Year of the Rat - Pocket Pets
Even though the rat may have an unpleasant reputation with some people, history and myths tell us that it has a significant place in the human world. Romans considered white rats auspicious, while in old Japan they were messengers of one of the seven gods of luck. According to Chinese myth the rat brought the gift of rice to humankind – and of course the rat is also one of the creatures in the Chinese Zodiac: a symbol of good luck and wealth that we celebrate with our latest stamp issue.
The 2008 Year of the Rat stamp issue is the 12th in New Zealand Post’s Chinese Lunar series. Its theme is ‘pocket pets’ – a term originally given to small rodents kept as pets and since expanded to include rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs, ferrets and more. Eminently portable, these tiny animals make popular companions for small children everywhere.
The 2008 Year of the Rat stamp issue is the 12th in New Zealand Post’s Chinese Lunar series. Its theme is ‘pocket pets’ – a term originally given to small rodents kept as pets and since expanded to include rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs, ferrets and more. Eminently portable, these tiny animals make popular companions for small children everywhere.
Date of issue: 7 February 2008
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