The Auspicious Postage Stamps( Issue of 2002) (D431)

Stamp SN : D431
Stamp Name : The Auspicious Postage Stamps( Issue of 2002)
Stamp Cat Standard : Special Stamps
Stamp Cat : Flowers,Flower Arrangement && Bonsai
Issue date : 2002-01-16
Dimension of stamps(mm.) : 25.5X36(mm)
Printer : China Color Printing Co., Ltd., R.O.C. Stamp size: 25.5 X 36 (mm)
Sheet composition : 20 (4 X 5)
Print color : Colorful
Process : Deep etch offset
Paper : Phosphorescent stamp paper
Perforation : 11 1/2 X 12
Designer : Hung-tu Ko

People both here in Taiwan and abroad wish for luck on New Year's. This is especially a traditional custoiti of the Chinese. To add to the festive New Year's spirit and to help Chinese people gain a deeper appreciation of their traditional culture, the Directorate General of Posts is issuing a set of four "Auspicious Postage Stamps" (Issue of 2002) that features common Chinese auspicious expressions that mean "continuously producing good offspring...... a high moral gentleman...... a hall full of the rich and famous," and "safe and peaceful in all four seasons." The stamps are individually described below:
(1) "Lieii Sheng Kuei Tzu" (continuously producing good offspring): In Chinese "lien" (continuous) is homonym for the character that means lotus blossom, and "kuei" (good or noble) is a homonym for sweet osmanthus blossom. Therefore, putting the lotus and sweet osmanthus flowers together symbolizes "continuously producing good offspring." (2) "Laii Kuei Chi Faiig " (a high moral gentleman): "La the Chinese character for orchid, symbolizes a graceful gentleman. And "kuei, " the Chinese character for sweet osinanthus, is homonym for a character on meaning noble. Hence, the two words or flowers put together mean noble and elegant and are used to describe a person of high morality.
(3) "Man Tang Fu Kuei" (a hall full of the rich and famous): In China peonies symbolize wealth and high position, and "tang, " the Chinese character meaning Chinese flowering crabapple, is a homonym for the character meaning a hall. This is an auspicious greeting phrase. (4) "Si Chi Ping An " (safe and peaceful in all four seasons): Put-ting Chinese roses in a vase or putting orchids, chrysanthemums, lotuses, and plum blossoms in a vase sym-bolize that the four seasons of a year are all peaceful, safe and happy.
By-issues: (1) First Day Cover in small size to be sold at NT$2.00 apiece. (2) Folder especially prepared for the stamps to be sold at NT$ 5.00 apiece. (3) Folder with crystal mount for better protection of the stamps to be sold at NT$5.00 apiece. (4) Loose-leaf stamp album page with plastic cover to be sold at NT$8.00 apiece. (5) Pre-cancelled First Day Cover affixed with a low-valued stamp to be sold at NT$7.00 apiece. (6) Pre-cancelled First Day Cover affixed with a complete set of stamps to be sold at NT$36.00 apiece.