The first six stamps of a series featuring poems written in xingshu, or running hand, a type of traditional calligraphy that is between regular script and cursive script, were issued last Saturday.

For the first time, the stamps are printed on xuan paper, a high quality rice paper made in Xuancheng, Anhui Province, which is good for traditional Chinese painting and calligraphy.

Each stamp features two parts of the three most highly acclaimed poems written in running hand. They are: “Preface to Orchid Pavilion Collection” by Wang Xizhi of the Eastern Jin Dynasty (317-420), “In Memorial for My Nephew” by Yan Zhenqing of the Tang Dynasty (618-907), and “A Note in Huangzhou on Cold Meal Day” by Su Shi of the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127).