Scott No: 1290-92
Serial number: J11
Values in set: 3
Date of issue: October 19, 1976
Denomination: 24 fen
Designer: Liu Shuoren, Deng Xiqing
Engraver: Sun Hongnian
Size of stamps: 40*30mm
Perforation: 11*11.5
Sheet composition: 50(5*10)
Printing process:
Engraving and photogravure for Value 1;
Photogravure for Value 2, 3
Printing House: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing Works

J11 "Commemoration of Lu Xun, Standard-Bearer of China's Cultural Revolution" commemorative stamps were issued on October 19, 1976. The set consists of 3 stamps, designed by Liu Shuoren and Deng Xiqing, and printed by the Beijing Stamp Factory. (3-1) is printed by photogravure combined with engraving, engraved by Sun Hongnian; (3-2) and (3-3) are printed by photogravure; stamp size 30 mm × 38.5 mm, perforation gauge 11 × 11.5, 50 stamps per sheet (5 × 10), with a total face value of 0.24 yuan for the set, all three stamps at 8 fen, and a circulation of 10 million copies each. The original painting of the first stamp is a sculpture by Zhang Songhe, that of the second is by Tang Xiaoming, and that of the third is by Shen Yaoyi.

Theme of the Set

Lu Xun was a great writer, thinker, and revolutionary and the standard-bearer of China's New Culture Movement. His essays and novels attacked the old forces and supported progressive youth, and his spirit profoundly influenced the development of China's revolutionary literature and art. 1976 marked the 40th anniversary of Lu Xun's death. This set was issued on the anniversary day, using three works to respectively reproduce Lu Xun's image, the scene of him writing at his desk, and the picture of workers, peasants, soldiers, and youth learning Lu Xun's spirit, to honor Mr. Lu Xun, call on everyone to inherit his fighting spirit, and uphold literature and art serving the people.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background

Lu Xun's Relief Portrait

The main subject of the design is the profile relief portrait of Lu Xun created by Zhang Songhe, with concise and powerful lines delineating Lu Xun's resolute and calm expression. The background color is a bright warm yellow, with vertical decorative patterns on the right side; the relief texture is weighty, highlighting Mr. Lu Xun's upright and unyielding character. It is the opening stamp of the entire set.

Ceaseless Battle

The design is taken from Tang Xiaoming's classic oil painting, depicting the scene of Lu Xun in his later years holding a pen and writing at his desk. Lu Xun wears a long gown, with books, periodicals, and manuscripts on the desk; despite illness and pain he still persists in wielding his pen in battle, using words as weapons to attack the darkness, embodying the spirit of fighting without cease as long as life continues. The background is simple and elegant, concentrating the visual focus on the gentleman at his desk.

Learn Lu Xun's Revolutionary Spirit

Centered on a half-length portrait of Lu Xun, the design is surrounded by workers, peasants, PLA soldiers, and young students, all with high spirits and facing forward. It symbolizes that the broad masses of workers, peasants, and soldiers and the younger generation remember Lu Xun's fighting spirit, continue to advance along the path Lu Xun opened up, and pass on the Lu Xun spirit.

Artistic Design Features

The set uniformly adopts a vertical stamp format, with a coordinated and unified layout. The first stamp uses photogravure combined with engraving, with hard, crisp engraved lines and a strong three-dimensional relief effect; the latter two are in the photogravure oil-painting style, with weighty, saturated colors. The three pictures progress in sequence: one sets up the portrait, one restores the gentleman's posture of unceasing writing, and one expresses posterity carrying on the spirit, with a clear narrative thread. The tones are steady and restrained, without superfluous flashy decoration, solemn and dignified.