Christmas Island: Year of the Rabbit 2023

Issue Date: 17 January 2023

Overview

Lunar New Year is the most important of the traditional festivals celebrated by Asian cultures throughout the world. Also called the Spring Festival in China, it is a time to complete unfinished business, and to settle debts before the beginning of another year. Relatives and friends gather to celebrate with feasts, and to exchange gifts of money wrapped in bright red paper.

The Year of the Rabbit begins on 22 January 2023. The Rabbit is the fourth animal in the 12-year cycle and is seen as being creative, compassionate and sensitive. People born in the Year of the Rabbit are kind, gentle, virtuous and popular. They are artistic and have good taste, with a liking for the finer things in life. They do not like to argue, preferring peace and quiet. They are compassionate listeners, excellent negotiators and work well with others. Birth years for Rabbits include 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999 and 2011. The Rabbit’s lucky flowers include jonquils and snapdragons, its lucky numbers are 3, 4, and 6, and lucky colours include red, pink, purple and blue.

This year’s stamp designs, by Chrissy Lau, were inspired by cartoon characters popular in Asian cultures and by three ancient Chinese gods, Shou Xing, Lu Xing and Fu Xing (representing longevity, prosperity and happiness respectively). The zodiac sheetlet stamps continue the cartoon-like feel.

Technical specifications

Issue date	17 January 2023
Issue withdrawal date	31 December 2023
Denominations	$1.20 x 1, $2.40 x 1, $3.60 x 1
Stamp illustration	Chrissy Lau
Product design	Sonia Young, Australia Post Design Studio
Paper - gummed	Tullis Russell 104gsm Red Phos.
Printer	RA Printing
Printing process	Offset lithography
Stamp size(mm)	26 x 37.5
Minisheet size	170 x 80
Perforations	14.6 x 13.86
Sheet layout	Module of 50 (gutter design $1.20) (Clear laser foil overprint)
FDI postmark	Christmas Island WA 6798
FDI withdrawal date	15 February 2023
Zodiac sheetlet size (mm)	170 x 210
Calendar sheetlet size (mm)	170 diameter

Stamps in this issue

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Set of Year of the Rabbit 2023 Gummed Stamps

This set of stamps contains all three stamps from the Christmas Island: Year of the Rabbit 2023 stamp issue.
Year of the Rabbit 2023 Stamp Pack

The Christmas Island: Year of the Rabbit 2023 stamp pack contains the minisheet from the stamp issue presented in high quality folder.
Year of the Rabbit 2023 Minisheet

The Christmas Island: Year of the Rabbit 2023 minisheet consists of the three stamps from the issue incorporated into a miniature stamp sheet.
Year of the Rabbit 2023 Zodiac Sheetlet

This gummed Zodiac sheetlet contains the minisheet from the Christmas Island: Year of the Rabbit 2023 stamp issue along with 12 Zodiac stamps.