Stamp SN | D673 |
Stamp Name | Sp.673 Aquatic Life Postage Stamps – Goldfish (I) |
Stamp Cat Standard | Special Stamps |
Stamp Cat | Fish, Animals |
Issue date | 2019-01-24 |
Suspersion date | |
Dimension of stamps(mm.) | 40 × 30 (mm) |
Size of souvenir Sheet (mm.) | |
Printer | Central Engraving and Printing Plant |
Drawer | |
Designer | Jheng Yi-lang |
Photographer | |
Engraver | |
Creative Director | |
Sheet composition | 20 (5 × 4) |
Print color | Colorful |
Process | Offset |
Paper | Phosphorescent stamp paper |
Back | |
Perforation | 12½ |
Goldfish come from China, arising from a mutation of crucian carp. Raising goldfish is considered good luck because a common expression for wealth— “gold and jade fill the hall”—sounds like “goldfish fill the hall.” Both are “jin yu man tang” in Mandarin, with the only difference being a change in tone from “jade” to “fish.” To introduce the beauty of goldfish, Chunghwa Post has specially planned a release of a set of four stamps. Their designs are described below:
1. Red Swallow-tail (NT$6): In Japan and the west, this fish is known as the “comet,” but in Taiwan it is known as the “red swallow-tail.” With a single long and flowing caudal fin, it has a shape resembling the tail of a swallow—hence its name.
2. Ryukin (NT$6): Its Chinese characters are a homonym for “keeping gold,” suggesting a sense of holding on to wealth and abundance. This fish has a pronounced hump on its back, an egg-shaped body, a small triangular head, a large dorsal fin and two caudal fins. It is highly adaptive and easy to care for.
3. Dragon Eye (NT$12): The “dragon eye” or “telescope” goldfish has protruding round eyeballs—its most salient feature—which resemble dragon’s eyes. It has a dorsal fin and typically three or four caudal fins.
4. Goose Head Pearl Scale (NT$28): The “goose head” or “crown” pearl scale goldfish has large and bright scales, having a pearl-like appearance. It swims gracefully through the water with a smoothly curving body, and it has a prominent head growth, known as a “hood,” that makes it resemble a goose—hence its name. Commonly seen varieties have both one and two hoods.