Scott No: -
Serial number: 2018-22
Values in set: 1
Date of issue: August 17, 2018
Denomination: 120 fen
Designer: Ma Feida
Size of stamps: 40 * 30 mm
Perforation: 13
Sheet composition:
20 for Sheet I;
8 for Sheet II
Size of sheet:
240 * 150 mm for Sheet I;
190 * 120 mm for Sheet II
Printing process: Offset + Engraving
Printing House: Beijing Postage Stamp Works

Wild geese are the general term for birds of the genus Anser in the Anatidae family, Anseriformes order, Aves class. The common species in China include swan geese, greylag geese, bean geese, white-fronted geese, and bar-headed geese.

Wild geese are social birds. Male and female geese pair up and remain monogamous for life. Whether the female or male goose dies, the surviving single goose will never seek another mate until its death, making wild geese a symbol of unswerving love. The timeless line "Ask the world, what is love, that it makes one vow to live and die together" from Yuan Haowen’s Tune: "Groping for Fish" · Ode to the Wild Goose Mound has shaped the image of wild geese as loyal to love and willing to commit to life and death for each other.

The "Wild Geese" special stamps were issued by China Post on August 17, 2018 (the Qixi Festival, also known as the Chinese Valentine’s Day). They are the fourth set in the "Love Birds" stamp series, following Mandarin Ducks, Red-Billed Leiothrixes, and Magpies. The main subject of the stamp design features a male and a female wild goose flying wing to wing. In the background, there are 7 wild geese flying in a "V" formation in the sky. Interestingly, there are also 7 reeds counted at the bottom of the picture. The repetition of the number "7" alludes to the 7th day of the 7th lunar month—the Qixi Festival. It interprets the cultural connotation carried by the animal habit of "following each other through life and death" to express blessings for a beautiful love.

The main image of the stamp depicts the two flying wild geese using traditional Chinese ink wash techniques. The details of their feathers are presented with three colors (black, red, and gray) through fine-line engraving to create a three-dimensional texture. The border decoration uses simple lines to outline clouds and mists, achieving the artistic effect of "expressing much with little".

The stamps were designed by Ma Feida, a painter of the Zhe School. The creation combines on-site observation with the imagery of classical poetry. The engraving part was completed by Martin Mörck, a Danish engraver. This set of stamps is printed using the offset engraving overprinting process, with anti-counterfeiting technologies including special-shaped perforations and fluorescent coding.