Scott No: 796-798, 796a
Serial number: C106, C106m
Values in set: 3
Date of issue:
October 1, 1964 for mint stamps;
October 20, 1964 for S/S
Denomination: 24 fen
Designer: Lu Tianjiao
Size of stamps: 31*52mm
Perforation: 11.5
Sheet composition: 50(10*5)
Size of S/S: 154*114mm
Stamp of S/S: 31*52
Perforation of S/S: 11.5
Printing process: Photogravure
Printing House: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing Works

Issued on October 1, 1964, this complete set consists of 3 stamps printed via the photogravure process. Designed by Lu Tianjiao, they were produced by the Beijing Stamp Printing House. Each stamp measures 31 mm × 52 mm with a perforation gauge of 11.5. A full sheet contains 50 stamps arranged in 10 columns and 5 rows, and the three stamps are printed as a horizontal se-tenant strip. The total face value of the set is 0.24 yuan. Print runs: 8.4 million pieces for (3‑1), and 6.3 million pieces each for (3‑2) and (3‑3). The souvenir sheet was issued on October 20, 1964. It measures 155 mm × 115 mm, with the inner se-tenant stamps measuring 93 mm × 52 mm. No perforations separate the three stamps on the sheet. It carries a face value of 0.24 yuan and had a print run of 40 000 pieces.

Core Theme of the Set

The People’s Republic of China was founded on October 1, 1949, and 1964 marked its 15th anniversary. On National Day that year, a grand ceremony and mass parade were held at Tiananmen Square in the capital, where people from all corners of the country gathered to celebrate the 15th birthday of the nation. The Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications released this se-tenant commemorative set on the same day. Using the Tiananmen celebration parade as a unifying visual motif, with slogan pillars on either side, the stamps capture the fervent atmosphere of nationwide celebration, document the country’s construction achievements over 15 years, and convey the joy of the whole people on National Day. It was also the first National‑Day‑themed souvenir sheet in the People’s Republic of China, holding a significant place in the history of National‑Day stamp issues.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background

Long Live the Communist Party of China

This is the left‑hand panel of the three‑stamp strip. A tall red slogan pillar rises on the left, bearing the vertical inscription *Long Live the Communist Party of China*. Red flags flutter beside it, and below stand cheering workers, peasants and people from all walks of life. Auspicious clouds drift across the sky, and colourful balloons trailing slogan banners float aloft, blending smoothly into the Tiananmen scene of the middle stamp. The festive, vibrant composition expresses the theme of upholding the Party’s leadership.

Celebrating the 15th Anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Republic of China

The middle stamp forms the visual heart of the entire set. At its centre is the Tiananmen Rostrum, topped by the fluttering Five‑Star Red Flag. The stamp bears the words *15th Anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Republic of China* and the dates *1949–1964*. Beneath Tiananmen march cheering parade crowds, while balloons, streamers and auspicious clouds fill the sky, linking the left and right panels into a cohesive whole.

Long Live Chairman Mao

This is the right‑hand panel, symmetrical in composition to the left one. A red slogan pillar stands on the right, inscribed *Long Live Chairman Mao*. Below it gather cheering people of all ethnic groups. Red flags, colourful balloons and auspicious clouds merge with the central scene, creating a mirroring effect that builds the grandeur of the parade and celebration.

Souvenir Sheet: 15th Anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Republic of China

The souvenir sheet encloses the three se-tenant stamps in full. Its most distinctive feature is the absence of perforations between the stamps, meaning they cannot be separated for individual use. The stamp designs are identical to those in the regular set, set against a soft pale‑yellow background and framed by an elegant golden border. At the bottom of the sheet, the title *15th Anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Republic of China* and the years *1949–1964* are printed in red, giving the piece the appearance of a festive commemorative print.

Artistic Design Features

The set employs vertical‑format stamps joined horizontally, with the three images forming a seamless, continuous long scroll of celebration. Symmetrical on both sides with a strong focal point at the centre, the design is highly ingenious in conception. The style belongs to the classic festive decorative propaganda art of the 1960s: lines are smooth and full, colours bright and rich. Red and gold dominate the palette, accompanied by traditional festive motifs such as auspicious clouds, balloons and red flags, creating an atmosphere that is both lively and dignified, brimming with festive spirit.