Hong Kong Year of the Ox M/S FDC

Hong Kong Minisheet FDC
Name: Year of the Ox
Date of Issue: 17 January 2009

This is the tenth Lunar New Year special stamp issue in the third series released by Hong Kong Post. The first and second sets of special stamps for the Year of the Ox were issued in 1973 and 1997 respectively.

Each lunar year in China is named after an animal, running in twelve-year cycles. In traditional Chinese culture, the ox is a symbol of diligence and reliability. It is believed that people born in the Year of the Ox are conscientious, calm and systematic, and they often assume positions of authority and responsibility.

The four stamps come in denominations of $1.40, $2.40, $3.00 and $5.00, and portray vividly the physique and postures of four different breeds of oxen. To capture the gradation of light and shade and to accentuate the three-dimensional effect, five-colour printing is used on the stamps to enhance the image detail of the cattle against a background of hillside and pasture in silver colour.

The First Day Cover design presents an interesting combination of paper-cutting and computer aided drawing. The paper-cut pattern gives a note of festivity, and the expectant ox in the front heralds the Year of the Ox.

Comment: My friend sent this FDC from the "Ngau Tau Kok Post Office (NTK)". The Chinese name of this post office is "牛頭角郵政局", it has "OX (牛)" in this Post Office's name.

2009 Year of the Ox
Canada FDC
China Stamp, Sheetlet II, Booklet.
Hong Kong Stamps FDC, Minisheet FDC, Souvenir Sheet FDC, Pre-stamped Postcard.
Indonesia Stamps FDC, Souvenir Sheet FDC.
Singapore Stamps FDC, Souvenir Sheet FDC.
Taiwan Stamps FDCs, Souvenir Sheet FDCs, Pre-stamped Postcards.
USA FDC