05 January 2023
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Jersey Post is celebrating the Chinese Year of the Rabbit with its first stamp to feature the cypher of King Charles lll. The rabbit on the stamp is a symbol of health and longevity.
The new King’s cypher, in the top left hand corner of the stamps, is the Sovereign’s monogram, consisting of his initials C (for Charles) and R (for Rex, the Latin for ‘king’) and a representation of the crown.
The Year of the Rabbit issue, consisting of a single stamp and a miniature sheet, is the eighth part of Jersey Post’s series celebrating the Lunar New Year. Each set in the series has been illustrated by Beijing designer Wang Huming, the Deputy Chief Designer of the Postage Stamp Printing Bureau of China Post. The designs for each are based on traditional Chinese styles of painting and paper cutting.
The Year of the Rabbit 98p stamp image represents health and longevity.
The Chinese Legend of the Jade Rabbit tells of a rabbit who lives in a moon palace with the Lady Chang’e, who has taken an immortality pill and lives on the moon.
As well as being Lady Chang’e’s companion, the rabbit makes magical immortality medicine, and for this reason it is often said in Chinese culture that the rabbit brings health and long life. The miniature sheet depicts a rabbit holding a cabbage with a cricket on it. The cricket symbolises happy, relaxing times and Chinese cabbage is a popular vegetable, especially in winter.
Both stamp and miniature sheet feature gold ink and varnish.
Chinese New Year festivities traditionally begin on the first day of the lunar new year – in 2023, 22 January.
Issue date 5 January