Scott No: 3174-75
Serial number: 2002-3
Values in set: 2
Denomination: 1.60 yuan
Date of issue:5th February 2002
Designer: Zhang Guizheng
Size of stamps: 30*40 mm (se-tenant)
Perforation:13
Sheet composition: 20
Printing process: gravure
Printer: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing House

The stamp set is cataloged as 2002-3, titled Rare Flowers. It was issued on February 5, 2002. The set consists of two stamps in a photogravure edition printed by Beijing Stamp Printing Works. The Chinese designer is Zhang Guihui, and the Malaysian designer is Hazel Studio. The total face value is 1.6 yuan, with a print run of 13.4 million sets. Each stamp measures 30×40 mm, with a perforation gauge of 13 degrees. Each sheet contains 20 stamps, printed in pairs horizontally.

This stamp set is a joint issue between China and Malaysia. It features representative rare plants from both countries, using flowers as a medium to showcase the tropical plant resources of both nations and promote cultural exchange and friendly relations between China and Malaysia.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background

Golden Camellia

Golden camellia is a rare plant of the Camellia family endemic to China. It is mainly found in southern Guangxi and is a first-class protected wild plant in China, known as the "Queen of the Tea Family" and the "Giant Panda of the Plant Kingdom." The stamp depicts a golden camellia with branches and leaves. The petals are entirely golden yellow with a lustrous, translucent texture. The leaves are deep green and glossy, and the branches spread naturally. Among Camellia plants, the vast majority of flowers are red, pink, or white. Golden camellia is a rare variety that blooms with golden yellow flowers. It was discovered in Guangxi in 1960, causing a sensation in the botanical world. It has both ornamental and medicinal value, but its growing environment is demanding, and wild populations are scarce. The stamp showcases this rare native Chinese plant and raises awareness for the protection of wild plants.

Cannonball Flower

The cannonball flower is a representative ornamental flowering tree of Malaysia. It is native to South America and was later introduced to Southeast Asia. It belongs to the Lecythidaceae family, the cannonball tree. In the image, large flowers grow directly on the thick trunk. The petals have pink gradient markings, and the stamens are intricate and delicate, with a unique form. The cannonball tree is named for its spherical woody fruit, which resembles a cannonball when mature. The flowers are large and vibrant, making it a classic tree in tropical gardens. The phenomenon of cauliflory, where flowers grow on old wood, is highly characteristic of the tropics. The stamp uses this flower to represent Malaysia's botanical character, contrasting with China's golden camellia as rare flowering trees from north and south.

Artistic and Design Features

The stamps use the photogravure process, with delicate and realistic color reproduction, accurately expressing the translucent texture of the petals and the texture of the leaves. The two stamps are printed in a horizontal continuous pair, with a unified compositional style. Both use realistic botanical painting techniques, with soft and natural lines. The stamp background uses a simple light color, with no extraneous decoration, focusing the visual attention on the flowers themselves. The overall work is elegant and realistic. Through two distinctive rare flowers, it reflects the unique botanical character of China and Malaysia, bearing witness to the postal cultural cooperation between the two countries.