T107, Bing-Yin Year (1986 Year of the Tiger)《丙寅年.虎年》

Stamp Title: Bing-Yin Year (1986 Year of the Tiger)
Serial number: T107
Values in set: 1
Date of issue: January 5, 1986
Denomination: 8 fen
Designers: Zhang Guofan
Engraver: Hu Zhengyuan
Size of stamps: 26*31mm
Perforation: 11.5
Sheet composition: 80(10*8)
Printing process: Engraving and photogravure
Printing House: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing Works

1986 is the Year of the Tiger in the Chinese lunar calendar. The heavenly stems and earthly branches were the traditional Chinese method for numbering the years. The tiger is the third of the third of the 12 zodiac animals. In popular China, the tiger has always been considered the king of all beasts, a sign of might, strength the households. In Licheng of Shanxi Province, there is a legend about a tiger taming a mountain monster: The mountain monster, manipulating a drove of poisonous snakes, insects and scorpions, did harm to the local residents. When a deity came, he offered elixirs of life to detoxify the locals. Prior to his departure, he presented a “divine gift”-a gold tiger-to the locals. Safety had been guaranteed for the households and people of Licheng ever since. Later, locals began to sew cloth tigers of various descriptions, and children began to wear tiger-head shoes and tiger-head caps. This practice has been passed down to the present and has evolved into a local tradition.

T107 丙寅年
8分，虎，12663.26万枚。
发行日期：1986.1.5。影雕套印。P11.5。26mm×31mm。80（8×10）
设计：张国藩。[E]呼振源。印刷：北京邮票厂。

中国是老虎的主要产地，以前广布于中国十多个省区，数量也较多。在北京附近的东陵地区，有1912年还有捕杀猛虎的记录。本世纪 以来，虎已处于濒临灭绝的险境。现在，国际上极为关注这种珍稀动物的生存情况，在我国的当务之急是给老虎的生活创造必要的条件。第一轮生肖虎邮票是邮电部发行的虎年特种邮票，这是我国首轮生肖邮票的第7枚，设计者运用装饰性画法，展现在人们面 前的是一只雄风凛凛，气韵生动的下山猛虎。