Scott No: 1850
Serial number: J91
Values in set: 1
Date of issue: April 28, 1983
Denomination: 8 fen
Designer: Ren Yu
Size of stamps: 526*31mm
Perforation: 11.5
Sheet composition: 40 (4*10)
Printing process: Photogravure
Printing House: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing Works

J91 "World Communications Year" commemorative stamp was issued on April 28, 1983. The set consists of 1 stamp, printed by photogravure, designed by Ren Yu, and printed by the Beijing Stamp Factory.

Theme of the Set

The United Nations designated 1983 as World Communications Year, with the theme of the development of communications infrastructure. China established a Chinese committee for World Communications Year and carried out science-popularization and publicity activities. This stamp integrates the classical image of Dunhuang apsaras with modern communications carriers, implying that postal service and modern communications connect the world and highlighting the value of communications undertakings in helping countries exchange information and enhance exchanges.

Stamp Design and Historical Background

Apsaras

At the center of the design is the Earth, with two Dunhuang apsaras flying around it. One apsara holds a letter in her hand, representing traditional postal communications; the other holds up an artificial satellite, representing modern space communications. The green concentric circles spreading outward layer by layer symbolize radio wave signals transmitted outward. In the upper right corner of the stamp is the emblem of World Communications Year; the emblem's lines interlace, and four directions converge into a heart shape, implying that global communications are linked and people's hearts are connected.

Artistic Design Features

The design adopts the decorative painting style of Dunhuang murals. The apsaras' garments and ribbons flow elegantly, with outlines traced in gold ink, and the green-toned gradient background is soft and transparent. It combines the ancient imagery of apsaras with communication symbols such as letters and satellites, blending traditional art with modern technology. The conception is ingenious, and it is a highly distinctive commemorative stamp on the communications theme of the 1980s.