Unissued Macao stamp a good buy

By Henry Gitner and Rick Miller

Macao — Macao was the Portuguese twin of the British colony of Hong Kong.

Situated on a peninsula across the Pearl River delta from Hong Kong, it was a sleepy fishing community until the Portuguese arrived in 1535. Under the Portuguese, it became a major trading hub for the flow of goods to and from India, China and Japan.

What started as a trading concession to the Portuguese eventually evolved into sovereignty over the colony. The Sino-Portuguese Treaty of Amity and Commerce of 1887 gave the Portuguese sovereignty over Macao in perpetuity.

After the communists took control of China in 1949, they denounced the treaty but made no overt move to seize the colony. In 1976, the Portuguese government recognized Macao as a Chinese territory under Portuguese administration. In 1987, Portugal renounced all claims to sovereignty of Macao, and it became a Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China. The Chinese assumed direct control of Macao in 1999.

Macao is popular with both Chinese and Portuguese collectors.

In 1976, a 1-pataca Igreja da Se Cathedral stamp was prepared to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the founding of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Macao, but the stamp was not issued.

The 2015 Scott Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue does not list the unissued stamp, but notes it and values it in mint never-hinged condition at $100. The stamp is currently selling for $130 or more. If you find it offered at or near the Scott catalog value, it would be a very good buy.

Tip of the week

United States — The Act of Congress of Aug. 24, 1912, created a special fourth-class rate for parcel post, which went into effect Jan. 1, 1913.

For accounting purposes, the Post Office Department issued 12 parcel post stamps (Scott Q1-Q12) and five parcel post postage due stamps (JQ1-JQ5). Only these stamps could be used on parcel post mail, and the parcel post stamps were not valid for use on other classes of mail.

The parcel post stamps feature some of the most attractive designs on classic U.S. stamps. In keeping with then-current practice for postage due stamps, the parcel post postage due stamps have fairly utilitarian numeral designs.

Effective July 1, 1913, the policy was changed to allow payment of parcel post fees with regular stamps, and parcel post stamps could be used to pay regular postage.

Now is a good time to look for the dark green 1¢ Numeral parcel post postage due stamp (Scott JQ1). The 2015 Scott Specialized Catalogue of United States Stamps and Covers values the stamp in unused hinged condition at $8.50 and in mint never-hinged condition at $21. Used on cover in period (1913-25), it is valued at $160. It is a good buy in whichever condition fits your collection at those prices. — H.G. & R.M.

A Linn’s editor did not find this week’s recommended stamps on ZillionsOfStamps.com.