Scott No: 467-482
Serial number: C72
Values in set: 16
Date of issue: November 28, 1959
Denomination: 128 fen
Designer: Lu Tianjiao, Wu Jiankun, Han Xiangqi, Wan Weisheng, Sun Chuanzhe
Size of stamps: 29*24mm
Perforation: 14
Sheet composition: 80(8*10)
Printing process: Offset
Printing House: Beijing People's Printing Works

C72 "The First National Games" commemorative stamps were issued on December 28, 1959. The set consists of 16 stamps, printed by offset, designed by Wu Jiankun, Han Xiangqi, Lu Tianjiao, Sun Chuanzhe, and Wan Weisheng, and printed by the Beijing People's Printing Factory. Stamp size 29 mm × 24 mm, perforation gauge 14, 80 stamps per sheet (8 × 10), with a total face value of 1.28 yuan for the set; all at 8 fen, each with a circulation of 8 million copies, without gum throughout the set.

Theme of the Set

The First National Games were held at the Beijing Workers' Stadium from September 13 to October 3, 1959, and were the first national comprehensive sports gala held in New China. Delegations from all provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the central government, as well as the People's Liberation Army, participated, displaying the appearance of New China's sports undertakings in their early stage and advocating fitness for all and the development of sports. The Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications issued this set after the games, selecting the stadium scene and fifteen competitive events to record this grand sports event and praise the athletes' striving spirit.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background

Sports Ground

The main subject of the design is the statue of a male and female athlete in front of the Beijing Workers' Stadium, the figures holding high a flag and advancing vigorously. It is the opening stamp of the entire set, symbolizing the opening of the National Games, and is also the landmark sculpture of these National Games.

Parachuting

The design depicts an athlete opening a parachute in the air, with an extended posture, displaying the thrilling beauty of the aerial parachuting event.

Shooting

An athlete holds a gun and aims, focused and steady, expressing the precise, calm competitive characteristics of shooting.

Swimming

A swimmer leaps into the water, capturing the moment of entry, embodying the speed and dynamism of water events.

Table Tennis

Athletes swing their rackets in a match—a ball sport widely loved by the Chinese people and a traditional advantageous sport of China.

Weightlifting

An athlete exerts force to lift the barbell, highlighting the sense of power and displaying the shocking scene of strength competition.

High Jump

An athlete leaps over the bar in midair, freezing the peak moment of the jump and highlighting explosive power.

Rowing

Athletes row the racing boat in unison, working with one heart, embodying the cooperative spirit of water team events.

Track Events

A sprinter dashes forward with all his strength, with a vigorous posture, representing the basic track-and-field event.

Basketball

On the court, players dribble and contest, displaying the intense confrontational atmosphere of team ball sports.

Martial Arts

A martial arts athlete performs a traditional routine, bringing traditional Chinese martial arts into sports competition and embodying the characteristics of national sports.

Motorcycle

Motorcycle racers bend low and race, with the machines speeding along, giving a strong sense of speed; it was a distinctive event of these National Games.

Gymnastics

A woman gymnast performs a movement in midair, with a graceful posture, displaying the lively, elegant beauty of gymnastics.

Cycling

Cyclists bend low and ride, racing with all their strength, presenting the cycling event.

Horse Racing

A rider gallops on horseback, with the steed speeding along; it is an equestrian event rich in traditional characteristics.

Football

A football player raises his foot to shoot, capturing the moment of attack and presenting the popular sport of football.

Artistic Design Features

The set uniformly adopts a horizontal format and offset printing, with concise, generalized forms and a decorative silhouette style. The sixteen stamps share the same compositional paradigm, each paired with an independent background color, relying on color to distinguish the events; the pictures are clean and crisp, highlighting the athletes' dynamics. Opening with the stadium sculpture, the set arranges sports events of different categories in sequence, covering track and field, ball sports, water sports, strength sports, traditional sports, and motorcycle and equestrian events, with rich categories. The whole set has the same face value and circulation; it is the sports large set with the largest number of stamps among the old Ji-te stamps and a classic work of New China's sports stamps.