1998 32c Chinese Lunar New Year: Year of the Tiger

US #3179
1998 Year of the Tiger

• 6th stamp in Chinese New Year series
• Features cut paper tiger
  
  

Stamp Category:  Commemorative
Set:  Chinese New Year
Value:  32¢, First Class Mail Rate
First Day of Issue:  January 5, 1998
First Day City:  Seattle Washington
Quantity Issued:  51,000,000
Printed by:  Stamp Venturers
Printing Method:  Photogravure
Format:  Pane of 20
Perforations:  11.2

Why the stamp was issued:  [Story of why the stamp was issued.  Story of why the stamp was issued.  Story of why the stamp was issued.  Story of why the stamp was issued.]

About the stamp design: Artist Clarence Lee of Honolulu, Hawaii, designed the stamps for this series.  He cut the design out of paper then photographed it.  The Kanji characters along the left can be interpreted “Year of the Tiger.”


First Day City:  A ceremony for the issuance of this stamp was held at the Asian Art Museum in Seattle, Washington. 

About the Lunar New Year Series:  Beginning in 1992, a Lunar New Year stamp was issued each year, picturing a different animal in the Chinese Zodiac.  A total of 12 stamps were issued over the course of 12 years.  It was the first US Lunar New Year Series and began a tradition that continues to this day.
Each of stamps honoring the Chinese New Year were created by artist Clarence Lee. Lee combines paper cut type designs with calligraphy to create stamps that look innovative, yet traditional.
Ancient legend states that Buddha felt the Chinese nation needed to be reorganized, so he called all of the animals in the land to a New Year’s meeting. Only 12 of the invited beasts came to the meeting, so Buddha decided to honor them.
Each animal was assigned a year in the order in which it arrived at the meeting – Rat, Ox, Tiger, Cat, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Boar. Each of these animals is said to have certain inherent qualities. According to tradition, people born during an animal’s year are marked by its disposition and character.

History the stamp represents:  The sixth stamp issued in the Chinese Lunar New Year series celebrates the Year of the Tiger.  It coincides with the year 4696 in the Chinese lunar calendar.  The tiger is the third of twelve animals in the Chinese zodiac.  These animals correspond to the twelve-year cycle of the lunar calendar.
According to this calendar, the new year and its festival begin with the first new moon after the sun enters the sign of Aquarius.  Celebrations begin on the first day of the new year.  One highlight of the celebrations is the Parade of the Golden Dragon, which is held on the first night of the year.  In 1998, the Year of the Tiger began on January 28 and will end February 15, 1999.
Individuals are said to have the disposition of the animal that represents the year of their birth.  People born during tiger years are believed to be courageous and strong, as well as generous and sensitive.  They may be self-assured but can also be hasty and unpredictable.  Tigers are leaders and protectors; they are noble and honorable.
In addition to individual attributes, each year is said to have the character of the animal for which it is named.  It is believed that new undertakings should be carefully managed during a tiger year, but it is also a year that can be lucky and promises to be action-packed.