Scott No: -
Serial number: 2019-25
Values in set: 2
Date of issue: October 6, 2019
Denomination: 240 fen
Designer: Wang Huming
Size of stamps: 33 * 44 mm
Perforation: 13.5
Sheet composition: 16
Sheet Size: 168 * 216 mm
Printing process: Offset
Printing House: Henan Provincal Postage Stamp Printing Works

China Post plans to issue a set of 2 commemorative stamps themed "The 70th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between China and Slovakia" on October 6, 2019 (jointly issued with Slovakia). The designs of the stamps are respectively "Gilded Silver Incense Burner" and "Gilded Bronze Round Plaque", with a total face value of 2.40 yuan.

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the People's Republic of China and the Slovak Republic. To enhance mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples, the postal services of the two countries jointly issue these commemorative stamps. This is the second joint stamp issuance between China and Slovakia following the 2002 joint release of the "Pavilions and Castles" stamps.

The jointly issued stamps feature representative cultural relics from each country. The Chinese relic is a Tang Dynasty gilded silver incense burner unearthed from the underground palace of Famen Temple in Fufeng, Shaanxi Province. Exquisitely crafted, the incense burner has hollowed-out parts for fragrance to emanate. Inside, two concentric metal rings (known as balancing rings) are riveted together with a bowl-shaped vessel for holding incense. No matter how the burner rotates, the incense vessel remains perfectly level. This demonstrates that Chinese craftsmen as early as the Tang Dynasty had mastered the gyroscope principle, which was later widely used in navigation and aviation. The Slovak relic is a gilded bronze round plaque, part of a horse harness used by grooms during Slovakia's Great Moravian period. Adopting an openwork decorative style, the plaque is composed of interlocking plant patterns, surrounded by five animal heads. Inlaid on a bronze belt, this plaque symbolized the social status of its owner.

Designed by Wang Huming, the stamps feature a dark background to highlight the texture of the two cultural relics, with eave tile patterns as auxiliary elements. Printed by Henan Post and Telecommunications Printing House using offset printing technology, the "Gilded Silver Incense Burner" stamp adopts cold stamping transparent holographic laser technology, making the silver incense burner shine brightly and appear delicate and exquisite under light. The "Gilded Bronze Round Plaque" stamp uses pearlescent gold powder ink to reflect the relic's texture and sense of historical vicissitudes. Additionally, embossing technology is applied to enhance the three-dimensional effect of the cultural relics and make their outlines more distinct.