Scott No: 2382-5
Serial number: 1992-3
Values in set: 4
Date of issue: March 10, 1992
Designers: Zeng Xiaolian
Size: 31*52mm
Perforation: 12
Sheet composition: 40
Printing process: offset

The special stamp set Fir Trees, catalog number 1992-3, was issued on March 10, 1992. It consists of four stamps, produced using offset printing. The stamps measure 31×52 mm, with a perforation gauge of 12 degrees. Each sheet contains 40 stamps. The stamps were designed by Zeng Xiaolian and printed by Beijing Stamp Printing Works.

Thematic Focus of the Set

This set was issued on the eve of Arbor Day. It selects four rare relict gymnosperm species unique to China, all of which are national key protected wild plants and are known as plant "living fossils." The stamps take cones and branches as their core subject, combining educational promotion. They showcase the unique morphological characteristics of four fir and hemlock tree species, raise public awareness of rare and endangered gymnosperms and forest ecological protection. This stamp set was also awarded the National Best Stamp of 1992.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background

Dawn Redwood

The main subject is a branch of dawn redwood with cones. Dawn redwood is a deciduous tree first discovered in Lichuan, Hubei. It was once considered extinct by the academic community and is a world-renowned plant living fossil. The tree is tall and graceful, and it is also a widely cultivated landscaping tree.

Silver Fir

The image depicts a cone-bearing branch of silver fir. The underside of the leaves has silvery-white stomatal bands, which shimmer silver when the wind blows, hence the name. It is scattered only in the mountains of Guangxi, Hunan, and Guizhou and is a rare national treasure tree unique to China.

Taiwania

The image shows the branches and cones of Taiwania, also known as Taiwan cedar. The trunk is straight and tall, making it a high-quality timber tree. It is distributed in the high mountain forest areas of the southwest. The wild native population is very small, and it is an ancient relict tree species.

Baishanzu Fir

The image shows the cone-bearing branches of Baishanzu fir. It grows naturally only in Baishanzu, Qingyuan, Zhejiang. It is an extremely endangered fir species with very few wild native plants, making it one of the rarest gymnosperms in China.

Artistic and Design Features

The set uses a botanical scientific illustration style. The compositions uniformly follow the paradigm of "close-up of foreground cone-bearing branches + faintly painted forest silhouette in the background," with a balance of solid and void, soft layers, and the Latin scientific name noted in the lower right corner of each stamp, ensuring scientific rigor. The four tree species each have their own characteristics. It integrates plant taxonomy education with painting aesthetics, with delicate lines and simple, serene tones. It is a classic representative work of Zeng Xiaolian's plant-themed stamps.