World Stamps
Isle of Man celebrates the Year of the Snake

By Linn’s Staff
On Jan. 8, the Isle of Man Post
Office issued four stamps in celebration of the Year of the Snake in the
Chinese lunar calendar.
The Isle of Man Post Office issued
the set of four stamps in two vertical se-tenant (side-by-side) pairs. The
stamps are denominated £1.10, £2.75, £3.50 and £3.69, and the Isle of Man Post
Office says each conveys a message.
The £1.10 stamp conveyed harmony and
shows a Chinese lute called a Pipa, which symbolizes balance and joy. The £2.75
stamp conveys prosperity and illustrates a snake coiled around a plum tree.
The £3.50 stamp uses a lantern to
highlight the message of hope, and the £3.69 stamp showcases a water lily to
represent a message of renewal.
The stamps feature designs by
award-winning international author, illustrator and lecturer Jo Davies, who
also illustrated the 2024 Isle of Man Chinese Year of the Dragon stamp issue.
“It has been fascinating to learn
more about the symbols and meanings associated with the celebration of the
Chinese lunar New Year,” Davies said.
“2025 is the year of the Wood Snake
and the artwork in this collection reflects the symbols associated with the
snake, combined with those traditionally used in celebrating the Chinese Lunar
New Year,” the Isle of Man Post Office said. “The snake symbolises light and
dark and is believed to offer protection from negative forces. It sheds its
skin and appears to have been reborn and is often associated in cultures with
transformation and rebirth.”
The Year of the Snake runs from Jan.
29, 2025, to Feb. 16, 2026. The snake is the sixth animal sign in the Chinese
zodiac cycle, following the dragon and preceding the horse.
EJC Design used Davies’ illustrations
for the stamp design, and the gummed stamps were printed by Cartor by offset
lithography. The stamps measure 40 millimeters by 32mm.
The Isle of Man Post Office offers
additional products with the Chinese Year of the Snake issue, including a
presentation pack, a souvenir sheet with all four stamps, and a first-day cover
franked with the four stamps. The presentation pack and FDC include informative
text written by Davies.
Stamps from the Isle of Man Post Office are available online.
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