Scott No: 1788-1789
Serial number: T68
Values in set: 2
Date of issue: June 20, 1982
Denomination: 88 fen
Designer: Sun Chuanzhe
Size of stamps: 40*30mm
Perforation: 11.5
Sheet composition: 20(4*5)
Printing process: Photogravure
Printing House: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing Works

T68 "Sable" special stamps were issued on June 20, 1982. The set consists of 2 stamps, printed by photogravure, designed by Sun Chuanzhe, and printed by the Beijing Stamp Factory, with a perforation gauge of 11.5 and a stamp size of 40 mm × 30 mm.

Theme of the Set

The sable is a rare animal unique to the forest regions of Northeast China. Its fur is precious, and at the time its wild population was already sparse. This set takes the sable as its subject, promoting the concept of wildlife protection, calling on everyone to cherish rare living creatures, and safeguarding the habitat of the primitive forests of Northeast China.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background

Alert

With a warm yellow background set off by the outline of pine trees, the sable lies among the woods, alertly turning its head to look around, with a vigilant expression. The sable widely inhabits the mixed coniferous and broad-leaved forests of the Greater and Lesser Khingan Mountains and the Changbai Mountains. It is one of the "Three Treasures of the Northeast" and a precious terrestrial wild fur-bearing animal.

Pounce

With a fresh light green background, the background is tree branches in the woods. The sable leaps into the air with a vigorous posture, presenting the agile and swift posture of hunting, vividly displaying the sable's nimble nature. This stamp has a relatively small circulation and is the key stamp of the set.

Artistic Design Features

The style is soft and realistic, completely preserving the texture of the sable's brown fur, with vivid and expressive depiction of its posture. The two stamps, one static and one dynamic—stillness in alert observation, movement in leaping to pounce—contrast with each other, presenting the sable's two typical states in the woods. The images are clean and elegant. It is a very classic special stamp on the theme of animal protection.