World Stamps

Isle of Man celebrates the Year of the Snake

Jan 15, 2025, 12 PM
The Isle of Man Post Office issued four stamps Jan. 8 in celebration of the Year of the Snake in the Chinese lunar calendar. Jo Davies provided the illustrations for the stamps. Davies also illustrated the 2024 Chinese Year of the Dragon stamp issue.

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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