Scott No: 3452-3
Serial number: 2005-18
Values in set: 2
Date of issue: September 22, 2005
Denomination: 160 fen
Designer: Ma Gang
Size of stamps: 40*30 mm
Perforation: 12
Sheet composition: 8
Size of sheet: 184*120 mm
Printing process: Photogravure
Printing House: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing Works

This special stamp set, Waterwheels and Windmills, was issued on September 22, 2005. It consists of two stamps with a total face value of 1.60 yuan, designed by Ma Gang, with Zhao Lei serving as the responsible editor, and printed by Beijing Stamp Printing Works using the photogravure process. This is a joint issue between China and the Netherlands.

Waterwheels and windmills are representative traditional water and wind-powered machines from China and the Netherlands respectively. Both are ingenious creations of ancient peoples, harnessing natural forces to serve agricultural production. The Yellow River waterwheel uses river current to lift water for irrigation, nourishing the fields of the northwestern valleys. Dutch windmills harness wind power to drain water, reclaim land, and process goods, shaping the pastoral civilization of the lowlands. These ancient machines, echoing each other across borders, are both material witnesses to agricultural civilizations and embody the ancient principle of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature. This joint stamp issue serves as a bridge for cultural exchange, presenting the unique charm of traditional technologies in Eastern and Western cultures.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background

Waterwheel

The stamp features a large Qing Dynasty waterwheel from Xigu, Lanzhou, on the banks of the Yellow River. The massive wooden wheel is supported by a tall wooden frame, with two white sheep grazing peacefully on the grassy bank. The distant mountains and the vast, flowing Yellow River create a broad view of the northwestern valley landscape. Lanzhou waterwheels originated in the Ming Dynasty, using the river's current to rotate the wheel and lift water, serving as an age-old irrigation system along the Yellow River, carrying the memory of the unique agricultural culture of Northwest China.

Windmill

The stamp depicts a classic brick and wooden windmill in the Netherlands, with its broad sails spread wide across the sky. White sheep graze nearby in the grass, with several windmills in the distance, set against a clear blue sky. Historically, the Netherlands relied on windmills to drain marshlands and grind grain, reclaiming vast areas of land. The windmill has long become a symbol of Dutch national identity, witnessing the extraordinary wisdom of the lowland people in transforming their environment.

Artistic and Design Features

The horizontal format features a realistic hand-drawn style, with complementary compositions in both stamps. Both include white sheep to enhance the pastoral atmosphere. The warm, earthy tones of the Yellow River landscape contrast with the clear, bright fields of the Netherlands. The photogravure printing captures the natural textures of wood, grass, and water. The stamps incorporate multiple anti-counterfeiting features, including security paper, security ink, and fluorescent spray codes. The overall style is peaceful and rustic, rich with pastoral charm.

This stamp set is a joint issue on the theme of traditional agricultural machinery, suitable for thematic collections on Sino-foreign cultural exchange and ancient technology and folk culture.