China Republic stamps : 04 Dr Sun Yat-sen 5

4 cents

I have to admit that the different types of this issue are not easy to find.
No wonder, only the chinese catalog mentions them.

For the 4 cents, luckily there are only 2 subtypes
Subtypes A and B are found in the 'narrow' issues - the 'wide' issue, has only type B.
Now the problem with this issue is, that the 'wide' version nearly is wider than the 'narrow' version...
But no panic...

In the 'wide' version, there is a tiny upright line from the right value tablet into the right column.
This is a small line, not always visibile if the stamp is cancelled.

tiny upright line in the right frame

The narrow version does not show this extra line.

For the difference between type A (early prints) and type B (later prints), we need to look at the left ornament.

type A or B ?

Again, it is not easy to see on cancelled stamps, as the differences are small.
In type A (only narrow version)
- the two horizontal lines on top of each other, are short and long (see 1)
- above the right end of the horizontal line there are no extra dots (see 2)

In type B (later narrow versions and wide version)
- the two horizontal lines on top of each other have the same length (see 1)
- above the right end of the horizontal line there are 2 extra dots (see 2)

Good luck in finding the different types.

Finally I found a copy with a scratch in the right frame.
The catalog does not mention it, so I wonder if it is a plate flaw that occurs on other stamps too, or if it is just an 'accidental' error.

plate flaw or accidental error?

To be continued ...