Scott No: 1966
Serial number: T102
Values in set: 1
Date of issue: January 5, 1985
Denomination: 8 fen
Designers: Ren Yu
Size of stamps: 26*31mm
Perforation: 11.5
Sheet composition: 80(10*8)
Printing process: Engraving and photogravure
Printing House: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing Works

T102 "Yichou Year" special stamp was issued on January 5, 1985. The set consists of 1 stamp, printed by photogravure combined with engraving, designed by Zou Jianjun, and printed by the Beijing Stamp Factory.

Theme of the Set

This stamp belongs to China Post's first round of zodiac stamps, with Yichou corresponding to the zodiac ox. The ox is deeply rooted in China's farming culture and is a symbol of diligence, perseverance, and honesty. It carries the auspicious meanings of cultivation and harvest, national peace and prosperity, and abundant harvests, and embodies people's beautiful wishes for smooth labor and a prosperous life in the new year.

Stamp Design and Historical Background

Yichou Ox

The main subject of the design is a yellow ox standing sideways, with a sturdy, full build and a gentle, calm expression. In the long agricultural society, the ox was an important helper on which farming households depended for cultivation. The ancients have always respected the ox's character of dedication, and ox culture has permeated folk customs, poetry, and painting.

Artistic Design Features

The photogravure-plus-engraving process combines the strengths of painting and engraving. The decorative modeling is generalized and condensed, without complicated or superfluous details. The ox's coat is a warm, weighty yellow, and the outline lines are clear and powerful. The engraved plate brings a delicate sense of texture, with a strong plain and rustic flavor. The overall style is steady and enduring, and it is a classic variety widely loved by philatelists in the first round of zodiac stamps.