Special 90  Famous Ancient Chinese Porcelain Postage Stamps Ming–Dynasty (1973)

　　China is famous for her porcelain.Porcelain not only is of extraordinary value among the Chinese fine arts, but also has an esteemed place in the art history of the world. From the time of the Northern Sung to the end of the Ching dynasty, excellent examples in large quantity are available from all the important kilns of each period.In order to introduce the masterpieces of Chinese porcelain to the public, a series of the Famous Ancient Chinese Porcelain Postage Stamps of the Ming dynasty was released in two installments.

　　Ming official ware made its debut during the Hung-wu reign (1368-1398 A.D.), its kiln site being at Ching-te-chen in Kiangsi province. These wares, created for imperial use, at first tended to follow the ceramic forms and methods of the Sung and the Yuan dynasties. However, during the Yung-lo reign, Ming porcelain began to come into its own-the wares surpassed those of the previous dynasties, possessing a greater elegance and refinement. During the Ming dynasty, the blue-and-white decor is the most elegant, and has won wide popularity. In the Cheng-te reign, green and yellow ware gained precedence, the Chia-ching period saw the rise of a highly complex, multicolored style, while in the Wan-li period the polychrome porcelains were of a rough, dense and heavy character. Each stamp in this series of ten stamps, five in vertical type and five in horizontal type, takes a piece of famous ancient Chinese porcelain of the Ming dynasty as its motif. The masterpieces featured on the stamps are as follows：

1.00　　Fu, covered vase with fruit and flower decor in underglaze blue, Hsuan-te period (1426-1435 A.D.)

2.00　　Vase with floral decor in underglaze blue, Hsuan-te period.

2.50　　Ku, vase imitating the shape of ancient bronze in underglaze blue, Yung-lo period (1403-1424 A.D.)

5.00　　Blue-and-white ware with short neck decorated with flowers of the four seasons' motif, Yung-lo period.

8.00　　Garlic-head vase with bamboo and fungus decor in underglaze blue and enamel colors, Chia-ching period (1522-1566 A.D.).

1.00　　Stem-bowl with dragon decor in underglaze blue, Ch'eng-hua period (1465-1487 A.D.)

2.00　　Refuse container with decor of dragons chasing pearl in green and yellow glazes, Cheng-te period (1506-1521 A.D.)

2.50　　Covered jar with lotus decor in underglaze blue and enamel colors, Ch'eng-hua period.

5.00　　Covered jar with horses decor in polychrome, Chiaching period (1522-1566 A.D.)

8.00　　Bowl, decorated with figures of immortals in polychrome, Wan-li period (1573-1620 A.D.)