Textured Stamps Highlight Lunar New Year Animals

County Stamp Center's featured new item this month is this unique Lunar New Year sheetlet from Hong Kong. Wonderfully designed, the four-set sheet features the animals of the Lunar New Year. Whimsically portrayed, each animal stands out against bright background colors on specially textured "flocked" paper. We're offering free shipping on this very special issue. You can purchase it for only $36.56 at County Stamp Center; click the post title to order.

The Chinese lunar calendar is a complicated combination of astrology, astronomy and philosophy that has historically been used to predict the future. The 60-year cycle combines five earth elements -- wood, fire, earth, metal and water -- with a cycle of 12 earthly branches represented by animal zodiac signs: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. Each 60-year cycle always starts with Wood Rat and ends with Water Pig. The emphasis of Yin (the snake) which occurs in odd numbered years and Yang (the dragon) occurring in even numbered years adds further complications. The current cycle began in the year 1984.

Chinese legend has it that the zodiac animals and their order were decided by a race across a river and through a woods to the throne of the Jade Emperor. Devious and wily, the rat took advantage of the other animals to reach the throne first. The lazy pig was last after stopping to lunch and take a nap. Their performances during the race to the Jade Emperor are used to define the characteristics of each zodiac animal. Read the entire fascinating legend on Wikipedia. Click this link, then scroll down to Zodiac Origin Stories.

Visit the County Stamp Center website for all your philatelic needs.