U.S. #4846

2014 46¢ Year of the Horse
Lunar New Year 

This stamp celebrates the Year of the Horse, which began January 31, 2014 and ended February 18, 2015. The Chinese drums pictured are part of the traditional New Year festivities. The drumsticks are painted red for good luck. 

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U.S. #4846

2014 46¢ Year of the Horse
Lunar New Year 

This stamp celebrates the Year of the Horse, which began January 31, 2014 and ended February 18, 2015. The Chinese drums pictured are part of the traditional New Year festivities. The drumsticks are painted red for good luck. 

Rhythmic beats from ceremonial drums announce the arrival of the Chinese New Year and provide the music for the lion dance. Beginning on the second new moon after the winter solstice, the Chinese New Year marks the end of winter and the time to start preparing fields for planting. Travelers often journey many miles to return to family for the most important holiday of the year.

In addition to the drum presentations, an important custom during this time is decorating with the color red. It is found on lanterns, door hangings, money envelopes, and even ceremonial drumsticks. The deep, rich color represents good fortune and joy.

Peonies also decorate homes and businesses. These red or pink flowers are thought to bring prosperity, as well as add color to wintery days. The gift of a potted peony is a token of love and a symbol of new growth.

The artwork on these stamps was created by Kam Mak. They were the first commemorative stamps produced by CCL Label Inc, which was formerly part of Avery Dennison.

Value: 46¢ First-Class rate

Issued: January 15, 2014
City: San Francisco, CA at the Chinese Culture Center
Type of Stamp: Commemorative

Printed By: CCL Label Inc.
Printing Method: Photogravure printing in sheets of 108 with 9 panes of 12
Perforations: Serpentine Die Cut 11
Self-Adhesive

Quantity Printed: 17,600,400 stamps

The Year of the Horse stamp is the seventh in the Lunar New Year series. It is the second series celebrating the Lunar New Year. The designs for this series have been created by Kam Mak, who was born in Hong Kong and grew up in New York’s Chinatown. Each stamp pictures a different aspect of the Lunar New Year celebrations. The cut-paper design and Chinese character name in calligraphy were also part of the previous series