Cultural Revolution Stamps

China stamps have always had a close tie with the political and cultural movements in China, and they represent a unique part of the rich history associated with this old country. During the Cultural Revolution, beginning in 1966 and running nominally to 1976, posted stamps issued by the People’s Republic of China were commonly used as a propaganda tool, and these unique issues are known as the Cultural Revolution Stamps.

Stamps of Influence

Stamps during this period were used to educate, illuminate and glorify the twin of socialism and communism. Much like any other artifact of this period, they served as another tool for those in power. Whether or not they did their job is up for political debate, but they preserve a very interesting part of history. Influenced to a great degree by Soviet realism from the USSR, the artistry used in Cultural Revolution Stamps are known for making great use of the color red, which obviously had strong political implications at that time.

Chairman Mao Chinese Stamps

Cultural Revolution postage stamps most frequently featured Chairman Mao Zedong, followed by the Red Army and images of the common worker. The stamps represented an opportunity to enlighten and educate Chinese citizens at a crucial point in the government’s development.

The winds of Western popular culture in the 1960’s were buffeting the world’s more culturally isolated nations, with technological advancements launching the ‘Information Age.’ Launching a campaign to reinforce the ideals of its revolution was China’s logical response to Western encroachment. Stamps issued during the Cultural Revolution were a small yet important tool in the government’s effort to maintain its influence over Chinese culture.

The Whole Country Is Red’ Misprinted Stamps

The Culture Revolution stamp genre produced perhaps the most famous of all modern-era rare China stamps. In 1968, the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications issued one stamp inscribed ‘The Whole Country is Red’.

To celebrate the triumph of the Cultural Revolution, the set of stamps depicted a red map of China with the bottom showing workers, farmers and soldiers waving the ‘Selected Works of Mao Zedong.’ The ocean is depicted as one of red flags and the bottom margin was inscribed with ‘Long Live the Complete Triumph of the Cultural Revolution’.

Upon release it was discovered, on the first day, that the Xisha and Nansha Islands had been mistakenly omitted on the stamps, resulting in the release being aborted. However, the misprints that did make it into circulation and private hands continue to be one of the most sought after stamps of the Chinese philatelic world today.

Cultural Revolution Stamps bring a lot of life and history to any China stamp collection, and many collectors feel a compilation is not complete without them. By staying in close contact with a reputable online stamp dealer and frequenting online stamp auctions, you are bound to find some great additions or some of the classics that simply never lose their allure.