Xu’s friends give their stamp of approval

Hu Xindong and Yang Yang
A set of National Day-themed stamps a Jiading resident collected and posted in his WeChat Moments during the October holiday became an instant hit among his friends. Xu Jin, a Jiading native in Anting Town in his 70s, has been collecting 154 National Day-themed stamps since 1950. 
“It is not a fixed routine for China to issue National Day-themed stamps during each National Day holiday. But each distribution and release of the special stamps is closely related to the political, economic and cultural events having happened during the year,” Xu said. 
The highlights of Xu’s collection are the “Founding Ceremony” released in 1959 and the “Great National Union” issued for the 50th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. 
Xu, a retired teacher, set up the first township folk collection organization in Jiading in 2016. The collection association has about 40 members, holding a number of exhibitions including badges, stamps and envelopes. 

Xu Jin, a Jiading native in Anting Town in his 70s, observes his stamp collections in the workshop. — All photos by Hu Xindong

The stamps Xu collected last year to celebrate the 70th anniversary of New China’s founding.

A series of stamps featuring 56 nationalities in China

The stamp is issued in 1964, marking the 15th anniversary of the founding of New China.

The stamps are issued in 1979, marking the 30th anniversary of the founding of New China.

The stamps are issued in 1974, marking the 25th anniversary of the founding of New China.

The stamps are issued in 1979, marking the 30th anniversary of the founding of New China.