This stamp was produced for the Southern African Philatelic Association.

The Chinese were skilled in practical chemistry. By the time of the Han dynasty (206 BC - AD 220) they were quite familiar with the three basic ingredients of gunpowder, that is charcoal, sulphur, and saltpetre. They have a long tradition of the use of incendiary mixtures in warfare. In AD 1132 open-ended bamboo tubes packed with gunpowder were used as fire-spitting lances, like gigantic Roman candles. Sometimes the powder was mixed with round bullets, thus making a primitve musket. Bamboo obviously only withstood moderate pressue and not until bronze and iron barrels were introduced could the full explosve force of gunpowder be utilized.