Scott No: 2037-38
Serial number: J127
Values in set: 2
Date of issue: June 2, 1986
Denomination: 28 fen
Designers: Cheng Wenji
Size of stamps: 40*30mm
Perforation: 11*11.5
Sheet composition: 50(5*10)
Printing House: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing Works

J127 "90th Anniversary of the Birth of Comrade Li Weihan" commemorative stamps were issued on June 2, 1986. The set consists of 2 stamps, printed by photogravure, with a stamp size of 40 × 30 mm, perforation gauge 11 × 11.5, and 50 stamps per sheet (5 × 10). Designed by Chen Wenji and printed by the Beijing Stamp Factory.

Theme of the Set

Li Weihan was an outstanding proletarian revolutionary and a famous theoretician in the fields of the Party and state united front and ethnic affairs. In his early years he participated in the New People's Study Society and went to France on a work-study program; he went through the Long March and the Yan'an period, presided over united front and ethnic affairs over the long term, and in his later years wrote Recollections and Studies, summarizing the Party's historical experience. This set commemorates the 90th anniversary of Li Weihan's birth, using two sketch works to present the figure's appearance and character, and honoring his lofty qualities of dedicating his life to national liberation, the united front, and ethnic work.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background

Portrait of Comrade Li Weihan

The image is a sketch portrait of Li Weihan. The design leaves a large amount of blank space and adopts the expressive technique of abbreviated rapid sketching, delineating the figure's resolute and profound spiritual temperament with just a few strokes. Although the rear half of the head is omitted, the figure remains complete and vivid.

Comrade Li Weihan at Work

The image depicts Li Weihan concentrating on his work in an office, showing his diligent and studious working state, bent over his desk in thought, and embodying his valuable spirit of still keeping united front and ethnic theory in his heart in his later years.

Artistic Design Features

The set adopts the artistic form of Western rapid sketching, and is an early use of sketch highlight techniques in Chinese stamps. The composition is bold: the first stamp has a large amount of blank space, treating white as black, with concise and generalized brushwork, focusing on capturing the figure's expression and temperament. The style is novel and simple, and the figures achieve both likeness in form and likeness in spirit. It is a highly innovative set among figure stamps.