2003-01, Year of Sheep (2003 Gui-wei Year)《癸未年》

Stamp Title: Year of Sheep (2003 Gui-wei Year)《癸未年》

Serial number: 2003-1
Values in set: 2
Denomination: 2.80 yuan
Date of issue: 5th Jan. 2003
Designer: Wang Huming
Size of stamps: 26*31 mm
Perforation: 11.5
Sheet composition: 32
Printing process: Photogravure-engraving
Printer: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing House

The year 2003, according to the lunar calendar, is the year of Gui-Wei, or the year of ram. One of the six domestic animals, the sheep has been with man since ancient times. In the early ages of human civilization , our ancestors herbed sheep and hunted. People like the sheep for its mildness and meekness. In addition, as the Chinese character for “sheep” pronounces the same as that for “sun”, and is interchangeable with the Chinese character for “auspiciousness” sheep is regarded as an auspicious creature. In China’s millennia of civilization, from the pets pulling carts in imperial courts to the legand of Guangzhou, the “City of Five Rams”, the sheep has been associated with many beautiful images, and embodies people’s wish for happy life and peace.

中国国家邮政局2003年1月5日发行《癸未年》特种邮票1套2枚。
（2-1）T 癸未大吉 80分 4620万枚
（2-2）T 三阳开泰 2元 3800万枚
志号：2003-1
版别：影雕套印
邮票规格：26×31毫米
齿孔度数：11.5度
版式一规格：32（8×4）
版式二规格：8枚（每图各自为一版，发行量80万版，120mm×140mm）
版式三规格：6枚（每图各自为一版，发行量230万版，92mm×142mm）
（2-1）原泥塑作者：胡新明、胡深
（2-2）原剪纸作者：刘静兰
版式二过桥剪纸作者：刘静兰
设计者：王虎鸣
小版张边饰设计者：王虎鸣
雕刻者：李庆发、姜伟杰
印制厂：北京邮票厂
注：2003年中国邮政贺卡（有奖）明信片于2003年2月19日公布中奖号码，兑奖日期为2003年3月1日至5月1日。版式三为三等奖，不出售。