Hongkong Post to issue “Year of the Pig” special stamps and “2019 Souvenir Cover” (with photos)
Hongkong Post announced today (December 27) the release of a set of special stamps themed on the Year of the Pig, together with associated philatelic products, which will go on sale on January 12 (Saturday).
An integral part of Chinese history and culture, the 12 Chinese zodiac animals convey good wishes and bear symbolic meanings, and have therefore been a popular theme in arts and crafts since ancient times. To herald the arrival of the Year of the Pig in 2019, Hongkong Post presents the stamps as the eighth issue of the fourth Lunar New Year special stamp series, featuring a set of four stamps portraying pigs in different art forms, namely, cloth art, woodcarving, ceramic and jade, to underscore the theme of the Year of the Pig. A silk stamp sheetlet featuring a gold mother pig and piglets pendant against a background of graceful and enchanting peonies to usher in a propitious year ahead, will also be issued to mark the joyous occasion.
Furthermore, Hongkong Post is releasing a Gold and Silver Stamp Sheetlet on Lunar New Year Animals – Dog/Pig as the seventh issue of the second series. The dog stamp is hot-foiled with silver while the pig stamp is affixed with 22K gold-plated lace metal. Accompanied by a certificate of authenticity, this stamp sheetlet makes a perfect collectible. Additionally, as the second issue of the second series, Hongkong Post is releasing "Silver Hot Foil Lunar New Year Animal Stamps – Monkey / Rooster / Dog / Pig" special stamps. Printed in lithography with silver hot foil stamping and an embossing effect, the zodiac animals glitter and shine, bringing vigour and vitality to herald the new year.
Two Heartwarming Stamps (2019 Version) Year of the Pig mini-panes, which adopt the respective designs of the $2 and the $4.90 mint stamps in the "Year of the Pig" special stamp issue of 2019, will be released for sale at all philatelic offices from January 12.
In addition to stamps, Year of the Pig red packets, featuring images of the four mint stamps on the same theme, will go on sale 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, as well as Hongkong Post's Online Shopping Mall "ShopThruPost" (shopthrupost.hongkongpost.hk), starting from January 12 while stock lasts.
Official First Day Covers for the Year of the Pig, official souvenir covers for the "Gold and Silver Stamp Sheetlet on Lunar New Year Animals – Dog / Pig" and official souvenir covers for the "Silver Hot Foil Lunar New Year Animal Stamps – Monkey / Rooster / Dog / Pig" will be put on sale at $1.30 each at all post offices from December 28. A prestige version of the aforesaid covers will also be available at $8 each at all philatelic offices on the same day.
These items will be displayed 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 from the same day. Advance orders for servicing self-provided covers will be accepted at all philatelic offices from December 28 to January 3.
In addition to the above products, a newly designed 2019 Souvenir Cover will be put on sale at $1.30 at all philatelic offices, as well as Hongkong Post's Online Shopping Mall "ShopThruPost" (shopthrupost.hongkongpost.hk) from December 28, 2018 to December 31, 2019.
All philatelic offices will extend their operating hours until 5pm on January 12, except for the General Post Office and the Tsim Sha Tsui Post Office which will be open until 6pm and the Airport Post Office until 8.30pm. Non-philatelic post offices will be open during their normal business hours (please refer to Hongkong Post's website at www.hongkongpost.hk for details).
Information about this special stamp issue and associated philatelic products is available on Hongkong Post's website at www.hongkongpost.hk and Hongkong Post Mobile App.
