Cancelled set of four gummed stamps.
$1.50 Balance - In mythology, it’s believed that by decorating their houses with Tiger motifs, households are able to fend off fire, thieves and ghosts and bring balance to the cosmos. Infants are used in Chinese folk art as a symbol of prosperity and new beginnings.
$2.80 The Lantern - Chinese New Year celebrations are said to have started when a demon called Nian terrorised the countryside on New Year’s Eve. Alongside the infant and the Tiger, this stamp celebrates the role of the lantern as a way to scare Nian away and usher in a prosperous new year.
$3.60 Fortune - For Chinese, the New Year is a chance to welcome prosperity for the coming year. The 2022 stamps show the Tiger and infant surrounded by gold ingots and bamboo. The ingots symbolise the many New Year greetings that wish for wealth and abundance. The bamboo represents longevity and is a popular New Year gift.
$4.10 Protection - In Chinese culture the Tiger is seen as a symbol of royal protection. Tiger slippers and hats, for example, are said to guard and protect little ones from harm. Firecrackers also offer protection at New Year by fending off evil spirits.
Check out the full range of stamp sets here.
| Date of issue: | 1 December 2021 |
|---|---|
| Number of stamps: | Four gummed |
| Denominations: | $1.50, $2.80, $3.60 & $4.10 |
| Designed and illustrated by: | YMC Design, Wellington, New Zealand |
| Printer and process: | Southern Colour Print, New Zealand by lithography |
| Number of colours: | Four process colours |
| Stamp size and format: | 30mm x 40mm (vertical) |
| Miniature sheet size and format: | 135mm x 90mm (horizontal) |
| Paper type: | Tullis Russell 106gsm red phosphor gummed stamp paper |
| Number of stamps per sheet: | 25 |
| Perforation gauge: | 14 |
| Special blocks: | Plate/imprint blocks may be obtained by purchasing at least six stamps from a sheet. Barcode blocks are available in A and B formats. |
| Period of sale: | Unless stocks are exhausted earlier, these stamps will remain on sale until 30 November 2022. First day covers will remain on sale until 31 January 2022. |
