Stamp Title: Year of Cock (Gui-You Year)《癸酉年-鸡》
Serial number: 1993-1
Values in set: 2
Date of issue: January 5, 1993
Designers: Cai Lanying
Engravers: Hu Zhenyuan
Size: 26*31mm
Perforation: 11.5
Sheet composition: 32
Printing process: gravure-engraving combined

For the convenience of farming production with clear seasonal changes, China traditionally applied the lunar calendar based on the shape of the moon. The order of years was composed of the ten Heavenly Stems and the Twelve Earthly Branches. The combination of Jia, Yi, Bing, Ding etc. in the ten Heavenly Stems and Zi, Chou, Yin, Mao etc in the Twelve Earthly Branches totals 60 kinds, which are called “60 Jia Zi” meaning a cycle of 60 years. Twelve animals match with the twelve Earthly Branches with each representing one year. Gui-You Year is the year of the cock. Therefore, cock is the symbolic animal for people born in this year.

In this set of stamps, the first one with white background and red cock implies our country will be more prosperous in the coming year. The second one, a Chinese character of “cock” with the drawing of peony, lotus, chrysanthemum and plum blossom around, symbolizes good luck for four seasons.

国家邮政局1993年1月5日发行《癸酉年-鸡》特种邮票1套2枚。
（2-1）T 雄鸡报晓 20 分 30006.5万枚
（2-2）T 四季吉祥 50 分 25062.5万枚
志号名称：1993-1T
版别：影写、雕刻
整版枚数：32枚
全套面值：0.70元
邮票规格：26 × 31毫米
齿孔度数：11 × 11.5度
设计者：蔡兰英
雕刻者：呼振源、阎炳武、李庆发、姜伟杰
印制机构：北京邮票厂