2005-01, Year of Cock (2005 Yi-you Year)《乙酉年》

(1-1), Year of Cock (Yi-you Year), 80 fen, 36*36 mm

Stamp Title: Year of Cock (2005 Yi-you Year)《乙酉年》
Serial number: 2005-1
Values in set: 1
Denomination: 80 fen
Date of issue: January 5, 2005
Designer: Lui Shengzhong
Size of stamps: 36*36 mm
Perforation: 13
Sheet composition:
24 for Sheet I; 6 for Sheet II
Printing process: Photogravure
Printer: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing House

For the convenience of farming production with clear seasonal changes, China traditionally applied the lunar calendar based on the shape of the moon. The order of years was composed of the ten Heavenly Stems and the Twelve Earthly Branches. The combination of Jia, Yi, Bing, Ding etc. in the ten Heavenly Stems and Zi, Chou, Yin, Mao etc in the Twelve Earthly Branches totals 60 kinds, which are called “60 Jia Zi” meaning a cycle of 60 years. Twelve animals match with the twelve Earthly Branches with each representing one year. 2005 is the year of the cock. Therefore, cock is the symbolic animal for people born in this year.

国家邮政局2005年1月5日发行《乙酉年》特种邮票1套1枚，小本票1本。

（1-1）T 乙酉年 80分 5200万枚
志号：2005-1
邮票规格：36×36mm
齿孔度数：13度（四边各有一个六角星形齿孔）
整张枚数：版式一为24枚、版式二为6枚
整张规格：版式一为180×240mm、版式二为128×180mm
版式二发行量：200万版
版别：影写版
防伪方式：防伪纸张、防伪油墨、异形齿孔、荧光喷码
设计者：吕胜中（邮票）、郝旭东（版式二边饰、小本票）
印制厂：北京邮票厂
注：国家邮政局同时发行《乙酉年》邮票版式三（整张枚数：4枚；整张规格：120×130毫米），作为2005年纪特邮票全额交款预订户赠品。