Scott No: 3350-1
Serial number: 2004-6
Values in set: 2
Souvenir Sheet: 1
Denomination: 1.60 yuan
Denomination of S/S : 6 yuan
Date of issue: April 13, 2004
Designer: Shi Yu
Size of stamps:
50*30 mm for Value I
30*50 mm for Value II
Size of S/S: 124*98 mm
Size of S/S stamp: 60*40 mm
Perforation:
13*12.5 for Value I
12.5*13 for Value II
Sheet composition: 8
Printing process: gravure
Printer: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing House

This special stamp set, Peacocks, was issued on April 13, 2004. It consists of two stamps with a total face value of 1.60 yuan, along with a souvenir sheet with a face value of 6.00 yuan, designed by Shi Yu, with Shi Yuan serving as the responsible editor, and printed by Beijing Stamp Printing Works using the photogravure process.

In traditional Chinese culture, the peacock symbolizes elegance and good fortune. Yunnan Province in China is the native habitat of the wild green peacock, which is a first-class protected wild animal. This stamp set presents three different peacocks in the gongbi (meticulous brushwork) style, showcasing the graceful and magnificent bearing of this rare bird and raising awareness for wildlife conservation. The first-day ceremony was held during the Dai Water-Splashing Festival in Dehong, Yunnan, blending frontier ethnic culture with ecological themes.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background

Graceful

The horizontal stamp depicts a blue peacock perched on a branch of magnolia flowers. Its neck feathers shimmer with a metallic luster, and its tail feathers are spread in a magnificent display. The elegant magnolia blossoms in the background add to the refined and noble character of the scene.

Elegant

The vertical stamp features a pure white peacock standing beneath a cascade of wisteria flowers. Its long, flowing tail feathers drape gracefully, with rocks and a stream creating a serene and poetic atmosphere. The pure white plumage adds a soft and ethereal beauty to the composition.

Splendor (Souvenir Sheet)

The souvenir sheet, set against a golden background, features a green peacock with its tail fully spread, displaying a dazzling array of eye-like patterns. Another green peacock stands beside it, creating a complementary scene that captures the magnificent and radiant moment of the peacock's full display.

Artistic and Design Features

The two main stamps use horizontal and vertical formats, creating a clever contrast. They employ traditional gongbi bird-and-flower techniques, with detailed and lifelike feather textures and warm, magnificent colors. The souvenir sheet uses a luxurious golden background to enhance the visual impact of the peacock's display. The photogravure printing provides rich, transparent layers. The stamps incorporate multiple anti-counterfeiting features, including security paper, security ink, and fluorescent spray codes. The elegant bird-and-flower style combines aesthetic value with ecological and humanistic significance.

This stamp set is a special issue on the theme of rare wildlife and bird-and-flower painting, including a souvenir sheet, suitable for thematic collections on bird ecology and traditional gongbi painting.