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| Stamp |
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| Souvenir sheet |
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| Miniature sheet |
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| First Day Cover with stamp |
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| First Day Cover with souvenir sheet |
Canada
Post celebrates the Lunar New Year with two stamps honoring 2008 as the Year of
the Rat. The twelfth set issued in the Lunar New Year series, the Rat marks the
completion of one full cycle of the Chinese lunar calendar in stamps.
As if
on cue, all twelve of the lunar calendar's animals appear on the Year of the
Rat souvenir sheet, bearing gifts. They are guests at the wedding of the two
featured characters. The bride, depicted on the domestic rate (52¢) stamp in
rich purple attire, demurely holds a parasol against a golden background, while
her groom appears on the international rate ($1.60) souvenir sheet stamp,
costumed in dark blue, and holding a fan in one hand and a basket of tangerines
in the other. The effect is opulent. "They are like little jewels,"
says Alain Leduc, Manager of Stamp Design and Production at Canada Post.
"The colours are bold and daring, but the red and gold are traditional in
Chinese culture. In style and colour this may be the most traditional of all
twelve stamp designs."
The Rat
is actually the first character in the lunar calendar's twelve-year cycle,
thanks to his legendary cleverness. According to the ancient tale, the Jade
Emperor arranged a race across the river to determine the animals' calendar
positions. Although the Rat couldn't swim, he persuaded the good-natured Ox to
carry him across, and at the last minute jumped ashore ahead of him.
For the
stamps, Naomi Broudo and Violet Finvers of Tandem Design Associates in
Richmond, B.C., chose a different story to portray this character's
resourcefulness. In "The Mouse Bride," a Chinese folk tale widely
known and well loved around the world, a father mouse searches for the
strongest husband for his daughter, interviewing the sun, wind, clouds and
wall, but finally discovers the best candidate is a mouse from his own
community. "This concept had great depth to it," says Broudo.
"It allowed us to bring so many details into the design, and to
incorporate other animals more prominently than had been done before."
Among
the featured details are abstract representations of the failed suitors-sun,
wind, clouds and wall-in the background of each stamp. Along with the intense
colours, the stamps are over-printed with shimmering highlights in both
pearlescent and gold foils, and all the animals are delicately embossed. Each
sheet of stamps passed four times through various presses to achieve this level
of detail. The result is an almost tactile sense of richness and depth, like
looking at silk.
The
bridal couple sparkle in their wedding finery, but lest they appear too sweet,
their rodent tails curl out convincingly from under their costumes. One is
reminded never to underestimate the Rat. Illustrator Harvey Chan created these
clever original images entirely on the computer, in a style reminiscent of
traditional woodblock printing techniques. "Harvey takes a painterly
approach, and there's a whimsical quality to his work, which was perfect for
this project," says Broudo.
Leduc
agrees. "There's a sensitivity here you don't expect from computer work-a
hand-wrought feel." It's a successful marriage, you might say, of old and
new, of traditional and modern, that makes these stamps so appealing.
The
Year of the Rat
A highly respected animal in Chinese culture, the Rat represents new beginnings
and keen intelligence. A Year of the Rat marks a year of considerable scope and
opportunity, with the launch of ambitious new idea and plans, and major
breakthroughs in science and technology likely. With an emphasis on moving
forward, many economies will be buoyant, and carefully considered investments
will often bring good returns. However, despite any upturn, this is not a year
for complacency or squandering of resources. As well as favouring family life
and relationships, a Year of the Rat also brings a strong focus on leading
healthier lifestyles and opportunities for personal advancement.
Are you
a Rat?
You're a Rat if you were born in 1900, 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972,
1984, 1996 or 2008.
Rats
are ingenious, charming and generous to those they love, although they do also
have a tendency to be quick-tempered and critical. They make good writers,
critics and publicists. Hardworking and consequently often financially well
off, Rats are noted for their charm and attraction for the opposite sex. They
are also likely to be perfectionists and very social, with many friends who they
support in generous ways. Family is very important to Rats.
Famous
people born in a Year of the Rat include Bobby Orr, Stompin' Tom Connors, David
Suzuki, Margaret Trudeau, Elvis Stojko, Winston Churchill, Marlon Brando,
Mozart, William Shakespeare and President George Washington.
Technical
details
Serial
number:
Values
in set: 1
Date
of issue: January 8, 2008
Denominations:
Stamp 1 x 52¢
Souvenir sheet 1 x 1.60
Design:
Tandem Design Associates Ltd.
Gum
Type: P.V.A.
Illustration:
Harvey Chan (i2iArt)
Paper
Type: Tullis Russell
Size
of the stamp: 30 mm x 40 mm (vertical)
Size
of the souvenir sheet: 135 mm x 102 mm (horizontal)
Perforations:
13+
Sheet
composition: 25 stamps
Printing
Process: Lithography in 9 colours plus 1 pearlescent foil and one gold foil
stampings and embossing
Printing
House: Lowe-Martin
