Special 393 Ancient Chinese Jade Articles Postage Stamps (Issue of 1998)

To promote Chinese culture and introduce the world to the exquisite art of ancient China, this Directorate has once again taken the suggestion of the National Palace Museum to base four stamps and a souvenir sheet on Ching dynasty "Jade Mountain" carvings. Two will have face values of NT$5.00, and the others will be set at NT$7.00 and NT$26.00. The Directorate has commissioned Mr. Chien Sung-tsun from the National Palace Museum to plan and design the stamps.

Because jade is hard and rare, jade carvings have long been objects people treasure. Traditional Chinese "Jade Mountain" carvings are typically landscapes that make use of a whole piece of rough jade. They depict rugged landscapes similar to those in traditional Chinese paintings and serve as excellent displays of carvers, skills.

The designs of the four stamps are briefly described as follows:
(1) A mountain with two pavilions: A stream cuts through the side of a mountain, and a stair leads up to two pavilions. The layout of the scene is well balanced, and the carving work is fine. There are ripples carved at the bottom of the mountain.
(2) Two men mine jade on a mountain: Carved from a piece of sapphire jade, much of it has been left uncarved. The work depicts two men mining jade. In pointy hats and foreign clothes,they appear to be Sinkiang jade miners. One is holding a round piece of jade in his hands, and the other carrying a piece on his shoulder. They appear to be working very hard.
(3) Boulder with figures washing an elephant: Its insides have been carved out to create a cave-like space.
Inside the cave, children are washing an elephant; which is meant to suggest the Chinese expression "all aspects change from old to new." (In Chinese "elephant" is a homonym for "aspect.") The elephant in the carving has turned back its head and looks tame and lovable. The children, who seem full of life, are in various different positions.
(4) A mountain with five old men: Two old men are descending, two are on a platform talking about the scenery, and the fifth is standing alone under an old pine tree gazing at the distance.

(1) First Day Cover in large size to be sold at NT$2.00 apiece.
(2) Folder especially prepared for the stamps to besold at NT$6.00 apiece.
(3) Folder with crystal mount for better protectionof the stamps to be sold at NT$8.00 apiece.Folder with crystal mount for better protectionof the souvenir sheet to be sold at NT$8.00 apiece.
(4) Loose-leaf stamp album page with plastic cover,to be sold at NT$16.00 apiece,
(5) Pre-cancelled First Day Cover affixed with alow-valued stamp to be sold at NT$7.00 apiece.
(6) Pre-cancelled First Day Cover affixed with acomplete set of stamps to be sold at NT$45.00 apiece.
(7) Pre-cancelled First Day Cover affixed with asouvenir sheet to be sold at NT$45.00 apiece.
(8) Pre-cancelled First Day of Issue Maximum cardsto be sold at NT$83.00 per set.