Home Page
Home Page News and Information Stamp Issue News Reprint News Links About/Contact Me Free Newsletter Stamps for Sale Stamps for Sale
 
Come to the Show
Home > 2010 Issue Summary > Christmas Island Lunar New Year: Year of the Tiger

Since 1994, Australia Post has issued an annual Lunar New Year issue. This year is the Year of the Metal Tiger, and runs from 14 February 2010 to 2 February 2011.

Issue Information
The annual Lunar New Year issue has grown from a pair of stamps and a miniature sheet to, two stamps, a miniature sheet, gutter strips, postage paid envelopes, postcard, a sheetlet, prestige booklet, special event sheet, and for 2010 a circular Zodiac sheet!

Stamp Design: Dani Poon
Printer: McKellar Renown (more information)
Printing Process: Lithography and die-stamping (more information)
   
Designs: 10c x 4 Rat, Ox, Dragon, Snake
20c x 4 Tiger, Rabbit, Horse, Pig
25c x 4 Ram, Monkey, Rooster, Dog
55c Illustrative Tiger
$1 Flower design with Chinese characters
$1.65 Chinese symbol for Tiger
   
Usage: 10c, 20c, 25c Make-up stamps (together a set of three values adds to 55c)
55c Small letter rate within Australia (details)
$1 Make-up stamp
$1.65 Large letter rate within Australia (over 125 up to 250 grams) (details)

Gummed Sheet Stamps
The 55c and $1.65 values were issued in individual sheets.

55c Tiger   $1.65 Tiger
Sheet stamps

Issue Date: 12 January 2010 (more information)
Gum: Ordinary gum
Paper: Tullis Russell (incorporating phosphor) (more information)
Issued In: 55c in sheets of 50 (2 panes of 25 (5 x 5) with illustrated gutter) (more information)
$1.65 in sheets of 50 (2 panes of 25 (5 x 5) with traffic lights in gutter) (more information)
Stamp Size: 26 mm x 37.5 mm
Perforations: Comb perforated 13¾ x 14½ (more information)

Gummed Gutter Strips
As with past issues, the 55c gutter strip features the twelve animals of the Chinese Zodiac, with the Tiger highlighted in gold.

Year of the Tiger Gutter Strip
Gutter strip

Gummed Miniature Sheet Stamps
Stamps from the miniature can be identified by the slight colour difference in the value. Both of the sheet values have the face value in grey, while the miniature sheet stamps have the face value in grey-blue.

$1.65 from sheet $1.65 from miniature sheets
Enlargement of $1.65 value from sheet (left) and miniature sheet (right)

Issue Date: 12 January 2010 (more information)
Gum: Ordinary gum
Paper: Tullis Russell (incorporating phosphor) (more information)
Issued In: Miniature sheet of 2 (2 x 1) (more information)
Stamp Size: 26 mm x 37.5 mm
Perforations: Comb perforated 13¾ x 14½ (more information)

Gummed Miniature Sheets
This year's miniature sheet was the same format and size as the last two year's sheets.

Year of the Tiger Miniature Sheet
Sheet stamps

Issue Date: 12 January 2010 (more information)
Gum: Ordinary gum
Paper: Tullis Russell (incorporating phosphor) (more information)
Mini. Sheet Size: 136 mm x 70 mm
Perforations: Comb perforated 13¾ x 14½ (more information)

Gummed Zodiac Sheet
Again, a sheet of sheet of 14 stamps was issue, and included an 'enlarged' miniature sheet, and a block of 10 make-up stamps (four each of 10c, 20c and 25c). Together a 10c, 20c and 25c add to make the domestic rate of 55c.

Year of the Tiger Zodiac Sheet
Gummed Zodiac Sheet

Issue Date: 12 January 2010 (more information)
Gum: Ordinary gum
Paper: Tullis Russell (incorporating phosphor) (more information)
Sheet Size: 170 mm x 210 mm
Perforations: Comb perforated 13¾ x 14½ (more information)

Prestige Booklet Stamps
The twelve low value stamps from the gummed Zodiac sheet also appear in the prestige booklet.

The prestige booklet includes three new stamps. The colour of 'AUSTRALIA' on the $1.65 stamp in the first pane is very different from the sheet and miniature sheet versions. The first pane also includes the Tiger and Rabbit 20c stamps with values in a lighter shade of grey.

$1.65 from Sheet   $1.65 from Booklet
Enlargement of the $1.65 value from the sheet (left) and prestige booklet (right)

Some of the 55c stamps from the prestige booklet also show the die-stamping slightly misplaced, giving the tiger 'white teeth' and a 'white strip' on its back. The number of these stamps various between booklets - some have none, while my first booklet had six stamps (three panes) effected.

55c with misplaced die-stamping
55c with the die-stamping misplaced slightly to the left

Issue Date: 12 January 2010 (more information)
Gum: Ordinary gum
Paper: Tullis Russell (incorporating phosphor) (more information)
Issued In: Booklet panes of 4 (2 x 2) (more information)
Stamp Size: 26 mm x 37.5 mm
Perforations: Comb perforated 13¾ x 14½ (more information)

Prestige Booklet Panes
The prestige booklet contained six panes of four. Each pane had either two 55c stamps (Panes 2 to 6) or two $1.65 stamps (Pane 1), with the 10c, 20c, and 25c values making up the blocks of four.

Year of the Tiger Prestige Booklet Pane 1   Year of the Tiger Prestige Booklet Pane 2
The first and second prestige booklet panes (click on each pane for an enlargement)

Year of the Tiger Prestige Booklet Pane 3   Year of the Tiger Prestige Booklet Pane 4
The third and fourth prestige booklet panes (click on each pane for an enlargement)

Year of the Tiger Prestige Booklet Pane 5   Year of the Tiger Prestige Booklet Pane 6
The fifth and sixth prestige booklet panes (click on each pane for an enlargement)

Booklet Pane Size: 150 mm x 104 mm

Prestige Booklet
The above six panes were issued in a prestige booklet. The back of the booklet states the price is $12.95, but the booklet was sold for $13.95. Australia Post has informed me that post offices were instructed on the day of issue to place a price label over the incorrect price.

Prestige Booklet Cover
Prestige booklet cover

Back of prestige booklet showing incorrect price
Back of prestige booklet showing incorrect price

Issue Date: 12 January 2010 (more information)
Booklet Size: 150 mm x 104 mm
Contents: Pane 1: 2 x $1.65, 20c Tiger, 20c Rabbit
Pane 2: 2 x 55c, 10c Dragon, 10c Snake
Pane 3: 2 x 55c, 20c Horse, 25c Ram
Pane 4: 2 x 55c, 25c Monkey, 25c Rooster
Pane 5: 2 x 55c, 25c Dog, 20c Pig
Pane 6: 2 x 55c, 10c Rat, 10c Ox
Selling Price: $13.95

Self-adhesive Zodiac Sheet Stamps
Back in 2007, Australia Post celebrated a complete 12 year cycle with the release of a circular self-adhesive sheet containing thirteen stamps - one for each animal and a circular $1 stamp in the middle. Australia Post will now release a similar sheet every three years, celebrating the past three lunar years.

The ten animal stamps (Tiger to Pig) are smaller than the ordinary gummed versions, with the Rat and Ox stamps being reprints of the 2008 50c and 2009 55c stamps. The two reprinted stamps contain a small '2009' microprinted date. The sheet also includes a $1 circular stamp featuring a flower and Chinese characters.

The decision to include these stamps is curious. The 10c, 20c and 25c self-adhesives are the lowest value self-adhesives issued by Australia Post, and are unequal in number. 50c is the pre-2008 letter rate, and the $1 does not match any postal rates. The sheet is also sold for $9.95, more than double the $4.40 face value. Personally, I would've preferred a sheet of twelve 55c animal stamps and a $1.10 circular stamp (face value $7.70). Collectors would have more chance of seeing the stamps postally used, even if it was sold at $9.95.

No information is known on the paper used. I have suggested B100 as the backing paper is similar to that used for booklet stamps, and the extra thickness would give the sheet extra strength.

55c Tiger from Zodiac sheet 55c Tiger from Gummed Sheets
Size comparison of self-adhesive (left) and gummed stamps (right)

$1 from Zodiac sheet
Circular $1 stamp

Location of 2010 date on 50c Rat stamp Location of 2010 date on 55c Ox stamp
Location of '2010' year date on the reprinted 50c Rat (left) and 55c Ox (right) stamps

Issue Date: 12 January 2010 (more information)
Gum: Self-adhesive
Paper: B100 (TBC) (more information)
Phosphor: 10c, 20c, 25c, 50c and 55c phosphor frame (more information)
$1 phosphor border to central flower
Issued In: Circular sheets of 13 (more information)
Stamp Size: 10c, 20c, 25c, 50c and 55c 23 mm x 33 mm
$1 39 mm diameter
Perforations: 10c, 20c, 25c, 50c and 55c Die-cut 12¼ (interrupted) x 12¼ (more information)
$1 Die-cut 12 (around design) (more information)

Self-adhesive Zodiac Sheet
This year the Zodiac sheet was only issued in a folder, and sold for $9.95.

Circular zodiac sheet
Circular Zodiac Sheet

Issue Date: 12 January 2010 (more information)
Sheet Size: 170 mm diameter
Selling Price: $9.95

Personalised Stamps
In 2009 Australia Post released the first personalised sheet on Lunar New Year stamps. Again, a personalised stamp sheet will be released for the 2010 Lunar New Year Festival in Melbourne, with a generic version available from mail order. The release date for this sheet is 12 February 2010, the first day of the festival.

The colour of '55c' on the stamp is a more solid grey, when compared with the sheet stamps.

Lunar New Year Personalised stamp sheet
Personalised stamps sheetlet

Lunar New Year Personalised stamp
Personalised stamp

Issue Date: 12 February 2010 (more information)
Printer: To be advised (more information)
Printing Process: Lithography with tab laser printed (more information)
Gum: Ordinary gum
Paper: Tullis Russell (incorporating phosphor) (more information)
Issued In: Sheetlet of 9 with 9 tabs (more information)
Stamp Size: 26 mm x 37.5 mm
Sheetlet Size: 295 mm x 208 mm
Perforations: Comb perforated 13¾ x 14½ (more information)
Selling Price: $15.95

Postal Stationery
Again, Australia Post released a postcard and two pre-paid envelopes with this issue.

Year of the Tiger Postcard
Postcard (click on the postcard for an enlargement)

Year of the Tiger PPE   Year of the Tiger PPE
Front and back of domestic pre-paid envelope (click on each image for an enlargement)

Year of the Tiger PPE   Year of the Tiger PPE
Front and back of international pre-paid envelope (click on each image for an enlargement)

Printer: GEON, Tasmania (more information)
Printing Process: Lithography (more information)
   
Designs: In the stamp area both envelopes feature the Tiger from the 55c stamp and the Chinese character from the $1.65 stamp
(Domestic) Tiger and Character with repeated '2010' background
(International) Tiger and Character with Chinese papercutting(?) in background
   
Usage: (Domestic) Small letter rate within Australia (details)
(International) Letter to overseas destinations (to 50 grams)
(Postcard) Postcard to overseas destinations
 
Postcards
Size: 160 mm x 118 mm
Selling Price: $1.50 each
Stamp Imprint: Three bars (picture)
 
Pre-paid Envelopes
Size: 220 mm x 110 mm
Selling Price: Domestic 65c
International $2.35

Issue Summary
The table below summarises the above information. The cost of each item is given, along with a total for each section. In some cases the stamps are only available from self-adhesive booklets (sold at face value), or from prestige booklets, souvenir sheets or folders (sold above face value).

Item and Description Cost
For the General Collector
Gummed sheet stamps
2 values from sheets (55c, $1.65)

Miniature sheets
Miniature sheet

Zodiac sheets
Gummed sheet of 14
Self-adhesive sheet of 13

 
$2.20

 
$2.20

 
$4.40
$9.95

Total $18.75
For the Specialised Collector
Miniature sheet stamps
2 values from miniature sheet (different value colour)

Prestige booklet stamps
3 values from first pane ($1.65, 2 x 20c in different colour)

Gutter Strips
Gutter strip of 10 (Animals of the Zodiac)

Blocks, pairs and strips
Horizontal pair from miniature sheet*
Block of 12 from Zodiac sheet
Blocks of 4 from prestige booklet panes
* Can be obtained from Zodiac sheet

Personalised Stamp Sheetlet
Sheetlet of 9 stamps with tabs

Personalised stamps
55c stamp with tab

Booklet panes
6 panes from prestige booklet

Prestige Booklet
Prestige booklet

Postal stationery
Postcards
Prepaid envelopes

 
$2.20

 
$13.95

 
$5.50

 
*
$4.40
$13.95
 

 
$15.95

 
$15.95

 
$13.95

 
$13.95

 
$1.50
$3.00

Total $104.35
Grand Total $123.10

References
Wikipedia, Chinese New Year, Tiger (zodiac) and Chinese Calendar, accessed 10 January 2010
Australia Post, Australian Stamp Bulletin, No. 302, January-February 2010

If you have more information, or spot an error, please e-mail me.

Visit for Sales Lists for some great bargains! Sign up for my freenewsletter. Personalised stamp service.

Go to top of page
 
Home Page | News and Information | New Issue Information | Reprint Information | Links
About Me | Contact Me | Free Newsletter | P-Stamp Standing Order | Stamp Dictionary and Glossary
Australian Stamp Variations and Other Items for Sale | World Stamps for Sale | Thematics/Topical Stamps and Other Items for Sale
Site Map | Website Terms and Conditions | Privacy Policy | Ordering Terms and Conditions
Bookmark and Share  


Unless otherwise indicated, the content of this website is © 2009-2012 Christopher de Haer.
Permission is granted to copy this document in print as long as a reference to this website is given, and you are not selling it or using it as part of a product or service that is sold (whether for profit or not). On the World Wide Web, you must link here rather than put it on your own page.
All stamp and philatelic product images are reproduced with kind permission of Australia Post, for the interest of collectors.
Last updated 9 January 2012. Website comments and queries to stamps@chrisdehaer.com.au or PO Box 1448, Booragoon WA 6954.

free counters