Early Stamps from The People’s Republic of China

Between 1929 and 1946, stamps were issued in many parts of China under the temporary control of the Communists after they broke away from Kuomintang and began the series of guerrilla campaigns, first against the Nationalists and then against the Japanese. These stamps had only local validity, however. At the end of World War II, the Communists were in control of large areas of the Chinese mainland and gradually extended their dominion over the entire mainland, culminating with the expulsion of the Nationalists in 1949. During the period from 1945 to 1950, the political and economic upheavals were reflected in the issue of stamps in the various areas and provinces. In some cases these provincial issues remained in use until 1951, though a general series for use in the People’s Republic of China as a whole was introduced in October 1949.

Stamps were issued in North East China under Communist control from February 1946 till 1951. From 1948 onward, this area included the whole of Manchuria. The majority of these stamps portrayed Mao Tse-tung or featured symbols of a political nature. A vignette symbolizing production in field and industry was used for a definitive series ranging from 5000 to 100000y. The perforation of this series varies from 10 to 11 and the quality of the lithography is poor, reflecting the primitive conditions under which all aspects of government laboured at that time.

Numerous commemorative issues appeared in this part of China during the brief period when it produced its own stamps. The stamps celebrated anniversaries of the Communist movement and the struggle against the Japanese or the Nationalists. The 1500 yuan of 1949 was one of a set of three issued in August of that year to mark the fourth anniversary of the Japanese surrender. It features the North East Heroes monument. The last commemorative issue appeared in December 1950 to mark the Sino-Soviet Treaty.