At the end of the Civil War in mainland China, when Communist forces gained control and established the Peoples Republic of China, Nationalist forces escaped to Taiwan where they re-established the Republic of China (in exile). The first such meter was placed into use in 1949.
All stamps except Types A1 and PO-A3 are inscribed "REPUBLIC OF CHINA".
All stamps including Types A1 and PO-A3 have Chinese inscription " ", as shown, or with characters reversed with "中" at left.
Many stamp types were used by both private businesses and post offices and in most cases there is no clear way to tell them apart.
Identification numbers found on the meter stamps are not meter numbers but location numbers.
The stamps are grouped according to appearance of the frank and by function:
A - Frank upright or square
B - Horizontal frank with panels or ornaments at both sides
C - Large horizontal frank without side panels or with ornaments at one side only
Small frank with simulated perforation outer border and straight inner border.
Chinese inscription at top, “POSTAGE” above M# at bottom.
M# in 1000 series.
A. Frank 22 mm wide. M#s seen 1002-1010
B. Frank 24 mm wide. M#s seen 1011-1018
TM: DC
V/F: =00.o =00.oo
A2. Pitney Bowes-GB “Automax” (MV).
Frank has thick, straight outer border with imbedded dots.
Chinese inscription vertical at right. “REPUBLIC OF CHINA/ POSTAGE” at bottom.
M# at top with “A”, “P”, “CA”, “NA”, “SA” prefix.
A. Inscription at bottom 2 mm tall
B. Small inscriptions at bottom, 1½ mm tall (M# A.1219 only) [$5]
TM: DC
V/F: =00.o =000.o
=0.oo (M# P.001) [$10]
a. With three dots instead of four in lower corners (A.1032)
A3. Pitney Bowes-GB “Automax” (MV).
Frank with simulated perforation outer border and straight inner border.
Ornaments within the inner border leave small open space at center of sides.
Chinese inscription at top, “REPUBLIC OF CHINA/ POSTAGE” and M# at bottom.
M# with “C”, “N”, “S” prefix or without prefix.
TM: DC
V/F: =000.o =0000
A4. Hasler “Mailmaster” (MV).
Square frank with simulated-perforation outer border, double straight line inner border with flowers in each corner.
Chinese inscription at top, “REPUBLIC OF CHINA/ POSTAGE” and M# at bottom.
M# with “C”, “N”, “S” prefix or without prefix.
A. Chinese country inscription with "中" at right
B. Chinese country inscription with "中" at left
TM: DC
V/F: 0000.0
A5. Satas “Baby” (MV). [$25]
Frank 20-21 x 24-25 mm with straight-line outer border and inner border at top, bottom and left side only.
Panel at top contains Chinese inscription, panel at bottom with “REPUBLIC OF CHINA/ POSTAGE” and M#.
M# with “NC” or “SC” prefix.
A. Small TM, 23 mm
B. Large TM, 26 mm
TM: DC
V/F: 000.oo
A6. Satas “Baby” (MV). [$25]
Nearly identical to Type A5 except larger, 27 x 29 mm.
M# with “NC” prefix.
A. Small TM, 23 mm
B. Large TM, 26 mm
TM: DC
V/F: 000.oo
A7. Neopost “Electronic” (MV).
Square frank with straight borders at top and bottom and side panels made up of intricate, detailed lines and flowers.
Complete inner box around value figures.
Chinese inscription at top, “REPUBLIC OF CHINA/ POSTAGE” and M# at bottom.
M# with “NC”, "NP", or “SC” prefix.
A. Chinese country inscription with "中" at right
B. Chinese country inscription with "中" at left
TM: DC
V/F: ≋000 ≋00.0
A8. Neopost “Electronic” (MV). [$10]
Square frank with complete straight single-line border.
Flower sprigs at sides Chinese inscription at top, “REPUBLIC OF CHINA/ POSTAGE” and M# at bottom.
M# with “N” prefix.
TM: DC
V/F: ≋000
GROUP B: Horizontal frank with panels or ornaments at both sides[edit | edit source]
B1. Pitney Bowes-GB “5000” (MV).
Frank with simulated perforation outer border and straight inner border.
Panels at sides contain ornamental line pattern that can vary from one meter to another.
Chinese inscription at top above “REPUBLIC OF CHINA/ POSTAGE” and M#.
Date figures raised in relation to value figures.
M# with “A”, “C”, “CA” and “NA” prefix.
A. Large frank 42-44 mm wide
B. Frank 36-37 mm wide
TM: DC, SC
V/F: ≋00.o ≋000 ≋00.oo ≋000o
B2. Pitney Bowes-GB “6300” (MV).
Sides ornaments are abstract drawings.
Chinese inscription at top, “POSTAGE” M#/ “REPUBLIC OF CHINA” at bottom.
M# with “A” prefix.
TM: SC
V/F: ≋00.o
B3. Pitney Bowes-GB “6300” (MV).
Panels at sides with double inner line that do not extend to the bottom.
Ornamental shapes in side panels.
Chinese inscription at top, “POSTAGE” M#/ “REPUBLIC OF CHINA” at bottom.
M# with “A”, “CA”, “NA” or “SA” prefix.
TM: SC
V/F: ≋00.o ≋00.oo ≋000
B4. Pitney Bowes-GB “6300” (MV).
Very similar to Type B3 but with pine tree branches in side panels.
M# with “C”, “N” or “S” prefix.
TM: DC, SC
V/F: ≋000
B5. Hasler “Mailmaster” (MV).
Frank with simulated-perforation outer border and straight-line inner border.
Chinese inscription in ribbon at top, “REPUBLIC OF CHINA/ POSTAGE” and M# at bottom.
Springs of flowers at both sides.
M# with "CB", “SB” or “NB” prefix.
TM: DC
V/F: 000.0 0000.000.00
GROUP C: Large, horizontal stamp with side panel or ornaments at one side only[edit | edit source]
C1. Pitney Bowes-US/-GB “5000” (MV). [$25]
Frank with straight line border at top and bottom, sprig of flowers at left, ornamental tile design at right.
Chinese inscription at top above “REPUBLIC OF CHINA/ POSTAGE” and M#.
Date figures raised in relation to value figures.
M# N0001 only.
A. TM small
B. TM large
TM: DC
V/F: ≋000 ≋00.00
C2. Pitney Bowes-GB “6500” (MV).
Wide frank with straight line border at top and simulated-perforation border at bottom and right.
Sprig of flowers at left next to TM.
Chinese inscription at top above “REPUBLIC OF CHINA/ POSTAGE” and M#.
Date figures raised in relation to value figures.
M# with “C”, “N” or “S” prefix.
TM: DC
V/F: ≋00.o ≋000
C3. Pitney Bowes-GB “6900” (MV). [$5]
Large frank with open top and bottom and simulated-perforation border at right.
Flowering branch above pagoda between TM and value figures.
Chinese inscription at top, “REPUBLIC OF CHINA/ POSTAGE” and M# at bottom.
Date figures on same level as value figures.
M# with “NA” prefix.
TM: DC, SC
V/F: ≋00.00 ≋000.00
C4. Pitney Bowes-GB “6900” (MV).
As Type C3 but “REPUBLIC OF CHINA” at top.
Frame lines at left broken by fixed zero.
TM: DC
V/F: ≋000.00
C5. Pitney Bowes-GB “A900” series (MV).
Similar to Type C3 but not as tall, and value figures are larger.
TM: DC
V/F: ≋000.00
C6. Hasler “Mailmaster” (MV).
Frank with wavy line and dots border.
Chinese inscription above M# at top, “REPUBLIC OF CHINA/ POSTAGE” at bottom.
Flowers at both sides of the value figures.
M# with “C”, “N” or “S” prefix.
A. Frank 40-41 mm wide
B. Smaller frank, 35 mm wide. M# with “NO” prefix. M# 53450 only [$20]
TM: DC
V/F: 0000 0000.000.00
The stamp previously cataloged as Type C7 is now Type B5.
C8. Hasler “Mailmaster” (MV).
Frank with straight double-line borders and ornaments in corners.
Chinese inscription above M# at top, “REPUBLIC OF CHINA/ POSTAGE” at bottom.
Flower group at left.
M# with “C”, “N” or “S” prefix.
A. Chinese country inscription with "中" at right
B. Chinese country inscription with "中" at left
TM: DC
V/F: 0000.00000
GROUP PO: Stamps generated only by machines in Post Offices[edit | edit source]
Sub-group PO-A: stamps from mechanical postage meters[edit | edit source]
PO-A1. Universal “MultiValue” (MV). [$75]
Frank with simulated-perforation outer border and straight-line inner border.
Value figures inside inner frame. Across the top and sides are drawings of fish and ocean waves.
Inside frame broken at left by “$” and at right by yuan sign.
Chinese inscription at bottom above “REPUBLIC OF CHINA”.
M# at bottom left. M#s 101-105.
TM: SC
V/F: 0000 000
PO-A2. Universal “Automax” (MV). [$75]
Similar to PO-A1 except the inner frame around the value figures is much smaller, and the whole frank is not as wide.
M#s 106-111.
TM: DC
V/F: =00.o
PO-A3. Hasler “F88” (MV), 1962.
Plain upright frank very similar to Type A1 but much larger.
M# 201-206.
A. M# 201 used by Directorate General of Posts
B. M#s 202-206 [$10]
TM: DC
V/F: 000,oo
PO-A4. Hasler “F88” (MV).
Upright frank with straight-line border and ornamental line design within.
Chinese inscription at top above “REPUBLIC OF CHINA”.
“POSTAGE” at bottom above M#.
M#s 201, 210 up.
A. M# 201 used by Directorate General of Posts
B. M#s 210 up
C. Chinese country inscription with "中" at left
TM: DC
V/F: 000,oo 000,o
PO-A5. Hasler “F22” (MV), 1959. [$25]
Special stamps used for registered mail only.
Frank is similar to Type PO-A4 except wider and with M# below and outside.
TM is rectangle with rounded corners above R# with large “No.”.
M#s 301-30.
V/F: 000,o 00o 0,o
a. With directional slug (in Chinese) at left of TM (shown)
Sub-group PO-B: special digital stamps from computer-based systems[edit | edit source]
PO-B1. Acer (digital), 1993.
Horizontal frank with TM indented in left side.
Chinese inscription at top above the value figures at right followed by “REPUBLIC OF CHINA/ POSTAGE” and ID# with bar code outside the bottom frame line.
M# with or without dash. Printed in black.
TM: SC
V/F: ≋0.oo ≋00.oo ≋000.oo
a. With R# below frank at right.
PO-B2. Acer (digital), 1993.
Similar to Type PO-B1 but bar code is inside the frame at the bottom rather than below the frank frame.
The TM is separate and does not indent the frank. Printed in black.
TM: SC (size of TM variable)
V/F: ≋0.oo ≋00.oo ≋000.oo
a. With R# below frank at right.
PO-B3. IBM (digital), 1993.
Similar in appearance to Type C2 but simulated-perforation border at top as well as bottom and right side.
With small barcode at bottom right below value figures.
Numeric code below sprig of flowers.
ID# with or without dash. Printed in black.
A. Chinese country inscription with "中" at right. Inscriptions and value figures thick, date figures narrow. TM: DC
B. As A but with "中" at left. TM: SC
C. M# with "SN" prefix. Number added below barcode. TM: SC
V/F: 00.00 0.00
a. As B, but characters in country inscription are more square and upright
b. As B, but lettering, most notably in the date, is larger and thinner (shown at right)
c. With registration label unsevered (shown reduced at right)
PO-B4. Undetermined (digital). [$15]
Similar in appearance to Type C1.
Date and value figures very small and on same level.
M#s NF001 and SF001 seen.
TM: BIC
V/F: 000 •0
PO-B5. Undetermined (digital), 1989. [$25]
Upright frank similar to Type A3.
Chinese inscription at top followed by value figures, “REPUBLIC OF CHINA/ POSTAGE”, and two Chinese town name inside frame.
Below frame are a branch number above the date-hour
The value figures, town name, branch number and date-time are printed in black or gray while the rest of the design is printed in red.
", as shown, or with characters reversed with "中" at left.
=00.o 
[$10]
[$25]
000
000,o
000,o 
00.00 
