Australia Post is firing up for 2024 with a special edition set of stamps and collectables to commemorate this year’s Lunar New Year of the Dragon, starting on 10 February.
Australia Post has today released three specially designed gold and red Dragon stamps and the 12 zodiac stamps in a sheetlet, plus coin collectable covers symbolising the Dragon’s good fortune and power.
The Dragon is the fifth animal in the Chinese Zodiac and people born in the Year of the Dragon are believed to be intelligent, powerful, confident, charismatic, naturally gifted, and lucky. In everything they do, they tend to do it to the best of their ability and with high standards.
Lunar New Year is the most important of the traditional Chinese festivals, celebrated across many countries including Australia.
It’s an important time to spend with loved ones, burning incense for ancestors and exchanging gifts, performing traditional lion and Dragon dances, as well as the annual Lantern Festival.
Australia Post General Manager Retail Product, Kayla Le Cornu, said the stamps and coins are the perfect addition for families and friends who are sending good wishes and gifts across Australia and overseas.
“The Lunar New Year issue is always a very popular edition for our collectors, and we are especially excited about our exclusive gold design this year to symbolise such a special year in Chinese culture,” Ms. Le Cornu said.
In her fourth consecutive year designing Lunar New Year Stamps for Australia Post, award winning designer Chrissy Lau said she was inspired by the traditional Lunar New Year gifts of money wrapped in lucky red envelopes.
“The red envelopes are a key part of Lunar New Year traditions where children bestow their best wishes on their elders and in return receive money wrapped in red envelopes along with wishes of good fortune, happiness, and health for the coming year. The dragon also represents good luck, health, and strength so it felt like the perfect design,” Miss Lau said.
The designs feature the Fortune Dragon on the $1.20 stamp, the Lucky Dragon on the $2.40 stamp and the Happy dragon on the $3.60 stamp.
A range of gift boxes, bags and a zodiac sheetlet is also available including all the animals of the zodiac in the same artwork style, with the additional stamp denominations and a total of 12 unique designs.
The stamps and collectables Lunar New Year range are on sale now at participating Post Offices, via mail order on 1800 331 794 and online, while stocks last.
