Chinese New Year celebrations began on 16 February, and according to the traditional Chinese lunar calendar, 2018 was the Year of the Dog. New Zealand Post created a special stamp, gold-sheet and medallion issue to celebrate.
Issue information
The dog is the 12th animal in the Chinese lunar calendar. People born in this year tend to have decisive, loyal and loving personality traits which can make them fierce and long-lasting friends. But, because they have quite cautious characteristics, they can take time to form these bonds, and can be easily distressed if trust is broken.
The Chinese lunar calendar is based on observations of the Sun and Moon and is used for traditional activities in China and in overseas Chinese communities. It determines the date for traditional Chinese holidays, and guides Chinese people in selecting the luckiest day for a wedding or funeral, or for beginning a new venture or relocating.
The stamps in this issue used traditional Chinese art techniques that incorporate New Zealand icons - such as the koru and a well known statue of a working dog in Tekapo - to show the good relationship our two countries share.
Miniature Sheet and First Day Covers
The miniature sheet featured Chinese symbols for each of the 12 animals in the lunar calendar - the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig. The first day covers used a traditional Chinese pattern overlaid with a warm, red hue, which features prominently in Chinese culture.
Presentation Pack
The presentation pack provided a whole lot more detail about the characteristics of people born in the Year of the Dog, the Chinese lunar calendar, and the 12 animals of the Chinese New Year. The pack included a complete set of stamps, a miniature sheet, first day cover and an intricate paper-cut out of a dog.
Gold-plated Medallion
This limited-edition, gold-plated collectable medallion featured the calligraphic character for 'dog' on one side, and an illustrated dog from the $2.70 on the other side. It was limited to only 999 worldwide and came with an individually numbered certificate that gave further context and background to the Chinese Year of the Dog. Presented in a specially designed case, it made a beautiful gift for anyone born in the Year of the Dog.
2018 Year of the Dog Coloured and Numbered Miniature Sheets
These premium, limited edition miniature sheets were made from 24-carat, 99.9-gold foil. They were replicas of the miniature sheet in this stamp issue, and were not part of the official stamp programme.
- Two small gold-foiled miniature sheets were available - one in traditional gold, and one that featured colour. Both were housed in modern perspex stands and had been produced in limited numbers.
- Two large gold-foiled miniature sheets were also available. Each sheet was presented in a premium frame and was individually numbered (only 128 worldwide). Of the 128 available, 25 of the luckiest-numbered miniature sheets featured colour on the stamps, making them highly collectable and sought after.
Product Listing for 2018 Year of the Dog
| Image | Title | Description | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Single Stamp |
Single $1.00 'Calligraphy' gummed stamp. The Chinese New Year celebration is dominated by the traditional Chinese colour, red. It reflects a positive, warm, and peaceful atmosphere. Calligraphy is another traditional Chinese New Year element used for household scrolls and art exhibitions. Here, the cloud pattern was a metaphor for good luck in Chinese and ‘the land of the long white cloud’ New Zealand. |
$1.00 |
 |
Single Stamp |
Single $2.20 'Paper-cutting' gummed stamp. Paper-cutting is one of the styles of Chinese folk art that can be traced back many years. It’s specifically designed for the Chinese New Year celebration, and symbolises respect of this traditional Chinese art form. It’s commonly used to decorate house or shop windows. It’s also given as a gift to guests and friends on all occasions. The paper-cutting of the dog was the best element of this set of stamps. |
$2.20 |
 |
Single Stamp |
Single $2.70 'The Dog' gummed stamp. This stamp showed a rural backdrop of rolling green pastures with grazing sheep, which New Zealand is famous for. The working dog plays an important role in New Zealand sheep farming, the Huntaway was illustrated here using a form of line art. Inspiration was also taken from Māori and Pacific art works, with elements that helped to link New Zealand and the Year of the Dog. |
$2.70 |
 |
Single Stamp |
Single $3.30 'Lake Tekapo' gummed stamp. The working dog, most commonly Border Collies and Huntaway’s, play a key role in farming the high country areas of the Mackenzie Basin near Tekapo. A bronze statue was erected in Tekapo as a tribute to these hardworking dogs. This stamp design showed this New Zealand landmark as it relates to the Year of the Dog. Images of migrant birds, godwits, which fly between New Zealand and China on their way to Alaska could be seen in the background. These birds reflect the good relationship our two countries share. |
$3.30 |
 |
Miniature Sheet | Mint, used or cancelled miniature sheet. | $9.20 |
 |
First Day Cover | First day cover with four gummed stamps affixed. Cancelled on the first day of issue. | $9.70 |
 |
Miniature Sheet First Day Cover | First day cover with gummed miniature sheet affixed. Cancelled on the first day of issue. | $9.70 |
 |
Presentation Pack |
This informative presentation pack provided some background detail to the Chinese lunar calendar, as well as elaborating on the characteristics of someone born in the year of the dog. You could take a closer look at the products and discover the animals for the upcoming years with the helpful key provided. |
$29.90 |
 |
Gold Foiled Miniature Sheet in Perspex Stand | Made from 24-carat 99.9 gold foil, this miniature sheet had been embossed and etched with micro fine detail and was mounted in a perspex display stand (measuring 18cm x 10cm) - making a great gift for the Year of the Dog. | $188.00 |
 |
Gold Foiled Miniature Sheet with Coloured Stamp in Perspex Stand |
Made from 24-carat 99.9 gold foil, this miniature sheet had been embossed and etched with micro fine detail and was mounted in a perspex display stand (measuring 18cm x 10cm). It featured vibrant coloured stamps and was produced in limited numbers. |
$288.00 |
 |
Framed and Numbered Gold Foiled Miniature Sheet |
This large miniature sheet is one of only 103 produced so you'll need to order quickly! It has been embossed and etched with micro fine detail from 24-carat 99.9 gold foil, and is presented within an individually numbered frame (measuring 39cm x 27cm). |
$560.00 |
 |
Gold Plated Medallion |
This limited edition, gold-plated. collectable medallion featured the calligraphic character for ‘dog’ on one side, and an illustrated dog – from the $2.70 stamp - on the other side. Limited to only 999 worldwide, it came with an individually numbered certificate that gave further context and background to the Chinese Year of the Dog. It was presented in a specially designed case and made a beautiful gift for anyone born in the Year of the Dog. |
$69.00 |
Technical information
| Date of issue: | 10 January 2018 |
|---|---|
| Number of stamps: | Four gummed stamps |
| Denominations: | $1.00, $2.20, $2.70, $3.30 |
| Stamps, miniature sheet and first day covers designed by: | Asiaworks, Auckland, New Zealand |
| Printer and process: | Cartor Security Printing, France, by offset lithography |
| Number of colours: | Four process colours |
| Stamp size and format: | 30mm x 40mm (vertical) |
| Paper type: | 106gsm red phosphor gummed stamp paper |
| Number of stamps per sheet: | 25 |
| Perforation gauge: | 13 x 13.25 |
| Special blocks: | Plate/Imprint blocks could be obtained by purchasing at least six stamps from a sheet. Barcode blocks were available in A and B formats. |
| Period of sale: | These stamps remained on sale until 9 January 2019. First day covers remained on sale until 9 March 2018. |
