ChinaFirst Postage Stamp

Imperial Dragons in the Post

China had organised postal routes long before postage stamps existed. For centuries, government messages travelled through an extensive network of couriers and post houses, while ordinary citizens relied on private carriers. That changed in July 1878 when Imperial China issued its very first postage stamps, known today by the philatelic community as the Large Dragons. It consisted of three values: 1 candarin green, 3 candarins red, and 5 candarins yellow. Printed in Shanghai on thin, hard, unwatermarked paper, they featured an imperial dragon surrounded by inscriptions in both Chinese and English. Like many great first issues, the story did not end with a single printing. Over the following years came the Wide Margin Dragons, Thick Paper Dragons, and later printings with rough perforations caused by worn machinery. Forgeries exist too. One of the easier clues is a small star-like mark beneath the dragon's beard, a feature that should not appear on genuine stamps. Reproductions often also have incorrect paper, dimensions, or lack the fine detail of the originals. More than China's first stamps, the Large Dragons marked the moment an ancient courier network began its transformation into a modern public postal system. Nearly 150 years later, they remain among the most iconic first issues in philately.