Scott No: 1099-02
Serial number: N45-48
Values in set: 4
Date of issue: September 2, 1972
Denomination: 46 fen
Designer: Yang Baizi, Wu Ming
Size of stamps:
30*40mm for N45, N48;
40*30mm for N46, N47
Perforation:
11.5*11 for N45, N48;
11*11.5 for N46, N47
Sheet composition:
50(10*5) for N45, N48;
50(5*10) for N46, N47
Printing process: Photogravure
Printing House: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing Works

Numbered Stamps 45-48 "The First Asian Table Tennis Championships" numbered stamps were issued on September 2, 1972. The set consists of 4 stamps, printed by photogravure, designed by Yang Baizi and Wu Min, and printed by the Beijing Stamp Factory. Nos. 45 and 48 measure 30 mm × 40 mm, perforation gauge 11.5 × 11, 50 stamps per sheet; Nos. 46 and 47 measure 40 mm × 30 mm, perforation gauge 11 × 11.5, 50 stamps per sheet.

Theme of the Set

From September 2 to 13, 1972, the First Asian Table Tennis Championships were held in Beijing, with table tennis teams from 31 Asian countries and regions participating. The Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications issued this set on the opening day of the event to commemorate this grand Asian sports gathering, continue the friendly thread of ping-pong diplomacy, and use table tennis as a bond to enhance exchange, unity, and friendship among athletes of Asian countries.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background

Commemorative Medal of the First Asian Table Tennis Championships

With green pines and distant mountains as the background, the center of the design is the emblem of these championships. The emblem is composed of a table tennis racket and the English abbreviation for Asia, with a concise and striking composition; it is the landmark symbol of the event, implying the vigorous development of Asian table tennis.

Welcome

The design has warm colors: young people of all ethnic groups hold flowers and table tennis rackets, rejoicing and welcoming the athletes from all parts of Asia, expressing the host's warm hospitality.

Competition

A red background sets off the atmosphere of the arena. Two table tennis doubles players are cooperating to return the ball, with tense and agile movements, freezing the wonderful moment of competition on the court and displaying the competitive charm of table tennis.

Friendship

The design gathers women athletes from different Asian countries and regions, who meet and talk and shake hands in greeting, surrounded by flowers, interpreting the core purpose of the event—learning from one another and enhancing friendship.

Artistic Design Features

The set adopts a poster style, with bright, saturated colors and alternating horizontal and vertical formats. The four stamps are arranged in the order of the emblem, welcoming guests, competition on the court, and athletes gathering joyfully, with clear narrative layers and a distinct theme. It is a classic work among the numbered stamps on the theme of Asian sports diplomacy of the 1970s.