Scott No: 1131-42
Serial number: N66-77
Values in set: 12
Date of issue: November 20, 1973
Denomination: 148 fen
Designer: Wu Jiankun
Size of stamps: 31*38.5mm
Perforation: 11.5
Sheet composition: 50(10*5)
Printing process: Photogravure
Printing House: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing Works

Numbered Stamps 66-77 "Cultural Relics Unearthed During the 'Cultural Revolution'" numbered stamps were issued on November 20, 1973. The set consists of 12 stamps, printed by photogravure, designed by Wu Jiankun, and printed by the Beijing Stamp Factory. Stamp size 31 mm × 38.5 mm, perforation gauge 11.5, 50 stamps per sheet.

Theme of the Set

This set selects a group of precious ancient cultural relics obtained from archaeological excavations in various places in the early 1970s, spanning from the Neolithic Age to the Yuan dynasty, with artifact types including pottery, bronzes, gold and silver wares, jade, porcelain, and lamps. Under the historical background of the time, it used stamps to display the motherland's long and splendid ancient culture and new archaeological achievements, publicize the gains made in China's cultural relic protection and archaeological undertakings, and display the achievements of ancient Chinese civilization.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background

Blue-and-White Phoenix-Head Flask

A Yuan dynasty blue-and-white porcelain piece, unearthed in 1970 from a Yuan dynasty hoard on Jiugulou Street in Beijing. The spout is molded as a phoenix head, the flask body is flat and round, and the outer wall is painted with phoenix wings and intertwining lotus patterns. Unique in form, it is a very rare fine piece among Yuan dynasty blue-and-white porcelain.

Gilt Silver Ewer with Dancing Horses Holding Cups in Their Mouths

A Tang dynasty gold and silver vessel, unearthed from the Hejiacun hoard in Xi'an, Shaanxi. The ewer body imitates the form of a leather-skin flask, and on both sides are hammered dancing horses with cups in their mouths; it is a representative gold and silver artifact of Tang dynasty cultural fusion between China and the West.

Black-Glazed Horse

A Tang dynasty pottery horse, unearthed in 1971 from a Tang tomb at Guanlin, Luoyang, Henan. The steed is entirely black-glazed, with brightly colored saddle and trappings, and a horse-leading figurine stands beside it; the form is vigorous and full, embodying the superb skills of Tang dynasty pottery sculpture.

Clay Figurine

A Tang dynasty clay figurine, unearthed from the Astana ancient tombs in Turpan, Xinjiang. The figurine is a woman with long garments and a gentle posture; it is a surviving work of clay sculpture art in the border region during the Tang dynasty and reflects the life appearance of the Western Regions at the time.

Stone Carved Column Base

A Northern Wei stone carving, unearthed in Datong, Shanxi. The column base is carved with intricate and exquisite patterns in rich layers; it is an ancient architectural component, embodying the level of stone carving craft of the Northern Dynasties.

Bronze Galloping Horse

Also called the Horse Stepping on a Flying Swallow, unearthed in 1969 from the Leitai Han tomb in Wuwei, Gansu. The steed has three hooves in the air, with one hoof stepping on a flying bird; the conception is romantically superb, and it is an unparalleled masterpiece of Han dynasty bronze sculpture.

Gilt Bronze Inlaid Inkstone Box

An Eastern Han gilt bronze beast-shaped inkstone box, unearthed in Bozhou, Anhui. The box is shaped like a divine beast, entirely gilt and inlaid with turquoise, gorgeous and exquisite; it is a heavy piece of Han dynasty scholar's stationery.

Changxin Palace Lamp

A Western Han bronze lamp, unearthed from the Mancheng Han tomb in Hebei. A palace maid kneels holding the lamp; the lamp can adjust the direction of light, and the smoke can be collected within the lamp body. The design is scientific and ingenious, and it is a national-treasure-level cultural relic of the Han dynasty.

Bronze Ding with Duck-Button Lid

A Spring and Autumn period bronze ding, with a small duck as the button on the lid and two ears on the body; the form is plain and vivid, and it is a representative of Spring and Autumn period bronze ritual vessels.

Zeng Zhong You Fu Square Hu

A Western Zhou bronze square hu, unearthed in 1966 at Sujialong, Jingshan, Hubei. The hu body is tall and large, with dense and dignified patterns; it is a heavy bronze vessel of the Zeng state in the Western Zhou.

Bronze You with Handle

A Shang dynasty bronze wine vessel, unearthed in Ningxiang, Hunan, with a handle, the body covered with animal-mask patterns, weighty and majestic; it is a classic artifact of Shang dynasty southern bronze civilization.

Painted Red Pottery Ding

A Neolithic Dawenkou culture pottery piece, unearthed at the Yedian site in Zou County, Shandong. It has a three-legged ding form, with painted patterns on the body; it is a typical cooking vessel of the prehistoric culture of the lower Yellow River.

Artistic Design Features

The background colors of the stamps in the set differ, using solid colors to set off the main subjects of the cultural relics. The artifact images are realistic and clear, marked with the age of the relics, simple and dignified. The twelve relics are arranged in sequence, with rich categories and a complete series. It is the largest special set on ancient cultural relics among the numbered stamps and a classic work among the early cultural-relic-themed stamps of New China.