Jersey unveils Wang Huming’s dragon stamps

By Molly Goad

Jersey Post’s inaugural stamp issue for 2024 puts the spotlight on the majestic Year of the Dragon.

Illustrated by Wang Huming of Beijing, China, the issue includes a single £1.65 stamp in panes of 10 and a £4 stamp in a souvenir sheet of one, both to be issued Jan. 4.

This issue forms the ninth installment of Jersey Post’s series celebrating the Lunar New Year, preceded by Year of the Rabbit in 2023 (Scott 2559-2560), Year of the Tiger in 2022 (2479-2480), Year of the Ox in 2021 (2375-2376), Year of the Rat in 2020 (2294-2295), Year of the Pig in 2019 (2199-2200), Year of the Dog in 2018 (2106-2107), Year of the Rooster in 2017 (2014-2105), and Year of the Monkey in 2016 (1920-1921).

The Lunar New Year, also known as the Chinese New Year or Spring Festival, is a tradition celebrated by many East Asian cultures. The festival marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring. It is a time for family reunions, feasting and honoring ancestors, and typically lasts for 15 days.

The date of the Lunar New Year is determined by the lunisolar calendar, and it usually falls between Jan. 21 and Feb. 20. In 2024, it begins on Feb. 10.

Each year is associated with one of the 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac, and there is a rotating cycle of five elements: wood, fire, earth, metal and water.

The combination of the zodiac animal and element is believed to influence the characteristics of the year and the people born during that time.

As the fifth animal in the Chinese zodiac, the dragon is the only mythical creature in the group and is usually seen as a symbol of power in China. Dragons are also viewed as a symbol of good fortune, and people born within the year are considered naturally lucky and gifted.

Huming is the deputy chief designer of the Postage Stamp Printing Bureau of China Post and has created the designs for each of the issues in Jersey Post’s Lunar New Year series. Huming’s designs are based on a Chinese style of painting and paper cutting.

The image on the new £1.65 stamp features a gold dragon on a sharp red background. Golden dragons have been associated with powerful deities and the harvest in Chinese culture, and red symbolizes prosperity and joy.

The £4 stamp in the souvenir sheet depicts a detailed Chinese dragon flying through the clouds.

Eastern Han dynasty historian and philosopher Wang Fu (circa A.D. 82 to 167) suggested that the distinctive appearance of the Chinese dragon resulted from combining aspects of various animals.

These features include the head of a camel, the ears of a bull, a stag’s antlers, a snake’s body, the armored body belly of a clam, tigerlike feet, an eagle’s talons, and a carp’s protective scales.

Scholars debate the reasons behind the composite representation, with some speculating it might stem from the unification of diverse tribes.

Cartor Security Printers produced the stamps by offset lithography in four colors plus a metallic gold ink with a varnish.

The stamps in the panes of 10 measure 36 millimeters by 36mm each. The stamp in the souvenir sheet is 60mm by 60mm, and the sheet is 125mm by 95mm.

For more information about Jersey Post’s Year of the Dragon issue, visit the Jersey Post website.

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