Scott No: 1974-80
Serial number: T104
Values in set: 6
Date of issue: April 5, 1985
Denomination: 134 fen
Designers: Chen Chuanli
Size of stamps: 27*60mm
Size of S/S: 130*70mm
Stamp of S/S: 93*52mm
Perforation: 11
Sheet composition: 35(7*5)
Printing process: Photogravure
Printing House: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing Works

T103 "Plum Blossom" special stamps were issued on April 5, 1985. The set consists of 6 stamps plus 1 souvenir sheet, printed by photogravure, designed by Cheng Chuanli, and printed by the Beijing Stamp Factory.

Theme of the Set

The plum blossom ranks first among China's ten famous flowers, is one of the Four Gentlemen among flowers, and is also one of the Three Friends of Winter. Fearless of severe cold and blooming first in early spring, it has always been a cultural symbol of noble purity, tenacity, and unyielding character. This set selects classic famous and precious plum varieties in China, presenting the diverse beauty of plum blossoms, carrying forward the literati spirit of praising the plum, and at the same time showcasing China's rich plum germplasm resources. It is a highly significant work in the flower stamp series.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background

Green Calyx

The green-calyx plum is a famous ancient plum variety, with pure white petals and pale green sepals, plain and elegant, with a refined fragrance, and has been deeply loved by literati since ancient times.

Weeping Branch

The weeping-branch plum has branches that naturally stretch downward, with a graceful and soft flower posture and a distinctive tree shape, like flowering branches dancing lightly in the wind, with a unique delicate charm.

Dragon-Wandering

The dragon-wandering plum has twisted and spiraling branches like a wandering dragon, with a peculiar form; it is a rare plum variety of great ornamental value.

Cinnabar

The cinnabar plum has intensely brilliant red flowers, a passionate color, and full flower forms. It is a classic variety among red plums, with a rich red charm.

Sprinkled Gold

The sprinkled-gold plum has petals with a white base color scattered with fine red streaks, red and white alternating, with a distinctive and lively flower color and a beauty of variation.

Apricot Plum

The apricot plum combines the characteristics of apricot and plum, with relatively large flowers and strong cold resistance; it is a distinctive variety bred by crossing plum and apricot.

Souvenir Sheet: Taige and Ningxin

The design brings together two famous and precious varieties, Taige plum and Ningxin plum, with interlacing blossoms, red and white setting off each other, and lush flower clusters, fully displaying the moving posture of plum blossoms in full bloom.

Artistic Design Features

The set adopts the form of traditional fine-brush heavy-color Chinese painting, with silk-based painting as the draft. The branches are vigorous and powerful, and the petals are delicately layered. The vertical long format fits the posture of plum branches slanting across with sparse shadows, and the colors are warm and elegant, combining the artistic conception of Chinese painting with the aesthetic beauty of stamp printing. This set was awarded the Best Printing Award in the Sixth National Best Stamp selection and is a classic masterpiece among JT flower stamps.