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Written by Wei-Jing Zhu
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In 2005 the USPS rolls out a special collection of Chinese Lunar New Year stamps in time for the celebration. From postal workers and the web, I uncovered some interesting facts.
Over the past years, each of the 12 Chinese Zodiac Animals was designed by artist Clarence Lee, started 12 years ago with the Rooster, and hence able to present the complete series in this year of the Rooster. At the beginning of the year, USPS started to issue the entire collection, in a 2-dozen batch (2-sided sheets with one set on each side.)
This is tastefully done, as the price is exactly $8.88, the perfect number for Chinese New Year auspicious sign. In fact, Cantonese substitute the Happy New Year greeting with "Kung Hey Fat Choy" 恭喜发财 meaning "wishing you prosperity and fortune", with the 3rd character 发 meaning unlimited growth to be the key character. This phonetically sound similar to 8, hence the importance of the number in the culture.
It so happens that stamps costs $.37, enabling 3 to cost $1.11, and hence 24 to cost $8.88, and conveniently 24 is 2 dozen, a manageable multiple of the 12 Zodiac signs. This pricing would not have been possible in previous or future years, as 111 is a multiple of the prime 37, and we will wait a long time double the cost of a stamp without public outrage. 1111 is 11 x 101, which is inconvenient for the 12 stamps, as well as the pricing of $1.01. Consequently, we lived in the perfect stamp price $.37 for this to happen.
Postal workers pointed out to me that the stamps for the various Animals were priced at various rates over the years, and this is the first time that any stamp is re-issued at a new price. So were they really aiming at the special $8.88, or it is just a necessity (that they have to update to the current price for any new issues)?
Web documents show that (click links below to PDF docs)
indicated awareness of the special pricing, so we can only conclude that they made the stamps, and afterwards realizing that a single set of 12 stamps would sound bad with all the 4s, to issue a double dozen, and accidentally arriving at the auspicious $8.88.
On the other hand, the description at the LunarCollection.com on the gold plated silver mints of the 12 stamps, with pricing of $88 and a limited collection of 18800 issues suggest the conscious recognition and effort on the part of the marketing of these stamps.
No matter what, these sets of stamps become great gift sets, as any one who recognizes the hidden yet favorable meaning will welcome such a gift much more than if they were to receive a Red Envelop of $100. I am now searching for appropriate frames, since showcasing them in a double sided transparent case will magnify their value tremendously.
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Written by Guest on 2005-02-09 16:54:22
 Thanks Wei-Jing for the interesting article. I forwarded it to my reporter friend in LA.
Gerry |
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