HONGKONG Year of the Monkey Issue Date: 16.1.2016

The “Year of the Monkey” issue is the fifth of the fourth Lunar New Year special stamp series of Hongkong Post. The four stamps depict the playful character of the Monkey and the vibrancy of the New Year through the different art forms, including coloured glass, embroidery, silverware and Beijing opera mask paper-cut. One of the two stamp sheetlets is printed on silk, capturing the festive spirit of the Lunar New Year and also Gold and Silver Stamp Sheetlet on Lunar New Year Animals – Ram/Monkey to be issue
Souce: Hongkongpoststamps

Why China is 'going postal' for monkey stamps?

China's stamp lovers got a double treat this week. Buyers hope that the stamps will grow in value, just as Chinese families grow in size.

The newest release from the country's post office includes a nod to the historic end of the country's one-child policy while celebrating the upcoming Lunar New Year. 

One of the new stamps features a smiling, cartoon monkey being kissed by not one, but two baby monkeys. The Year of the Monkey is set to begin on February 8. 

China Post commissioned renowned Chinese artist Huang Yongyu to design the commemorative stamp. They originally asked for a female monkey holding a baby, according to Beijing's Legal Evening News. Huang, reportedly, insisted on drawing two.

"Now that China has launched the two-child policy recently, it should be fine to draw two baby monkeys," the 92-year-old artist told the Legal Evening News

Huang, the elderly stamp designer, also designed the first ever set of animal Zodiac stamps, released in 1980. Those stamps, nicknamed the"red monkey" have grown in value 200,000 fold the past 30 years, according to China Daily

This year's stamps have a face value of 1.20 yuan (about 18 US cents). Buyers are optimistic they too will prove to be a good investment
Photos: Xu Wei- fromchangzhou city china
-PPAKASHRAJ G

 

RUSSIA'S NEXT POSTCROSSING STAMP

Russia Post will issue 'Postcrossing. Continuation of the Series' 1 stamp, sheet with illustrated margins with 9 (3х3) stamps at March10-2016
source: http://www.rusmarka.ru/en/plans/planmarka.aspx

Vintage Rose & Tulip (Weddings) (U.S. 2015)

In 2015, the U.S. Postal Service will issue Vintage Tulip, an all-occasion, two-ounce stamp, available to accommodate the weight of heavy invitations for weddings and other celebrations, greeting cards, and mailings such as small gifts that require extra postage. The stamp art features an elaborate floral line drawing of a tulip similar to the design of the 2015 Vintage Rose Forever® stamp. Jeanne Greco designed these stamps using drawings from engraved plates originally created by naturalist artist Maria Sibylla Merian (1647–1717). A small, deep crimson heart on both stamps adds a dash of color to the designs and makes them a natural pair. These stamps were printed using the intaglio printing technique. Vintage Tulip and Vintage Rose are the latest additions to the popular Weddings series. Greg Breeding was the art director

Customers have 60 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark by mail. They may purchase new stamps at their local Post Office, at The Postal Store® website at http://www.usps.com/shop, or by calling 800-STAMP-24. They should affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the envelopes (to themselves or others), and place them in a larger envelope addressed to:

The Vintage Tulip Stamp
Postmaster
Riverside Main Post Office
3890 Orange Street
Riverside, CA 92501-3638

USA

MORE DETAILS  http://virtualstampclub.com/lloydblog/?p=1460 .THANKS

The season of heart celebrated by Philippines Post

According to info received by Philately24x7 philippines post issued a Forever in Love comic strips stamps to celebrate the season of heart. These special stamps accentuate cupid`s role in how two people fall in love, and stay in love forever. The issue was released on the 2d of February.

PHLPost started to release the Valentine’s Day stamps as early as January 14, one month before the much anticipated red letter day for love and romance, to drum up the interests in the said stamps. This is the first comic strips stamps issued for this occasion, illustrated by in-house graphic artist Rod Teodoro.

Aside from the Valentine’s Day stamps, the public can also bank on other promotional activities that the postal corporation will initiate in time for the love season. With its annual project, Love Express, PHLPost encourages the public to avail the express delivery in sending flowers and other novelty items to his or her special someone.

The history of Valentine’s Day told with a new stamp issue by Hungary Post

Philately24x7 is glad to inform that Hungarian Post has presented its version of St. Valentine’s Day stamps. The issue was released on the 4^th of February and is now available for purchasing.

There is no more sublime feeling than the feeling of sincere, devoted and eternal love. Every year, on 14 February , this love is celebrated by millions of those in love throughout the world and according to number of Valentine’s cards and messages sent, this day stands shoulder to shoulder with other great world’s holidays. The privilege to celebrate the day dedicated to love is owed to the bishop Valen-tine, who lived in 3rd century in Rome.

At that time Christianity was young and new religion and the Christians were pursued and prosecuted. Valentin tried to help them in all possible ways, he performed and supported Christian marriages and gave roses from his garden to all those who married. He offered help to all who asked his advice opposing himself to the order by the Emperor Claudius II Gothicus, who at that time forbid engagements and marriages to soldiers believing that they won’t be willing to take part in wars if they have a wife and children waiting for them at home.

Because of his devotedness to Christianity and to wedding ceremony the Bishop Valentine was imprisoned and on 14 February (on the eve of the Roman spring holiday Lupercalia) decapitated. The folks, who were especially fond of Valentine, soon proclaimed him a saint and the patron of young and those in love. When, after some time, Christianity consolidated in Rome the priests also proclaimed 14 February as the St. Valentine’s Day.

The first to do so was the Pope Gelasius I in 496 and in 1969 the Pope Paul VI erased the day from the main catholic calendar of saints, so that the day became an optional remembrance day. For billions of those in love throughout the world this saint, who in a sense died for love, is the veritable patron of all who are in love. Although many people today will criticize the celebration of Valentine’s Day because of its commercialisation, the fact is that it is celebrated in the whole world.

On that day women and girls in the whole world receive about 50 tons of roses, many pairs want to legalise their relationship just on St. Valentin’s Day, and even those who during year forget to give presents and show their beloved persons that they care about them stop for a moment and apprehend the deepest meaning of love – it is at its best when generously shared!

Love is in Australia’s Air

With a February 3 issue date, Australia Post brings us a new set of “Love is in the Air” stamps. Shown above is the part of the creative official announcement for the issue, surrounded by enlargements of the four stamps that make up this issue.

Explaining the designs, Australia Post tells us, “The heart is quite simply the most iconic love symbol of all. The exchange of heart-shaped Valentines is believed to have gained popularity in Victorian England.

"Love is in Australia's Air"