1949 East China Liberated Area Mao Zedong Postage Stamp (150 Yuan)

This is a rectangular postage stamp issued in the East China Liberated Area circa 1949, during the Chinese Civil War. The stamp features a central portrait of Chairman Mao Zedong in military uniform and a worker's cap, rendered in orange-red ink on off-white paper. The design is executed using a fine line engraving or lithographic process typical of regional liberation issues. To the right of the portrait, vertical Chinese characters read 'East China People's Posts,' and the denomination '150.00' is printed in the lower left corner with traditional Chinese numerals for 150 yuan in the lower right. The stamp is roughly perforated on all four edges, showing irregular 'shaggy' teeth characteristic of the varying-quality perforation machines used during this transitional period. The condition appears to be unused (mint) with some aging evident in the paper tone. There are minor fibers extending from the perforations, suggesting a softer paper stock. The centering is slightly skewed to the left. These stamps represent a critical historical juncture in Chinese philately, marking the transition from regional revolutionary administration to the establishment of the People's Republic of China.