The symbolic, illustrative, large numeral “1” caught my eye for this set of Cuban stamps commemorating Labor Day (c. 1964, designer unknown)

There are too many countries issuing stamps with cute bunnies and symbolic artwork to count that honor the fourth animal in the cycle of the Chinese zodiac calendar. Australia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, New Zealand, Thailand, and others released their designs either in late 2010 or in the beginning of the new year. Here’s a look at some of the different 2011 Lunar New Year postage stamp designs from around the world I was able to track down.



“According to Chinese lunar calendar, 2011 is Xin-Mao Year, or the Year of the Rabbit. In real life, rabbit is a favorite of people because its tamed, lively, and lovely nature. In traditional Chinese culture, while the three-legged crow represents the sun, rabbit is synonymous with the moon...” —China National Philatelic Corporation, back of F.D.C. envelope


China’s 2011 Xin-Mao / Year of the Rabbit stamp was designed by Wu Guanying. The piece of artwork used on the F.D.C envelope is by Wang Jiancheng.


Meng Jie designed the cancellation mark.




While numerous contries opted for youthful, cute bunny stamp designs, I think the designs issued by Canada stand out for its sophistication and special printing effects. The final stamp designs were a highly collaborative effort between illustrator Tracy Walker and Canadian stamp designer Paul Haslip with HM & E Design. The illustrations on the international variation above was inspired by tradional Chinese embroidery.



The Year of the Rabbit stamp designs from Japan this year are reminiscent of the 1963 Year of the Rabbit stamp.



South Korea also put a cute white bunny on their 2011 Year of the Rabbit stamp.



Below is Taiwan’s more painterly approach with good use of the color yellow.




The U.S.A. opted for kumquats as the focal point of their Lunar New Year 2011 stamp design issue.



An excerpt from the back of the souvenir stamp sheet above reads:
“Kumquats, such as those depicted in stamp art, are given as gifts and eaten for luck at this time of renewed hope for the future. The stamp design incorporates elements from the previous series of Lunar New Year stamps, including an intricate paper-cut design of a rabbit and the Chinese character—drawn in grass-style calligraphy—for “Rabbit.”” —United States Postal Service

In the 2011 line-up of Forever Stamps to be released by the USPS, the ones most likely to have a wide, mass appeal will be those featuring Disney Pixar animated film characters. In terms of happiness level, I like the stamp for Up the best. However, WALL-E seems to be a symbolic pairing with the word “Forever.” The Pixar 20 stamp commemorative pane, titled “Send a Hello,” includes only five different designs, which leaves out plenty of beloved characters and arguably feature films that shouldn’t have been overlooked.

Carl Fredricksen and Dug from Up (c. 2009)

Remy and Linguini from Ratatouille (c. 2007)

Lightning McQueen and Mater from Cars (c. 2006 / 2011)

Buzz Lightyear and two green, three-eyed aliens from Toy Story (c. 1995 / 1999 / 2010)

“The Send a Hello stamps, which go on sale Aug. 19, are a natural outgrowth of the Art of Disney stamp series issued between 2004 and 2008. Originally intended as a series of three annual issuances depicting friendship, celebration, and romance, the Art of Disney stamps proved so popular that the Postal Service expanded the series to include issuances in 2007 and 2008 to celebrate imagination and magic...” —USPS

I’m disappointed to see no representation from Monsters, Inc, Finding Nemo, or The Incredibles, but personally don’t mind the omission of A Bug’s Life. There will always be a difference of opinion for which Pixar film is the best, and I’m torn with no decisive favorite.

Was the fear of further decline for snail mail in future years the impetus for the USPS to greatly increase their Forever Stamp program? It is great to have far more options than the always in supply Liberty Bell stamp. A press release about the 2011 Stamp Program reads: “Since the first Forever Stamp, featuring the Liberty Bell, was issued in April 2007, 28 billion Forever Stamps have been sold, resulting in $12.1 billion in total revenue. Now that the Postal Service offers coils, booklets and Holiday Forever Stamps, almost 85 percent of its stamp program is Forever.”

As part of the 2011 commemorative postage stamp program just unveiled by the USPS, there is one set in particular that will probably make designers happy. In July 2011, a 12 stamp pane will honor industrial designers that were influential in the 20th century.

The 12 industrial design ‘pioneers’ are: Frederick Hurten Rhead, Walter Dorwin Teague, Norman Bel Geddes, Raymond Loewy, Donald Deskey, Gilbert Rohde, Greta von Nessen, Russel Wright, Henry Dreyfuss, Peter Müller-Munk, Dave Chapman, and Eliot Noyes. It is nice that they managed to fit in atleast one female designer in the group. Though only one woman out of twelve is a little disappointing, it is not at all surprising. In addition to the select group of twelve, Robert Heller’s “Airflow” fan designed in the 1930s is featured on the left-hand side of the souvenir sheet.

Ranging from Walter Dorwin Teague’s design for the 1934 “Baby Brownie” to Henry Dreyfuss’ desk telephone to a clock designed by Gilbert Rohde to Frederick Hurten Rhead’s 1936 Fiesta line of ceramic tableware, the selection of designs and designers is a carefully curated group filled with few obvious selections. I always enjoy when I'm prompted to research a designer that I should have known a little more about.

Thank you again to Art Director Derry Noyes for bringing modern design to the USPS. Among Derry Noyes’ contributions are the Charles + Ray Eames stamps from 2008 and the Masterworks of Modern Architecture stamp pane from 2005.

Below is an interesting excerpt from the USPS press release for the new ‘Pioneers of American Industrial Design’ stamps:

“...Industrial design is the study and creation of products whose appearance, function, and construction have been optimized for human use. It emerged as a profession in the U.S. in the 1920s but really took hold during the Depression. Faced with decreasing sales, manufacturers turned to industrial designers to give their products a modern look that would appeal to consumers. Characterized by horizontal lines and rounded, wind-resistant shapes, the new, streamlined looks differed completely from the decorative extravagance of the 1920s. They evoked a sense of speed and efficiency and projected the image of progress and affluence the public desired...”

I can’t help but wonder if Jessica Helfand’s position on the Postmaster General's Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee played a role in approval of this upcoming design-centric stamp set. Another reason I am interested the upcoming stamps is that the “pane’s verso includes a brief introduction to the history and importance of American industrial design, as well as text that identifies each object and briefly tells something about each designer.” Perhaps the best perk is that these stamps will be part of the Forever Stamp Program—I’ll want to stock up on these once they are available.

Updated June 30th, 2011:
Sheets of the “Pioneers of American Industrial Design” (Forever) stamps should now available to purchase at your local USPS Post Office. If standing in line at the post office is painful, the pane of 12 stamp designs can be ordered online at The Postal Store. This was my first time making a trip to the post office only to buy specific postage stamps (fortunately the line was very short). I bought enough stamps to hopefully cover my snail mail for the next couple of years. I'll make another trip solely to buy stamps in mid-August when the Pixar “Send a Hello” USPS (Forever) stamps are released.

To learn more about the individual designers selected as the 12 “Pioneers of American Industrial Design,” there is a pdf for additional reading. Also, the backside of the physical souvenir sheet of “Pioneers of American Industrial Design” postage stamps includes very brief descriptions of the designers and their one chosen icon of industrial design.

Based on the Chinese Zodiac calendar, 2011 will be the Year of the Rabbit. Many countries annually honor the animal corresponding with the Lunar Chinese New Year on postage stamps. At the end of 2010, The Chunghwa Post (Taiwan / Republic of China) issued a “New Year’s Greeting Postage Stamps” set featuring cute rabbits.

“...The designs find inspiration in modern art styles, such as action painting and pop art. The motif rabbits are depicted using black silhouettes that are adorned with orange and purple paint splatters, which create lively compositions. The backgrounds, which are yellow with random red splatters, cleverly make use of traditional Chinese ink-wash effects. The bright colors symbolize joy and convey high expectations about the Year of the Rabbit...” —Chunghwa Post

I appreciate the thought put into the symbolism of the stamp designs. For example, the descriptive copy for the stamp with two kissing rabbits reads: “This pair of rabbits conveys the idea of “the treasuring of each other” and symbolizes a year of abundance.” The stamp with the little bunny looking up represents “achieving success in all one’s endeavors.”

The stamps are printed by the China Color Printing Co., Ltd. on phosphorescent stamp paper. the name of the designer was not indicated. They are graphically a little busy, but fun and festive.

(more info via The Chungwha Post)

In honor of the World Cup 2010 tournament, I thought it would be an interesting challenge to find a single vintage stamp from my collection for every country participating in the games. Most of the postage stamps below are from between 1900 through the mid-1930s, with a few as recent as the early 1970s. Through the process I caught up a little on history and encountered some issues along the way.

This commemorative sheet was issued in honor of 100 years of Swiss postage stamps in 1943. And since I'll never be able to afford the authentic 1843 Zürich stamps, this is the next best compromise and a favorite in my collection.

The souvenir sheet was designed by Albert Yersin of Lutry and Hans Thoni and Bern, with decorative borders designed by Orell Fuessly A.G.??

It was based on Switzerland's 1843 Zürich stamps (4 & 6 Rappen), though I'm not sure who designed the originals. I think the numerals are gorgeous. In 1968 these stamps made a reappearance in a postage commemorating the 125th anniversary of Swiss stamps.

some info on original Zürich Cantonal stamps:

"...And so, on the 1st March 1843, Zürich gained the distinction of being the second stamp-issuing nation in the world. The speed of production, which allowed no time for considering competitive designs, is probably the reason why the design bears such a striking resemblance to the British 'Penny Black'. While the large figures '4' and '6' replace the Queen's head, the engine-turned background was not precisely copied. However, the Zürich stamps, printed in black over a background of fine red lines, were, nevertheless, very similar. The contract for the printing was given to the Zürich firm of Orell Füssli & Co., founded in 1519 and probably the oldest printing establishment in Switzerland. Each design was hand drawn 5 times, giving 5 distinct types of each value. The impressions were repeated on the 'stone' in ten double rows of five stamps, making 100 per sheet..." —Swiss-Philately

additional reading:

'Helvetia' bulletin from 1943 (Google docs/pdf)

Switzerland Its Essays and Proofs Part Twenty Five (pdf)

As always, any further expertise on the design and typography is appreciated.

Postage stamps can serve as a great abridged overview of a country's culture and design. Released in 1969, below is a series of five vintage postage stamps from the Netherlands depicting 20th century buildings and architects. (Scott #B444-B48) 

Below are international commemorative  postage stamps honoring the legacy of sports and the Olympics.

"Olympic stamps are not only a picturesque method of commemorating the Olympic Games. They also usefully bring in money to help finance the Games." —excerpt from The Story of the Olympics
(published by Oxford University Press in 1948)

Games of the VII Olympiad in Antwerp, Belgium (summer 1920)


Olympic discus thrower semi-postal stamp c. 1920, Belgium (only country issuing Olympic stamps for this year), stamp engraving by American Bank Note Co., New York


Olympic racing chariot semi-postal stamp c. 1920/21, Belgium


Olympic runner chariot semi-postal stamp c. 1920/21, Belgium

Games of the VIII Olympiad in Paris, France (summer 1924)

Notre-Dame and Pont Neuf with trophy, c. 1924, France, designed by E. Becker, engraving by G. Daussy

Games of the XV Olympiad in Helsinki, Finland (summer 1952)

Olympic fencing stamp, c. 1952, Hungary

Games of the XVII Olympiad in Roma, Italy (summer 1960)

Olympic discus thrower and stadium, c. 1960, Haiti

Games of the XVIII Olympiad in Tokyo, Japan (summer 1964)

depicts one of series Olympic poster designed by Yusaku Kamekura for the 1964 Games in Tokyo, 1964, Japan


Olympic fútbol / soccer, c. 1964, Hungary


Olympic track runner stamp with tab, c. 1964, Israel, designed by Dan Reisinger


Olympic judo, c. 1964, France

IX Olympic Winter Games in Innsbruck, Austria (1964)

Olympic hockey, c. 1963, Romania, designed by I. Dumitrana


Olympic figure skating, c. 1963, Romania, by I. Dumitrana


Olympic speed skating, c. 1964, Romania, designed by I. Dumitrana


Games of the XIX Olympiad in Mexico City, Mexico (summer 1968)

Olympic gymnastics stamp, c. 1968, Mexico, designed by Lance Wyman

"Graphic design became an important visual ambassador for the 1968 Mexico Olympic Games, It was the first time the games were hosted by a Latin American nation. In planning for the games, Mexico, an emerging third world nation, could not afford to make the extensive architectural statement made in Tokyo four years earlier. Graphic design contributed to the ambiance of the Mexican games and helped to make a meaningful visual impact for fewer pesos." —Lance Wyman, excerpt from "The Olympic Image", The First 100 Years


Olympic flame and bird stamp, c. 1964, Indonesia

Games of the XX Olympiad in Munich, West Germany (summer 1972)

Olympic sailing stamp, c. 1972, Germany


XI Olympic Winter Games in Sapporo, Japan (1972)

Olympic figure skating pairs, c. 1972, Japan


Olympic bob sledding stamp, c. 1972, Japan


Games of the XXI Olympiad in Montréal, Canada (summer 1976)

depicts Olympic logo for Montreal Games designed by Georges Huel, c. 1974, Canada

A short while back we found out about the new Simpsons postage stamps, but no images were posted online yet. Now the US Postal Service has launched a mini site for the upcoming launch, which includes an option to vote for your favorite Simpsons character stamp. The 44-cent Simpsons family stamps and other Simpsons branded products officially go on sale May 7th, 2009. It seems quite appropriate for the release of the stamps to coincide with The Simpsons 20 year anniversary.   "The U.S. Postal Service receives approximately 50,000 suggestions for stamp subjects each year, yet only about 20 topics are selected for postage. The Simpsons is the only television show to be featured as the sole subject of a stamp set while still in primetime production." —excerpt from press release