The Whole Country Is Red

On November 25, 1968, China issued a stamp with the topic "The whole country is red". On the stamp, besides a worker, a soldier and a farmer, a book of Mao was printed. In the background was a map of China in red. Taiwan, which China considers to be part of China was not shown in red. The stamp was withdrawn from sale after a few hours. The official reason given was that the stamp lacked the Spratly and Paracel Islands claimed by China and that the borders with Mongolia, Bhutan and Burma were incorrectly drawn.


Two stamps with the same motif were issued in 2012 and 2013 by the Guinea-Bissau commissioned philatelic agency, recognised by Guinea-Bissau and cataloged accordingly. The stamps were produced exclusively for the (Chinese) collector market and it is likely that they were never or in very small numbers only available in Guinea-Bissau for franking purposes.

The whole country is red spratly paracel mao reproduction

 

Withdrawn stamp (missing)

 

Withdrawn stamp (reproduction)


The whole country is red spratly paracel mao guinea-bissau 2012

 

Stamp from Guinea-Bissau (2012)

The whole country is red spratly paracel mao guinea-bissau 2013

 

Stamp from Guinea-Bissau (2013)