Traditional Trades and Handicrafts
A set of special stamps paying tribute to Hong Kong's skilled craftsmen
of traditional trades and handicrafts will be issued on Thursday,
13 March 2003.
The stamps, depicting six traditional trades and handicrafts,
highlight the talents of a gradually disappearing breed of once
popular and respected professionals. Many of the older generation
of craftsmen came to Hong Kong from Mainland in the 1960s in pursuit
of a better livelihood. They took pride in their trade, and those
who excelled were highly sought after. Today, with machinery replacing
manual labour, the handful of these craftsmen still plying their
trade are a wistful reminder of Hong Kong of yesterday.
The six traditional trades and handicrafts featured in this set
of stamps are: letter writing ($1.40), bird cage making ($1.80),
qipao tailoring ($2.40), hairdressing ($2.50), dough figurine making
($3.00) and olive selling ($5.00).
Stamp Printing Details
| Stamp Design : |
Michael FUNG |
Stamp Layout : |
Pane of 25 stamps |
| Printer : |
Joh. Enschedé Security Printers, the Netherlands |
Souvenir Sheet Size : |
218 mm x 122 mm |
| Process : |
Stochastic Lithography |
Perforation : |
13.25 x 14.25(one elliptical perforation on each
vertical) |
| Stamp Size : |
45 mm x 28 mm ($1.40, $2.40, $5.00)
28 mm x 45 mm ($1.80, $2.50, $3.00) |
Paper : |
Paper with Security Fibres |
| Date of Issue : |
13 March 2003 |
Other associated philatelic products released with this issue and
the sales restriction per customer queuing on the first day of issue
on 13 March 2003 and on subsequent days until stock lasts are as
follows:
| Products |
Descriptions |
Selling Price (HKD) |
Sales Restriction |
| Mint stamp |
Available in 6 denominations of $1.40, $1.80, $2.40, $2.50,
$3.00 and $5.00. Each sheet contains 25 stamps |
$16.10 per set |
10 sheets of stamps of each denomination (viz. 250 sets of
stamps) |
| Souvenir sheet |
Each containing a set of six stamps |
$16.10 per sheet |
20 sheets |
| Presentation pack |
Each containing a set of six stamps |
$25.00 per pack |
5 packs |
| Postage Prepaid Picture Card (Air Mail) |
Six cards per set, each card depicting 1 type of traditional
trades / handicrafts |
$30.00 per set |
5 sets |
| Serviced first day coverwith a set of 6 stamps |
Affixed with a set of six stamps and cancelled with the special
postmark (available at all philatelic offices on 13 March
2003 only) |
$20.60 per cover |
5 covers |
| Serviced first day cover with a souvenir sheet |
Affixed with a piece of souvenir sheet and cancelled with
the special postmark (available at all philatelic offices
on 13 March 2003 only) |
$20.60 per cover |
5 covers |
The stamps will be displayed at the General Post Office, Tsim
Sha Tsui Post Office, Tsuen Wan Post Office and Sha Tin Central
Post Office from 20 February 2003. Official first day covers at
HK$2 each will be put on sale at all post offices on the same day.
Advance orders for servicing self-provided souvenir covers will
be accepted at all post offices from 20 to 26 February 2003.
All post offices will open on 13 March 2003 as per normal opening
hours to provide a full range of counter services. Hand-back service
will be provided at the post offices on 13 March 2003 for official
and privately-made covers bearing the first day of issue indication
and a local address. A special postmark will also be introduced.
The "GPO-1" postmark, "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.
The public hall of the Hongkong Post Philatelic Bureau on 1/F.,
Trade Square, 681 Cheung Sha Wan Road, Kowloon, will also open from
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for datestamping covers with the "Philatelic
Bureau" pictorial postmark, the "GPO-1" postmark
as well as the special postmark.
Specimen of the special postmark and the philatelic products are
shown below:
 |
 |
| Special postmark |
Mint stamp |
 |
 |
| Souvenir sheet |
Presentation pack |
 |
| Picture card |
|
