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Newsletter #14 - January 18, 2001 |
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Universe Awash With Oriental Lunar New Year Trinkets |
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The Lunar New Year has become a great focus for collectibles marketing. The Royal Canadian Mint now produces coins and stamps to commemorate this annual event. Canada Post markets a range of stamp issues to tie in to lunar new year gift giving. A bi-metallic Proof Silver coin issue, with a gold-plated centre, limited mintage, and plush Imperial Chinese red gift box for this Year of the Snake costs Cdn $78.88. There is a holographic gold issue as well. |
 For the last couple of years, the Mint has produced a special edition Silver Maple Leaf, in an unusual linen finish, with a lunar new year animal-themed privy mark. These Mint souvenir issues always seem to sell out and the after market is strong, especially in the two week or so annual lunar new year period. Uncut sheets of dollar and two dollar notes garner interest during this time as well. Last year, the Mint began making gold stamp replicas for the lunar new year. Canada Post produces uncut press sheets of their lunar new year stamps, plus sheets of twenty five surrounded by the lunar new year animals, several types of souvenir sheets, and first day covers.
This past week, the Vancouver-based designer of the Year of the Snake stamps did several well-attended autograph sessions in the Greater Vancouver area, as part of a national tour. We offer artist-signed Souvenir Sheet bearing Snake |
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first day covers at Cdn$8.88 each. Other countries, including Australia, offer lunar new year issues. Collectors can now form extensive collections of a lunar new year theme. It remains to be seen whether Canada, the U.S., and Australia will restart their lunar new year issues when the first cycle is complete. Collector demand is certainly there now, but will it be sustained? As is too often the case, many lunar new year issue buyers are speculators, looking for profits rather than family heirlooms or keepsakes. Lunar new year collecting is about celebrating cultural diversity. We first learned about the so called Chinese Zodiac from Canadian lunar new year issues. A shared collecting interest unites our cultures. Special interest mass-marketing helps the collectibles market to grow and become more inclusive. |
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Newsletter #15: We Like William Shakespeare |
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 All Nations Stamp & Coin
5630 Dunbar St. at 41st Ave. Phone: 604-684-4613 Fax: 604-266-4515 e-mail: collect@direct.ca |
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