Scott No: 1821-1822
Serial number: J83
Values in set: 2
Date of issue: December 9, 1982
Denomination: 78 fen
Designer: Huang Li
Size of stamps:
30*40mm for Value 1;
40*30mm for Value 2
Perforation:
11.5*11 for Value 1;
11*11.5 for Value 2
Sheet composition:
50(10*5) for Value 1; 50(5*10) for Value 2
Printing process: Photogravure
Printing House: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing Works

J83 "40th Anniversary of the Passing of Kotnis" commemorative stamps were issued on December 9, 1982. The set consists of 2 stamps, printed by photogravure, designed by Huang Li, and printed by the Beijing Stamp Factory. Stamp sizes 30 mm × 40 mm and 40 mm × 30 mm, perforation gauge 11.5 × 11, 50 stamps per sheet.

Theme of the Set

Kotnis was a great internationalist fighter and a doctor with the Indian medical team aiding China. In 1938 he came to China and went to the anti-Japanese base areas in North China, devoting himself to battlefield medicine, establishing and developing health undertakings in the anti-Japanese base areas, and treating the wounded and sick among the anti-Japanese soldiers and civilians. He died of illness in Hebei in 1942. This set commemorates the 40th anniversary of Kotnis's passing, honoring his lofty internationalist spirit of supporting China's resistance against Japan and selfless dedication.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background

Portrait of Kotnis

The main subject is a half-length portrait of Kotnis, based on a stone-carved portrait, with a calm and resolute expression. This is the classic image of Kotnis, recording his appearance as he devoted himself to the cause of aiding China's resistance against Japan.

Kotnis in China

The original painting is a woodcut by Jin Hede. In the image Kotnis rides a horse, with continuous mountains and open fields in the background, expressing his journey to the base areas behind enemy lines and his conduct of battlefield medical work in arduous conditions in support of the anti-Japanese struggle.

Artistic Design Features

With woodcut printmaking as the keynote, the style is plain and weighty. One stamp is the standard portrait, and the other a scene of him riding to the rear areas behind enemy lines; the two echo each other. The images are concise and restrained, without superfluous decoration. It is a classic commemorative stamp on the theme of internationalist figures.