED PAYMENT  / h date   f / HONGKONG HOTEL. 4 black QV fiscal marking, serif but no serif on Cie name
44 unframed Full name Received / TUCK 3 violet QV fiscal marking, serif
S 45 unframed Full name PAYMENT / A. S. WATSON & Co. 3 violet KE fiscal marking, firm name only with serif
S a unframed Full name RECEIVED PAYMENT / …  A. S. WATSON & Co. / ………….. 3 violet KE fiscal marking, no serif
[1]
In 1878, the Post Master General’s Postal Guide contained a notification: “Box holders may mark stamps. Box holders (but box holders only) are at liberty to mark their postage stamps on the back or face, or by perforation, so as to prevent their being stolen. If a mark be on the face it must be such as not to interfere with the clean appearance of the stamp. Stamps so marked will not be purchased.”

[2]
Can we all agree that the "hill station" referred to in Webb is an official post office (if not the main Ningpo post office), and not a private company or individual or a governmental agency or entity other than a post office?
The "hill station" would not have been a branch post office, or an official agency (like a Consulate office) working for the British Post Office. The literatures have referred to the Hill Station as a forwarding agency run by F. F. Ferris. If the hill station was an official post office, it would have used an official cancellation chop issued by the British Postal Authorities. The Treaty ports of Amoy and Swatow were each served by more than one post offices. All their offices, including the Consulate office, the main Post Office and the branch office had used official chops for processing the mail that they received, and had applied different index letters in the cds chop to show the identity of the cancellation source. If the hill station was an official post office, it would not have used the rhomboid set of dots, but an official chop from the British Post office Ningpo, perhaps with the Type B, straight line Ningpo with an index letter of "B" or "D" or "E", since the letters "A" and "C" were already in use at the main post office. The presence of the rhomboid set of dots suggests very strongly that the markings had been applied by a private company to serve a specific purpose; prevention of pilferage. This therefore justifies the rhomboid sets of dots to be a security marking, just like the IV-! Seven Pointed Star, the IV-2 Wheel.

Frank
[3]
In the Hong Kong Study Circle Journal number 320, January 2002, there was an article on the use of "Stamped" on late QV issues. I quote the following extract from the publication:
 
......Government Notice No.397 of 21 September 1889 stated, "Letters, pacels, etc for Tsim Sha Tsui (Kowloon) and steamers in harbour may be posted in te General Post Office up to 11.30 am anf 3.30 pm. etters from Tsim Sha Tsui may be posted in the letter box which is posted in the Police Station Compound up to 12 and 4 o'clock. Local rates will be charged. To avoid theft, senders of letters from Kowloon are requested to cancel their stamps by writing the word "Stamped" across them.
 
Frank
[4]
There is a consensus that Customs Kowloon was used as a security marking like the I.M.C. marking. It has been some research articles on this subject.
At my knowledge, there is no consensus or evidence concerning the other Customs cds. When they appear struck on a HK adhesive, I list them for reference purpose until proven one way or another.

Philippe

[5]
Some historical background for this military handstamp: In 1897, the Royal Artillery Regiments was split into Horse, Field, and garrison branches, and the units in Hong Kong were titled Royal Garrison Artillery. This division came to an end in 1924, when the three units were reunited again as the Royal Regiment of Artillery.

 Frank


[6]
In the Hong Kong Study Circle Journal number 320, January 2002, there was an article on the use of "Stamped" on late QV issues. I quote the following extract from the publication:
 
"In 1892, twelve pillar boxes were ordered through the Crown Agents. In bringing these into use, Government Notice No. 351 was issued on 15 August 1892, which suggested that persons posting in these boxes should cancel their stamps by writing the date across them. This measure to guard against theft. We can therefore assume that if an adhesive bears a Post Office cancel plus a manuscript date, it would have been posted in a pillar box"
 
Frank