Scott No: 3146
Serial number: 2001-23
Values in set: 2
Denomination: 1.60 yuan
Date of issue: 8th November 2001
Designer: Vitor Santos, Carlos Leitao
Size of stamps: 40*30 mm (Se-tenant)
Perforation: 13
Sheet composition: 24
Printing process: gravure
Printer: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing House

This stamp set, Ancient Sailing Ships, was issued on November 8, 2001. It is a special stamp set consisting of two stamps with a total face value of 1.60 yuan. The designers are Victor Santos and Carlos Leitao of Portugal. It was printed using photogravure by Beijing Stamp Printing Works. The perforation gauge is 13 degrees, and each stamp measures 40×30 mm. It is a joint issue between China and Portugal, with the two stamps printed in a horizontal continuous pair.

This stamp set features representative ancient sailing ships from the history of China and Portugal. It showcases the long maritime and shipbuilding civilizations of both countries, bears witness to the exchange history of the ancient Maritime Silk Road, and uses stamps as a medium to express the cross-ocean cultural exchange and friendship between China and Portugal.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background

Ancient Chinese Sailing Ship

The design is based on a 13th-century Song Dynasty seagoing ship unearthed in 1974 at Houzhu Port in Quanzhou Bay, Fujian. It belongs to the Fu ship system. The surviving length of the ancient ship is 24.2 meters, with a restored total length of up to 34 meters, a width of 11 meters, and a carrying capacity of about 200 tons. The Fu ship is a sharp-bottomed, multi-masted seagoing vessel with advanced watertight compartment technology and strong resistance to wind and waves. It was the main vessel for long-distance trade on the Maritime Silk Road during the Song and Yuan dynasties. This ancient ship sailed to the South Seas, and a large number of spices, porcelain, ancient coins, and other overseas trade goods were unearthed from its cabin. The stamp depicts a multi-masted Fu ship with red sails, with an ancient Chinese pagoda in the background, representing the landmark of Quanzhou Port, recreating the scene of a Song Dynasty ship setting sail.

Ancient Portuguese Sailing Ship

The design is based on a 14th- to 15th-century Portuguese three-masted lateen caravel. This type of sailing ship is an iconic vessel of the Age of Discovery. It uses a lateen sail design, can adapt to changing sea winds, and has excellent ocean-going performance. Portuguese navigators sailed such ships to open multiple transoceanic routes, ushering in the era of European ocean exploration. The stamp depicts a three-masted lateen-rigged sailing ship, with a Portuguese ancient castle in the background, symbolizing an Iberian port and showcasing the maritime character of the European Age of Discovery.

Artistic and Design Features

The stamp set uses a realistic hand-drawn style. The two stamps are printed in a horizontal continuous pair, sharing the same blue sea surface, creating a visually cohesive whole. Below the sea surface, two color bands—blue and yellow—are uniformly set, representing the ocean and land respectively. The colors are bright, with detailed depictions of the hull structures, masts, and sail textures. One stamp shows the substantial nature of the Eastern Fu ship, and the other shows the agility of the Western lateen-rigged ship. The stamps bear the inscription "China–Portugal Joint Issue," placing the two great maritime civilizations side by side and showcasing the dialogue of ancient maritime civilizations in a small format.