Theme : Zodiac signs 11b

2/12 Year of the Tiger (1998)

The second sheet in the Zodiac set, was issued in 1998 and shows us the year of the Tiger.

1997 Canada : year of the Ox

The Tiger is the third sign in the Chinese zodiac signs.
In western zodiac, the Tiger can be compared with the Aquarius sign

1998 stamp : year of the Tiger

People born in the year of the tiger are often sensitive and emotional. They are capable of great love, but they may also become too intense about it. Sometimes they are territorial and possessive. If your friend or beloved is a tiger type and he/she wants you to take his/her side against the bad guys, you most likely will do it. As lovers, tiger people are passionate and romantic, but the real challenge for them is to grasp the true meaning of moderation.

Tiger type of people are often attracted by people with an independent character, but it is important to remember that even if that people are stimulated by the tiger's company and admire tiger's energy, they can still manage without them. Tiger person is usually not afraid to express his/her emotions and feelings, but it is natural for him/her to change his/her preferences. Tiger person needs a partner who remains steady and constant, and quietly pursues their own plans.

Some Famous Tigers: Sir David Attenborough, Natalie Wood, Tom Berenger, Agatha Christie, H.G. Wells, Tom Cruise, Leonardo DiCaprio, Emily Dickinson, Isadora Duncan, Roberta Flack, Frederick Forsyth, Jodie Foster, Stevie Wonder Sir Alec Guiness, Hugh Hefner, William Hurt, Dylan Thomas, Marilyn Monroe, Demi Moore, Beatrix Potter, Diana Rigg, Lionel Ritchie, Kenny Rogers.

Years of the Tiger : 1902 - 1914 - 1926 - 1938 - 1950 - 1962 - 1974 - 1986 - 1998 - 2010 - 2022

Next : Rabbit

Odd stamps : 08 Stamps with special cuts - 03 e

Before moving to the next topic in the world of 'odd' stamps.
I want to post one more item on diamond shaped stamps.
Most stamps shown so far are already quite old.
However, in recent years, the hunger for 'special' stamps hasn't gone away.

I found two very fine examples of recently (2004) issued stamps in Ukraine.
Ukraine issued stamps before the sovjet occupation, in 1912 - 1922.
From then, till 1992 stamps from the USSR were used in Ukraine.
After the regaind independence, Ukraine has a moderatede stamps issuing program, and all stamps are good quality in printing and design.

It was here that I found two sheets with diamond shaped stamps on.

1st issue is on birds living near the water
2nd issues is on butterflies

Odd stamps : 08 Stamps with special cuts - 03 d

Now to the European continent.
Many countries joined the train of issuing diamond shaped stamps too.
First the Netherlands who issued a special stamp to celebrate New Year

Another small country, but know for its stamps is Monaco.
They issued quit a lot diamond shaped stamps in the 50's and 60's of previous century :

Most of the diamond shaped stamps however I found in Easter European countries:
Hungary :

Bulgaria :

And Romania :

Odd stamps : 08 Stamps with special cuts - 03 c

Africa had a nice contribution when it comes to triangular stamps (see before), but how about diamond shapes? Well also here, the ebony continent has a lot to offer for collectors of odd stamps.
Far from complete, but a nice teaser from all over Africa.

First stop is in the North, Egypt :<
U.A.R. : United Arab Republic

to the West, a small island formerly under Portuguese authority

All the way down there's another portuguese colony, Angola.
same style of stamps :

Still at the western side, but again a bit up north there's Liberia and Guinea

Let's end this journey in the heart of Africa :
two former colonies of Belgium : Congo Demotratic Republic and Burundi

Odd stamps : 08 Stamps with special cuts - 03 b

Not only asian countries are charmed by the diamond shape of stamps. In Latin and South America, huge amounts of diamond shaped stamps were and are issued too.

Again, I'm not pretending to show all issued items, but as a teaser, in this post I'm showing some diamond shaped stamps from this part of the world

Let's start in the North of Central America : Cuba

Moving a bit southwards on the main continent : Nicaragua

then Costa Rica and Panama

Arriving in South-America, we first encounter Venezuela, then Colombia and Ecuador

Finally we end with the biggest country in South America : Brazil
for other diamond shaped stamps of Brazil, see the topic : Esperanto

Odd stamps : 08 Stamps with special cuts - 03 a

In this next round, I am taking you to the world of diamond shaped stamps.
I do know that squares are diamonds as well, but i will only show you diamond shaped stamps, where one of the angles is pointing downwards, in order to see the design of the stamp as it was ment.
This means that I'm not turning any common square stamp to make them look like diamonds.

Let's start with some examples from Asia
Bhutan :

Mongolia :

Nepal :

China PR :

(Portuguese) Macau :

Japan :

(non officicial) Molukkan State :

... and many many more :-)