Year of Tiger (China)

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Thanks Wangjiayi for the above cover, sent from Huqiu (虎丘, or Tiger Hill) in Suzhou, Jiangsu province on the day of issue (5 Jan 2010).

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The year 2010 marks the reign of the Tiger and the third animal in the Zodiac series on the Chinese calendar. It is the Year of Gengyin (庚寅年, or Metal Tiger year) based on Tiangan Dizhi (天干地支, or Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches). This affectionate, generous and attractive animal is depicted on this stamp.

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Note the very beautiful cancellation with black and red ink.
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The wordings in black ink "《庚寅年》生肖邮票首发纪念" mean Zodiac Stamp First Day of Issue Commemoration.

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The wording in red ink, on the left of the standing tiger means "Tiger"(草书虎字). It is a different way of writing "Hu" or tiger in Chinese calligaphy, not the standard way.

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For your information, China Post had started issuing Zodiac series since 1980 (Year of Monkey). This is the third time that China Post issues Year of Tiger stamps after 1986 and 1998, as shown below.

* 1986

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* 1998

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The other two stamps (Y1.10, Y2.00) are definitive stamps, issued in 1986.

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Another two stamps (Y0.40, Y0.80) are definitive stamps, issued in 2006 and 2002 respectively.

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