Scott No: 2798
Serial number: 1997-17
Values in set: 2
Date of issue: October 9,1997
Designers: Zhang Guizheng
Size: 30*40mm
Perforation: 11.5
Sheet composition: 40
Printing process: gravure

The special stamp set Flowers (Jointly Issued by China and New Zealand), catalog number 1997-17, was issued on October 9, 1997. It consists of two stamps in a horizontal continuous pair, produced using the photogravure process. The stamps measure 30×40 mm, with a perforation gauge of 11.5 degrees. Each sheet contains 40 stamps. The stamps were jointly designed by Chinese designer Zhang Guizhen and New Zealand designer Paul Martinson and printed by Beijing Stamp Printing Works.

This set is a joint stamp issue by the postal services of China and New Zealand. It features representative Rosaceae flowers from both countries. The Chinese rose and the New Zealand rose both belong to the genus Rosa. The stamps are in a continuous pair format, with flowers and leaves connecting to each other, symbolizing friendly exchanges between China and New Zealand and enduring friendship between the peoples of the two countries.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background

Chinese Rose

The image shows the traditional Chinese rose, with deep purplish-red petals and lush leaves. The rose originated in China and has a long history of cultivation. It is valued for both ornamental purposes and the extraction of fragrance, making it a traditional famous flower of China and a carrier of a long horticultural culture.

New Zealand Rose

The image features the "Aotearoa-New Zealand" rose bred in New Zealand, with soft pale pink flowers and a full, elegant form. This variety is a classic hybrid tea rose bred locally in New Zealand, known for its strong fragrance, and is a highly representative horticultural flower of New Zealand.

Artistic and Design Features

The set uses realistic flower painting. The two stamps are connected horizontally, with branches and leaves interwoven, creating a visually integrated image. The colors are warm and soft, delicately reproducing the texture of petals and leaves. The photogravure printing is delicate, presenting the beauty of these two Rosa flowers. Using flowers as a medium, it bears witness to the friendly exchanges between China and New Zealand.