aries

I have been saving these stamps for the next year of the ram - so 2027 - even though they aren't technically lunar new year stamps.

They were worth .59¢ when issued in 2011,  now they are worth $1.24

I do appreciate the colour bars on the selvedge in the shape of the ram's horns.

With this alphabet round, I am going to go with stamps related to flora and fauna.  Some may be rather tangentially related.

cock of the walk

 

to slay or not to slay

April 23rd is St George's Day.  I couldn't find a stamp featuring that particular saint, but I do have a rather miserable looking St Augustine holding a model church

maybe he was wishing he had a dragon to slay

like this colourful creature, a Year of the Dragon stamp from Hong Kong

snakes

this blue racer can only be found on Pelee Island (Lake Erie), which is the most southern point in Canada, but it can also be seen in the US in parts of Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa.  

It is described as a the most graceful and swiftest of Ontario's snakes

 

I am not a collector of snake stamps, but I am a collector of Lunar New Year Stamps, so...

this is one from 2013

and 2001

year of the dragon

Tomorrow begins The Lunar New Year. It will be the year 4722

tigers

It seems Canada Post has given up making any more Lunar New Year stamps which is so disappointing.

Thank goodness I still have a souvenir sheet (with gold foil) from the last Year of the Tiger, in 2010.

This year, New Year falls on February 1st. I have already stocked up on dumplings.

From fifty years prior, another tiger from the Malaysian state of Trengganu. This tiger features on several identical stamps save for state name on the bottom and its sultan encircled in the corner.

for Sunday Stamps - Lunar New Year, tigers

horns a plenty

For the Year of the Goat 2015, from Philippines.

Plus a goat-antelope from western Russia

 

 

 

 

On the left is the world's largest mountain sheep which live in Central Asia with magnificent corkscrew horns that can measure 190cm.  On the right is a Siberian bighorn (or snow) sheep

For Sunday Stamps - animals of the Lunar New Year

rats

I think, that of all the lunar new year animals, the rat is possibly the least likely to appear on a stamp at any other time.  For both of the Year of the Rat stamps (2008 and 2020) Canada has chosen to go with the 'mouse bride' or 'rat's wedding' story*.

This left one from 2008 is so colourful and fun. I love the purple, the parasol, the purse, and the little curl in the bride rat's tail. On the right is this year's version, with the bride rat being carried in her chair, or litter. Personally, I prefer the 2008 version.

*You can read an interesting version of the rat's wedding here

for Sunday Stamps - lunar new year animals

Gong Hei Fat Choy (one of many variations in spelling of Mandarin)

rooster

a Year of the Rooster for 2017

by Swedish artist Martin Morck featuring a Hedemora which is perhaps the most cold hardy chicken in the world.

year of the pig

received from Taiwan, 2019
Year of the Pig

This Year of the Pig ends a 60 year cycle in the Chinese calendar.  2019 brings Ji Hai - the Yin Earth Pig.

Sunday Stamps II - 165

2018, Canada
illustration: Meimei Mao
calligraphy: Albert Ng

The Year of the Dog begins on February 16, 2018 and ends on February 4th, 2019. People born under the sign of the Dog are said to be loyal, trustworthy and easy going. (full disclosure: me!) This stamp features an eager looking little dog in front of  a Chinese lantern with the traditional red and gold colour scheme.

for the Lunar New Year in China, Korea, Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Hong Kong

Year of the Rooster

January 9th, 2017, Canada

prepaid postcard of domestic rate stamp

The Chinese Year of the Fire Rooster begins on January 28th, 2017.  Rooster (or cock, or chicken) is the only bird among the 12 zodiac symbols.

for Postcards for the Weekend

floral pig

2007, Canada for Lunar New Year
Year of the Pig

The gold foil in the stamp is meant to reflect the ancient art form of cloisonné that originated in Beijing in the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368). The stamps were issued on Jaunary 5, 2007 but within a month around 250 of the stamps were found to be missing the gold and silver foil so that the enhancements of the floral design is not seen. Those .52¢ stamps are much more valuable to collectors as a result, some selling for as much as $1,000 each! My sheet are all nicely foiled.

for Sepia Saturday theme of pigs

Sunday Stamps II - 10

souvenir sheet, 2015, international rate stamp (showing the three rams from the domestic rate stamp)
Year of the Ram,
also known as Year of the Goat and Year of the Sheep

The ambiguity has whipped up discussion in the English world. Actually, when used without attributes, the Chinese character Yang can refer to all of the forgoing ruminants. However, in terms of traditional culture, the zodiac symbol is more likely a Goat. The images of goats often appear on Chinese New Year stamps and paper-cuts. To ordinary Chinese, it seems the confusion never bothers them. They may take the goat as the zodiac animal, but prefer to buy a sheep mascot, because it's more lovely and fluffy.

Sheep (or goat, or ram) is among the animals that people like most. It is gentle and calm. Since ancient times, people have learned to use its  fleece to make writing brushes and its skin to keep warm. The white cute creature often reminds people of beautiful things.
(source: travelchinaguide)