⧉Image Wristwatch Paperwork

This ration coupon allowed the holder to purchase a specific wristwatch, a Zhongshan brand nine jewels watch (Zhongshanpai jiuzuan shoubiao goumai zhuanyongquan 钟山牌九钻手表购买专用券). The ration includes the terms of use. A purchaser must have in their possession this ration and then may only buy a single watch at the department store located on Nanjing’s Shanxi Road (Nanjingshi Shanxilu Baihua Shangdian 南京市山西路百货商店). Moreover, the coupon was valid only after it had been officially stamped and only until 31 July 1973. Furthermore, the ticket was not allowed to be traded, forged, and would become invalidated if torn.

This image is a watch purchase receipt provided by the State Nanjing Department Store (Guoying Nanjingshi Baihua Shangdian 国营南京市百货商店) on 29 January 1971. The receipt includes the Cultural Revolution slogan that quotes Mao Zedong (1955) “Political work is the lifeline of all economic work” (zhengzhi gongzuo shi yiqie jingji gongzuo de shengmingxian 政治工作是一切经济工作的生命线). What does this quote on a receipt mean to tell the seller and the buyer about an object such as a wristwatch? Why include a political slogan on a receipt? The receipt also tells us that the buyer bought a steel, shock-resistant Shanghai brand watch for RMB 120. And it lets the customer know they can find free repair services at state department stores in Beijing, Tianjin, Hangzhou, Shanghai, Wuhan, Taiyuan, Guangzhou, Harbin and Shenyang.