Scott No: 1149-54
Serial number: T2
Values in set: 6
Date of issue: January 21, 1974
Denomination: 48 fen
Designer: Wan Weisheng
Size of stamps:
27*60mm for Value 1, 2, 5, 6;
60*27mm for Value 3, 4
Perforation: 11
Sheet composition:
35(7*5) for Value 1, 2, 5, 6;
35(5*7) for value 3, 4
Printing process: Photogravure
Printing House: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing Works

T2 "Acrobatics" special stamps were issued on January 21, 1974. The set consists of 6 stamps, printed by photogravure, designed by Wan Weisheng, and printed by the Beijing Stamp Factory. Perforation gauge 11. Lion Dance, Chair Stacking, Plate Spinning, and Umbrella Balancing measure 27 mm × 60 mm, 35 stamps per sheet; Diabolo Playing and Jar Balancing measure 60 mm × 27 mm, 35 stamps per sheet.

Theme of the Set

Acrobatics is a traditional Chinese folk art with a long history, rich in categories, with thrilling and beautiful skills, and widely acclaimed at home and abroad. This set selects six classic acrobatics acts, displaying the superb skill level of traditional acrobatics and the elegance of New China's acrobatic art. It is a highly representative art-themed stamp set among the early T-prefix special stamps.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background

Lion Dance

In the picture, the majestic lion stands on a large red ball, and the lion dance performer stands at the lion's head position, with a lively and high-spirited movement. Lion dance is a long-circulated folk acrobatics act, festive and enthusiastic, full of folk flavor.

Chair Stacking

A woman performer completes a handstand split at the top of layer upon layer of stacked high chairs, with an extended posture; the stacked chairs rise high and hang in the air, highlighting the thrilling and steady characteristics of this act.

Diabolo Playing

Two women acrobats stand facing each other, their sticks pulling the diabolo spinning in the air, cooperating in tacit understanding with calm expressions. Diabolo playing originates from folk amusement and combines fun with skill.

Jar Balancing

Two male performers perform together: one balances a jar on his forehead, and the jar flips in the air while still spinning, displaying the extremely high demands of the jar-balancing act on balance and control.

Plate Spinning

A male performer holds long sticks and spins several colorful plates at the same time, the plates spinning rapidly at the tips of the sticks, with an extended and graceful posture; it is a household-known classic acrobatics act.

Umbrella Balancing

A woman performer lies flat on a wooden bench and balances a large flowered umbrella with her feet, the umbrella surface rotating steadily without pause, with delicate and skillful movements, embodying the unique charm of foot-balancing acrobatics.

Artistic Design Features

The set uses solid dark backgrounds to set off the figures, with intense, bright colors and concise, expressive forms, capturing the most classic performance moment of each act. The two stamp formats, horizontal and vertical, alternate, giving the compositions variety, with clean, crisp lines. It fully expresses the artistic characteristics of acrobatics—combining motion and stillness and seeking steadiness within danger.