The Danish and Chinese postal systems has been collaborating for about two years by now and in the middle of December 2011 two intaglio-engraved stamps was officially issued in Nanjing, China.
Danish stamp engravers winning an international prize for a series of H.C. Andersen and China Post noticed the high quality of craftsmanship and asked Denmark Post for collaboration.
China Post turned to Denmark for help after stamp engravers there won an international prize for a series of Hans Christian Andersen stamps. Stories by that Danish writer are very popular in China, and the culmination of the program will be a series of four Danish stamps honoring Andersen designed in China, which will be issued in Copenhagen next June.
Engraving stamps from steel plates is a fading art, as cheaper offset printing and digital ways to deliver postage and mail dominate the market. But engraved stamps represent a great tradition of fine design and craftsmanship, says Lene Reipuert, the head of stamp production for Denmark Post to chinadaily.com.
