Behind the Stamp

Beijing won the bidding for the 2022 winter olympics, meaning lots of construction and lots of stamp issues to cover. China Post was undoubtedly the first with stamps showing the mascots, logo, and winter sports. The winter sports set is a pane of 4, with stamps showing cross country skiing, biathlon (rifle shooting and cross country), alpine skiing, and freestyle skiing, on top of some mountains and with the logo in the corner. They're worth RMB1.20 each. They were released on November 16, 2018 and were designed by Shen Jiahong. Stay home, and stay safe.

This stamp, released during the cultural revolution, to celebrate every province creating a committee to control the cultural revolution in that specific province. You can see the government as a macro-manager, leaving the employees (provinces) to do their own work. You saw by the title, it's an error stamp. Why? When first published, the stamp didn't show Taiwan and the Spratly Islands as part of China. Taiwan was highlighted on the map, and the Spratlys were left off entirely. These stamps are now worth up to 3.7 million Hong Kong dollars (US$475,000/£290,000), sold in Hong Kong in 2009. Released November 24, 2019. Recalled same day.

This stamp was released to commemorate the 13th National People's Congress in Beijing. Number: 2018-5. First released March 5, 2018. These stamps depict four different flowers, (starting from top left, clockwise) the Malus Prunifolia, Malus Macromalus, Malus Hoanensis, and the Malus Sieboldii. According to China Post, Malus Micromalus, or the midget crabapple, was Premier Zhou Enlai's favorite fruit tree. Number: 2018-6. First released March 25, 2018.

These stamps celebrate the fine and intricate Chinese art of paper cutting, rich with history and part of the culture. Number: 2018-3. First released January 24, 2018. The annual Chinese Lantern festival is celebrated on the fifteenth day of the lunar calendar, also marking the end of the Chinese New Year celebrations. People typically celebrate with lanterns as decoration. Number: 2018-4. First released March 2, 2018

  2018 was the year of the dog, hence dogs. China Post releases an animal stamp for that certain year on the zodiac calendar. For example, 2019 would have a pig on the front page. Number: 2018-1. First issued January 15, 2018 This stamp depicts two people celebrating a new year, and a dog for the year of the dog. Number: 2018-2. First issued January 10, 2018.