1949 East China Liberated Area Mao Zedong Portrait Postage Stamp (70 Yuan)

This is a vintage postage stamp from the East China Liberated Area, dating to approximately 1949, featuring a monochromatic reddish-brown (sepia-toned) intaglio or offset-litho portrait of Chairman Mao Zedong wearing a Sun Yat-sen style peaked cap and high-collared tunic. The stamp is printed on an off-white, light cream-colored paper stock that shows age-appropriate yellowing. The design includes vertical Chinese characters on the right side reading 'East China People's Posts' (華東人民郵政) and a denomination of '70.00' in the lower left corner, accompanied by the Chinese characters for 'Seventy Yuan' (柒拾圓) in the lower right. Physically, the stamp features rough, uneven perforations on all four sides, typical of the production quality during the transitional Civil War period in China. There are minor visible condition issues, including light toning, possible foxing spots near the '70' denomination, and slightly blunted perforation tips. The engraving displays fine horizontal hatching and cross-hatching to create depth and shadow in the facial features. This specimen appears to be in unused (mint) condition as there is no visible postal cancellation mark or 'killer' ink obscuring the central image. This stamp represents a significant philatelic artifact from the period of the Chinese People's Liberation, reflecting the early iconography of the People's Republic of China.