Date of Issue : 8 Jan 2008
Postmark : Christmas Island WA 6798
Denomination : 4 x 10c, 4 x 15c and 4 x 25c
Stamp Size : 26 mm x 37.5 mm
Paper : Tullis Russell
Printing Process : Lithography with Gold Foil
Similar to the previous series of zodiac stamps issued from 1996 to 2007, besides stamps on the yearly animal, a set of twelve stamps, featuring all the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac is also issued in this new series of zodiac stamps. In ancient times, people divided one day into twelve 2-hour periods, and designated one animal to represent each period according to each animal's special time. At the top of each stamp in this issue, each animal's time slot is also included, alongside each animal's name written in Chinese. The Rat itself is designed against a black background, signifying the Year of the Rat zodiac set.