Scott No: 2322-25
Serial number: T161
Values in set: 4
Denomination: 290 fen
Date of issue: May 10, 1991
Designer: Yin Huili
Size of stamps: 40*30 mm
Perforation: 11*11.5
Sheet composition: 40 (5*8)
Printing process: photogravure
Printing House: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing Works

The special stamp set Wild Sheep, catalog number T161, was issued on May 10, 1991. It consists of four stamps, produced using the photogravure process. The stamps measure 40×30 mm, with a perforation gauge of 11×11.5 degrees. Each sheet contains 40 stamps (5×8). The stamps were designed by Yin Huili and printed by Beijing Stamp Printing Works.

Thematic Focus of the Set

Most of China's wild sheep are national key protected wild animals. This stamp set features four rare wild sheep species, showcasing their unique species characteristics, popularizing wildlife knowledge, raising public awareness of rare mammal protection, and advocating for the protection of natural ecology and the safeguarding of biodiversity.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background

Saiga Antelope

The main subject is a close-up of the head of a saiga antelope, with a faint full-body silhouette in the background. The saiga antelope, also known as the saiga, has a distinctive enlarged, bulbous nose as its most prominent feature. It was once distributed in Xinjiang, China, and is a rare and endangered species.

Takin

The image focuses on the head of a takin, with a full-body silhouette in the background. The takin, also known as the羚牛, belongs to the Bovidae family, Caprinae subfamily. It is large in size with uniquely shaped horns. It is a rare wild animal unique to China, inhabiting high mountain dense forests.

Argali

The image depicts the majestic head and spiral giant horns of an argali, with a full-body silhouette in the background. The argali, also called the big-headed sheep, has thick, curled horns in males. It mostly inhabits high-altitude mountains and is a typical wild ungulate of alpine grasslands.

Ibex

The image highlights the long, backward-curving giant horns of an ibex, with faint silhouettes of an ibex herd in the background. The ibex is a national first-class protected animal, skilled at walking on steep cliffs, and mainly distributed in the high mountain areas of northwestern China.

Artistic and Design Features

The set uses a composition combining close-up heads with light-colored full-body silhouettes, focusing on highlighting the iconic horns and head features of different wild sheep for high recognizability. Each stamp uses a differentiated soft background color, with transparent color layers. The photogravure printing delicately expresses the texture of the fur, combining realism with a decorative feel. It avoids the stiffness of specimen-style depiction while vividly restoring the wild character of these animals.