People's Republic of China Mao Zedong 400 Surcharge Postage Stamp

This is a postage stamp from the early People's Republic of China era, specifically featuring the portrait of Chairman Mao Zedong. The stamp is printed in a reddish-orange ink on off-white or cream-colored paper. It features a line-engraved portrait of Mao in a military cap. A significant feature is the black overprint in the bottom center, which surcharges the original 1500 value to a new denomination of 400. To the right of the portrait, vertical Chinese characters read 'China People's Post'. The stamp is rectangular with vertical orientation and has perforated edges. The perforations appear slightly irregular, common for mid-20th-century regional or early national issues. Regarding condition, the stamp shows minor yellowing or toning of the paper consistent with age, likely from the early 1950s. The centering is slightly off to the left. There are no obvious signs of heavy cancellation, suggesting it may be unused (mint) but with some handling wear. The engraving shows good detail in the facial lines and hat structure, indicating quality state printing from that period. These surcharged issues were common during the monetary reforms in China between 1950 and 1955.