Stamps

The diversity of the international animal kingdom is well renowned. As humans, we have diligently placed baboons, gorillas and apes under the genus of ‘monkeys’. To many nations, unique species of this family are integral to the wildlife of their specific natural and geographical environment. Nations, therefore, have immortalized their own ‘monkeys’ on postage stamps.

 

The coastal are of Belize in Central America is an outstanding natural system dominated by the Maya Mountains. The mangrove swamp areas close to the coast play host to the jaguar, deer, tapir and numerous species of birds and reptiles. With 59% of Belize covered by forests, it is significant that a souvenir sheet of postage stamps released in 1987 showcases their indigenous primates, the Black Spider Monkey. The agility and nimbleness of these quaint little creatures is clearly depicted on the postage stamps.

 

Japan’s deciduous forests are home to the rare Columbus monkey which is also found in Tanzania. In 2005, Tanzania released a stamp featuring this unusual species and celebrated its uniqueness in postage stamp format. In 2004, Japan established cultural awareness of the Columbus monkey with the release of an 80yen postage stamp. It produced the stamp using metallic multi-imaging printing, a technique that profiles two separate designs depending on the angle from which the postage stamp is viewed. This design was adopted to celebrate 2004 – the Year of the Monkey.

 

China also celebrated 2004 as, according to the Lunar Calendar, it was the Year of the Monkey, an animal which is regarded as auspicious to the people. The stamps were in denominations of 80fen and used a photogravure printing process. Canada joined in celebrating the Lunar Year of the Monkey to honour its large Chinese population. The distinctive stamp design provided illustrations based on the Chinese legend of the Monkey King. It was released in January, 2004.

 

The United States of America commemorated the Year of the Monkey with the creation of an intricate paper-cut design of a monkey for the final stamp in the Lunar New Year postage stamp series. Released in January, 2004, the stamp reflected the rich multi-cultural heritage of a substantial portion of the American population. The Lunar New Year is a family affair of importance to those of Asian descent around the world and this 37cent United States postage stamp honoured that belief.

 

The rarest ‘monkey’ stamp is China’s 1^st Monkey Year stamp which was released in 1980. With a red background and 8fen value, it is difficult to locate and highly prized by collectors around the world.