Stamp SN | D281 |
Stamp Name | Special 281 Snuff Bottles of National Palace Museum Postage Stamps (1990) |
Stamp Cat Standard | Special Stamps |
Stamp Cat | Antiques |
Issue date | 1990-08-09 |
Suspersion date | 民國81年08月09日 |
Dimension of stamps(mm.) | |
Size of souvenir Sheet (mm.) | |
Printer | China Color Printing Co. Inc.,R.O.C |
Drawer | |
Designer | |
Photographer | |
Engraver | |
Creative Director | |
Sheet composition | 10×10 |
Print color | |
Process | Deep etch offset |
Paper | Locally-made mat finished, watermarked stamp paper with gum |
Back | |
Perforation | 13 1/2 |
Snuff is made through a process in which tobacco leaves are removed from their stems, crushed into powder, allowed to ferment, and then mixed with aromatic substances. It is said to be effective in treating dizziness, dispelling cold, and clearing the nose. Snuff became very fashionable in Europe in the seventeenth century, and the little boxes in which it was stored were often inlaid with precious jewels and metals and exquisitely crafted. Various western countries presented snuff and snuff boxes to the early Ching court as gifts promoting cordial international ties. The Ching's own Imperial Workshops, improving on the original box shape, began to produce delicate and lovely snuff bottles. These have in turn inspired great enthusiasm among modern collectors.
The four snuff bottles, which are from the National Palace Museum's collection, featured on the stamps are Bamboo Stem Shaped Snuff Bottle, Snuff Bottle with Peony Motif, Amber Snuff Bottle and White Jade Snuff Bottle.