Special Stamp Issue - "Hong Kong Flowers"
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Mint Stamps |
A set of stamps on the theme of "Hong Kong Flowers" will be issued on 14 March 2008 (Friday).
Although a small place in the world, Hong Kong boasts a wide variety of flora. Of some 3,100 plants known in the territory, about 2,100 are native species. To provide a glimpse of this treasure, Hongkong Post launched its first “Flowers of Hong Kong” special issue in 1985, and now presents a sequel entitled "Hong Kong Flowers" and composed of six stamps under the same theme. Rendered with fine brushstrokes, six common local flowers stand out against a simple backdrop.
$1.40 -
Chinese Hibiscus |
Chinese Hibiscus is an evergreen shrub of the Malvaceae family. This ornamental all-season bloomer comes mostly in red and occasionally yellow or yellowish orange. Inside a ring of five petals is a central stamen. Pollination relies on insects attracted to the stunning blossoms by their vibrant colour and sweet nectar. |
$1.80 -
Tree Cotton |
Tree Cotton is a deciduous tree of the Bombacaceae family. Scarlet bell-shaped corollas with five overlapping petals flourish in spring and summer. The flowers form individually or in clusters at branch ends. On whorls of horizontally spreading branches are alternate, compound leaves arranged in palmate form. This lofty giant yields fruit capsules after flowering. Fluffy seeds released from ripened capsules are picked up by the breeze for wind dispersal. |
$2.40 -
Allamanda |
Allamanda is a scandent evergreen shrub of the Apocynaceae family. In summer and autumn, the plant bears yellow funnel-shaped flowers with hidden stamens. Its stems and twigs contain latex. Arranged in pairs or in whorls along the short petiole, the oval leaves are pointed at the apex and woolly beneath the midrib. |
$2.50 -
Azalea |
Azalea is an evergreen shrub of the Ericaceae family. This ornamental species bursts into flowers in spring. When in bloom, umbels of funnel-shaped flowers are produced in an array of colours such as white, red and pink. Oval leaves are arranged alternately, hairy on both sides and characterised by their mucronate apexes. |
$3 -
Indian Lotus |
Indian Lotus is an aquatic perennial herb of the Nymphaeaceae family. Thriving in the heat of mid-summer, the plant bears single flowers at the tips of the stalks in different shades such as red, white, purple or pink. The petals are usually embedded in the receptacle and the leaves are shield-shaped. Well known for its refreshing fragrance, the Indian Lotus is ornamental as well as culinary and medicinal. Various parts of the plant, including its rhizomes (lotus roots), fruit (seed pods), seeds (lotus seeds) and leaves, can be consumed as food or medicine. |
$5 -
Morning Glory |
Morning Glory is a perennial climber of the Convolvulaceae family. In summer and autumn, the plant produces colourful blossoms of white, blue, purplish blue and purplish red. The flower, usually solitary, has a trumpet-shaped corolla and the leaves are cordate-based. Dark and light stripes on the petals serve as the nectar guide leading pollinators to the nectary. Delicate and tender, the blossoms open in the morning and wilt in the afternoon. |
Sales Arrangements
nformation about the sale of philatelic products associated with this set of stamps starting from 14 March 2008 is as follows:
| Products |
Descriptions |
Selling Price (HKD) |
Sales Restriction |
| Mint Stamps |
A set of 6 stamps ($1.4, $1.8, $2.4, $2.5, $3 and $5) |
$16.1 |
10 sheets of each denomination (viz. 250 stamps of each denomination) |
| Souvenir Sheet |
Containing a set of 6 stamps |
$16.1 |
20
sheets |
| Serviced First Day Cover affixed with stamps |
Affixed with a set of 6 stamps and datestamped with the special postmark
(only available at 37 philatelic offices on 14 March 2008) |
$19.6 |
5
covers |
| Serviced First Day Cover affixed with Souvenir Sheet |
Affixed with a Souvenir Sheet and datestamped with the special postmark
(only available at 37 philatelic offices on 14 March 2008) |
$19.6 |
5
covers |
| Presentation Pack |
Containing a set of 6 stamps |
$25 |
5
packs |
| Souvenir Pack |
Containing a set of 6 stamps and a set of 7 cards (1 large and 6 small) of reproducing the original drawings by the designer |
$88 |
5
packs |
Remarks:
- The above philatelic products are included in the 2008 Local Standing Order Service / 2008 Overseas Mail Order Service. Order form had already been issued to 2008 Local Standing Order Service / 2008 Overseas Mail Order Service customers. For local customers, please contact Hongkong Post Philatelic Bureau Hotline for enquiry at 2785 5711 or fax at 2191 9296.
- For overseas customers, please ensure there is sufficient balance in your account to pay your advance order. Otherwise, your order will be processed only when the stock is still available after all orders have been fulfilled. For any enquiries, please contact Hongkong Post Philatelic Bureau (Overseas Mail Order Service Unit) Hotline at 852-2928 7211 or fax at 852-2850 6552.
Official First Day Covers at $1 each will be put on sale at all post offices as from 29 February 2008. This set of stamps and the associated philatelic products will be displayed at General Post Office, Tsim Sha Tsui Post Office, Tsuen Wan Post Office and Shatin Central Post Office as from the same day. Advance orders for servicing self-provided covers will be accepted at all philatelic offices from 29 February to 6 March 2008.
Hand-back Datestamping Arrangements
A hand-back datestamping service will be provided on 14 March 2008 at all post offices, for official and privately-made covers, bearing the first day of issue indication and a local address. A special postmark will also be introduced. This will be available, together with the “GPO-1” postmark, the “Philatelic Bureau” pictorial postmark and the philatelic office pictorial postmark, for hand-back datestamping service at all philatelic offices on that day.
Also on 14 March 2008, the public hall of the Hongkong Post Philatelic Bureau on 1/F., Trade Square, 681 Cheung Sha Wan Road, Kowloon, will open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for datestamping covers with the “Philatelic Bureau” pictorial postmark, the “GPO-1” postmark and the special postmark.
Stamp Printing Details
| Design : |
George TANG |
Printer : |
Cartor Security Printing, France |
| Process : |
Lithography |
Perforation : |
13.25(one elliptical perforation on each vertical) |
| Stamp Size : |
45 mm x 28 mm |
Paper : |
Paper with security fibres |
| Stamp Layout : |
Pane of 25 stamps |
Date of Issue : |
14 March 2008 |
| Souvenir Sheet Size : |
220 mm x 122 mm |
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Souvenir Sheet |
Presentation Pack |
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Souvenir Pack (cover and inside design) |
Special Postmark |
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Serviced First Day Cover affixed with Stamp |
Serviced First Day Cover affixed with Souvenir Sheet |
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