Scott No: 1582-85
Serial number: J54
Values in set: 4
Date of issue: february 13, 1980
Denomination: 84 fen
Designer: Zou Jianjun
Size of stamps: 30*40mm
Perforation: 11.5*11
Sheet composition: 50(10*5)
Printing process: Photogravure
Printing House: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing Works

J54 "The 13th Winter Olympic Games" commemorative stamps were issued on February 13, 1980. The set consists of 4 stamps, printed by photogravure, designed by Zou Jianjun, and printed by the Beijing Stamp Factory. Stamp size 30 mm × 40 mm, perforation gauge 11.5 × 11, 50 stamps per sheet.

Theme of the Set

In 1979, China restored its lawful seat in the International Olympic Committee. In 1980, China went to Lake Placid in the United States to participate in the 13th Winter Olympic Games—the first time the Chinese delegation set foot on the Winter Olympic field. The Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications issued this set to record this historic expedition, carry forward the Olympic spirit, and display the appearance of China's ice and snow athletes actively participating in international winter sports events. It is New China's first Olympic-themed commemorative stamp set.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background

Emblem of the Chinese Olympic Committee

At the center of the design is the emblem of the Chinese Olympic Committee, composed of the five-star red flag and the Olympic five rings, with green mountain forests and the silhouette of the Great Wall in the background and snowflake patterns dotted above, indicating the Winter Olympics theme and marking China's return to the Olympic family.

Speed Skating

The design depicts a speed skater bending low and sprinting with all out effort. The athlete's posture is low and the dynamism is strong; a purple background with snowflake decoration expresses the tense and intense competitive characteristics of speed skating.

Figure Skating

The image shows a female athlete stretching, spinning, and dancing gracefully on the ice in a figure skating pose. The red dress is flowing and beautiful, embodying the event's characteristics of combining competition with artistic beauty.

Skiing

The image shows an alpine skier in a ski suit, holding ski poles, rapidly turning on a snowy slope with snow spray flying. A blue background sets off the icy and snowy mountain environment, displaying the thrilling and unrestrained athletic style of alpine skiing.

Artistic Design Features

The set adopts a bright decorative painting style, with snowflake patterns in the upper corner of each stamp, uniformly echoing the atmosphere of winter ice and snow events. The four stamps are, in sequence, the emblem, speed skating, figure skating, and alpine skiing—from symbol to competition events, with a clear structure. The colors are bright, the forms concise and dynamic, and the flavor of the times is strong. It is a classic of early Winter Olympics-themed stamps.