Special 410 24 Seasonal Periods Postage Stamps-Summer (2000) (D410A)

Stamp SN : D410A
Stamp Name : Special 410 24 Seasonal Periods Postage Stamps-Summer (2000)
Stamp Cat Standard : Special Stamps
Stamp Cat : Agriculture
Issue date : 2000-05-05
Dimension of stamps(mm.) : 36 X 25.5 (mm)
Printer : China Engraving & Printing Works,R.O.C.
Sheet composition : 30 ( 6 x 5 )
Print color : Colorful
Process : Deep etch offset
Paper : Phosphorescent stamp paper
Perforation : 11 1/2
Designer : J.C. Chen
Creative Director : Ben Wang

The names of the 24 seasonal periods describe changes in the weather over the course of a year. To give the public greater understanding about the life of the ancient Chinese, this Directorate is issuing a set of six stamps,featuring the six seasonal periods of summer: "Commencement of Summer," "Little Fullness," "Husks of Grain," "Summer Solstice", "Lesser Heat" and "Great Heat." The set is entitled“ 24 Seasonal Periods Postage Stamps-Summer.” The stamps depict sights in farming villages during different seasonal periods. The stamps are printed in se-tenant format.
The designs of the stamps are as follows:

“Commencement of Summer”: Now the seedlings planted in early spring have already grown, and the fields are green and lush. The temperature is rising gradually, resembling the start of summer, and the warm flower-blooming spring is about to end.
“Little Fullness”: Now the crops in the field have already borne grain, so it is named the “Little Fullness.” Farmers tread water wheels to provide seedlings with ample water.
“Husks of Grain”: Most of the crops planted in early spring have borne ears of grain, which are ripening. The plants sag under the weight. The hot and humid plum rain season is about to begin.
“Summer Solstice”: The sun is directly overhead at the Tropic of Cancer, and it is the longest day and shortest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. All the crops have already ripened, the really intense heat of summer has arrived, and one can hear the calls of cicadas everywhere in the trees.
“Lesser Heat”: With the weather growing steadily hotter, people use palm leaf fans to cool themselves. This symbolizes people’s adaptive abilities. As suggested by the name “Lesser Heat,” it is not yet the hottest time of the year.
“Great Heat”: This is the hottest time of the year, when people eat watermelon to dispel summer’s heat.

By-issues

(1)First Day Cover in small size to be sold at NT$2.00 apiece. First Day Cover in large size to be sold at NT$3.00 apiece. (2)Folder especially prepared for the stamps to be sold at NT$3.00 apiece. (3)Folder with crystal mount for better protection stamps of the stamps to be sold at NT$5.00 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 a low-valued stamp to be sold at NT$7.00 apiece. (6)Pre-cancelled First Day Cover affixed with a complete set of stamps to be sold at NT$33.00 apiece. (7)The 24 Seasonal Periods Postage Stamps Pictorial-Summer to be sold at NT$180.00 apiece.