Scott No: 1345-48
Serial number: J19
Values in set: 4
Date of issue: July 6, 1977
Denomination: 32 fen
Designer: Ren Yu
Size of stamps:
31*52mm for Value 1, 2;
52*31mm for Value 3, 4
Perforation: 11.5
Sheet composition:
40(10*4) for Value 1, 2;
40(4*10) for Value 3, 4
Printing process: Photogravure
Printing House: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing Works

J19 "First Anniversary of the Passing of Comrade Zhu De, Great Chinese Proletarian Revolutionary and Outstanding Communist Fighter" commemorative stamps were issued on July 6, 1977. The set consists of 4 stamps, printed by photogravure, designed by Ren Yu, and printed by the Beijing Stamp Factory. (4-1)(4-2) measure 30 mm × 40 mm, perforation gauge 11.5 × 11; (4-3)(4-4) measure 40 mm × 30 mm, perforation gauge 11 × 11.5; the total face value of the set is 0.32 yuan, all four stamps at 8 fen, with a circulation of 20 million copies each.

Theme of the Set

On July 6, 1976, Marshal Zhu De passed away. Zhu De was the principal founder of the people's army and a founding father of the nation. He went through the Agrarian Revolutionary War, the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, and the War of Liberation, and after the founding of the country he long presided over national construction and the work of the National People's Congress, remaining modest and plain and dedicating himself wholly throughout his life. This set was issued on the first anniversary of his death, selecting four classic historical photographs to honor, from four angles—portrait, speech, office work, and horseback riding in military campaigns—Marshal Zhu De's immortal achievements in devoting his life to national independence, the liberation of the people, and socialist construction, and to carry the deep remembrance and reverence of the people of the whole country.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background

Portrait of Comrade Zhu De

The image is the standard half-length portrait of Zhu De, wearing a Zhongshan suit, with a dignified and kindly expression, and a water-ripple pattern at the bottom of the picture. The portrait is dignified and solemn, intuitively presenting the image of Chairman Zhu De.

Devoting His Life's Energy to the Revolution

The image is a photograph of Zhu De speaking at a meeting, holding a document in his hand and addressing the audience. Zhu De long expounded his views on revolution and construction at important Party meetings, devoting himself to the revolutionary cause for decades with unwavering determination.

Striving for Communism All His Life

The image shows Zhu De leaning over his desk reviewing documents, with manuscripts and pen and paper on the desk, restoring the picture of him still working diligently in his later years and keeping national construction in his heart, embodying his character of striving without cease as long as life continues.

Veteran Revolutionary Hero

The image is a historical photograph of Zhu De on horseback, with open fields and a steady warhorse. It is a classic image preserved from the war years, symbolizing Zhu De's life in military campaigns and galloping across battlefields—a long-tested veteran revolutionary hero.

Artistic Design Features

Two vertical and two horizontal formats alternate. All stamps are made from historical photographs, realistic and plain, without superfluous complicated decoration, and the bottom of each stamp uniformly bears a light blue ripple decorative border. The tones are steady and soft, faithfully restoring the texture of old photographs, solemn and full of deep feeling. The photogravure printing gives the portraits delicate, natural layers of light and shade. There is no souvenir sheet for this set. It is a classic commemorative stamp of considerable weight on the theme of leaders of the JT period.