Scott No: 3259-60
Serial number: 2003-3
Values in set: 2
Denomination: 1.60 yuan
Date of issue: 22th Jan. 2003
Designer: Wang Huming
Size of stamps: 30*40 mm
Perforation: 12
Sheet composition:
20 for sheet I; 8 for Sheet II (se-tenant)
Printing process: offset
Printer: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing House

This is a set of two special stamps titled Ancient Chinese Calligraphy – Seal Script, issued on February 22, 2003, with a total face value of 2.80 yuan, designed by Wang Huming and printed by Beijing Stamp Printing Works.

Seal script is the earliest mature form of Chinese writing. It is divided into large seal script and small seal script and is the origin of Chinese calligraphic art. The large seal script of the pre-Qin period features archaic, varied forms with thick, rounded, and vigorous lines. After Qin Shi Huang unified the six states, small seal script was adopted, standardizing character forms and establishing a unified writing paradigm. Seal script is characterized by even, rounded lines and symmetrical, balanced structures, possessing a solemn, elegant, ancient, and powerful beauty that deeply influenced the development of later script styles. This stamp set is the first in the Ancient Chinese Calligraphy series, launching the thematic stamp series covering the five major scripts: seal, clerical, regular, running, and cursive. It features two highly representative classic seal script artifacts, showcasing the unique archaic charm of seal script.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background

Western Zhou – Mao Gong Ding

The Mao Gong Ding is a major bronze vessel from the late Western Zhou period. Its inscription is in large seal script and is a model of Western Zhou bronze script. The inscription is extensive, with thick, full lines and a natural, varied layout. The characters change in size naturally with the text, without rigid uniformity. The content records the Zhou king's decree to the Duke of Mao, giving it great historical value. Its calligraphic style is powerful and solemn, making it one of the most important physical relics for studying pre-Qin writing and large seal script calligraphy.

Qin – Mount Tai Stone Inscription

The Mount Tai Stone Inscription is a representative work of Qin Dynasty small seal script, traditionally attributed to Li Si. After Qin unified the script, small seal script became the official standard. The characters in the inscription have even, rounded lines, elongated and symmetrical forms, and rigorous, orderly structures, reflecting the dignified, solemn, and strictly regulated artistic characteristics of Qin small seal script. Although the original stone has suffered damage over the centuries, the surviving fragments still convey the elegant character of Qin seal script, serving as a benchmark model for small seal script calligraphy.

Artistic and Design Features

The stamp set uses an antique, deep color palette, faithfully reproducing the original appearance of the bronze inscription and stone carving, preserving the mottled historical texture of the originals. The designs focus on the text itself, minimizing extraneous decoration and allowing viewers to concentrate on the lines of the seal script. The printing is delicate, clearly reproducing the variations in stroke thickness and the metallic, stone-like quality of the inscriptions. As the opening issue of the ancient calligraphy series, this set established the series' design tone of simplicity, substance, and emphasis on the calligraphy itself, showcasing the profound and enduring cultural charm of ancient Chinese writing.