Scott No: 1343-44
Serial number: J18
Values in set: 2
Date of issue: May 23, 1977
Denomination: 16 fen
Designer: Wan Weisheng
Size of stamps: 40*30mm
Perforation: 11
Sheet composition: 50(5*10)
Printing process: Photogravure
Printing House: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing Works

J18 "Commemoration of the 35th Anniversary of the Publication of the Talks at the Yan'an Forum on Literature and Art" commemorative stamps were issued on May 23, 1977. The set consists of 2 stamps, printed by photogravure, designed by Wan Weisheng, and printed by the Beijing Stamp Factory. Stamp size 40 mm × 30 mm, perforation gauge 11 × 11.5, 50 stamps per sheet (5 × 10), with a total face value of 0.16 yuan for the set, both stamps at 8 fen, and a circulation of 10 million copies each.

Theme of the Set

The Talks at the Yan'an Forum on Literature and Art was delivered on May 23, 1942, at Yangjialing in Yan'an, establishing the fundamental direction of literature and art serving the broad masses of the people; it is a programmatic document for the development of China's revolutionary literature and art. 1977 marked the 35th anniversary of the talks. This set was issued on the anniversary day to recall the glorious tradition of Yan'an literature and art, call on the broad masses of literary and art workers to go deep into life and take root among the workers, peasants, and soldiers, combine literary and artistic creation with the construction of the times, inspire the people with literary and artistic works to devote themselves to socialist construction, and carry forward the original aspiration of revolutionary literature and art.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background

The Talks at the Yan'an Forum on Literature and Art Will Forever Shine

At the center of the design is the red silhouette of Yan'an's Pagoda Hill. Pagoda Hill is the symbol of Yan'an and carries the memory of the source of revolutionary literature and art. The pagoda is surrounded by layers of spreading floral patterns, with abundant flowers clustering around, implying that the spirit of the talks is like a lighthouse, long illuminating the path forward for literary and art work. The stamp name is arranged within a golden horizontal band at the top of the design, and the border bears continuous floral vine decoration, setting off a solemn and dignified commemorative atmosphere.

Literature and Art Serve the Workers, Peasants, and Soldiers

The main subject of the design is the red silhouette composed of a hammer, a sickle, and a rifle: the hammer represents workers, the sickle represents peasants, and the rifle represents the people's soldiers—the classic symbols of workers, peasants, and soldiers. The symbols are likewise surrounded by blooming floral patterns, making clear the core policy of "literature and art serve the workers, peasants, and soldiers" and interpreting the service objects and fundamental direction of literary and art work.

Artistic Design Features

The set uniformly adopts a horizontal stamp format, and the two stamps' layout frameworks echo each other, using a unified decorative paradigm: a white background paired with a dark floral border, with the stamp name and inscription areas all decorated with vine and floral patterns, and a symmetrical, neat composition. All the pictures use silhouette forms, discarding complicated figures and conveying the theme through symbolic language, with a condensed and restrained style. The colors are mainly red, gold, and green; the red silhouettes stand out prominently, and the floral patterns are delicate and soft. The photogravure printing has clean, transparent color blocks and soft, spreading lines.