Scott No: 538-539
Serial number: C84
Values in set: 2
Date of issue: November 20, 1960
Denomination: 16 fen
Designer: Wu Yinxian, Lu Tianjiao
Engraver: Sun Hongnian
Size of stamps: 24*34mm
Perforation: 11.5*11
Sheet composition: 40(10*4)
Printing process:
Photogravure for Value 1;
Engraving for Value 2
Printing House: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing Works

C84 "Norman Bethune" commemorative stamps were issued on November 20, 1960. The set consists of 2 stamps: (2-1) printed by photogravure and (2-2) by engraving, designed by Lu Tianjiao, engraved by Sun Hongnian, and printed by the Beijing Stamp Factory. Stamp size 24 mm × 34 mm, perforation gauge 11.5 × 11, 40 stamps per sheet (10 × 4), with a total face value of 0.16 yuan for the set; both stamps at 8 fen, with a circulation of 5.4 million copies each.

Theme of the Set

Norman Bethune was a Canadian Communist Party member and an internationalist thoracic surgeon. During the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, he traveled a long way to China and went to the anti-Japanese frontline in the Jin-Cha-Ji base area, treating the wounded and training medical personnel under arduous conditions, and finally died of an infection contracted while rescuing the wounded. The Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications issued this set to honor this great internationalist fighter and carry forward the Bethune spirit of being utterly selfless and devoted solely to others.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background

Portrait of Dr. Bethune

The design is a half-length portrait of Bethune, wearing a plain jacket, with a calm and resolute expression, set off by a striking red block in the background and marked with his birth and death years. The portrait is taken from his image during his time in China, highlighting his selfless and ardent character; it is the main portrait image of this set.

Dr. Bethune Rescuing the Wounded

The design depicts a field operating room scene: Bethune, wearing an apron, bends over and concentrates on performing surgery on a wounded soldier, with an assistant cooperating beside him. It restores the true scene of him racing against time to treat anti-Japanese wounded under crude frontline conditions, and is a vivid portrayal of his working state in the base area.

Artistic Design Features

The set uniformly adopts a vertical format, using two printing processes to form a contrast. The first stamp, printed by photogravure, has bright colors, with the red background setting off the figure's spirit; the second, printed by engraving, has delicate, solid lines, using the texture of black-and-white-gray sketching to present the surgical scene, with a strong atmosphere. One static and one dynamic, the portrait and the battlefield work scene echo each other, dignified and plain, with strong appeal.