Young people in Taiwan now widely celebrate western Valentine’s Day on February 14. Looking to attract the younger generations to stamp collecting as well as to encourage letter writing, Chunghwa Post is releasing another set of two Valentine’s Day stamps (Issue of 2011), which feature messages of love. The first in this series of stamp sets was issued on February 6, 2007.
The concept behind the design of this set of stamps is the code of true love, which Chunghwa Post first ever makes use of QR code (quick response code) technology. QR code can store more information than regular barcode. To decode the hidden message, users only have to take a picture of the QR code with a mobile phone camera that can take images of over 300,000 pixels, and the decode software in the phone will read the message and display it on the screen.
The design of the stamp features a heart formed by a row of perforations, as well as images of roses, presents, hearts, and the word “LOVE” created from pixels. Through the interaction between the sender and the receiver, these stamps convey love and heighten the romantic atmosphere of Valentine’s Day. The message of the code is “Happy Valentine’s Day” for the NT$5 stamp and “I Love You” for the NT$25 stamp.
(1) First Day Cover: NT$ 2 apiece.(2) Folder: NT$ 5 apiece(3) Folder with mount: NT$ 5 apiece.(4) Loose-leaf album page: NT$ 8 apiece. (5) Pre-cancelled FDC affixed with one NT$5-denominated stamp: NT$ 7 apiece.(6) Pre-cancelled FDC affixed with a complete set of stamps: NT$ 32 apiece.
To purchase the relative philatelic products, please go directly to the post office branches, or order on line at http://stamp.post.gov.tw.