Scott No: 2067
Serial number: J133
Values in set: 1
Date of issue: November 12, 1986
Denomination: 200 fen
Designers: Xin Shangyi
Size of stamps: 52*62mm
Size of S/S: 82*137mm
Perforation: 11.5
Printing process: Photogravure
Printing House: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing Works

J133 "120th Anniversary of the Birth of Sun Yat-sen" commemorative souvenir sheet was issued on November 12, 1986. The set consists of 1 souvenir sheet, printed by photogravure, with a souvenir sheet size of 82 × 137 mm, stamp size 52 × 62 mm, perforation gauge 11.5. Designed by Jin Shangyi and printed by the Beijing Stamp Factory.

Theme of the Set

Mr. Sun Yat-sen was a great national hero, a great patriot, and a great pioneer of the Chinese democratic revolution. He was the first to raise the banner of thorough anti-imperialism and anti-feudalism, led the Revolution of 1911 to overthrow the feudal autocratic monarchy that had ruled China for more than two thousand years, and founded the Republic of China. He proposed the Three Principles of the People and, in his later years, kept pace with the trend of the times by establishing the three great policies of allying with Russia, allying with the Communist Party, and supporting the peasants and workers, promoting the first cooperation between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party. 1986 marked the 120th anniversary of Sun Yat-sen's birth. This souvenir sheet was issued to honor his glorious achievements of dedicating his life to saving the country and the people and pursuing national reunification and national rejuvenation, and to carry forward the lofty spirit of "the world belongs to all."

Stamp Design and Historical Background

Half-Length Portrait of Mr. Sun Yat-sen

The image is an oil portrait created by Jin Shangyi, depicting Sun Yat-sen in his later years. He wears a dark Zhongshan suit and leans on a walking stick with one hand, his gaze steady and resolute. The background consists of distant mountains, rivers and seas, and clouds and sky, setting off a grand and expansive artistic conception. The souvenir sheet's border is dark, with exquisite scrolling-grass patterns and the words "120th Anniversary of the Birth of Sun Yat-sen" at the top, and the birth and death years 1866–1986 marked below. The whole is dignified and elegant.

Artistic Design Features

Using oil painting as the medium of expression, the modeling is rigorous and realistic, the layers of light and shadow are delicate and soft, and the colors are steady and weighty. The painter captures the figure's inner spiritual temperament, and the landscape background sets off his breadth of mind and vision, while the dark border further strengthens the commemorative atmosphere. This is China's first figure-themed souvenir sheet designed from an original oil painting. With a vivid expression, it combines artistry with commemorative quality, was voted the Best Stamp of 1986, and is a fine work among commemorative figure stamps.