For immediate release – 26 January 2015
Guernsey Post announces the release of stamps to celebrate the Year of the Goat which, according to the Chinese zodiac, begins on 19 February 2015 and ends on February 7, 2016 (stamp issue date: 28 January).
Created by Sydney-based illustrator Chrissy Lau, each of the six stamps features a goat with a highly patterned body design, inspired by traditional Chinese patterns including those found on ceramics and robes worn by Chinese emperors.
The
stamp designs are primarily red in colour which, in Chinese culture, symbolises
good fortune and joy and is often used in celebrations, particularly the Lunar
New Year. The use of gold is to
symbolise wealth, prosperity and happiness, whilst the Chinese symbol for goat
appears on the top left.
The stamp designs include a delicate pattern of a peony, the national flower of China, which symbolises wealth, power and class in Chinese art (41 pence value). Distinct and traditional Chinese patterns also feature (54 pence and 55 pence values respectively).
Also depicted is a chrysanthemum pattern; this flowering herb was first cultivated in China as early as the 15th century BC and is the subject of many Chinese poems (66 pence value). Another symbolic flower – the Chinese lotus – is featured on the body of the goat standing on its hind legs. It is also known as the gentleman’s flower and is said to bloom in Beijing on lunar 8 April, the Buddha’s birthday (74 pence value).
The stamp depicting three goats with spring blossom patterns on their bodies takes its inspiration from a popular Chinese proverb Three Goats in Spring, whose imagery is often used to celebrate the Spring Festival. The proverb states that three goats bring harmony and prosperity (83 pence value).
Two limited edition products are also available for this issue - a gold foil souvenir sheet, which is produced in 24 carat gold (99.9% pure) and mounted inside a display stand with a numbered certificate of authenticity. Uncut press sheets[1], supplied in a protective tube with a certificate bearing the issue number, are also available.
Dawn Gallienne, head of philatelic at Guernsey Post said: - “I am thrilled that we were able to work with talented illustrator Chrissy Lau on the second issue for our Lunar New Year series, as she has once again created beautiful stamps that reflect her Chinese heritage.”
The stamps are
available to order now at www.guernseystamps.com or by calling Philatelic Customer Services
on (01481) 716486.
-End release-
Press enquiries to:
Sarah Amies, pr consultant to Guernsey Post, stamps, 01484 687040
Dawn Gallienne, head of philatelic, 01481 733524
Stamp specification: -
Date of issue: 28
January 2015
Designer: Chrissy Lau
Printer: Lowe-Martin
Values: 41p, 54p, 55p, 66p, 74p, 83p
Process: Offset Lithography
Stamp sizes: 30.5mm deep x 40mm wide
S/Sheet: 100mm deep x 140mm wide
Paper: 110gsm unwatermarked / PVA Adhesive
Sheet: 10
Block: 7
Perforation: 13.3
Cylinder: A
-ENDS-
[1] Also
known as master sheets or printers’ sheets, uncut press sheet are what most
stamps originate from. They are large sheets run through a printing process
much the same way as newspapers, magazines, books and many other printed
materials are produced.