Scott No: 3322-5
Serial number: 2003-25
Values in set: 4
Denomination: 3.20 yuan
Date of issue: 6th December 2003
Designer: Ma Gang
Size of stamps: 50*38 mm
Perforation: 12
Sheet composition:
16 for Sheet I; 8 for Sheet II
Printing process: Offset-engraving
Printer: Henan Post & Telecommunication Printing Works

2003-25 Commemorative Stamps: The 110th Anniversary of the Birth of Comrade Mao Zedong. The set consists of four stamps, issued on 6 December 2003, with a total face value of 3.20 yuan. Designed by Ma Gang, the stamps were printed by the Beijing Stamp Factory using combined offset and intaglio printing.

Comrade Mao Zedong was a great Marxist, a great proletarian revolutionary, strategist and theorist, and the principal founder and leader of the Communist Party of China, the Chinese People's Liberation Army and the People's Republic of China. The year 2003 marked the 110th anniversary of his birth. This set of stamps features artistic re-creations of classic images of Mao Zedong from four distinct historical periods. Each stamp is adorned in the background with his own handwritten poems, showcasing the great man’s demeanour in different stages of life, conveying his breadth of vision and the artistic charm of his poetry, and commemorating his immortal feats for national independence, people’s liberation and national development.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background

Mao Zedong in Xibaipo

The portrait depicts Mao Zedong in Xibaipo, leaning back in a reclining chair with far-sighted eyes and a calm, composed expression. Xibaipo served as the headquarters of the Party Central Committee for commanding the three major campaigns during the Liberation War, and was the final rural command post for securing nationwide victory. The background bears his handwritten poem *Seven-Character Verse: The People’s Liberation Army Captures Nanjing*, embodying the great man’s heroic and expansive spirit on the eve of revolutionary triumph.

Mao Zedong in Beidaihe

This stamp shows Mao Zedong standing by the sea, his overcoat billowing in the wind as he gazes out over the vast ocean. In 1954, Mao Zedong watched the sea at Beidaihe and composed *To the Tune of Ripples Sifting Sand: Beidaihe*, drawing upon the boundless seascape to reflect on history. The calligraphy of this ci poem appears in the background, manifesting his profound mind as he contemplated the past and present amid mountains and seas.

Mao Zedong on Lushan Mountain

The design portrays Mao Zedong seated on rocks on Lushan Mountain, serene amid beautiful landscapes. In 1959, Mao Zedong climbed Lushan and wrote *Seven-Character Verse: Climbing Lushan*. The poem depicts the landscape of the motherland and embodies his devotion to the nation. The handwritten script of the poem in the background blends natural scenery with the poet’s sentiments.

Mao Zedong in Guangzhou

The scene captures Mao Zedong bent over his desk, absorbed in reading and writing, with piles of books and manuscripts stacked beside him. The background features his handwritten copy of *To the Tune of Song of Divination: Ode to the Plum Blossom*. This ci poem expresses aspirations through symbolism, using the plum blossom braving snow to symbolize unyielding revolutionary integrity. The stamp illustrates the great man’s habit of constant reflection and writing, revealing his scholarly temperament and unwavering convictions.

Artistic Features

The whole set adopts combined offset and intaglio printing. Figures are rendered in sketch with light colour washes, featuring solid and concise lines that vividly convey the solemn bearing of the subject. Intaglio engraving finely carves clothing textures and facial contours, while offset printing creates layered imagery and the ink charm of the calligraphy. Selected from different eras and settings, the four stamps integrate the revolutionary grace and literary sentiment of the great leader. The handwritten poems and portraits complement each other in a unified, solemn style. With restrained and tranquil visuals, the stamps pay tribute to his lifelong immortal achievements.