Glowing Maritime Heritage: China’s 2006 "Modern Lighthouses" Stamp Sheet
Issued by China Post on May 22, 2006, this captivating special stamp issue (Catalog No. 2006-12T) celebrates the vital beacons guiding maritime commerce along China's vast coastline. Titled "Modern Lighthouses" (现代灯塔), the sheet features a repeating block of four historically significant architectural marvels, each holding an 80-fen denomination.
The sheet showcases:
- Dagu Lighthouse (大沽灯塔): The iconic red-and-white banded tower standing guard over Tianjin Port.
- Guishandao Lighthouse (桂山岛灯塔): The structural stone tower illuminating the Pearl River Estuary in Guangdong.
- Wusongkou Lighthouse (吴淞口灯塔): The modern white cylindrical tower guiding vessels into Shanghai's busy waterways.
- Mulantou Lighthouse (木栏头灯塔): The soaring, futuristic beacon perched at the northern tip of Hainan Island.
What makes this issue a true standout for philatelists is its brilliant integration of security technology executed by the Beijing Stamp Factory. Under normal lighting, the stamps offer clean, serene illustrations of coastal engineering. However, place this sheet under an ultraviolet (UV) blacklight, and it completely transforms.
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