Date of Issue : 8 Jan 2002
Postmark : Christmas Island 6798
Denomination : 4 x 5c, 4 x 15c and 4 x 25c
Stamp Size : 37.5 mm x 26 mm
Paper : Tullis Russell
Printing Process : Lithography
Since 1994, the Lunar New Year issue has become an annual one by Australia Post. Besides stamps on the yearly animal, a set of twelve stamps, featuring all the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac, is also issued. Each zodiac stamp features one of the twelve animals, with each animal's name written in Chinese at the centre of the stamp. In this issue, the horse itself is printed in gold foil, signifying the Year of the Horse zodiac set. The red background signifies liquid fire that flows like chi (energy), interconnecting the various elements of the universe.