Scott No: 795
Serial number: C107
Values in set: 1
Date of issue: September 28, 1964
Denomination: 8 fen
Designer: Zhong Lin, Sun Chuanzhe
Size of stamps: 27.5*48mm
Perforation: 11.5
Sheet composition: 40(10*4)
Printing process: Photogravure
Printing House: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing Works

C107 "Centenary of the Founding of the First International" commemorative stamp was issued on September 28, 1964. The set consists of 1 stamp, printed by photogravure, designed by Zhong Ling and Sun Chuanzhe, and printed by the Beijing Stamp Factory. Stamp size 27.5 mm × 48 mm, perforation gauge 11.5, 40 stamps per sheet, with a face value of 8 fen, a total face value of 0.08 yuan for the set, and a circulation of 5 million copies.

Theme of the Set

The First International, that is, the International Workingmen's Association, was the world proletariat's first mass international organization. On September 28, 1864, workers' representatives from Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, and other countries and democratic exiles held a meeting at St. Martin's Hall in London to support the Polish uprising; at the meeting it was decided to establish an international workers' organization. Marx was invited to attend and was elected a member of the Provisional Central Committee, and subsequently drafted the Association's Inaugural Address and General Rules. Under the leadership of Marx and Engels, the First International spread scientific socialism, united the working class of various countries, supported the Paris Commune, and was declared dissolved at the representative conference in Philadelphia, USA, in 1876.

The Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications deliberately chose the day of the centenary of the founding of the First International to issue this stamp, combining the radiant images of Marx and Engels with the banner of the international communist movement, to commemorate the birth of this proletarian international organization and highlight the historical significance of the international workers' united struggle under the guidance of Marxism.

Stamp Design and Historical Background

Portraits of Marx and Engels, Red Flag, Exterior of St. Martin's Hall, London

The design uses a spreading, billowing bright red flag filling the entire stamp format as the overarching background; the red is intense and weighty, symbolizing the tremendous momentum of the international communist movement. Above the flag, the profile portraits of the two revolutionary mentors Marx and Engels stand side by side, with deep gazes and solemn expressions, depicted steadily and powerfully. Below the flag is painted the birthplace of the First International—the exterior of St. Martin's Hall in London, England, with columns and facade concise and realistic, echoing the portraits above. On the left side of the stamp are printed vertically the stamp title "Centenary of the Founding of the First International," with the years "1864–1964" marked below, along with the face value and serial designation, making the theme clear at a glance.

Artistic Design Features

This stamp uses a vertical long format; the 27.5 mm × 48 mm proportion is quite rare among the old Ji-te Ji-prefix stamps. The narrow, slender format precisely accommodates the vertical layered structure of "portraits above, meeting site below," making the picture appear more upright and dignified. The composition follows the classic poster paradigm of a red flag as the ground and figures as the main subject, discarding superfluous scenes; the red keynote forms a strong contrast with the light-and-shadow depiction of the portraits, giving direct and powerful visual impact.

The photogravure printing has saturated, transparent colors; the red of the flag is rich in layers, the light-and-shadow transitions of the figures' faces and clothing are soft, and the outline lines of St. Martin's Hall are clean and clear. The set consists of only one stamp, with a major subject and a concise format. It is a stamp of distinctive style among the 1960s commemorative stamps on the theme of the international communist movement.