T159, Xinwei Year (1991 Year of the Sheep)《辛未年.羊年》

Stamp Title: Xinwei Year (1991 Year of the Sheep)
Serial number: T159
Values in set: 1
Denomination: 20 fen
Date of issue: January 5, 1991
Designer: Lei Hanlin
Engraver: Hu Zhenyuan
Size of stamps: 26*31 mm
Perforation: 11.5
Sheet composition: 80 (8*10)
Printing process: Engraving and photogravure
Printing House: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing Works

The year 1991, according to the lunar calendar, is the year of Xinwei, 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.

T159 辛未年/羊年
8分，辛未年，12481.65万枚。
发行日期：1991.1.5。影雕套印。P11.5。26mm×31mm。80（8×10）。
[D]雷汉林。[E]呼振源。印刷：北京邮票厂。

第一轮生肖邮票羊，是第一轮的最后一枚，与前十一位同胞不同的是，由于邮资变动，使得羊票成为第一枚价格是20分的生肖票，12年的轮回，票面价格的上涨，也表现了中国经济的发展，从这个角度说，羊票在一轮生肖中有特殊意义，特殊地位。
从该枚羊票的设计来看，腊梅、牡丹、荷花、菊花四季吉祥花卉，有美感也符合羊大为美的内涵。回头羊，是对整个一轮生肖票的回顾，也是对过去十二年中国发展的回望!
尽管票面价格提高近3倍，但是生肖羊的价值仍与蛇，马其他生肖票相当，目前每版价仅40余元，折合每枚5角多，而时间已过去18年，从而使得第一轮生肖羊邮票具有潜在的比价效应。