Macao Post and Telecommunications Bureau will issue the stamp theme “Collections of the Palace Museum” on 13^th September, 2024. As the largest museum in China that houses collections of treasures in the possession of the imperial families through the dynasties, the Palace Museum has well preserved more than 1,000 pieces of clocks, dating from the 18^th century to the early 20^th century. The meticulous mechanical work and the extravagant decorative workmanship of these pieces represent the highest level of clock-making technology at that time and have made the Palace Museum one of the best museums of its kind in the world.

The stamp images are selected from the clock collection of the Palace Museum. The collections were exhibited in Macao in 2004 to celebrate the 5^th anniversary of the establishment of the Macao Special Administrative Region. This year marks the 25^th anniversary, which is of great significance for commemoration.

This issue includes a set of four stamps. The stamps illustrate the collections of “Gilded Copper Clock with Butterflies and Camel”, “Wooden Chiming Tower Clock with Calendar”, “Mirror Clock and Moving Figures in Gilded Copper” and “Gilded Copper Clock Inlaid with Beads”. The stamp has a circular outline at the top and a square outline at the bottom, expressing the concept of time and space as “Round Sky and Square Earth” in ancient China, which echoes the time theme of the clock collection.

The souvenir sheet shows the collection of “Partridge Clock in Gilded Copper”. The clock, which has gold as the main design tone, was integrated into the golden jewelry box. The image on the left side of the souvenir sheet is selected from an enamel portrait of a lady from the jewelry box. The lady is looking at the clock jewelry box on the right, forming a relationship between gazing and being gazed at.

The above issue will be available for sale at the General Post Office (9:00a.m. to 5:30p.m.), the Communications Museum (9:00a.m. to 1:00p.m., 2:30p.m. to 5:30p.m.), and the “Rua do Campo” Post Office (9:00a.m. to 6:00p.m.). The mail service for the philatelic products cancelled with the commemorative postmark of this issue will be available on the issue date at the above locations. The philatelic products are as follows:

The stamp designer of this issue is Mr. Ung Vai Meng, who is also the writer of the text of the information brochure.

This is the eighth theme of 2024 issues. The previous issued stamps are “Lunar Year of the Dragon” on 05/01/2024, “150^th Anniversary of Conde de São Januário General Hospital” on 06/01/2024, the label stamp “Lunar Year of the Dragon” on 01/02/2024, “140^th Anniversary of Macao Post and Telecommunications” on 01/03/2024, “75 Years of the Publication of O Clarim” on 23/04/2024, “40^th Anniversary of Television Broadcast in Macao” on 13/05/2024, “Intangible Cultural Heritage of Macao” on 17/05/2024, and “Trails in Macao” on 18/06/2024.

Technical Data of Stamp “Collections of the Palace Museum”

Details