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Government House
This M. Sternberg card was mailed at some point to Japan, but stamp and most of the postmarks are missing. Card has not aged very well, but if you want “old,” here it is. A good entry point for your collection of old Hong Kong postcards. Grade: 4
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The Peak
Unknown German publisher, but with index #5; unmailed Victoria Peak postcard with reverse beginning to split away from front photo, and visible crease on lower left corner. Slight staining. Grade: 4
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Part of the Harbour and Skankiwan (sic)
B&W view, an unused M. Sternberg card, minor aging and edge abrasions. Unlikely the district was ever called “Skankiwan,” though who knows…now it is densely populated Shaukeiwan and a terminus for the tramline. Grade: 2
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Central District from harbour
Real photo card, no publisher or caption, but the view is of Hong Kong’s Central District and harbour, with traditional Chinese junk sailing through. Card is unmarked, though had been in an album long ago and corner indentations remain. We live here now. We would like to have seen it then. Grade: 3
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Resting place on Peak
Unused card published by Turco-Egyptian Tobacco Store, undamaged apart from normal aging and slight mottling on front that does not significantly affect the photo. Actual caption: “Resting Place on the highest spot of the Peak.” How ironic that what is now The Peak is not actually the highest spot. Grade: 2
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Generations on sampan
Published by Sternberg (#10), this unused card has tiny abrasions on lower corners but in all other respects is in terrific condition. Actual title on card: “Life on board Chinese Sampan, 3 Generations.” Grade: 2
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Eight views of Hongkong (No. 6)
Japanese-produced sepia card of Hong Kong harbour, but it’s only one of the eight views, sorry. Card is heavily aged but unused, unmarked, and basically undamaged apart from the most minor abrasions. Grade: 2
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Travelling in Sedan Chair
Unused Sternberg card, some abrasion to right edge in particular but otherwise undamaged apart from normal aging. Grade: 2
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Public Garden
Unused and virtually as-new condition M. Sternberg card, of course apart from normal aging but otherwise perfect B&W view. Grade: 1
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Conduit Road
Unused Raphael Tuck “Platemarked Art Glosso” vintage Hongkong postcard published by Graca. Small stain in lower right white margin, and a tiny red Chinese or Japanese “chop” mark on lower left of photo. Grade: 3
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The China Building
From an unknown (to us) German publisher, card was never mailed and apart from very minor abrasions on edges is in excellent condition for its apparent age. Grade: 2
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Chinese sedan chairs
Unnumbered R. Tuck “Super Glosso” card for Kelly & Walsh, unused. Front has minor edge and corner abrasions. Creasing visible on two right corners. Reverse has heavy crease on lower left corner. But this is a true, vintage Hong Kong postcard. Grade: 3
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The Peak
Two of these unused cards, #309 published by A.H. & Co., are available. The Peak seems to have cleared out some of these buildings over time, and the area is just not recognizable now. Iconic among old, global postcards. Grades: 2
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Hong Kong by night
A very nice real photo B&W view. Card was mailed to Japan, but stamp and postmark are gone; message is in Japanese. A small area missing from the sky in the upper left corner is within the original photo, not damage to the card. Grade: 3
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Hong Kong Reservoir
Unknown publisher of this real-photo card, unused, normal aging. No folds or tears. Grade: 2
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The Peak from China Building
Real-photo card, sky faded but card is unused and in excellent condition. Being in an album left indentations in corners but these are nearly invisible. Unknown publisher. Grade: 2
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Seascape, Pok Fu Lum
Unused Mumeya & Sano card, a bit faded but otherwise unmarked and in excellent condition. Grade: 2
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View of the Repulse Bay
Unused card has extremely minor corner abrasions and one tiny crease; reverse is a little stained. The front photo is just starting to separate from the back. Unknown German publisher. Grade: 3
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Hongkong by Night
Unknown publisher, real photo. The card was never mailed but has a notation in Japanese pencilled on the reverse. Apart from normal aging, the card is undamaged. Grade: 3
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Botanic Garden
This unused card by Mumeya & Sano is unused, unmarked, undamaged and almost literally like new except that the sky portion of the front has faded. Grade: 2
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Race Conrse (sic)
Published by “A.H. & Co,” this card has been around the track a few times, so to speak. It has a handwritten Japanese message on the front; the card had been mailed to Japan (but stamp and postmark are missing) so also has a message on reverse together with purple “chop” mark. Grade: 4
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Ave. of the Public Gardens
Published by M. Sternberg, this unused card has minor album indentations on corners and minor scattered creases. No real damage or staining. Grade: 2
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Lugard Road
Real photo unmailed card, unknown publisher, from an album that indented the four corners. Front of card has faded somewhat; reverse has aged normally. Grade: 3
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Hongkong No. 3
An unused Kelly & Walsh real photo postcard, date unknown, in absolutely super condition. Grade: 1
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The Peak Hotel
So hard to believe now that such a structure existed, but here’s proof. Stand on the Peak now and try to guess where this was … Published by Yee Wo Shing, certainly before the 1938 fire that destroyed the hotel, this unused card has aged normally and has minor abrasions along the edges. Excellent condition for its age. Grade: 1
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The Cenotaph
Real photo unused card, published by Kelly & Walsh Ltd. Fading in front, aging on back, and with some dings and abrasions along the edges. The photo is not affected. Grade: 3
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Lawcourt
Unused card issued by Turco-Egyptian Tobacco, dates from early 1900s. Minor edge and corner abrasions, though reverse is heavily aged and mottled. Classic among antique postcards. Grade: 3
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Goodbye Hong Kong (folio)
Two of these folios of 30 significant postcards from the late 1990s are available. They show views of the (very wet) 1997 handover event. Sorry, can’t tell you what individual cards reveal, as they are in original shrink wrap. Grade: 1
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The Grand Ceremony (folio)
Documentation of the return of Hong Kong to China in 1997. Three of these folios are available, each with 30 cards and still in original plastic shrink wrap. Grade: 1
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The Calamity, Vol. 5 (folio)
Fires! Landslides! Shipwrecks! Air crashes! Typhoons! All in one folio of 28 cards from late 1990s and still in original plastic wrap. Five of these sets are available, and 16 of the 28 photos should be those in the picture here. This is a spectacular way to build your “calamity and disaster” collection all at once. Strange postcards, indeed. Grades: 1
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Have a good future (folio)
Not quite sure what cards are inside this folio of 30 (two sets are available) but thumbnail shots on cover suggest political statements and meetings. In original plastic wrap, made in the late 1990s. Grade: 1
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28 Hong Kong Governors (set)
Folio of 28 unused cards, still in original plastic wrap. Spans 1848-1997. Nice historical artifact. Ask for confirmation that it’s still available. Grade: 1
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City Focus (set)
28 Hong Kong scenic postcards in this 1990s folio depicting various scenes around the area. This is Volume One. Grade: 1
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The (1967) riot (folio)
A folio of 28 cards published in late 1990s and still in original plastic wrap. As with others in this series, we don’t know what individual cards show. Grade: 1
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CAAC 1988 air crash
Sepia photos, unmailed card from late 1990s of 1988 accident. Grade: 1
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China Airlines 1993 crash
Unused card, published in late 1990s, of this 1993 crash at the old Kai Tak Airport. Grade: 1
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Urban fire, November 1996
Not exactly a cheery greeting, but the card itself is unused and as-new. Grade: 1
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Ngong Ping
Seven of these promotional cards are available. Technically not postcards because there’s no way to send them, but they are the right size (4-1/8″ x 5-3/4″). Not sure who this is, but if you read Chinese, you’ll know, and there is lots of printing on reverse. Got these at Po Lin Monastery above the Ngong Ping cablecar. New in 2007. Grade: 1
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Pat Sin Leng fire mourning
Unused card published in late 1990s. Grade: 1
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Pat Sin Leng fire, flower memorial
Unused card published in late 1990s. Grade: 1