Scott No: 1718-1720
Serial number: J68
Values in set: 3
Date of issue: October 10, 1981
Denomination: 24 fen
Designer: Li Yinqing
Size of stamps: 40*30mm
Perforation: 11*11.5
Sheet composition: 50 (5*10)
Printing process: Photogravure
Printing House: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing Works

J68 "70th Anniversary of the Revolution of 1911" commemorative stamps were issued on October 10, 1981. The set consists of 3 stamps, all with a face value of 8 fen, printed by photogravure, designed by Li Yinqing, and printed by the Beijing Stamp Factory. Stamp size 40 mm × 30 mm, perforation gauge 11 × 11.5, 50 stamps per sheet.

Theme of the Set

The Revolution of 1911 overthrew the feudal autocratic monarchy that had ruled China for more than two thousand years and is an epoch-making great revolution in modern Chinese history. 1981 marked the 70th anniversary of the Revolution of 1911. The Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications issued this set to honor Mr. Sun Yat-sen and the countless revolutionary martyrs, remember the historical achievements of the Revolution of 1911 in opening the modern democratic revolution, and carry forward the patriotic spirit of rejuvenating China.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background

Portrait of Sun Yat-sen as Provisional President

The design uses a sketching technique to portray Mr. Sun Yat-sen when he assumed office as Provisional President of the Republic of China, with a resolute and dignified expression, displaying the spiritual bearing of the great revolutionary leader. On the left side of the portrait is Mr. Sun Yat-sen's own handwritten inscription: "The world tide flows vast and mighty; those who follow it prosper, those who oppose it perish." Below the inscription is the seal "Seal of Sun Wen," making the stamp's theme more distinct and at the same time setting off and rendering the portrait, profoundly embodying Mr. Sun Yat-sen's revolutionary thought of conforming to the trend of the times and advancing with the times.

The Tomb of the 72 Martyrs of Huanghuagang

The main subject of the design is the Huanghuagang cemetery of the 72 martyrs in Guangzhou, using a symmetrical composition. The huge granite tomb is majestic, solemn, and dignified. At the top of the tomb stands a Statue of Liberty, symbolizing the revolutionary spirit and the ideal of freedom; tall coconut trees on both sides of the tomb path stand like guards protecting the tomb. The Huanghuagang Uprising took place on April 27, 1911, and was the most important armed uprising led by Sun Yat-sen on the eve of the Revolution of 1911. Many revolutionary martyrs gave their lives for righteousness, laying the foundation for the success of the Wuchang Uprising and greatly inspiring the revolutionary fighting spirit of the people across the country.

The Former Site of the Hubei Military Government Established after the Wuchang Uprising

The design presents the exterior of the former site of the Hubei Military Government in Wuchang, also called the "Red Building," located at Yue Ma Chang in Wuchang, with Snake Hill to the north and the Yellow Crane Tower to the west. The Red Building was originally the building of the Hubei Consultative Bureau in the late Qing dynasty, with red walls and red tiles, dignified and elegant. After the victory of the Wuchang Uprising on October 10, 1911, the revolutionaries established the Hubei Military Government here, issued the first proclamation, abolished the Qing dynasty's Xuantong reign title, and for a time exercised the powers of the central government before the establishment of the Nanjing Provisional Government, promulgating the historically significant Ezhou Covenant. It was the "command headquarters" for overthrowing the monarchy and establishing the republic, bearing witness to the great historical moment of the Revolution of 1911.

Artistic Design Features

The set adopts a realistic painting style, with steady and dignified tones. The three stamps correspond in sequence to the revolutionary leader, the martyrs' monument, and the former site of the uprising regime—from the figure's spirit to commemorative architecture, the narrative thread is clear and complete. The first stamp uses a sketch portrait plus the handwritten inscription to highlight Mr. Sun Yat-sen's ideological realm and revolutionary foresight; the second uses a symmetrical architectural composition to create a solemn atmosphere of mourning; the third uses the actual architectural scene to freeze the landmark historical relic of the Revolution of 1911. The design is restrained and inward-looking, without superfluous decoration, highlighting the sense of historical commemoration. It is a classic work among stamps on major modern revolutionary historical themes.