Scott No: 2181
Serial number: J156
Values in set: 1
Date of issue: December 5, 1988
Denomination: 20 fen
Designers: Zhang Lei
Size of stamps: 27*40mm
Perforation: 11
Sheet composition: 56(7*8)
Printing process: Photogravure
Printing House: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing Works

J156 "International Volunteer Day" commemorative stamp was issued on December 5, 1988. The set consists of 1 stamp, printed by photogravure, with a stamp size of 40 × 30 mm, perforation gauge 11 × 11.5, and 50 stamps per sheet (5 × 10). Designed by He Jie and printed by the Beijing Stamp Factory.

Theme of the Set

The United Nations designated December 5 of each year as International Volunteer Day to recognize volunteers' actions of serving society without pay. This stamp takes this as its theme, praising the volunteer spirit, embodying the concept of volunteers from all countries cooperating and helping and dedicating themselves to one another to promote social development, and conveying the humanistic feeling of friendship, mutual assistance, and selfless dedication.

Stamp Design and Historical Background

International Volunteer Day

At the center of the design is a heart pattern interwoven from human silhouettes of different skin colors, surrounded by olive branches, symbolizing people of all ethnic groups around the world joining hands in peace and mutual assistance. The blending of human figures implies that volunteer work knows no national boundaries and that people dedicate themselves with one heart.

Artistic Design Features

The design adopts a concise modern decorative style, with a condensed composition and soft colors. Using the heart and olive branches as core symbols, the meaning is intuitive and easy to understand. The image is clean and elegant, full of warmth, fitting the expressive characteristics of stamps on international public welfare themes.