| | Cat. |
Mint Unhinged |
Fine Used |
50c |
Rabbits / Netherland Dwarf Seal Point and Dutch Dwarf |
647a |
$0.90 |
|
$0.90 |
|
$1 |
Guinea Pigs / Abyssinian and Sheltie |
647b |
$1.80 |
|
$1.80 |
|
$1.50 |
Rats / Hooded Chocolate and Albino |
647c |
$2.70 |
|
$2.70 |
|
$2 |
Mice / Fawn and White, and Cinnamon Satin |
647d |
$3.60 |
|
$3.60 |
|
| |
|
Set of 4 |
647e |
$8.55 |
|
$8.55 |
|
| |
$3.50 |
Year of The Rat Miniature Sheet with one $1.50 and one $2 stamp |
647f |
$6.30 |
|
$6.30 |
|
| ... Two Stamps : $1.50 (647c), $2 (647d) |
| |
|
First Day Cover - 7 February 2008 |
647g |
|
|
$9.90 |
|
| ... 50c (647a), $1 (647b), $1.50 (647c), $2 (647d) |
|
Miniature Sheet First Day Cover - 7 February 2008 |
647h |
|
|
$7.20 |
|
| ... $3.50 (647f) |
This issue commemorates the Chinese Year of the Rat - one of the 12-year
cycle of animals which appear in the Chinese zodiac related to the Chinese
calendar. In some parts of the world, it is referred to as the Year of the
Mouse and may more broadly be translated to
"rodent".
Pocket Pets refer to any small mammal commonly
kept as a household pet. The most common pocket pets include hamsters,
gerbils, fancy mice or rats and guinea pigs.
The 50 cent stamp
features the Netherland Dwarf Seal Point rabbit (on the left) and Dutch
Dwarf rabbit (on the right of the stamp). The Netherland and Dutch Dwarf
rabbits are popular breeds of domestic rabbit originating from the
Netherlands and Holland. Smaller than most rabbit breeds, these rabbits are
usually kept as pets or exhibition animals. Their popularity as pets stems
from their babyish appearance and smaller cage space requirements compared
to larger rabbit breeds.
The one dollar stamp features the tricolour
Abyssinian Guinea pig (on the left) and Sheltie Guinea pig (on the right
side). The Silkie or Sheltie has long hair that flows back over its body
and never forward over the face. The Abyssinian has a short, rough coat
with cowlicked rosettes of hair. Despite their name, the Abyssinian do not
originate from Abyssinia (present day Ethiopia) - both breeds originate
from South America.
The $1.50 stamp has a hooded chocolate fancy
rat on the left and an albino white rat on the right. The fancy rat is a
domesticated chocolate brown rat with hooded markings - meaning that the
markings run from a full head down the spine.
The two dollar stamp
has two fancy mice, a fawn and white and a cinnamon satin. Satin mice have
a high sheen coat which has a satin-like gloss.
The stamps,
miniature sheet and first day cover were all designed by Lindy Fisher of
Auckland.

The rat and
mouse stamps were also included in the Year of the Rat miniature sheet, and
the $1.50 stamp was included in the
2008
Taipei 21st Asian International Stamp Exhibition miniature sheet.