Stamp Bulletin - Australia Post Shop

8 January 2013
4
Issue highlights
Foiling will be used in the gutter of
the 60c stamp sheet as well as in the
design of the zodiac sheet. There is
also a $1 circular stamp included in
the Lotus sheetlet.
Technical details
Issue date 8 January 2013
FDI withdrawal date 6 February 2013
Denomination 1 x 60c, 1 x $1.80
Stamp and
minisheet design
Dani Poon
Product design
Lunar New Year – Year of the Snake
60c Snake $1.80 Snake Characters
Lisa Christensen
Australia Post Design Studio
Printer McKellar Renown
Paper Tullis Russell
Printing process Lithography
Stamp (minisheet) size 26mm x 37.5mm (136mm x 70mm)
Sheetlet size 170mm x 210mm
Perforations 14.6 x 13.86
Sheet layout Module of 50 (with foiled design)
National postmark Christmas Island, WA 6798
1759126 Stamp pack
The Chinese zodiac is made up of a 12-year cycle, with
Chinese animal signs used for dating the years. For festive
seasons, such as the New Year, the Chinese lunar calendar is
the determining factor and the recurring animal year cycle is
Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat (or Sheep),
Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig.
The Snake is the sixth sign in the Chinese zodiac and it
symbolises wisdom, caution and romance. The stamps
feature the calligraphic symbol for the Snake and its
pictorial derivation.
The stamps show the development of the Chinese character
for the Snake, shown fully in the $1.80c stamp, and the way it
is derived from its pictorial representation, shown in the 60c
stamp. Paper-cut motifs are used to pictorially represent the
Snake in the 60c stamp.
1759231 PPE
1759232 IPPE