Scott No: 3458-9
Serial number: 2005-23
Values in set: 2
Date of issue: October 13, 2005
Denomination: 160 fen
Designer: Liu Jibiao, Keen Martin
Size of stamps: 40*30 mm
Perforation: 13*13.5
Sheet composition: 8
Size of sheet: 128*194 mm
Printing process: Photogravure
Printing House: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing Works

This special stamp set, Leopard and Cougar, was issued on October 13, 2005. It consists of two stamps with a total face value of 1.60 yuan, jointly designed by Liu Jibiao and Keith Martin (Canada), with Qin Wei serving as the responsible editor, and printed by Beijing Stamp Printing Works using the photogravure process. This is a joint issue between China and Canada.

The leopard and the cougar are highly representative wild cats of China and Canada, respectively. The leopard is a first-class protected animal in China, inhabiting the mountains and forests of Asia. The cougar is widely distributed across the mountains and wilderness of the Americas. Both are powerful and agile predators, precious treasures of the natural world. This joint stamp issue, featuring these two rare wild cats, serves as a cultural bridge, promoting the importance of wildlife conservation, protecting the world's diverse ecosystems, and symbolizing the friendly cultural exchange between China and Canada.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background

Leopard

The stamp depicts a leopard lounging on a thick tree branch, its coat covered with distinctive black rosettes. Its gaze is alert, and its muscles are tense with latent power. The leopard is a secretive and skilled climber and jumper, relying on the forest to ambush its prey. It is a top predator in China's forest ecosystems.

Cougar

The cougar is depicted resting on a rocky outcrop, its coat a soft tawny brown, with a robust and steady posture. The cougar is highly adaptable, surviving in environments ranging from mountains to open plains. It is a representative large wild cat of the North American continent.

Artistic and Design Features

The horizontal format features a realistic painting style, with delicate and lifelike brushwork that accurately captures the texture of the animals' fur. One scene is set in a forest, the other on rocks, reflecting the distinct habitats of the two species. The photogravure printing provides warm, realistic colors and soft, rich layers. The stamps incorporate multiple anti-counterfeiting features, including security paper, security ink, and fluorescent spray codes. The overall design is vivid and expressive, full of natural wild beauty.

This stamp set is a joint issue on the theme of rare wildlife, suitable for thematic collections on animal ecology and Sino-foreign postal exchange.