New stamp doubles up for Year of the Monkey
One monkey or two — that was the question.
When print artist Huang Yongyu was invited to design a set of stamps to celebrate Chinese New Year, which falls on Feb 8, China Post suggested that he draw a female monkey holding a baby monkey, in honor of the approaching Spring Festival in the Year of the Monkey.
Huang insisted on drawing two baby monkeys. “China has launched the two-child policy,” the 91-year-old artist said in an interview with Beijing Legal Evening News. “Two baby monkeys will be OK.”
The new monkey stamp series, issued on Tuesday, has two stamps: One with a male monkey swinging with a big peach in his hand, and the other with a female monkey holding two baby monkeys, a symbol of a happy family, according to China Post.
“I like the monkey stamps this year,” said Li Yu, a 26-yearold Beijing resident. “Monkeys are cute, and the female monkey with two babies reminds me of the union of family, which is the spirit of Chinese New Year.”
Since 1980, when China Post issued the first monkey stamp, China has been releasing stamps with one of the 12 zodiac animals, including the mouse, ox and dragon, before every Spring Festival.
The first monkey stamp, also known as the golden monkey stamp, was also designed by Huang. It has become one of the most valuable collectible stamps in China.