# 5829a - 2024 First-Class Forever Stamp - Imperforate Lunar New Year, Year of the Dragon

US #5829a
2024 Year of the Dragon – Lunar New Year Series
(Imperforate)

• The fifth stamp in the Lunar New Year series begun in 2020
• Celebrates the Year of the Dragon
• Showcases the same style mask design as previous stamps in the series
• Foil stamping brings out the intricate details of the design

Stamp Category:  Commemorative
Series:  Lunar New Year (begun in 2020)
Value:  68¢ First Class Mail Rate (Forever)
First Day of Issue:  January 25, 2024
First Day City:  Seattle, Washington
Quantity Issued:  22,000,000 (Includes die-cut AND imperforate stamps.  The exact quantity of imperforate stamps is unknown, but it is only a tiny fraction of the total print quantity, making the imperforates much scarcer than traditional die-cut stamps.)
Printed by:  Banknote Corporation of America
Printing Method:  Offset, Foil Stamping, Flexographic, Microprint
Format:  Panes of 20
Tagging:  Phosphor, Block Tag

Why the stamp was issued:  This stamp was issued to commemorate the fifth animal in the Chinese Zodiac of he Lunar New Year – the dragon. It’s the fifth stamp in the Lunar New Year series that began in 2020.

About the stamp design:  According to the USPS, the designs for this Lunar New Year series are meant to remind us of the “elaborately decorated masks used in the dragon or lion dances often performed in Lunar New Year parades.” Artist Camille Chew created the Year of the Dragon mask by adapting techniques from traditional paper-cut folk-art crafts often used to create decorations during Lunar New Year. The stamp sheet includes illustrations of all 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac in columns on the left and right sides of the stamp pane.

Special design details:  Foil stamping highlights details of the design and gives it an almost three-dimensional effect.

First Day City:  The Year of the Dragon stamp was issued in Seattle, Washington, with the First Day of Issue Ceremony held at the International District/Chinatown Community Center.

About the Lunar New Year Series:  The USPS has been issuing Lunar New Year stamps for decades. When the previous series ended in 2019, a new one was begun the following year. This particular Lunar New Year Series has stamps picturing paper-cut masks of the 12 animals in the Chinese Zodiac, with the stamps following the cycle of rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat/ram/sheep, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig. Every stamp includes a high-quality photograph of a three-dimensional paper-cut mask created by artist Camille Chew.

History the stamp represents:  In the Chinese zodiac, the dragon is the fifth animal in the 12-year Lunar New Year cycle. In 2024, the Year of the Dragon began on February 10. In China, people born in the Year of the Dragon are said to be lucky. This often leads to a noticeable increase in births during these years.

Why are children born in the Year of the Dragon said to be luckier than other years? Perhaps it’s because, in ancient times, emperors were said to be descended from dragons. The original dragons were seen as godlike entities with the ability to control wind and rain. They helped ensure bountiful harvests and protected villages from drought or floods. Likewise, it became the emperor’s job to protect his people and ensure the prosperity of his nation.

The benevolent nature of the dragon extends to the famous story of the Chinese zodiac animals. Since it could fly, the dragon should have finished first in the Jade Emperor’s big race, making it the first animal of the 12-year cycle. However, along the way, the dragon saw villages suffering from droughts and flooding. Because he stopped to help, he fell behind the other animals. He even let the rabbit finish ahead of him, saving it from a wolf that had been chasing it. Based on these stories, it’s no wonder Chinese parents hope for children born in the Year of the Dragon.