| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Date of Issue | January 8, 2015 |
| Year | 2015 |
| Quantity | 1,645,000 |
| Denomination |
$2.50
|
| Perforation or Dimension | 12½ |
| Series | Chinese New Year |
| Series Time Span | 1997 - 2021 |
| Printer | Lowe-Martin |
| 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 |
Singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell, big-screen scream queen Fay Wray, and former prime minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau – what do they all have in common, aside from being subjects of Canadian stamps?
They were all born in the Year of the Ram, whose next cycle runs from February 19, 2015, to February 7, 2016.
In Chinese culture, the ram – or male sheep – is a sacred symbol of good fortune, kindness and justice. Ancient Chinese literature often associates the ram with religion, law, ethics, politics, literature, art and folklore.
Those born under the influence of the eighth creature in the zodiac of lunar New Year are caring, sensitive (sometimes to the extreme), artistic, fashion-savvy and intuitive. They long for beauty, to see the world, and many have the special talent of being able to turn challenges into opportunities – qualities shared, to some degree, among the Canadian Rams we just mentioned.
Sheep are close relatives of the goat, a creature that holds a special place in Guangzhou (Canton), China, also known as “Goat City.” The name comes from a tale of five goat-riding fairies that brought rice and everlasting fertility to the local people. Guangzhou’s granite statue of five goats, which honours the legend, is a favourite among tourists, and locals believe that it brings them prosperity.
This Year of the Ram stamp issue is the seventh in a series of 12.
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.