Scott No: 3070-73
Serial number: 2000-24
Values in set: 4
Miniature sheet: 1
Denomination: 10.40 yuan
Selling price of M/S: 8 yuan
Date of issue: 12th
December 2000
Designer: Zeng Xiaolian
Size of stamps: 30*40mm
Perforation: 13
Sheet composition: 20
Printing process: gravure Printer: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing House

The special stamp set Clivia was issued on December 12, 2000. It consists of four stamps with a total face value of 5.20 yuan. It was designed by Zeng Xiaolian and printed by Beijing Stamp Printing Works using the photogravure process. A souvenir sheet was also issued. Clivia is the city flower of Changchun. It originated in South Africa and, after being introduced to China, was cultivated through years of horticulture, giving rise to many excellent varieties. This stamp set features four classic clivia varieties cultivated in China, showcasing the elegance of this precious ornamental flower. It is also a classic stamp set in the category of botanical scientific illustration.

Clivia is a perennial evergreen herbaceous flower of the Amaryllidaceae family. Its leaves are broad, thick, and upright, and its flower clusters are dignified and grand. It blooms in winter and spring, combining ornamental value with elegant connotations. The stamp set selects four varieties: the Grandiflora Clivia, the Pendulous Clivia, the Golden Silk Clivia, and the White Clivia. Using scientific realistic painting, it meticulously presents the forms of leaves and flowers and the differences in flower colors, showcasing the achievements of China's clivia horticultural breeding. It integrates botanical education with floral aesthetics and conveys the beautiful meaning of the gentleman's character.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background

Grandiflora Clivia

The stamp shows the Grandiflora Clivia, with broad, emerald green leaves setting off a large orange-red umbel of flowers. The flowers are full and vibrant. The Grandiflora Clivia is the most widely cultivated mainstream variety in China. The flower stalk is upright, and the flowers open upward. The colors are rich and festive, making it the most familiar clivia variety to the public.

Pendulous Clivia

The stamp depicts the Pendulous Clivia, with flowers hanging downward. The corolla is slender and tubular, and the orange-yellow petals droop slightly, giving it a reserved and gentle character. The petals of this variety droop rather than spread upward, clearly different from the Grandiflora Clivia, with a unique restrained and elegant charm.

Golden Silk Clivia

The stamp presents the Golden Silk Clivia, with pale yellow stripes on the petal base and light-colored silk patterns among the leaves. It is a distinctive variety developed through artificial selection. The golden lines on the petals are its signature feature. The colors are rich in layers, making it a precious ornamental variety in clivia horticulture.

White Clivia

The stamp depicts the White Clivia, with pure and elegant white flowers tinged with pale green, paired with green berries. White-flowered varieties are relatively rare among clivias. The flower color is fresh and refined, forming a sharp contrast with other red-series varieties, with a unique and elegant beauty.

Artistic and Design Features

The stamp set uses a realistic botanical scientific illustration style. The forms are rigorous and accurate, faithfully reproducing the leaf textures and petal forms of each clivia variety. The photogravure printing provides delicate and transparent colors with soft transitions, effectively expressing the textures of green leaves, red flowers, and white flowers. The four varieties each have their own characteristics—one intense, one light, one upward-facing, one drooping. They stand alone as individual images while maintaining a harmonious and unified style. It combines educational and artistic value. This stamp set also won the National Best Stamp Award and the Best Printing Award, making it a representative masterpiece in the category of flower-themed stamps.