Scott No: B10a
Serial number: J157
Values in set: 4
Date of issue: June 1, 1989
Denomination: 48 fen
Designers: the Children's Activity Center of China
Size of stamps: 40*27mm
Perforation: 11
Sheet composition: 28(7*4)
Printing process: offset
Printing House: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing Works

The special stamp set Children's Life (Semi-postal Stamps), catalog number T137, was issued on June 1, 1989. It consists of four stamps, produced using offset printing. The stamps measure 27×40 mm, with a perforation gauge of 11 degrees. The set is printed as a vertical continuous strip of four, with each sheet containing 50 stamps. The designs were created by the art group of the China National Children's Center (primary school students) and printed by Beijing Stamp Printing Works. Each stamp has a face value of 8+4 fen, with 8 fen as postage and 4 fen as a donation to the China Children and Teenagers' Fund for children's welfare.

Thematic Focus of the Set

This is China's second set of children's semi-postal stamps, issued on the 40th anniversary of International Children's Day. The stamps use original artworks by children, showcasing the spirit of contemporary children—who love peace, love science, yearn for exploration, and are lively and healthy—from four perspectives: friendship, scientific exploration, imagination, and sports. The set calls on society to care for the growth of children and teenagers, raises funds for children's welfare through the semi-postal format, and conveys warm humanistic care.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background

My Good Friends

The image shows three children of different skin colors holding hands, with bright and vivid colors. It symbolizes equality, friendship, and harmony among children of all countries, expressing the beautiful wish for peaceful coexistence.

Hello, Penguin

The image depicts children arriving in Antarctica and meeting penguins, with Antarctic research elements in the background. It represents children's yearning to explore the polar regions, their love for natural science, and their curiosity to explore the world.

My Bird

In the image, a Young Pioneer rides a giant flying bird, holding high the Young Pioneers' flag, accompanied by stars and the moon. It is an imaginative, childlike fantasy, symbolizing youth flying bravely toward ideals, the universe, and the future.

Bouncing a Ball

The image depicts a boy and a girl happily bouncing a ball, with lively and cheerful movements, showcasing children's daily play, their vitality, and their love of life.

Artistic and Design Features

The set preserves the innocent and naive visual language of children's drawings, with exaggerated and free forms, without the rigid constraints of adult painting. Each stamp uses a highly saturated, bright background color—yellow, blue, red, and green—to distinguish the scenes. The lines are spontaneous and full of childlike imagination. The four stamps are printed continuously with a unified style, simple and sincere, expressing the inner world from the children's own perspective with strong appeal.