| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Date of Issue | January 8, 2010 |
| Year | 2010 |
| Quantity | 6,500,000 |
| Denomination |
 PERMANENT™ (P).Current monetary value: $0.92. |
| Perforation or Dimension | 12.5 |
| Series | Chinese New Year |
| Series Time Span | 1997 - 2021 |
| Printer | Lowe-Martin Company Inc.. |
| Postal Administration | Canada |
| Condition | Name | Avg Value |
|---|---|---|
|
M-NH-VF
|
Mint - Never Hinged - Very Fine | Only available to paid users |
|
U-VF
|
Used - Very Fine | Only available to paid users |
It’s that time of year again—a time to explore the enchanting world of Chinese astrology; a time to celebrate the fascinating myths, legends and traditions behind this ancient calendar system. And at Canada Post, we like to celebrate in style. This January, we’ll kick off the Year of the Tiger with a commemorative issue that’s as bold and fierce as its namesake animal suggests.
The stamps, which mark the second release in a twelve-year Lunar New Year series, were designed by Wilco Design in Toronto. “The Year of the Tiger issue is a cross-cultural celebration of the tiger figure in the Chinese tradition,” says the firm’s principal, Wilson Lam. “This project has been guided by a desire to tell the story of the tiger through traditional Chinese icons and imagery.”
A Chinese seal, a stamp used as a form of signature, is featured on the international stamp, while its imprint, portraying the tiger in a traditionally stylized manner, appears on the domestic stamp. The seal was designed by Lam and sculpted by Chinese-Canadian artist Bill Lau, using Sculpey polymer clay. “Seals are often so well-crafted that they act as cultural artifacts in themselves. In the design, the seal works to establish a visual theme that delivers both a two-dimensional icon and a three-dimensional object,” Lam explains. “We applied gold foil to the seal’s imprint, because 2010 is dominated by the metal element and gold is the highest-valued metal in China.” A symbol of wealth and good fortune to the Chinese, the colour gold speaks to lunar hopes of good luck and prosperity. Clear foil and multi-level embossing techniques were applied to draw attention to the seal, notes Alain Leduc, Manager of Stamp Design and Production at Canada Post. “These features combine to catch the light and really give prominence to Lau’s sculpture,” Leduc points out.
The fierce tiger, painted by Lam and featured in the background of the souvenir sheet, illustrates the status of the tiger in Chinese lore. “In China, the tiger is at once a figure of power and of obedience,” says Lam. “Tigers are respectful of their culture, community, and the authority of their tradition. They represent values that have helped guide generations of people into prosperity, while promoting a cohesive culture.” The long, scroll-like shape of the souvenir sheet—a format that will remain standard throughout the series—is also rooted in Chinese tradition, as decorative scrolls are believed to have originated in China.
A detailed look at the uncut press sheet reveals an abstract, forest-like pattern, against which all twelve animals of the lunar cycle have been imprinted. “We did not focus exclusively on the tiger, but placed it among the other lunar animals to present it as a commanding presence within the twelve-year cycle,” notes Lam. Speckles of foil are scattered throughout the background of the press sheet. Alain Leduc explains, “This gives the impression that gold flakes have been splashed across the surface, and the random spreading of foil is something we’ve never done before.” The feature was inspired by the works of Gustav Klimt (1862-1918), an Austrian painter celebrated for his elegant use of gold foil.
“Year after year, it can be challenging to develop a new Lunar New Year issue that blends well with the series, while being completely original in its approach,” notes Leduc. This commemorative issue, with its rich use of colour, insightful design, and leading-edge printing techniques, was nothing short of a success. Happy Year of the Tiger!
Canada Post started issuing Chinese New Year stamps in 1997. Since then, Canada Post has been issuing a stamp for the Chinese New Year each year.
From 2009 to 2020, Canada Post issued an exquisite Chinese New Year stamp that was part of one of Canada Post’s most popular and longest-running series, which featured such elaborate techniques as gold and silver foiling and multi-level embossing.
In 2021, Canada Post issued a special tribute to the culmination of more than a decade of award-winning stamps. This retrospective brought together in a single issue all the stamps from their 2009-2020 Lunar New Year series.
The Lunar New Year cycle showcased all of the animals in the Chinese zodiac: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Ram, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig. Conceived well before the series was launched, this collection features 24 stamps based on the designs of all the previous domestic and international rate stamps in the last 12 years.
“Even before we began this series of Lunar New Year stamps, we envisioned bringing them all together for a grand finale,” explains Jim Phillips, Director of Stamp Services. “That required a plan from the very beginning. We developed standardized specifications that made the stamps consistent across issues in terms of dimension, format and palette, but still allowed sufficient creative freedom for each to be spectacular in its own right.”
Brought together by Paprika from Montréal, these eye-catching stamps feature the work of the many design firms and designers who contributed to the series over the years. The result is a unique collectible that is a fitting tribute to Lunar New Year celebrations everywhere.