Musical Instrument Stamps Appraisal

1970s Republic of Korea Musical Instrument Series Souvenir Sheet (Eo)

This is a philatelic souvenir sheet from the Republic of Korea, part of the 'Korean Musical Instrument Series' (indicated by the Hangul and English text at the top as series 4). The sheet features two identical postage stamps with a denomination of 30 won. The central motif depicts an 'Eo', a traditional Korean percussion instrument shaped like a crouching tiger with a sawtooth back, resting on a decorative wooden pedestal. Beside the instrument is a figure in traditional Korean attire (hanbok) and a gat (hat), likely the musician. The color palette consists of muted greens, grays, and earthy terracotta tones. The stamps are perforated and set against a larger, unperforated ivory-white paper background. The printing exhibits clear typography for both the Republic of Korea name and the Korean denomination. Regarding condition, the sheet appears to be in mint, never-hinged condition with sharp edges and clean perforations, showing no visible foxing, creases, or gum disturbance. This series was issued in the mid-1970s as part of a cultural commemorative effort by the Korean postal service. The craftsmanship of the engraving captures the fine textures of the tiger carving and the traditional garments, reflecting high-quality production standards for the era.