Karst's release of a small version of the Quad League is not a useful attempt

China Post recently announced the stamp artwork and layout of the "Southern China Karst", this time the size of the reverse adjustment, the large version of 2 sets of stamps, the small version of 4 editions of 7 editions. Some people on the Internet applauded, some people said that the postal service in order to accumulate money (the author thinks not, according to the par value, it is thirty million, for the national postal service is a dime), but rational thinking, careful consideration, this is not a beneficial attempt.

The Chinese stamp layout has been innovated twice. After the first innovation introduced the photocopy machine, each edition became less than 50 pieces. In the early days, most of the Chinese stamps were 7 or 80 per edition, and some were as high as 120 per edition.

The second time was from 1999, of which 1999-2002 was the embryonic period of the second layout change, the large stamp edition of this period gradually became 16 stamps, and there were bright edges, this change was basically completed in 2002, except for the zodiac signs that continued to maintain 32 plates, almost all other stamps became 20 or 16 stamps. During this period, small editions were tried to be released, such as the Spring Festival, the Zhaoling Liujun, the Dragon Boat Festival, and the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Party. From 2003 to 2004, China Post boldly reformed, and each set of stamps issued large and small editions. However, due to the high market pressure, in 2005, the size version was integrated, and the small version was scheduled to get the large version throughout the year. However, the combination of large and small editions only insisted on one year, and many collectors felt that it was too wasteful to tear off the beautiful edge paper, and in 2006, the second typographic innovation was completed, that is, the release of about 16 large editions and some themes (about ten) issued small editions.

The second innovation was very successful, especially from 2003 to 2006, with exquisite design and diverse layouts. However, in 2006, the large edition was completely changed to a white edge, and the layout changes accumulated in the previous three years were reduced to nothing. This change can be said to be a failure, and it is also caused by many stamp collectors who are stubborn and feel that it is a pity to tear off the side paper. This part of the people may not have figured it out, and the white edge should also be torn off?

The first innovation was brought about by the import of machinery from stamp factories, and stamps were a necessity during this period. The second innovation was caused by the changes in the philatelic industry after the new century, and everyone needed fresh physical objects to stimulate stamp collection, and during this period, stamps changed from necessities to optional supplies.

With the advent of the electronic age, is it time for a third revolution? Nowadays, the functionality of stamps is getting worse and worse, and few people use stamps, which have become promotional materials and collectibles.

The change in the layout of the stamp "Southern China Karst" should be an experimental product of the third change. In the past two years, the small version has also established chicken ribs, and in everyone's mind, it is already available or not. However, it does not mean that the new layout form cannot be used to carry out the third innovation of the Chinese stamp layout - in the future, each set of stamps, the large edition is a large consecutive stamp edition, each edition does not exceed 16 pieces, and four additional editions are issued, which are single editions and 4 pieces per edition, solving the problem of collectors collecting the four-party union.

That is to say, in the future, a single set of stamps will be issued with 8-16 large plates; each set of more than 2 stamps will be issued with 16 consecutive stamp plates; that is, 2 sets of each stamp will be issued as 4-8 sets of consecutive stamp editions; 3 sets of each set will be issued as 4-5 sets of consecutive stamp editions; 4 sets of each set will be issued with 4 sets of consecutive stamp editions; and so on, each set of more than 8 stamps will be issued as a set of stamp editions. At the same time, four editions of a single edition were issued.

This kind of reform can solve several problems.

First, the face value of the large edition has been reduced, and the annual large edition has changed from 1800 yuan to about 500 yuan, and the cost of booking the large edition has been reduced.

Second, the processing of the year-end annual album is more convenient, all of which are issued by combined bills, tearing up the tickets and inserting the books have become simple, and there is no change to the predetermined annual albums and sets.

The third is to book a four-party coupon, and each set of tickets can no longer be troubled by tearing up the four-party coupon, because each set of tickets has a four-party version. If calculated according to the annual face value of 150 yuan, the predetermined payment for the whole year is 600 yuan, and now there is no change.

The fourth is to cancel the small version and issue a four-party joint version, which also solves the problem of the change of the edge decoration after the cancellation of the small version.

Fifth, the four-party joint version can solve various regional problems, and each place can issue different numbers of four-party joint versions according to the needs of their own development products. Of course, China Post should achieve overall control, and can properly control one of them to stabilize the value.

According to the experience of the second layout reform, 2022 can be regarded as the embryonic period, and one or two sets of stamps can be selected to issue four editions to try, in 2023 and 2024, you can choose about 15 sets of varieties, the large edition is less than 16 joint bills, and the four-party joint edition is issued instead of the small edition. If successful, it can be fully implemented.

Personally, I think that the form and change of the large and small editions of "South China Karst" are active explorations, but only "South China Karst" is not a pleasing subject, there are also small versions of the predetermined amount of drag, the final market results are certainly not optimistic, we should have this expectation, I hope that the stamp issuing department and stamp collectors can rationally look at the price changes of "South China Karst", do not deny this attempt because of discounts.

As I said in a previous article, only when Chinese stamps are good can Chinese stamps be good; only when Chinese stamps are good can the vast number of philatelic enthusiasts be good; only when the stamp issuing departments and the vast number of philatelic enthusiasts are in one place can Chinese stamps be good. I also hope that philatelic enthusiasts will not look at China Post with colored glasses, and hope that China Post can better serve stamp collectors.