Scott Number: -
Serial number: 2011-30
Values in set: 2
Denomination: 240 fen
Date of issue: December 10, 2011
Size of stamp: 33 * 33 mm
Perforation: 13.5 * 13
Sheet composition: 16
Size of Sheet: 162 * 195 mm
Designer: Cui Yanwei, Pingel
Printing process: engraving and offset
Printer: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing House

On December 10, 2011, the special stamp "Ancient Astronomical Instruments" (catalog number 2011-30) was officially issued, marking the final stamp issue of the year. It is a joint stamp issue between China Post and Post Denmark. The set consists of two stamps, each with a face value of 1.20 yuan, for a total face value of 2.40 yuan. The stamps were jointly designed by Cui Yanwei and Per Ingemann (Denmark), with engraving by Martin Mørck, and printed by Beijing Stamp Printing Works using a combination of offset and intaglio (engraving) printing.

The stamps feature two iconic ancient astronomical instruments from the East and the West: the Chinese Abridged Armilla from the Yuan Dynasty and the Danish Great Equatorial Armillary. They showcase the remarkable achievements of ancient astronomy in both Eastern and Western civilizations, presenting a comparative view of the development of ancient astronomical observation techniques. Through this joint issue, the stamps promote cultural and scientific exchange between China and Denmark, honoring the spirit of ancient scientists in their exploration of the universe and observation of celestial phenomena, and bearing witness to the mutual brilliance of Eastern and Western ancient astronomical civilizations.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background:

Abridged Armilla

Image: The main subject is a Ming Dynasty replica of the Abridged Armilla displayed at the Purple Mountain Observatory in Nanjing, supplemented by structural line drawings of the instrument, set against a deep blue background.
History: Created by the Yuan Dynasty astronomer Guo Shoujing, this instrument simplified and innovated upon the traditional armillary sphere, eliminating the obscuration caused by overlapping rings. Its observational accuracy was over 300 years ahead of its time, representing the pinnacle of ancient Chinese equatorial astronomical instruments and providing key observational support for the compilation of the Shoushi Calendar. The surviving example is a Ming Dynasty replica.
Significance: A representative of ancient Chinese astronomical instruments and a pioneer of the equatorial mounting observation system.

Great Equatorial Armillary

Image: The Great Equatorial Armillary designed by the Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe, featuring the instrument's base and large ring structure.
History: Developed by the 16th-century Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe, this instrument relied on high-precision naked-eye astronomical observations, accumulating a wealth of accurate celestial data that laid the foundation for Kepler's laws of planetary motion. It is an iconic instrument of early modern Western classical astronomy.
Significance: A model of astronomical observation instruments from the European Renaissance period.

Artistic and Design Features:

Format: Uniform square stamp format with symmetrical compositions, suitable for viewing as a se-tenant pair.
Printing Technique: Printed using a combination of offset and intaglio (engraving) techniques, with engraving by Danish master engraver Martin Mørck, finely reproducing the complex metal structure of the instruments.
Design Concept: The main objects are paired with simple structural line drawings, balancing visual appeal with educational value.
Civilizational Contrast: The pairing of one Eastern and one Western instrument provides a direct visual comparison of independently developed ancient astronomical systems.

This stamp set is the first joint stamp issue between China and Denmark, and a rare modern stamp focusing on the history of ancient Chinese and foreign science and technology. The subject matter covers astronomy, the history of ancient science and technology, and Sino-foreign cultural exchange. The distinctive combined offset and engraving printing and the cross-national joint issue nature make it highly distinctive, suitable for thematic collections on astronomy, ancient science and technology, and joint stamp issues. As the final stamp issue of 2011, it also carries commemorative significance as the year-end closing issue.