Special 420 The Zodiac Postage Stamps－Water Signs

To encourage stamp collecting among the younger generation, the Directorate General of Posts has chosen the 12 signs of the Western zodiac as subject matter for 12 stamps, which will be issued in four sets of three stamps each. Three sets--the "Air Signs," the "Earth Signs" and the "Fire Signs"--have already been released. The fourth set, the "Water Signs" (Pisces, Cancer and Scorpio), will be released on November 8, 2001, with denominations of NT$5.00, NT$12.00 and NT$25.00 respectively. The given sign's constellation chart will be the main theme of each stamp. Each stamp will also include smaller designs showing the constellation's location, the sign's symbol, its Chinese and English names, and its dates. In addition to the regular rectangular perforation along the edges of each stamp, there will also be a perforated oval within each stamp suggesting the orbit of a planet. Mr. Ben Wang was commissioned to handle planning for the stamps, and Mr. Chen I-Sung created the drawings for the stamps, which are being printed in deep-etch color offset by China Color Printing Co., Ltd.

Generally speaking, people whose sun signs are water signs have strong emotions. They are very compassionate, perseverant and determined. They are also artistic and musical.

First-day covers, folders with and without crystal mounts and loose-leaf album pages will be released along with the stamps. These will go on sale November 6, 2001. Pre-cancelled FDCs with the full set of stamps or with just one lower-value stamp, stamp folio, stamp pictorial and a poster relating to the theme will go on sale November 8, 2001, the stamps' date of issue. For further information, please refer to the upcoming Philatelic Bulletin or Postal Service Today.

(1)First Day Cover in small size to be sold at NT$2.00apiece.
(2)Folder especially prepared for the stamps to be sold at NT$5 apiece.
(3)Folder with crystal mount for better protection of the stamps to be sold at NT$5 apiece.
(4)Loose-leaf stamp album page with plastic cover to be sold at NT$8 apiece.
(5)Pre-cancelled First Day Cover affixed with a low valued stamp to be sold at NT$7 apiece.
(6) Pre-cancelled First Day Cover affixed with a complete set of stamps to be sold at NT$44 apiece.
(7)The Zodiac Stamp Folio-Fire Signs to be sold at NT$110apiece.