Scott No: 3454
Serial number: 2005-26
Values in set: 5
Date of issue: August 1, 2005
Denomination: 400 fen
Designer: Yan Bingwu
Size of stamps: 40*30 mm
Perforation: 12
Sheet composition: 10(2 sets)
Printing process: Photogravure
Printing House: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing Works

This commemorative stamp set, Early Generals of the People's Army (II), was issued on August 1, 2005. It consists of five stamps with a total face value of 4.00 yuan, designed by Yan Bingwu, with Zhao Lei serving as the responsible editor, and printed by Beijing Stamp Printing Works using the photogravure process.

Following the first set of early generals of the People's Army, this stamp set features five outstanding military leaders who sacrificed their lives during the revolutionary war years. They devoted themselves to the Agrarian Revolution and fought on the battlefields of the War of Resistance, shedding their blood for national independence and the liberation of the people. Issued on Army Day, this portrait stamp set commemorates the lasting achievements of these revolutionary martyrs and honors their unwavering spirit and dedication to the nation.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background

Yang Jingyu

A half-length portrait in military uniform, resolute and solemn, with a backdrop of the forests and snowfields of Northeast China. Yang Jingyu was a key founder and leader of the Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army, leading a long and arduous guerrilla struggle in the region. He fought alone to the very end, embodying an indomitable national spirit.

Zuo Quan

A military portrait, heroic and steady, with the outline of the Taihang Mountains in the background. Zuo Quan was a senior commander of the Eighth Route Army, skilled in guerrilla tactics, and commanded many classic battles against the Japanese. He was one of the highest-ranking Chinese officers to fall in the War of Resistance.

Peng Xuefeng

A half-length portrait in military uniform, resolute and determined, with the landscape of the Central Plains in the background. Peng Xuefeng established the Huaibei Anti-Japanese Base Area and founded the Fourth Division of the New Fourth Army. He was a versatile leader who fought on the Jianghuai battlefields and died heroically in a counteroffensive against the Japanese.

Luo Binghui

A military portrait with a heroic and bold bearing, set against the backdrop of the Central China battlefields. Luo Binghui was a renowned general of the New Fourth Army, skilled in guerrilla and mobile warfare. He established a solid anti-Japanese base in the Suzhou-Wan area and was known for his effective command and outstanding military achievements.

Guan Xiangying

A portrait with a composed and scholarly demeanor, reflecting his character as both a political and military leader. Guan Xiangying was an important political and military leader of the Red Army and the Eighth Route Army, responsible for political work in the military. He worked alongside He Long to establish the Shanxi-Suiyuan Anti-Japanese Base Area, dedicating himself tirelessly until the end of his life.

Artistic and Design Features

The stamps feature a vertical portrait format, with a printmaking-style realistic painting technique. The background elements evoke the landscapes of each general's battlefield region, with a deep and solemn tone. The photogravure printing provides delicate layers, with dignified and expressive portraits. The stamps incorporate multiple anti-counterfeiting features, including security paper, security ink, and fluorescent spray codes. The overall style is solemn and simple, carrying a strong sense of memorial tribute.

This stamp set is a commemorative issue on the theme of revolutionary military martyrs, suitable for thematic collections on modern revolutionary history and figures of the People's Army.