STAMP ISSUE “CHINESE OPERA – FAREWELL MY CONCUBINE”

Macao Post and Telecommunications Bureau will issue the stamp theme “Chinese Opera – Farewell My Concubine” on 8^th June, 2017. The Beijing Opera “Farewell My Concubine”, originally named “Chu-Han Contention”. The story is based on “Shiji - Annals of Xiang Yu”, “Romance of the Western Han Dynasty” and Kunqu opera “Qian Jin Ji”. In 1918, it was first performed by Yang Xiaolou and Shang Xiaoyun in Beijing; in 1922, Yang Xiaolou performed with Mei Lanfang. Afterwards, Qi Rushan and Wu Zhenxiu modified “Chu-Han Contention” and renamed it as “Farewell My Concubine”, which became the most common classical play of the Mei School among the Beijing Opera circle.

This issue includes a set of four stamps and one souvenir sheet, which is designed by a famous painter in Macao, Chan Wai Fai, the technique of drawing is vivid and lifelike, portrayed the battle between Xiang Yu and Liu Bang, the Hegemonial King of Western Chu and the King of Han, and also the poignant demonstration of loyalty of the concubine Yu, which ended in tragedy. The main plots from the opera presented in this issue include the “Emperor’s military Expedition”, “Clashes between Liu and Xiang”, “Concubine performs the Sword Dance”, “Emperor ends life at Wujiang River”, and “Ambush on all sides”.

The above issue will be available for sale at the General Post Office and the Communications Museum, from 9:00a.m. to 5:30p.m., the “Rua do Campo” Post Office, from 9:00a.m. to 7:00p.m., the Maritime Ferry Terminal Post Office and the Airport Post Office, from 10:00a.m. to 7:00p.m. The mail service for the relative philatelic products cancelled with the commemorative postmark will be available on the issue date at the above locations. The philatelic products are as follows:

Philatelic Products	Selling Price	Quantity
Set of 4 Stamps	15.00 patacas	350,000
Sheetlet	60.00 patacas
Souvenir Sheet	12.00 patacas	350,000
First Day Cover with Stamps	20.00 patacas	4,000
First Day Cover with Souvenir Sheet	17.00 patacas	4,000
Information Brochure	6.50 patacas	6,000
Information Brochure with Stamps	21.50 patacas
Information Brochure with Souvenir Sheet	18.50 patacas
Set of 4 Postcards	10.00 patacas	4,000
Set of 4 Maximum Cards	25.00 patacas

The composition of this issue is designed by Macao Post and Telecommunications Bureau, and the text of the information brochure is written by Ms. Zhou Qiao.

This is the fourth theme in 2017. The previous issued stamps are “Lunar Year of the Rooster” on 05/01/2017, “Macao: Back to Common Roots” on 10/02/2017, “Traditional Chinese Culture” on 01/03/2017, and the label stamp “Lunar Year of the Rooster” on 17/05/2017.

Technical Data of Stamp “CHINESE OPERA – FAREWELL MY CONCUBINE”

Details