Scott No: -
Serial number: 2007-18
Values in set: 2
Date of issue: July 5th, 2007
Denomination: 240 fen
Designer: Li Zhihong
Size of stamps:
30 * 40 mm for Item I;
40 * 30 mm for Item II
Perforation:
11.5 * 11 for Item I;
11 * 11.5 for Item II
Sheet composition: 20
Printing process: Engraving and photogravure
Printing House: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing Works

This stamp set was officially issued on July 5, 2007. It consists of two stamps, each with a face value of 1.20 yuan, for a total face value of 2.40 yuan. The stamps were designed by Li Zhihong, with Zhao Lei serving as the responsible editor, and printed by Beijing Stamp Printing Works using a combination of offset and intaglio (engraving) printing.

Comrade Yang Shangkun (1907–1998) was a great proletarian revolutionary, statesman, military strategist, and an outstanding leader of the Party, the state, and the People's Army. In 2007, marking the centenary of his birth, the stamps feature his classic images from two important stages of his life: the revolutionary years and his tenure as the President of the People's Republic of China. The stamps reflect on his illustrious life, from his revolutionary dedication to his contributions to the construction of New China and reform and opening-up, commemorating his noble character and lasting achievements in the service of the Party and the people.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background

Yang Shangkun in Yan'an

The stamp depicts Comrade Yang Shangkun in military uniform during the War of Resistance, with the Yan'an Pagoda Mountain in the background. It captures a defining image of his revolutionary years, commemorating his important responsibilities during the Yan'an period and his contributions to the arduous revolutionary struggle.

President Yang Shangkun

The stamp portrays Comrade Yang Shangkun reviewing documents at his desk during his tenure as the President of the People's Republic of China, with a desk lamp beside him. It recreates his diligent and dedicated work ethic, reflecting his commitment to governance and his contributions to the nation's development in the new era.

Artistic and Design Features

The two stamps use different formats—one vertical, one horizontal—and are printed using the combined offset and intaglio technique, with sharp and delicate engraved lines. The black-and-white sketch style is solemn and dignified. The engraving precisely captures the subject's expression, while the clean and restrained composition avoids unnecessary ornamentation. The realistic and dignified style reflects the steady and resolute character of the older generation of proletarian revolutionaries. The two stamps complement each other, presenting a complete narrative of his remarkable life.

This stamp set is a commemorative issue for the centenary of a major Party and state leader, available in stamp set and large sheet formats. Collectors often pair it with other stamps featuring the older generation of proletarian revolutionaries, making it a classic and important item in Party history-themed collections.