Chunghwa Post previously released Blue and White Porcelain postage stamps in 2014 and 2018. Now it is following up with a new set of four stamps and a souvenir sheet featuring porcelains from the National Palace Museum’s collection. The designs follow:
1. Stamps:
(1) Teapot with decoration of clouds and dragons in underglaze blue, Longqing reign, Ming dynasty (NT$8): The teapot features a short neck, a round and large belly, a curved spout and a square handle. The spout and the handle are decorated with lingzhi scrolls, the neck with a band of clouds, and the shoulder with twin dragons. Furthermore, on the body above a band of lotus petals are four different circular dragons, with patterns of lingzhi and the Buddhist “eight treasures” between them.
(2) Tea bowl in underglaze blue with imperial poem San Qing, Qianlong reign, Qing dynasty (NT$12): This cup has a flared rim and is entirely painted in underglaze blue. On both the interior and the exterior of the bowl, around the rim and near the foot, there are blue ruyi patterns on a white background. Written on the body of the bowl is a poem named “San Qing Tea” by Emperor Qianlong. The center of the interior is decorated with plum blossoms, pine trees, and Buddha’s hands, which are the three ingredients of the tea (“san qing” means “three cleansing ingredients”).
(3) Teapot with lotus scroll in underglaze blue, Qianlong reign, Qing dynasty (NT$13): This teapot has a round handle and is small on top and grows gradually bigger at the bottom, with its belly on the lower portion of the pot. It is decorated with flower scrolls in underglaze blue. The knob is painted with a single flower, while the lid is decorated with a band of ruyi patterns near the knob and a band of lotus scrolls. There are lines on either side of where the lid fits onto the pot.
(4) Teacup in underglaze blue with decoration of gentlemen amid a landscape, Jiajing reign, Ming dynasty (NT$18): The cup has a wide rim, round body and short foot. Under the band of scrolls along the rim are two scholars sitting under a tree. One is turning his head to enjoy the lotus blossoms, while the other is appreciating the plum blossoms. There are also two servant boys. One is holding a musical instrument and the other a book. The bottom of the bowl’s interior is decorated with a man gazing at the moon by a lotus pond.
2. Souvenir Sheet (NT$ 28): This souvenir sheet features “Pilgrim bottle with underglaze blue decoration of flowers of the four seasons, Yongle reign, Ming dynasty.” The bottle has an oblate shape like water bottles from western China. One side of the bottle is rounded, while the other side is flat. The neck of the bottle is decorated with ruyi and cloud patterns. The circular bulge in the center is decorated with wave motifs. It is surrounded by blooming passion flower scrolls that extend toward the edge. The blue color is rich and vibrant. There is no glaze on the backside.

This set of stamps was designed by Delta Design Corporation and printed by Cartor Security Printing (France) in color offset with a partly embossed surface to highlight the exquisite beauty of these porcelains. A first-day cover, folders with and without crystal mounts, a loose-leaf album page, and maximum cards will be released along with the stamps and will go on sale on September 5, 2019. A pre-cancelled FDC with one NT$8-denominated stamp, with the full set of stamps, or with a souvenir sheet, along with pre-cancelled maximum cards and a stamp folio, will go on sale on September 9, the stamps’ date of issuance.  To add philatelic interest, there will be a release of a pair souvenir sheet.

To purchase the relative philatelic products, please go directly to the post office branches, Postal Museum or order on line at https://stamp.post.gov.tw.