To celebrate the Year of the Pig 2019, Australia Post has released two commemorative Lunar New Year stamps – the 12th and final stamp to complete the current Lunar New Year 12-design series.
With the edition featuring the Chinese calligraphic character for the Pig in the $3 stamp and its pictorial representation with floral inlay in the $1 stamp, Australia Post designer Dani Poon said the stamps give everyone the opportunity to send wishes of good fortune to family and friends, both here and overseas.
“The Pig minisheet design shows that in ancient times a Chinese family home only seemed complete when it included a pig, because the Pig’s plump appearance was seen as a symbol of happiness and plenty. We can see this in the fact that the Chinese calligraphic character for “family” incorporates characters for “roof” and “pig””.
Those born under the Pig sign are known to be kind, patient and empathetic, making them suited to a career as a teacher, doctor, vet or social worker. The Pig’s lucky flower is marigold; lucky colours are yellow, grey, brown and gold; and lucky numbers and 2, 5 and 8.
Famous people born in the Year of the Pig include Alfred Hitchcock, Julie Andrews, Hillary Clinton, Lisa McCune, Dannii Minogue and Adam Gilchrist.
A highlight of the stamp issue is the zodiac sheetlet, which completes the Lunar New Year series. In this issue, the zodiac stamps feature graphic illustrations of each Chinese Zodiac animal with an equivalent Australian animal according to Chinese legends and Aboriginal Dreamtime stories. Australia Post is also releasing a special joint sheetlet pack with China Post.
Other products associated with this stamp issue include a first day cover, stamp pack, silk minisheet pack, postcards, international and domestic postage-paid envelopes, Happy New Year postal numismatic cover, Dragon postal numismatic cover, medallion cover, prestige booklet featuring stamps from the zodiac sheetlet, and a Lotus sheetlet pack.
The Lunar New Year: Year of the Pig 2019 commemorative stamp issue is available now at participating Post Offices, via mail order on 1800 331 794 and at auspost.com.au/stamps, while stocks last.
