Scott No: 1786-1787
Serial number: J82
Values in set: 2
Date of issue: May 29, 1982
Denomination: 28 fen
Designer: Lu Tianjiao
Size of stamps: 31*52mm
Perforation: 11.5
Sheet composition: 40(10*4)
Printing process: Photogravure
Printing House: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing Works

J82 "First Anniversary of the Passing of Comrade Song Qingling, Honorary Chairman of the People's Republic of China" commemorative stamps were issued on May 29, 1982. The set consists of 2 stamps, printed by photogravure, designed by Lu Tianjiao, and printed by the Beijing Stamp Factory.

Theme of the Set

Song Qingling was a great fighter for patriotism, democracy, internationalism, and communism, and a world-famous great woman of the twentieth century. This set commemorates the first anniversary of Song Qingling's passing, selecting two important historical images of her, remembering the lifelong effort she devoted to national liberation, the cause of women and children, and world peace, and honoring her noble character.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background

Comrade Song Qingling at the First Plenary Session of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference

With the venue curtains as the background, the image shows Song Qingling in a dark long gown, wearing glasses, speaking at the podium. In 1949, the First Plenary Session of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference was convened, and Song Qingling was invited to attend and participate in the preparations for the founding of New China, playing an important role in the birth of the new country. Golden yellow roses surround the lower part of the design; the yellow rose was Song Qingling's favorite flower.

Portrait of Comrade Song Qingling

The image is a color portrait of Song Qingling in her later years, gentle in a blue gown, with a composed and kindly expression. In her later years Song Qingling still kept national reunification and the welfare of women and children in her heart, and was awarded the title of Honorary Chairman of the People's Republic of China. The background is surrounded by abundant flowers, symbolizing her warm and broad-minded feelings.

Artistic Design Features

Using historical photographs as the creative basis, the colors are soft and warm. One stamp records the historical scene of participating in and discussing state affairs on the eve of the founding of the country, and the other is a portrait from her later years—one historical scene and one recent portrait, echoing each other. The bottom of the stamps is uniformly decorated with yellow roses, which are also Song Qingling's representative flower. The design is dignified and elegant, full of remembrance. It is a classic commemorative stamp on a figure theme.