Scott No: -
Serial number: 2012-31
Values in set: 1
Date of issue: December 4, 2012
Denomination: 120 fen
Designer: Xin Wenwei, Jiang Wei
Size of stamps: 33 * 44 mm
Perforation: 13.5
Sheet composition: 12
Size of sheet: 240 * 150 mm
Printing process: Offset
Printing House: Henan Postage Stamp Printing Works

On December 4, 2012, the commemorative stamp "30th Anniversary of the Promulgation and Implementation of the Current Constitution" (catalog number 2012-31) was officially issued. December 4 is also the anniversary of the promulgation of China's current Constitution, marking the 30th anniversary of the 1982 Constitution's adoption and implementation, and promoting the principles of governing the country according to the Constitution and the rule of law. The set consists of one stamp with a face value of 1.20 yuan, designed by Shao Lichen and printed by Beijing Stamp Printing Works using the photogravure process. The stamp measures 33 mm × 44 mm, with 12 stamps per sheet, and incorporates anti-counterfeiting paper, anti-counterfeiting ink, shaped perforations, and fluorescent spray codes. It is an important commemorative philatelic item on the theme of the rule of law.

The stamp focuses on China's current Constitution as its central theme, reflecting on the steady progress of China's socialist rule-of-law construction since the promulgation of the 1982 Constitution. It highlights the supreme status of the Constitution as the fundamental law of the state, embodying its role in safeguarding citizens' rights, regulating state power, and guiding the steady advancement of the nation's legal system.

Stamp Design and Historical Background:

30th Anniversary of the Promulgation and Implementation of the Current Constitution

Image: At the center is the text of the Constitution of the People's Republic of China, with the national emblem above and flowing red flags as a backdrop. The bottom features urban architecture and rural scenery.
History: On December 4, 1982, the Fifth National People's Congress at its Fifth Session formally adopted and promulgated the current Constitution of the People's Republic of China. Through multiple amendments, it has provided a solid legal foundation for reform, opening-up, and modernization.
Significance: The Constitution is the fundamental law of the state and the overarching statute for governing the country. This stamp commemorates an important historical milestone in the development of China's rule-of-law construction.

Artistic and Design Features:

Color Palette: The use of red and gold as the primary colors conveys solemnity and dignity, emphasizing the authority of the Constitution.
Composition: The national emblem and the Constitution text are positioned at the visual center, with a clear hierarchy and prominent subject matter. The distant urban and rural scenery symbolizes the Constitution's role in safeguarding national development and the well-being of the people.
Artistic Approach: A combination of realistic and decorative elements creates a clean, grand design with a direct and clear theme, fitting the serious and dignified nature of the rule-of-law subject.
Detail Treatment: The lines are neat and orderly, with refined visual elements that reinforce the symbolic significance of the Constitution's supreme authority.

This stamp is one of the few stamps dedicated to the Constitution and the rule of law. Its issuance coincided with the 30th anniversary of the current Constitution, giving it outstanding historical and commemorative significance. It is suitable for thematic collections on law, the rule of law, the National People's Congress, and major current affairs. With its distinct red political theme, it holds an important place in rule-of-law themed philatelic collections.