# 5119 - 2016 First-Class Forever Stamp - Pets: Chinchillas
US #5119
2016 Chincilla – Pets
- Pictures a chinchilla
- Part of the 20-stamp Pets set honoring the wide range of animals we keep as companions
Stamp Category: Commemorative
Set: Pets
Value: 47¢ First Class Mail Rate (Forever)
First Day of Issue: August 2, 2016
First Day City: Las Vegas, Nevada
Quantity Issued: 400,000,000
Printed by: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd.
Printing Method: Offset
Format: Double-sided Booklet of 20
Tagging: Nonphosphored type III, block tag
Why the stamp was issued: To celebrate the role our pet chinchillas play in making our lives more enjoyable.
About the stamp design: Pictures a photograph by Eric Isselée of a chinchilla.
First Day City: The First Day of Issue Ceremony was held at the SuperZoo National Show for Pet Retailers at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada.
About the Pets set: The USPS created 20 stamps to celebrate the many different animals we humans keep as companions. Each stamp pictures one species: puppies, betta fish, iguanas, hamsters, goldfish, kittens, rabbits, tortoises, guinea pigs, parrots, corn snakes, mice, hermit crabs, chinchillas, gerbils, geckos, cats, horses, parakeets, and dogs.
History the stamp represents: Chinchillas are small, curious rodents known for their lush gray fur. The thickness of their pelt resists parasites and reduces dander, making them hypo-allergenic as well as soft and cuddly. Along with their lively personalities, chinchillas can make great pets, offering comical companionship for up to 20 years. But these animals also need lots of maintenance and are not for everyone.
Natives of the Andes Mountains in South America, chinchillas prefer cool climates with low humidity. They do not have the ability to sweat, so it is important for pet owners to carefully regulate room temperatures. Chinchillas also require a good deal of dental care. Their teeth grow continuously – up to 10 inches each year – and they constantly gnaw to wear them down. Because of this, pet chinchillas should not be allowed to roam freely. A mesh cage with an exercise wheel is a good home. And chinchillas love to bathe themselves by “dusting” in cornstarch or corn meal, so a dishful of this should also be provided.
In recent decades, wild chinchilla populations have declined dramatically. They are considered near extinction and it is illegal to hunt them. But domestic chinchillas are still being successfully bred as pets. These loveable balls of fur train easily and are known to form bonds with their owners that last a lifetime.
US #5119
2016 Chincilla – Pets
- Pictures a chinchilla
- Part of the 20-stamp Pets set honoring the wide range of animals we keep as companions
Stamp Category: Commemorative
Set: Pets
Value: 47¢ First Class Mail Rate (Forever)
First Day of Issue: August 2, 2016
First Day City: Las Vegas, Nevada
Quantity Issued: 400,000,000
Printed by: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd.
Printing Method: Offset
Format: Double-sided Booklet of 20
Tagging: Nonphosphored type III, block tag
Why the stamp was issued: To celebrate the role our pet chinchillas play in making our lives more enjoyable.
About the stamp design: Pictures a photograph by Eric Isselée of a chinchilla.
First Day City: The First Day of Issue Ceremony was held at the SuperZoo National Show for Pet Retailers at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada.
About the Pets set: The USPS created 20 stamps to celebrate the many different animals we humans keep as companions. Each stamp pictures one species: puppies, betta fish, iguanas, hamsters, goldfish, kittens, rabbits, tortoises, guinea pigs, parrots, corn snakes, mice, hermit crabs, chinchillas, gerbils, geckos, cats, horses, parakeets, and dogs.
History the stamp represents: Chinchillas are small, curious rodents known for their lush gray fur. The thickness of their pelt resists parasites and reduces dander, making them hypo-allergenic as well as soft and cuddly. Along with their lively personalities, chinchillas can make great pets, offering comical companionship for up to 20 years. But these animals also need lots of maintenance and are not for everyone.
Natives of the Andes Mountains in South America, chinchillas prefer cool climates with low humidity. They do not have the ability to sweat, so it is important for pet owners to carefully regulate room temperatures. Chinchillas also require a good deal of dental care. Their teeth grow continuously – up to 10 inches each year – and they constantly gnaw to wear them down. Because of this, pet chinchillas should not be allowed to roam freely. A mesh cage with an exercise wheel is a good home. And chinchillas love to bathe themselves by “dusting” in cornstarch or corn meal, so a dishful of this should also be provided.
In recent decades, wild chinchilla populations have declined dramatically. They are considered near extinction and it is illegal to hunt them. But domestic chinchillas are still being successfully bred as pets. These loveable balls of fur train easily and are known to form bonds with their owners that last a lifetime.