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Deng and Thatcher (1982 – 1997)
Though the photo from this fateful 1982 meeting between Margaret Thatcher and Deng Xiao Ping is from PR China, the unused postcard was released by the Hong Kong Philatelic Society, stamped and postmarked on 1 July 1997 — the date of Hong Kong’s return to Chinese rule. The Chinese text translates as “China and Britain hold diplomatic negotiations on Hong Kong issue”. (“Negotiations” can be a flexible term.) Grade: 1
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Commemorating HONG KONG ’97 Stamp Exhibition
Issued by the Philatelic Bureau of Hong Kong Post Office, with pre-printed postage and a cancellation on 27 November 1996. The English version of the bilingual caption reads: “Hong Kong Post Office Hologram Postcard Series No. 6 to commemorate HONG KONG ’97 Stamp Exhibition from 12 to 16 February 1997”. What look like four stamps on the card’s front are not actual stamps. They are part of the design, including the hologram. Unused. Grade: 1
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HK Disneyland – Enjoy Summer Snow Day in Arendelle
The back of this unused card from our local park’s latest attraction makes it clear that it comes from Hong Kong Disneyland. The card is still in its original cello-wrap, with price tag and proof of sale tape on that wrap. Unusually, the wrap also bears a legend that “The Postcard is included International Postage.” and indeed the sales clerk pointed that out when we bought it. Grade: 1
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HK Disneyland – Sliding Sleighs
In other respects similar to our entry 203081079, unused and in its original wrap. As for the ride, sorry, but ugh. We waited 45 minutes in a confined queue resembling a cattle dip and settled in for this roller coaster that made a couple of turns and dips and was finished in about 30 seconds. Once was enough! Grade: 1
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HK Disneyland – World of Frozen
See also entry 203081079, with this “World of Frozen” one being the sort of “mother card” anchoring others in a limited range from Hong Kong Disneyland’s newest (as of now) attraction. Tick Tock Toys & Collectibles was the name of the shop where the card was sold. Unused. Grade: 1
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HK Disneyland – World of Frozen wooden postcard
The unused (wood) card measures about 4-7/8″ x 7-1/4″ and is still sealed inside its original wrapper, which has the original Park price tag and proof of sale tape attached. Our scan shows front and back. It may not be clear that the oval area is apparently able to be punched out and used as a pendant or some sort of decoration. The card bears reference number FAC-000492-23303 and warns that it is “not suitable for children under 3 years. Small parts.” in both English and Chinese. Grade: 1
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Lantau, Tian Tin (sic) Buddha, Po Lin Monastery
Correctly spelled Tian Tan, and appearing in this overview of the Ngong Ping 360 area on an unused, 4″ x 7-1/8″ card. Grade: 1
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Lantau, Po Lin Monastery
The site is arguably more famous for having the Big Buddha, which (we think) is where the photographer took this shot. Unused 5-1/8″ x 7″ card. Grade: 1
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Ngong Ping, The Big Buddha
Unused 5-1/8″ x 7″ card, and just FYI, Buddha is 34 meters high and weighs 250 tons. Grade: 1
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Lantau, The Big Buddha 57
Unused 5-1/8″ x 7″ card, and that “57” is the card’s own reference number. Grade: 1
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Ngong Ping 360 (set of 4)
A set of four different cards, unopened in its original cello-wrap with sales sticker and pricing intact. Our scan shows one of the four cards, all drawings and variations on that theme. Unused. Grade: 1
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Lantau, Tian Tin (sic) Buddha at Ngong Ping
Correctly spelled “Tian Tan” but nevertheless, lots to see on this unused, 4″ x 7-1/8″ card from 2017 and sourced at the site. Grade: 1
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Hong Kong Museums Collection – Selected Tea Ware (Set of 8)
Our scan shows you one of eight tea ware-themed cards in this set issued as “Postage Prepaid Picture Card Series No. 75” by Hongkong Post in 2024. They have pre-printed, coloured postage and a special philatelic cancellation. If by some chance you specialise in tea postcards, this set will anchor your collection. Grade: 1
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Victoria Harbour from Braemar Hill
Purportedly named after a Scottish village, Braemar Hill is 199-200 metres high and can be found near Hong Kong Island’s northeastern shoreline. It’s a 5-1/8″ x 7″ unused card in the original cello-wrap. Grade: 1
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Multiple views
This card was mailed in Malaysia (not Hong Kong) in 1991, with stamp and mostly illegible postmark. It’s a Cheng Ho-Choy card V08, and the card is beginning to age. Grade: 3
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Kowloon, bird’s-eye view at night
Card would have been mailed in about 1980, but from the USA using a 21-cent stamp, back to Hong Kong. Grade: 3
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New Territories, Amah Rock
An amah is a domestic helper. This rock presumably looks like one, carrying a baby. Card was mailed from Malaysia in about 1991, has a Malaysian stamp but little of a postmark. Grade: 3
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Ka Lee Building fire
A good card of a dismal event. The fire was in 1996; the card was mailed in 1999, using three stamps of which only one was postmarked, and that mark is legible. There’s a blue tri-lingual airmail sticker affixed, and the US Postal Service has, again, graciously imprinted their orange barcode across the front. Grade: 2
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Queer dress of boat women and children
Lux Co. card 75 was mailed in 1985 with stamp, full postmark, and blue airmail sticker attached (Grade: 2, $6). We have another, unused copy with clear signs of aging (Grade: 3, $3).
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1972 landslide
This was close to home, literally. Card was mailed in 1999, with three stamps of which one is bizarre by any standard; two full postmarks and also a blue airmail sticker. Grade: 1
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Tsim Sha Tsui, Avenue of the Stars
Homage to Chinese cinema. Several unused cards are available (Grades: 1, $3) and another mailed in 2010 with five stamps, full postmark, and blue trilingual airmail label affixed (Grade: 2, $6).
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Wanchai, 1983 flood
Front: some postmark smudging, and the US Postal Service orange barcode along the bottom. Reverse: mailed in 1999, three stamps of which one is torn but the odd one is OK; partial postmark; blue airmail sticker obscured by (yet again) US Postal Service sticker and more barcode. For you, this is probably a foreign postcard. For us, it’s home. Grade: 4
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The Botanical Gardens
Unused Raphael Tuck “Vignette Super Glosso” card, unnumbered, and only showing minor album indents on reverse corners. You would notice across many cards the different names used to describe the same place. Grade: 1
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View of Cape Stanley
This unattributed card 219 was made in Japan. What we can tell you is that the same view is unrecognizable today, and a quick trip to Stanley Market will bear that out. Grade: 2
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Year of the Rabbit
Issued by Hongkong Post, this card was mailed in 2011 with five stamps (including one commemorating the Rabbit year) and blue trilingual airmail label affixed. Grade: 1
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Reservoir
Unused real photo card, unattributed. The lower left front corner is missing. Grade: 5
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Hongkong by Night
Unused real photo card, definitely by night … there are many more lights these days. Grade: 2
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Chinese Cemetery
Yes, there’s a symbolism to the price. Unused card published by Lau Ping Kee of Hongkong (#18125), with a small stain on the reverse and significant corner indentations from having been in an album for a very long time. Grade: 3
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Flower Street
Something is very, very nice about this unused card. It makes Hong Kong look so peaceful. Sigh! Significantly aged on the reverse, and published by M. Sternberg 3693, it has minor edge abrasions but those of us who live here find it compelling to look at. Grade: 3
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Water Front of H. Kong
Unused, unattributed, and somewhat faded real photo card with very pale white caption on lower front. Not sure of the year, but it has been a long, long time since Hong Kong Island looked like this. Grade: 2
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Night View
This is actually the same photo as card 20308130 but the conditions are greatly different so we list them separately. Unattributed, unused, unspectacular real photo card, overexposed on the right side. But if you’re looking for a genuine old Hong Kong card–and it’s true there were not a lot of lights in those days–here it is. Grade: 3
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Night View
This real photo card was mailed on 30th November 1926 to a Mr. Minagawa in Tokyo. There’s an extensive message (in Japanese) and the fully readable postmark went right through to the front. The 4-cent stamp is there, and in every respect this is a classic old Hong Kong postcard. Grade: 2
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Hongkong University
Not postally used, nonetheless this unattributed card 150 (“Made in Japan”) has a full message on the reverse and was ready to be mailed to Taipeh. You can translate? Great sepia-toned item for specialty collectors of university cards. Grade: 4
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View of harbour
An old Graca & Co. card 18861, mailed to Hong Kong from Japan in 1983, with (therefore) a contemporary stamp and full Kyobashi postmark. The card has significant edge and corner abrasions, but these would disappear with proper framing. By the way … bamboo scaffolding persists to this day. Grade: 4
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Praya East
Looking a lot like today’s Western or Sheung Wan area, this unused card “specially made for: The Graeco Egyptian Tobacco Store, Hongkong” No. 28 (but made in Germany) is still in excellent condition. Grade: 2
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Hong Kong by Night
These real-photo “Hong Kong by Night” cards somehow all look the same, and maybe they were way back when, but this one is definitely brighter than the previous entries. It’s unattributed, unused, and normally aged. Grade: 2
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Hongkong Hotel from Pedder Street
This unused card 311 published by A.H. & Co. has seemingly random colors all over it. Grade: 2
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Island view (Japanese caption)
For many years we’ve held several cards of non-Japanese locales but whose captions (and, usually, messages) are all in Japanese. This is an unused card showing what is now Central and Western Districts. It does have the name “Koto” printed in a tiny diamond on the reverse. There is also a visible but unobtrusive hole punched through the top front, just below the mountaintop line. Grade: 5
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Sedan Chair Rickshaw
Can you imagine that sedan chairs were still running in Hong Kong as late as the 1950s? Of course you can. This card definitely predates the 50s. It’s unused, published by M. Sternberg, and is often seen in various postcard reference books. Grade: 2
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Indian Policemen and Prisoner in Stocks
This too is an iconic Hong Kong postcard, to be found in various reference books. Published by Turco-Egyptian Tobacco Store, unused, yet aged and a little bit abraded, it is an important part of Hong Kong’s postcard history. Grade: 3