Scott No: 3440
Serial number: 2005-14
Values in set: 2
Date of issue: July 16, 2005
Denomination: 160 fen
Designer: Yuan Jia
Size of stamps: 40*30 mm
Perforation: 12.5
Sheet composition: 8 (4 sets)
Printing process: Photogravure
Printing House: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing Works

This special stamp set, Nantong Museum, was issued on July 16, 2005. It consists of two stamps with a total face value of 1.60 yuan, designed by Yuan Jia, engraved by Yan Bingwu, with Shi Yuan serving as the responsible editor, and printed by Beijing Stamp Printing Works using a combination of offset and intaglio (engraving) printing. The two stamps are in a horizontal continuous format.

Located on the banks of the Hao River in Nantong, Jiangsu, the Nantong Museum was founded in 1905 by Zhang Jian, a late Qing Dynasty scholar and industrialist-educator. It is the first public museum established by the Chinese people themselves and is regarded as the birthplace of China's museum enterprise. Breaking away from the traditional model of a library, it integrates cultural relics exhibitions, garden landscapes, and scientific displays. Its collections include both ancient artifacts and natural specimens, embodying the founding mission of enlightening the public and popularizing knowledge. On the occasion of its centenary, this stamp set features two iconic historical buildings on the museum grounds, reflecting on the early development of China's modern museum movement and honoring the cultural vision of education for national salvation.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background

South Hall

The stamp depicts a two-story Western-style castle-like building, with battlements along the roofline and a viewing terrace on the second floor, surrounded by lush greenery. The dignified and elegant structure was an important early exhibition hall of the museum. Inscribed on the building are scholarly mottos by Zhang Jian, reflecting his commitment to the museum's founding ideals.

Central Hall

The stamp features a Chinese-style building with a flat roof, topped by a distinctive red tower-like pavilion, surrounded by rockeries and ancient trees. This is the oldest building in the museum complex. Its ingenious blend of Chinese and Western architectural styles reflects the refined character of this modern garden-style museum.

Artistic and Design Features

The horizontal format captures the tranquil beauty of the garden and historic architecture with soft, natural tones. The engraved lines are detailed and precise, and the combined offset and intaglio technique effectively conveys the textures of brick, stone, and trees. The overall design is serene and antique. The stamps incorporate multiple anti-counterfeiting features, including security paper, security ink, and fluorescent spray codes. The sheet border features a panoramic view of the museum and descriptive text, enhancing the commemorative and humanistic value.

This stamp set is a special issue on the theme of modern cultural and museum architecture, suitable for thematic collections on the history of Chinese museums and modern garden architecture.