Scott No: 1894-1895
Serial number: J99
Values in set: 2
Date of issue: November 9, 1983
Denomination: 28 fen
Designer: Huang Li
Size of stamps: 31*38.5mm
Perforation: 11.5
Sheet composition: 50 (10*5)
Printing process: Photogravure
Printing House: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing Works

J99 "All-China Philatelic Exhibition · 1983 · Beijing" commemorative stamps were issued on November 29, 1983. The set consists of 2 stamps, printed by photogravure, designed by Huang Li, and printed by the Beijing Stamp Factory. This is New China's first set of stamps in the "stamp-on-stamp" format, issued to commemorate the All-China Philatelic Exhibition held in Beijing in 1983.

Theme of the Set

This national philatelic exhibition was a grand philatelic event in the early period of reform and opening up. The stamps use two classic old stamps from different eras as their main subjects—one representing New China's postal service and the other representing the postal service of the revolutionary base areas—paired with traditional auspicious patterns, linking together the development thread of China Post and highlighting the unique value of philately in carrying forward history and connecting past and present. It has milestone significance in the history of China's philatelic development.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background

Stamp-on-Stamp (National Emblem)

The main subject is the 1951 Special 1 "National Emblem" stamp, surrounded by a red background and peony-and-heavenly-deer patterns. This old stamp is a classic early stamp of New China, symbolizing the newly born people's political power and representing the start of New China's postal service.

Stamp-on-Stamp (Yan'an Pagoda Hill)

The main subject is the Yan'an Pagoda Hill stamp issued by the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region Postal Service, with a green background paired with traditional patterns. Yan'an Pagoda Hill is the symbol of the revolutionary base areas and represents the border region postal service during the war years, bearing witness to the course of red communications in the beacon-fire years.

Artistic Design Features

The set adopts the format of traditional hanging-scroll mounting, with red and green background colors distinguishing the two stamps, and intricate, exquisite traditional patterns around them setting off the old stamps in the center. Condensing precious old stamps onto new stamps is an ingenious conception, antique and elegant. This set was voted the Best Designed Stamp of the year and is a classic work on the themes of philatelic exhibitions and stamp-on-stamp.