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The fifth Lunar New Year special stamp in the third series for the Year of the Monkey will be issued on Sunday, January 4, 2004, the Postmaster General, Mr Allan Chiang, announced today (December 12).
Different species of monkeys are featured in this set of colourful stamps to highlight the lively spirit of these fascinating creatures. The set also incorporates traditional Chinese paper cutting techniques as a toast to the festive spirit of the Lunar New Year.
The stamps are designed by Mr Bon Kwan and printed in lithography by Joh. Enschede B.V., the Netherlands.
This is the fifth Lunar New Year special stamp issue in the third series released by Hongkong Post. The first and the second set of special stamps for the Year of the Monkey were issued in 1968 and 1992 respectively.
A gold and silver stamp sheetlet on two of the 12 signs of the Chinese horoscope - the Ram and the Monkey - will be issued on the same day (January 4).
Designed by Mr Bon Kwan and printed by Cartor Security Printing, France, the two stamps, one featuring the Ram and the other featuring the Monkey, are embossed and hot-foiled respectively with genuine 22-carat gold / 99.9% pure silver and genuine 24-carat gold / 99.9% pure silver.
A certificate of authenticity is included, making the sheetlet a propitious souvenir for the Lunar New Year.
Information about associated philatelic products released with this issue and the sales restrictions per customer starting January 4, 2004 are as follows:
Year of the Monkey Special Stamps
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Product: Mint Stamps (4 denominations)
Unit selling price: $1.40, $2.40, $3.00, $5.00
Sales restriction: 10 sheets of stamps of each denomination (viz. 250 sets of stamps)
Product: Souvenir Sheet (with the 4 stamps)
Unit selling price: $11.80
Sales restriction: 20 sheets
Product: Imperforated Stamp Sheetlet (with a $5 imperforated stamp)
Unit selling price: $5.00
Sales restriction: 20 sheets
Product: Presentation Pack (with full set of 4 stamps)
Unit selling price: $20.00
Sales restriction: 5 packs
Product: Postage Prepaid Picture Cards (Air Mail) (with a set of 4 cards)
Unit selling price: $20.00
Sales restriction: 5 sets
Product: Serviced First Day Cover affixed with a set of 4 stamps
(cancelled by special postmark, only available at 39 philatelic offices on January 4, 2004)
Unit selling price: $15.30
Sales restriction: 5 covers
Product: Serviced First Day Cover affixed with a Souvenir Sheet (cancelled by special postmark, only available at 39 philatelic offices on January 4, 2004)
Unit selling price: $15.30
Sales restriction: 5 covers
Product: Serviced First Day Cover affixed with an Imperforated Stamp Sheetlet (cancelled by special postmark, only available at 39 philatelic offices on January 4, 2004)
Unit selling price: $8.50
Sales restriction: 5 covers
Gold and Silver Stamp Sheetlet on Lunar New Year Animals - Ram / Monkey
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Product: Stamp Sheetlet (with a set of two $50 Gold & Silver stamps)
Unit selling price: $100.00
Sales restriction: 5 sheets
Product: Serviced Souvenir Cover affixed with a Stamp Sheetlet
(cancelled by special postmark, only available at 39 philatelic offices on January 4, 2004)
Unit selling price: $103.50
Sales restriction: 5 covers
Product: Presentation Pack (with a Stamp Sheetlet of two $50 Gold & Silver stamps)
Unit selling price: $120.00
Sales restriction: 5 packs
The stamps and sheetlet will be displayed at the General Post Office, Tsim Sha Tsui Post Office, Tsuen Wan Post Office and Shatin Central Post Office from December 15. Official First Day Covers and Official Souvenir Covers at $1.00 each will go on sale at all post offices on January 4, 2004. Advance orders for servicing self-provided souvenir covers will be accepted at all post offices from December 15 to 20.
A hand-back service will be provided at all post offices (except mobile post offices) on January 4, 2004 for official and privately made covers bearing the first day of issue indication and a local address. Two special postmarks will also be introduced.
The "GPO-1" postmark, the "Philatelic Bureau" pictorial postmark and the philatelic office pictorial postmarks will also be available for hand-back service at all philatelic offices on that day.
All post offices (except mobile post offices) will open on January 4, 2004 from 9am to 2pm. The public hall of the Hongkong Post Philatelic Bureau will also be open from 9am to 2pm for date-stamping covers with the "Philatelic Bureau" pictorial postmark, the "GPO-1" postmark and the special postmarks.
Ends/Friday, December 12, 2003
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