The Macao Post and Telecommunications Bureau (CTT) has won first place in the “Best Intaglio Stamp” category at the “World’s Best Stamps 2025” competition, marking major international recognition of Macau’s stamp design and printing standards, according to a statement by a CTT statement yesterday.
Co-organised by the United Nations’ (UN) Universal Postal Union, the World Association for the Development of Philately (WADP) and the Philatelic Federation of South Africa, the “World’s Best Stamps” competition is regarded as one of the highest honours in the global philatelic community, the statement said.
This year’s edition attracted 195 entries from 66 countries and regions, the statement noted, adding that submissions were evaluated by an international panel of stamp designers, scholars and senior philatelists through a comprehensive and multi-dimensional judging process.
The award-winning entry from the bureau is the “Rare Animals in China” souvenir sheet, which features the black-faced spoonbill as its central theme, the statement said.
The spoonbill is a nationally protected wild bird and has been highlighted in the design to raise awareness of conservation, according to the statement. Some of the rare migratory birds spend the winter months in Macau.
The stamp employs intaglio printing*, a technique known for its precision and depth, combining realistic and freehand artistic elements.
Through detailed engraving, the design has captured the texture and layering of the depicted bird’s white feathers while creating a strong three-dimensional (3D) visual effect. In addition to its artistic qualities, the piece also depicts the natural habitat of the black-faced spoonbill, reinforcing a message of environmental protection and biodiversity conservation, the statement noted, adding that the award aims to reflect international recognition of Macau’s capabilities in stamp design and printing, while also showcasing the cultural and artistic value of local philatelic works on a global stage.
The bureau said in the statement that it will continue to develop philatelic products that combine artistic creativity with cultural storytelling, promoting Macau through stamp design.
*An intaglio print is one where the image is incised into a surface (usually a metal plate). The ink is held in the sunken lines rather than on the raised surface, which is the opposite of relief printing. – Gemini
This souvenir sheet provided by the Macao Post and Telecommunications Bureau (CTT) yesterday shows its award-winning entry “Rare Animals in China”, which won first place in the “Best Intaglio Stamp” category at the “World’s Best Stamps 2025” competition.
