Scott No: 2867
Serial number: 1998-11
Values in set: 1
Date of issue: May 4, 1998
Designers: Yu Lu
Size of stamp: 40*30mm
Perforation: 12
Sheet composition: 50
Printing process: offset

The commemorative stamp Centenary of Peking University, catalog number 1998-11, was issued on May 4, 1998. It consists of one stamp, produced using offset printing. The stamp measures 40×30 mm, with a perforation gauge of 12 degrees. Each sheet contains 50 stamps. It was designed by Yu Lu and printed by Henan Post and Telecommunications Printing Factory.

This stamp commemorates the centenary of Peking University. Peking University traces its origins to the Imperial University of Peking, established in 1898. It was the first national comprehensive university in modern China and the birthplace of the May Fourth Movement. Holding high the banners of patriotism, progress, democracy, and science, it has cultivated a large number of outstanding talents over the past century. The stamp features iconic symbols representing different historical stages of Peking University, reviewing its century-long educational journey and highlighting its profound cultural heritage and sense of responsibility.

Stamp Design and Historical Background

Centenary of Peking University

The main subject is the West Gate of the Yanyuan campus. The vermilion gate is paired with a blue plaque with golden characters reading "Peking University," simple and dignified. The vertical text in the background is the Regulations of the Imperial University of Peking, and the image of the Red Building on Shatan is set off on the right side. The Imperial University of Peking was the beginning of Peking University and marked the start of modern higher education in China. The Red Building was once an important campus building of Peking University, where the New Culture Movement and the May Fourth Movement flourished. The West Gate is a landmark building of the Yanyuan era. The three elements link the century-long development of Peking University, bearing witness to this institution's hundred-year journey of sharing the same fate as the nation.

Artistic and Design Features

The stamp integrates classical architecture and documentary elements, with a rich layered composition. The West Gate in the foreground is rich and striking in color, while the background text and Red Building are set off by a light background, with a clear hierarchy. By juxtaposing symbols from different historical periods, a single stamp condenses a century of Peking University history. The design is simple and substantial, combining a sense of history with a scholarly atmosphere. It is also the first commemorative stamp issued by China Post for a single university.