Index · Edition · us-lunar-new-year-series
Lunar New Year Stamps
Zodiac masks
USPS released Lunar New Year Stamps on VeVe/Immutable X on 31 January 2022, its first Lunar New Year NFT drop. It brings three stamps of the physical 2020-2031 Lunar New Year series into NFT form, each showing a three-dimensional zodiac mask by artist Camille Chew (photography Sally Anderson-Bruce, art direction Antonio Alcalá): Year of the Tiger (Common, 11,888), Year of the Ox (Uncommon, 8,888) and Year of the Rat (Rare, 6,888) — 27,664 NFTs in total at USD 6 each. The series celebrates Asian-American cultural heritage.
Variants
| Variant | Variant | Mintage | Rarity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of the Rat | 6,888 | 1 | |
| Year of the Ox | 8,888 | 2 | |
| Year of the Tiger | 11,888 | 3 |
About Lunar New Year Stamps
Lunar New Year Stamps is the first USPS Lunar New Year NFT drop on VeVe, released on 31 January 2022. It brings the first three stamps of the 12-year physical Lunar New Year series (2020-2031) into NFT form at once: Year of the Rat, Year of the Ox and Year of the Tiger — 27,664 NFTs in total at USD 6 each.
The 12-Year Stamp Series 2020-2031
USPS' physical Lunar New Year stamp series is planned as a 12-year programme, with artist Camille Chew designing all editions:
| # | Year | Zodiac animal | Stamp date | NFT edition? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2020 | Rat (Mouse) | 11.01.2020 | Yes (31.01.2022) |
| 2 | 2021 | Ox | 12.02.2021 | Yes (31.01.2022) |
| 3 | 2022 | Tiger | 01.02.2022 | Yes (31.01.2022) |
| 4 | 2023 | Rabbit | 19.01.2023 | Yes (21.01.2023) |
| 5 | 2024 | Dragon | 20.01.2024 | Yes (10.02.2024) |
| 6 | 2025 | Snake | 25.01.2025 | Yes (29.01.2025) |
| 7 | 2026 | Horse | tbd 2026 | Yes (18.02.2026) |
| 8 | 2027 | Goat | tbd 2027 | expected |
| 9 | 2028 | Monkey | tbd 2028 | expected |
| 10 | 2029 | Rooster | tbd 2029 | expected |
| 11 | 2030 | Dog | tbd 2030 | expected |
| 12 | 2031 | Pig | tbd 2031 | expected |
The first NFT drop (31.01.2022) covered the first three stamps of the series together — Rat 2020, Ox 2021 and Tiger 2022. From 2023 on, each zodiac year got its own VeVe drop (separate editions in this wiki).
Camille Chew — the Lunar Artist
Camille Chew has been the consistent artist of the Lunar series since 2020. She is a mixed-media artist specializing in paper sculptures and 3D mask construction. Her process:
- Hand-printed paper sheets — she prints patterns/motifs on paper (Asian textile inspirations)
- Paper cutting — sheets are precisely cut
- Folding and scoring — mask is folded into 3D form
- Acrylic painting — additional details
- Paper elements — flowers, tassels as ornamentation
- Papier-mâché backing — stabilization
- Studio photography by Sally Anderson-Bruce on white background
- Stamp layout by Antonio Alcalá
This handcraft approach differs from digitally-illustrated Day of Dead NFTs (Luis Fitch) or the Disney/Marvel CGI aesthetic of other VeVe drops.
The three collectibles
| Collectible | Rarity | Mintage | Physical stamp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of the Tiger | Common | 11,888 | 2022 |
| Year of the Ox | Uncommon | 8,888 | 2021 |
| Year of the Rat | Rare | 6,888 | 2020 |
| Total | 27,664 |
Lunar New Year Pane Art (01.02.2022)
One day after this drop, on 01.02.2022, VeVe released Lunar New Year Pane Art at USD 120 per NFT: the full stamp panes of the same three stamps (Year of the Tiger, Year of the Ox, Year of the Rat). The price factor 20× reflects the 20 stamps in one pane. Pane Art is a separate edition in this wiki.
Theme: Asian-American Cultural Heritage
The Lunar New Year programme reflects Asian-American communities in the US (Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Tibetan, Mongolian, Malaysian, Filipino) — approximately 22 million people according to the 2020 Census.
The choice aligns with USPS' diversity representation in the NFT programme — Day of the Dead (Latino communities), Lunar New Year (Asian-American communities), Christmas (mainstream Christian traditions), Earth Day (environmental themes).
Designer Continuity
The Camille Chew continuity across all Lunar editions creates consistent visual identity:
- Each edition uses the same mask construction technique
- Collectors can acquire all 12 animals as a set over 12 years
- Camille Chew is identified with the series
This contrasts with FR NFTimbre (different artists per edition) or DE Architecture (AI-generated without artist identity).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 12-year Lunar stamp series?
USPS has been issuing a 12-year stamp series for Lunar New Year since 2020, with one zodiac animal per year. Order: Rat 2020, Ox 2021, Tiger 2022, Rabbit 2023, Dragon 2024, Snake 2025, Horse 2026, Goat 2027, Monkey 2028, Rooster 2029, Dog 2030, Pig 2031. The first NFT drop (31 January 2022) covered the first three stamps at once: Year of the Rat, Year of the Ox and Year of the Tiger. From 2023 on, each year got its own drop. Camille Chew is the artist of the entire series and constructs each animal as a three-dimensional mask from hand-printed paper.
How is Camille Chew's mask construction process done?
Camille Chew first prints patterns on paper, then precisely cuts and folds the sheets into three-dimensional forms. Details like eyes and ornaments are painted with acrylics. Additional paper elements — flowers, tassels, ribbons — are added. The mask is stabilized from behind with papier-mâché. Sally Anderson-Bruce photographs the finished masks in studio on white background, Antonio Alcalá creates the final stamp layout. This handcrafted process creates a physical authenticity unusual in the NFT format.
What is the Lunar New Year Pane Art drop at $120?
One day after this drop, on 01.02.2022, VeVe released Lunar New Year Pane Art: NFTs of the full stamp panes of the same three stamps (Year of the Tiger, Year of the Ox, Year of the Rat) at $120 each — 20× the $6 single price. It is a separate edition in this wiki.