Thursday, January 12, 2012

New Issue: Valentine’s Day Postage Stamps (Issue of 2012)/Les nouveautés: Saint-Valentin timbres (édition de 2012)



Valentine’s Day on February 14 is a much-celebrated holiday among young people. To encourage people to express their love through letters, Chunghwa Post is issuing another set of two stamps and a souvenir sheet (Issue of 2012) with roses as motifs. The designs follow:
1. NT$12 stamp: A pink rose symbolizes first love and courting, as well as friendliness and a graceful upbringing. This stamp features a pink rose in full bloom to convey unrestrained passion.
2. NT$25 stamp: An orange rose bud reveals the reticence of first love. The vignette of this stamp brings warmth and joy to one’s heart.
3. Souvenir sheet: Within the heart-shaped stamp are two pale orange roses which signify mutual love and affection. The pink background along with the wordings “Happy Valentine’s Day” offers blessings to all of the world’s lovers.
The two stamps are designed as a se-tenant gutter pair. Embossing and spot varnish techniques are employed in printing. The gutter, featuring two hearts shot through with Cupid’s arrow, symbolizes mutual love. A six-color tag with another two additional marks indicating embossing and varnishing effects are printed on marginal inscription. The souvenir sheet is printed in scented ink—a first for Chunghwa Post.