Ringing in the dragon for a bright year to come, Hongkong Post announced today (December 14) that Lunar New Year special stamps and associated philatelic products on the theme of "Year of the Dragon" will be released for sale on January 5, 2024 (Friday). The "Gold and Silver Stamp Sheetlet of Lunar New Year Animals – Rabbit/Dragon", "Gold and Silver Stamp Sheetlet on Lunar New Year Animals – A Complete Collectible Set" and "Year of the Dragon" Joint Souvenir Packs will be issued on the same day, adding a festive ambience to the new year.
Among the 12 zodiac animals, the dragon is a mythical creature that symbolises prestige and power, and is widely known as an emblem of auspiciousness and good luck. As the Year of the Dragon is approaching, Hongkong Post will release the first issue of the fifth Lunar New Year special stamp series. This set of four stamps and two stamp sheetlets showcase the vivid depiction of the dragon with different graphic elements and festive colours, giving an atmosphere of rejoicing in celebration of the Year of the Dragon. The $50 stamp sheetlet is a laser-cut paper art stamp sheetlet issued by Hongkong Post for the first time. The motif on the stamp is laser-cut to create a delicate silhouette of a dragon. The elaborate design of the paper-cut, coupled with the exquisite making technique, renders the stamp sheetlet a perfect collectible in the Year of the Dragon.
For the "Gold and Silver Stamp Sheetlet of Lunar New Year Animals – Rabbit/Dragon", the rabbit and the dragon on the stamps are lavishly finished in silver foil and gold plating respectively, lending an ambience of joyous festivity of the New Year. With purple as the key tone, the background is embellished with lotus flower decorations on the roof ridge of traditional Chinese architecture, lending an air of nobility and grandeur.
Hongkong Post started issuing the second Gold and Silver Stamp Sheetlet on Lunar New Year Animals series in 2013, beginning with "Dragon/Snake" in 2013 and ending with "Rabbit/Dragon" in 2024, with a total of 12 sets to complete a full cycle. The "Gold and Silver Stamp Sheetlet on Lunar New Year Animals – A Complete Collectible Set" draws the series to a perfect close. A set of two stamp sheetlets features the Lunar New Year Animals against gold and silver backgrounds respectively, which glisten brightly and emanate luxury while expressing the wish for a prosperous, auspicious and peaceful year.
In addition, China Post, Hongkong Post and Macao Post and Telecommunications will jointly issue the "Year of the Dragon" Joint Souvenir Packs on the same day. The Joint Souvenir Packs contain the first-ever souvenir sheet jointly issued by the three postal administrations, which unites the diversified expressions of the dragon culture in Chinese traditions in Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macao, demonstrating that the three places share the same roots and cultural lineage. The souvenir sheet is printed on special security paper with exquisite techniques to create a colourful visual effect.
The official first day covers for the "Year of the Dragon" and official souvenir covers for the "Gold and Silver Stamp Sheetlet of Lunar New Year Animals – Rabbit/Dragon" and "Gold and Silver Stamp Sheetlet on Lunar New Year Animals – A Complete Collectible Set" will be put on sale at all post offices and on Hongkong Post's online shopping mall ShopThruPost (shopthrupost.hongkongpost.hk) from tomorrow (December 15). Prestige version of the aforesaid covers and the newly designed 2024 Souvenir Cover will also be available at all philatelic offices and ShopThruPost on the same day.
This set of special stamps and associated philatelic products will be on sale at all post offices and on ShopThruPost from January 5, 2024. Prestige version of official first day covers/Lunar New Year animal souvenir covers, serviced first day covers/Lunar New Year animal souvenir covers, prestige version of serviced first day covers/Lunar New Year animal souvenir covers, postage prepaid Lunar New Year greeting cards, "Heartwarming Stamps" mini-panes, Joint Souvenir Pack and Joint Souvenir Pack (prestige version) will be available at philatelic offices only, while red packets will be available from December 15 at the General Post Office, Tsim Sha Tsui Post Office, Tsuen Wan Post Office, Sha Tin Central Post Office and Tuen Mun Central Post Office only.
A hand-back date-stamping service will be provided on January 5, 2024, at all post offices for official first day covers/souvenir covers/privately made covers bearing the first day of issue indication and a local address.
Information about this set of special stamps and associated philatelic products is available on the Hongkong Post Stamps website (stamps.hongkongpost.hk) and in the ShopThruPost mobile app.
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