Zhengzhou Post and Telecommunications Bureau discovered counterfeit and revalued stamps. All other bureaus are advised to take note.
In 1953, the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications send the following message:
"According to a report from the Henan Post and Telecommunications Administration, Comrade Ren Dongxu, Director of the Fourth Branch of the Zhengzhou Post and Telecommunications Bureau, observed someone bringing a revalued stamp to the bureau on May 12th to exchange for a small ticket. The revalued stamp was an olive green, Tiananmen Square stamp worth 2,000 yuan, with the words "Temporarily priced at 5,000 yuan" printed in red. The reprinting was illegible, and the spacing between the characters was uneven. Upon inquiring about the source of the stamp, the holder replied that they had purchased it in Beijing. Comrade Ren considered the matter suspicious and reported it to his superiors for investigation. He later inquired with the Beijing Bureau, who confirmed that the revalued stamp did not exist. The holder of the stamp had fled the scene.
Second, the various stamps issued by this department with the Tiananmen design have not had their value altered by any additions. The aforementioned "Temporarily priced at 5,000 Yuan" stamp is indeed a counterfeit using a 2,000 Yuan stamp. All bureaus are urged to pay close attention, especially those involved in stamp sales, sorting, and ticketing. They must conduct thorough inspections at all times. If any stamps with altered Tiananmen design are discovered, the source must be investigated immediately so the counterfeiters can be apprehended." [↩]