The TAIPEI 2008 - 21st Asian International Stamp Exhibition will be held on March 7 - 11, 2008 at the Taipei World Trade Center Exhibition Hall 3. To commemorate this philatelic gala, this Post is issuing a set of four stamps and a souvenir sheet featuring four ancient bird paintings from the National Palace Museum collection: Plum Blossoms and Solitary Bird by Pien Wen-chin, Ming Dynasty; Apricot Blossoms and Peacocks by Lü Chi, Ming Dynasty; Wild Duck by a Brook by Ch’en Lin, Yüan Dynasty; and Bamboo and Shrike by Li An-chung, Sung Dynasty. With the aim of providing an innovative design that makes the issue highly collectible, a teardrop-shaped perforation has been punched at the center of the left and right sides of each stamp on the souvenir sheet. The stamp designs follow:1. Plum Blossoms and Solitary Bird by Pien Wen-chin, Ming Dynasty (NT$5.00): A great scholar and poet, he was also a master of the flower-and-bird genre of painting. This painting depicts a yellow-browed bunting perched on a plum branch, craning its neck as it looks around. The rendering of the bird’s fluffy plumage and the tree’s gnarled branches accurately conveys not only the appearance but also the spirit of the subject matter.2. Apricot Blossoms and Peacocks by Lü Chi, Ming Dynasty (NT$9.00): The white apricot blossoms and the red peonies complement each other, imparting a cheerful spring atmosphere. Lü employed the circled petal technique for the apricot blossoms, and the plumage of the peacocks shows meticulous rendering. 3. Wild Duck by a Brook by Ch’en Lin, Yüan Dynasty (NT$13.00): The painting depicts a wild duck under a hibiscus bush at the water’s edge. The brushwork for the duck is finely executed without appearing overly meticulous. The brushstrokes for the water ripples and the hibiscus bush demonstrate great vitality and less attention to detail. The painting is a celebration of the joys of nature. 4. Bamboo and Shrike by Li An-chung, Sung Dynasty (NT$15.00): Li An-chung was a noted master of painting flowers, birds and animals. He was particularly noted for his goule (contour drawing) technique. The painting shows a shrike perched on a thorny branch. The bird’s hooked beak clearly shows that it is a carnivore. The bamboo leaves under the bird were painted using the double outline technique, for which thin contour lines are drawn first and then filled in with color. The execution of the brushwork is refined and the choice of colors graceful.