Scott No: 2108
Serial number: J141
Values in set: 1
Date of issue: August 20, 1987
Denomination: 8 fen
Designers: Cheng Youlin
Size of stamps: 40*27mm
Perforation: 11
Sheet composition: 56(7*8)
Printing process: Photogravure
Printing House: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing Works

J141 "International Year of Shelter for the Homeless" commemorative stamp was issued on August 20, 1987. The set consists of 1 stamp, printed by photogravure, with a stamp size of 40 × 27 mm, perforation gauge 11.5, and 56 stamps per sheet. Designed by Chen Youlin and printed by the Beijing Stamp Factory.

Theme of the Set

The United Nations designated 1987 as the International Year of Shelter for the Homeless, with the theme "Shelter is a basic human right," calling on countries around the world to pay attention to housing issues and improve human living conditions. This stamp takes this as its theme, promoting the importance of secure housing and reflecting China's attention to improving the housing conditions of urban and rural residents and solving the housing difficulties of ordinary people.

Stamp Design and Historical Background

International Year of Shelter for the Homeless

The design uses a gray brick-wall pattern as the background. The main subject is a red paper-cut-style folk dwelling, paired with white house silhouettes. In the upper left corner is a red paper-cut magpie, and in the upper right corner is the emblem of the International Year of Shelter for the Homeless. The dwelling represents a secure home, and the magpie implies auspiciousness, carrying people's beautiful wishes for comfortable housing and a peaceful, happy life.

Artistic Design Features

The design adopts a folk paper-cut decorative style, with a plain and steady red, white, and gray color scheme and a concise, condensed composition. It combines traditional folk art with an international public welfare theme, with a strong rustic flavor and a theme that is easy to understand.