"Year of the Tiger" Special Stamps
Date of Issue: 6 February 2010

This is the eleventh Lunar New Year special stamp issue in the third series released by Hongkong Post. The first and second sets of special stamps for the Year of the Tiger were issued in 1974 and 1998 respectively.

Each lunar year in China is named after an animal, running in twelve-year cycles. In traditional culture, the Tiger is a symbol of power and daring. It is believed that people born in the Year of the Tiger are independent and confident, passionate and playful. They act positively and bravely, displaying strong leadership.

The four stamps come in denominations of $1.40, $2.40, $3.00 and $5.00. The stamps vividly portray four different breeds of tigers in motion or at rest, each with a distinct kingly air. Five-colour printing is used to capture the gradation of light and shade, accentuating the three-dimensional effect by enhancing the image details of the tigers against a background of pasture and hills delineated in silver.

The First Day Cover design presents a clever combination of paper-cutting and computer aided drawing. The paper-cut pattern in the background lends a note of festivity, and the three-dimensional image of the tiger in the foreground heralds the Year of the Tiger.

Stamp products include mint stamps, stamp sheets, presentation pack, souvenir sheet, imperforated stamp sheetlet and postage prepaid picture cards. Maximum card and serviced first day cover are also available at the philatelic offices on the issue day only.

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