2005 Year of the Rooster - New Zealand Farmyard Animals

With an economy founded on rural industries and a landscape comprising vast expanses of pasture, New Zealand is home to a huge variety of farm animals - from the sheep and cattle that form the backbone of our agricultural industry to the dogs and horses that make farming the efficient operation it is today. Combined, they enable New Zealand to be a world-class performer and a dominant player in the international marketplace.

Farmyards in Miniature

The $1.50 and $2.00 stamps - each featured the proud rooster, ruler of all he surveys - were the stars of our miniature sheet and miniature sheet first day cover which also honoured the animal's link to the Chinese New Year.

East Meets West

When you ordered the presentaton pack, you received a delightful combination of Eastern and Western design - on the cover the rooster in all his resplendent glory surrounded by the other animals of the Chinese lunar calendar; on the inside, New Zealand's farmyard animals visually linked with the rolling hills that characterise this agricultural nation.

Farmyard Tranquility

A peaceful rural landscape - the natural habitat of farmyard animals - formed the backdrop of our Farmyard Animals first day cover, which included a se-tenant strip of all five stamps plus the 45c self-adhesive sheep stamp.

Stamps on the Go

The 45c sheep stamp featured in sets of 10 in a self-adhesive 10-stamp booklet and in a handy carton of 100 self-adhesive stamps.

An Exclusive Collector's Item

The 2005 Year of the Rooster collector's limited edition pack was a rare opportunity to acquire an item that was only available to 2,000 people around the world. Individually authenticated and numbered, each pack contained a unique miniature sheet and colour seperations and more information about the stamps, the designer and the vital role farmyard animals have played, and continue to play, in ensuring New Zealand's economic wellbeing.

You learned about the history of farming, the characteristics that defined the New Zealand farming lifestyle and the continual evolution of animal breeds and farming practices to ensure we retain our place as a leader on the international scene.

Product Listing for 2005 Year of the Rooster - New Zealand Farmyard Animals

Click on image to enlarge.

Image	Title	Description	Price
	Single Stamp	Single 45c 'Sheep' gummed stamp. The first sheep were brought to New Zealand by Captain James Cook in 1773. Within 200 years their numbers had soared to 70 million and today the total flock is about 43 million - around 12 sheep for every person with whom they share the land. After much diversification and cross-breeding, the dominant sheep is the Romney, well known for its strong wool and excellent meat.	$0.45
	Single Stamp	Single 90c 'Dogs' gummed stamp. The New Zealand sheep dog is a fascinating mix of breeds. The original Scottish border collie has been cross-bred with a number of other dogs to create an intelligent, adaptable, agile, energetic and highly vocal assistant in mustering sheep and cattle. Today, we even have our own 'sheep dog trials' - intense competitions that test the dogs' abilities to respond to their owners' calls and commands.	$0.90
	Single Stamp	Single $1.35 'Pigs' gummed stamp. Pigs may have arrived in New Zealand as early as 1769, but common consensus is that they travelled here with Captain Cook in 1773. They were soon farmed domestically for bacon and pork, and a sizeable pork industry developed in the 1880s. However, after a peak in the mid-20th century, pigs have declined to a relatively small proportion of our export industry.	$1.35
	Single Stamp	Single $1.50 'Rooster' gummed stamp. With their distinctive morning call, bright colours and outgoing personalities, roosters are the natural leaders of their farmyard territory. They have also been symbols of courage since Roman times and even featured on Asian coins dating as far back as 700 BC. Centuries later, they became the emblem for the first French Republic.	$1.50
	Single Stamp	Single $2.00 'Year of the Rooster' gummed stamp. On 9 February 2005 the rooster came into his own, ruling the Chinese lunar calendar for the next 12 months and no doubt seizing the opportunity to imprint his forceful, outgoing personality on us all. He certainly stands distinctively apart from his calendar compatriots - the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, ram, monkey, dog and pig.	$2.00
	Single Stamp	Single 45c 'Sheep' self-adhesive stamp.	$0.45
	Miniature Sheet	Mint, used or cancelled miniature sheet.	$3.50
	First Day Cover	First day cover with five gummed stamps and one self-adhesive stamp affixed. Cancelled on the first day of issue.	$7.15
	Miniature Sheet First Day Cover	First day cover with miniature sheet affixed. Cancelled on the first day of issue.	$4.00
	Self-adhesive Dispenser	Dispenser box containing 100 x 45c self-adhesive stamps.	$45.00
	Self-adhesive Booklet	Booklet containing 10 x 45c self-adhesive stamps.	$4.50
	Presentation Pack	Presentation pack containing a selection of stamp products from the issue and further information on the theme of the stamps.	$24.95
	Limited Edition	Limited edition collectable containing exclusive stamp products not available anywhere else.	$135.00