For immediate release – 5 January, 2016
Guernsey Post is delighted to announce that it will issue a third set of stamps as part of its Lunar New Year series (issue date: 20 January 2016).
The stamps celebrate the Year of the Monkey, which, according to the Chinese zodiac, ranks ninth out of twelve positions on the zodiac and begins on 8 February 2016.
They have been designed in collaboration with Sydney-based illustrator Chrissy Lau, who has worked on all three issues in the Lunar New Year series. She commented: -
“I took inspiration for the stamps from the legendary Sun Wukong, or Monkey King, a popular depiction in Chinese paintings, cartoons, plays, films and puppet shows. A key character in the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West, Sun Wukong is a monkey born from a stone who acquires supernatural powers through Taoist practices. He is famous for stealing the peaches of immortality of the Jade Emperor’s sacred garden; peaches are a regular feature in Chinese imagery and represent longevity.”
The 42p stamp value depicts a monkey standing proudly holding a peach. This is a scene often given as a gift at Chinese New Year to wish the recipient a long life. The pattern in the body is 'the three plenties' - the peach, Buddha's hand citron and the pomegranate, to represent long life, happiness and virility.
The pattern in the body of the monkey hanging from a peach tree includes fire flames, reflecting that 2016 is the Year of the Fire Monkey, where fire represents intellectual brilliance. On the monkey's chest is the Chinese symbol 'Ji' which means luck. The lotus flower in the pattern symbolises purity because they remain unblemished in the muddy waters where they bloom (56p).
The 68p stamp depicts a mother and baby, sitting under a peach tree with a Chinese floral design pattern commonly found on Chinese ceramics and textiles. On another stamp a monkey is picking and collecting peaches with a cloud pattern in the body to symbolise peace and good fortune. The peony pattern represents wealth and advancement in life (57p).
Another common depiction in Chinese imagery and sculptures is a baby monkey on the back of another monkey which means 'may generations of your descendants become government officials or of noble rank'. Gold ingots and coins surround the monkeys, which reflects the wish that the recipient becomes wealthy (62p). The 77p stamp depicts three monkeys carrying a Chinese cabbage, which symbolises wealth.
Acting head of philatelic at Guernsey Post,
Bridget Yabsley, said: “We are delighted to have worked with Chrissy
once again for this series. She has
created another stunning set which are a true reflection of Chinese heritage
and of the Lunar New Year celebration.”