Scott No: 3339-42
Serial number: 2004-2
Values in set: 4
Denomination: 4.40 yuan
Selling Price of miniature sheet: 6 yuan
Date of issue: 14th January 2004
Designer: Wang Huming
Size of stamps: 30*40 mm
Perforation: 12
Sheet composition: 20 for Sheet I; 8 for Sheet II
Size of M/S: 150*90 mm
Printing process: Offset
Printer: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing House

This special stamp set, Taohuawu Woodblock New Year Prints, was issued on January 14, 2004. It consists of four stamps with a total face value of 4.40 yuan, along with a souvenir sheet priced at 6 yuan, designed by Wang Huming, with Shi Yuan serving as the responsible editor, and printed by Beijing Stamp Printing Works using offset printing. Both a standard large sheet and a New Year prize-winning miniature sheet were issued.

Suzhou Taohuawu is a key center of woodblock New Year prints in southern China. Its tradition began in the Ming Dynasty and flourished in the Qing Dynasty. Along with Yangliuqing in the north, it is recognized as one of the two major centers of New Year printmaking in China. The works are characterized by their delicate and elegant lines, bright and varied colors, and themes drawn from urban customs and auspicious legends, rich in the folk charm of the Jiangnan region. It is a national intangible cultural heritage. This set is the second in the New Year print series, featuring four classic prints, capturing the gentle and festive beauty of New Year art in the Jiangnan region and preserving the visual memory of traditional New Year customs.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background

Lute and Melody

A lady sits gracefully playing the lute, her attire adorned with intricate patterns. The music is soft and melodic, and the scene is elegant and refined, depicting the leisurely and cultured life of ancient women, capturing the gentle and graceful character of the Jiangnan region.

The Qilin Brings a Son

A child rides a qilin, surrounded by attendants. This auspicious folk motif expresses the wish for a bright and fortunate child, a classic blessing in traditional New Year prints.

Liu Hai Playing with a Toad

A playful child holds a string of coins, teasing a three-legged toad, a symbol of wealth and good fortune. This lively and cheerful scene is a popular folk tale of prosperity and joy.

Ten Beauties Playing Cuju

The scene depicts ancient women playing cuju, a traditional ball game. Their lively poses and flowing garments recreate a vibrant scene of recreational activity, reflecting the festive and joyful character of folk customs.

Artistic and Design Features

The vertical format preserves the original appearance of the ancient woodblock prints, with bright and soft colors that maintain the simple and flowing quality of woodcut lines. The offset printing accurately reproduces the delicate and warm color layers of traditional prints. The stamps incorporate multiple anti-counterfeiting features, including security paper, security ink, and fluorescent spray codes. The overall design is elegant and festive, combining the folk charm of the Jiangnan region with the rustic texture of traditional prints. The souvenir sheet brings all four images together, making it more suitable for complete viewing and collection.

This stamp set is a special issue on the theme of Chinese folk woodblock prints and New Year customs, including a souvenir sheet, suitable for thematic collections on traditional folk art and New Year customs.