2021 Lunar New Year: Year Of The Ox Stamps
2021 Year of the Ox – Lunar New Year Series
• The second stamp in the Lunar New Year series begun in 2020
• Celebrates the Year of the Ox
• Showcases the same style mask design as previous stamp in the series
• Foil stamping brings out the intricate details of the design
Stamp Category: Commemorative
Series: Lunar New Year
Value: 55¢ First Class Mail Rate (Forever)
First Day of Issue: February 2, 2021
First Day City: Chicago, Illinois
Quantity Issued: 24,000,000
Printed by: Banknote Corporation of America
Printing Method: Offset, Foil Stamping, Flexographic, Microprint
Format: Panes of 20
Tagging: Phosphor, Block Tag
Why the stamp was issued: This stamp was issued to commemorate the fifth animal in the Chinese Zodiac of the Lunar New Year – the dragon. It’s the fifth stamp in the Lunar New Year series that began in 2020.
About the stamp design: According to the USPS, the designs for this Lunar New Year series are meant to remind us of the “elaborately decorated masks used in the dragon or lion dances often performed in Lunar New Year parades.” Artists Camille Chew created the Year of the Dragon mask by adapting techniques from traditional paper-cut folk-art crafts often used to create decorations during Lunar New Year. The stamp sheet includes illustrations of all 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac in columns on the left and right sides of the stamp pane.
Special design details: Foil stamping highlights details of the design and gives it an almost three-dimensional effect
First Day City: The First Day of Issue Ceremony was held virtually due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. The First Day of Issue Cancellation was from Chicago, Illinois.
About the Lunar New Year Series: The USPS has been issuing Lunar New Year stamps for decades. When the previous series ended in 2019, a new one was begun the following year. This particular Lunar New Year Series has stamps picturing paper-cut masks of the 12 animals in the Chinese Zodiac, with the stamps following the cycle of rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat/ram/sheep, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig. Every stamp includes a high-quality photograph of a three-dimensional paper-cut mask created by artist Camille Chew.
History the stamp represents: In the Chinese zodiac, the ox is the second animal in the 12-year Lunar New Year cycle. Interestingly, the animal is usually referred to as a cow, bull, or water buffalo rather than a true ox. In 2021, the Year of the Ox began on February 12.
The Chinese zodiac animal is always paired with an element each time it comes up in the cycle. Those elements are known as the “five elements” or “phases.” They are fire, water, wood, metal, and earth. In 2021, the phase was metal. When put together with the zodiac animal, it was the year of the metal ox. The Chinese also assign zodiac animals to hours of the day. The hours of the ox fall between 1:00 a.m. and 3:00 a.m.
Ancient Chinese astronomers divided zodiac stars into groups known as the “28 Mansions.” This is because of how the moon moves in its monthly journey across the sky. It is said the moon “visits” these mansions as it passes by. The ox is located in one of the northern mansions of the Black Tortoise. Western tradition places it within the constellation Capricornus.
It is fun to explore the intricate holiday traditions of other cultures. Lunar New Year is one of the most interesting, with millions of people across the globe celebrating it each year. It is a time to enjoy meals with family and friends, festive decorations, and hope for good fortune in the year to come.
Frequently Asked Questions
How it works?
A Forever® stamp is for sending domestic mail weighing up to 1 oz via First-Class Mail®.
Purpose: Send letters and cards up to 1 oz (approximately 4 sheets of regular, 8-1/2" x 11" paper in a rectangular envelope)
within the U.S., including U.S. territories and military bases overseas.
Value: Always valid for the First-Class Mail 1 oz rate, even if postage rates increase. Visit First-Class Mail and Postage to view
current rates.
Other Uses: Pair this stamp’s value with other postage to meet mailing costs when additional postage is required.
Use the Retail Postage Calculator to determine the exact cost of your mail.
Why is "FOREVER" crossed out in the image?
So the lines in your picture:
- It does not mean that the stamp has expired;
- It does not mean that you cannot continue to use it;
- Nor a postmark;
- It's just an artificial anti-copying line added to the display image.
Note: If the physical stamp you receive actually has this crossed line printed on it, be cautious. It may be a display sample, a replica or a fake stamp, rather than a normal usable stamp.
What are the common types of stamps, and how do they differ?
- Forever Stamp: Valid for standard domestic letters within the U.S. These stamps typically do not bear a fixed face value; they remain valid for mailing a standard one-ounce letter at the current rate, even if postage prices increase in the future.
- Global Forever Stamp: Primarily used for standard international letters or postcards sent from the U.S. to other countries. The main difference between this and a standard Forever Stamp lies in its scope of use and postage value.
- Postcard Stamp: Designed specifically for domestic postcards that meet USPS size standards; the postage rate is typically lower than that for standard letters.
- Additional Ounce Stamp: Used to cover the cost of weight exceeding the first ounce; these are usually used in conjunction with a Forever Stamp or other stamps.
- Two-Ounce and Three-Ounce Stamps: Suitable for heavier letters, greeting cards, wedding invitations, or multi-page documents, eliminating the need to combine multiple stamps to cover the required postage.
- Fixed-Value Stamps: These stamps display a specific monetary value (e.g., 1¢, 5¢, or other amounts) and are primarily used to make up postage differences or in combination with other stamps.
- Commemorative and Thematic Stamps: Typically issued to mark historical events, cultural or artistic themes, holidays, notable figures, animals, or natural landscapes. While suitable for regular mail, these stamps are also popular among collectors due to their unique designs and limited release periods.
It is important to note that a stamp's theme and its postage class can overlap; for example, a holiday-themed stamp might also be a Forever Stamp. When purchasing, check for markings such as FOREVER, GLOBAL, POSTCARD, ADDITIONAL OUNCE, or a specific face value to confirm the stamp's intended use.
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