2021 Year of the Ox stamps are as diverse as they are plentiful. Each country that issued stamps for the celebration put their own twist on the Lunar New Year symbol. This means a lot of fun exploring designs. I’ve begun listing all the issues and will continue posting as I find them. It may take weeks, but eventually, you’ll be able to look at all of 2021’s Ox stamps. Sign up for my newsletter to receive weekly notification when updates to this page are posted. Use the little box to the top right.
As usual, most of the stamps will expand larger if you tap on them. I’ll add details throughout the process, which will include designers, their previous stamps, and any relevant links I find. I’ve included links to articles I’ve written on the stamps.
Year of the Metal Ox – 新年快乐
2021 is the Year Ox. Not just an ox, but a metal ox. It started February 12th, 2021 and will run until January 31st, 2022. The Lunar New Year follows a 12-year cycle, with ox being the second animal in the calendar. The Lunar calendar follows 5 elements – Fire (火 huǒ), Water (水 shuǐ), Wood (木 mù), Metal (金 jīn), and Earth (土 tǔ) and this year is the metal cycle. The ox symbolises hard work, calm and steadiness.
Many of the stamps below reflect that sense of calm and strength. But a few display a charming warmth and sense of fun hidden in the design. I had a great deal of joy exploring the unique designs and how each country interprets the Year of the Metal Ox. Hope you enjoy them as much as I do. I haven’t decided which is my favourite. Let me know which ones you love the most. Post your thoughts in the comments below.
The next stage in this project is to find details about the design, what elements were included and why. That might not come to fruition, but I’ll try. One thing to look for is the incorporation of the Ox’s lucky colours: yellow, gold, white and brown.
2021 Year of the Ox stamps
A – Aitutaki to Australia
Aitutaki
1 stamp on souvenir sheet
Release date: 2021
Åland
2 stamps, souvenir sheet, 2 maxi cards
Designer: Martin Mörck
Mörck designed previous Lunar New Year stamps for Åland
Release date: Nov. 23, 2020
Antigua and Barbuda
Release date: April 11, 2021
Argentina
1 stamp, souvenir sheet, Year of Ox pack, folder (couldn’t get a good image), envelope
Pack includes 4 stamps, 2 postcards, block
Release date: Jan 10, 2022 | Envelope released December 13, 2021
Armenia
1 stamp, sheet of 10
Designer: David Dovlatyan
Previous designs include 2020 Diana Apcar (1859-1937), Atabek Khnkoyan (Khnko Aper, 1870-1935) and 2021 Means of Transport: Bicycle
Release date: November 13th, 2020
Australia – Christmas Island
3 stamps, souvenir sheets, 3 FDCs, cancel, sheets, postcards, booklets, sheetlets, local post, numismatic covers, souvenir folder with full lunar NY cycle, gold minisheet
Designer: Chrissy Lau
Previous designs include Guernsey Island’s 2020 Year of the Rat.
Release date: Jan 8, 2021
AZERBAIJAN
1 stamp, souvenir sheet, FDC
The bat, on this set signifies Covid, which, in the early days, was one of the suspected carriers of the disease.
Designer: Vugar Eyyubov
Release date: April 1, 2021
B – Belarus
Belarus
1 stamp, souvenir sheet, FDC, special cancel
Design: Yauheniya Biadonik | Artist: Victor Chaichuk
Issues by Biadonik and Chaichuk include the 2019 Christmas series, 2020 Vegetables.
Chaichuk contributed to the 2018 25th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations Between Belarus and Kyrgyzstan issue.
Release date: Feb 8, 2021
C – Canada to Curaçao
Canada
12 Lunar New Year stamps, Booklets, uncut press sheets, souvenir sheet, framed pane.
Design: Paprika Designs
Previously designed stamps included 2018 QEII, and 2017 Formula 1 Drivers
Release date: January 15, 2021
Read more about Paprika here: Paprika Design – wonderful Canadian designers | Bitter Grounds Magazine
Read more here: It’s a wrap! Canada’s 2021 Lunar New Year Stamps | Bitter Grounds Magazine
Chad
4 stamps, souvenir sheet
Release date: May 30, 2021
1 mini sheet with 4 stamps, 1 stamp on souvenir sheet
Release date: August 20, 2020
2 stamps
Release date: November 30, 2021
2 stamps, 2 souvenir sheets
Release date: December 30, 2020
Chad issued numerous Lunar New Year stamps throughout 2020
Release date: May 20 through to December 30, 2020
China – PRC
2 stamps, 3 souvenir sheets
Designer: Yao Zhonghua 姚钟华 based on sculpture by Liu Bo
Previous stamps include 1985 Lunar New Year. Yao is the honorary president of the Yunnan Oil Painting Society & librarian of the Yunnan Provincial Museum of Culture and History.
Release date: Jan 5, 2021
Cook Islands
1 stamp on souvenir sheet
Release date: 2021
Curaçao
6 stamps
Designer: Marcel van Duijneveldt
Previous designs include 2016 Year of the Monkey
Release date: February 12, 2021
E – Estonia
Estonia
Heimann created the entire Lunar stamp cycle starting with the 2011 issue. Other stamps include 2010 Vancouver Olympics and the 2009 Räpina Paper Factory stamp.
Release date: Feb 12, 2021
F – Fiji to France
Fiji
4 stamps, FDC, FD postal cancel
Issued jointly with the China Cultural Center of Fiji
Designer: Bian Jiang
Bian Jiang is a member of the Tianjin Academy of Fine Arts
According to Bian Jiang, an artist of China’s Tianjin Academy of Fine Arts and the designer of the Year of Ox stamps, the backgrounds of the ox stamps are set in village, beach, cultural characteristics of Fiji and China-Fiji friendship. Through the combination of strength and warmth, they depict vigorous oxen with the unique scenery of Fiji and interprets ox’s dedication to economy and its outstanding merits, such as intelligence and reliability.
Year of Ox stamps launched in Fiji – China.org.cn
Release date: Feb. 4, 2021
France
2 stamps, 2 souvenir sheets
“The design means to be an ode to Mother Nature, to show our love and respect,” Paris-based Chinese artist Chen Jianghong told Xinhua. “I used many colors, trying to convey a sense of tranquility.”
Designer: Chen Jiang Hong
Release date: Feb 8, 2021
French Polynesia
1 stamp, sheets of 10
Designer: C. Sengues
Release date: Feb. 12, 2021
G – Gambia to Guyana
Gambia
4 stamps on a souvenir sheet
Release date: June 2021
Gibraltar
2 stamps, souvenir sheet, FDC, cancel, presentation pack, 6 post & go, post & go FDC
Designer: Stephen Perera
Previous designs include 2014 Shakespeare, 2017 WWF bats, and 2005 Gibraltar Anniversaries
Release date: Jan 30, 2021
Post & Go release date: Feb. 12, 2021
Great Britain
Generic Sheet with Sponsored commemorative cancels
1 stamp, yearly stamp sheet with 20 labels
POSTMARK PLACE: CHINATOWN, LONDON – Cancel #15276 is sponsored by The Westminster Collection, 288 Group Ltd, PO Box 7288, POOLE, BH12 9FY
The pictorial labels depict Lunar New Year festivities taking place in five UK locations – Liverpool, Edinburgh, Swansea, London, and Belfast, whilst the remainder show five Lunar New Year related images – from Royal Mail
Designer: Hat Trick Design
Release date: Feb. 12, 2021
Grenada
6 stamps, souvenir sheet of 6 stamps
Release date: Dec. 28, 2020
Guernsey
6 stamps, souvenir sheet, presentation pack, FDC, Gold Foil Souvenir sheet, FD post mark
Designer: Chrissy Lau
Prolific designer/artist Lau has created a number of stamps for Guernsey Post, including last year’s Year of the Rat stamp and 2021 Australia/Christmas Island Year of the Ox stamp.
Release date: Jan. 26, 2021
See all of Guernsey’s 2021 stamps: Guernsey stamps 2021 – Wildlife bonanza | Bitter Grounds Magazine
Guyana
4 stamp, souvenir sheet of 4
Release date: Jan 14, 2021
H – Hong Kong to Hungary
Hong Kong
4 stamps, souvenir sheet, silk stamp sheetlet, presentation pack, postage prepaid lunar new year greeting cards and “Heartwarming Stamps” mini-pane.
The stamp sheetlet depicts a sturdy ox in the wilderness against the background of an arable paddy with crops, a turning waterwheel, and the golden grains swaying gracefully in the wind, signifying bumper harvests in the coming year. The stamp features the lacquered illuminated ox display carved from wood, denoting a year full of vigour and robustness resembling an ox. In parallel, Hongkong Post also issues a silk stamp sheetlet with the fine texture lending a touch of unparalleled decency and nobility to the auspicious ox to herald the New Year with prosperity and good fortune.
Hong Kong Post Office
Designer: KAN Tai-keung
Previous Lunar New Year stamps include 2013 Year of the Snake, 1993 Year of the Rooster, 1994 Year of the Dog, 1995, Year of the Pig,
Release date: Jan. 28, 2021
Hungary
2 stamps, souvenir sheet, FDC, FD post cancel
Designer: Ármin Benjámin Mandel
Previous designs: 2019 Canoe Sprint World Championships
Release date: Feb. 12, 2021
I – Indonesia to Isle of Man
Indonesia
4 stamps, souvenir sheet with one stamp
Indonesia also issued a series of Chinese New Year Stamps featuring Ghosty’s Comic.
booklet with 4 stamps
Release date: Feb. 2021
Isle of Man
4 stamps, souvenir sheet, presentation pack, FDC,
Designer: Jay Cover
Release date: Jan 7, 2021
J – Japan to Jersey
Japan
4 stamps, 2 cancels
Artist: Kawasaki Kyosen (1877-1942) drawings of children’s toys
Designer: Ayumi Yoshikawa
Release date: Oct. 29, 2020
Jersey
2 stamps, FDC, souvenir sheets, cancels, presentation pack, sheets
Designer: Wang Huming
Wang Huming also designed this year’s Lunar New Year stamp for the UN.
Release date: Jan 5, 221
K – Kazakhstan to Kyrgyzstan
Kazakhstan
1 stamp on a souvenir sheet
Artist/designer: К. Ibraishin I., Ongarbai
Release date: October 2021
Korea
2 stamps, mini sheet, souvenir sheet
… two kinds of stamps with a blessed calf, mother and calf. The cow’s back is wrapped around one eye and gives a generous smile …. The holographic stamps of the mother and calf standing face-to-face show motherhood and abundance and warmth. Korean Post Office
Release date: Dec. 11, 2021
Kyrgyzstan
1 stamp, souvenir sheet, FDC, strip, cancel
Designer: Vitaliu Pogolșa
Previous stamps include 2017 The Great Silk Road
Release date: Dec. 31, 2020
L – Liberia to Liechtenstein
Liberia
” Towards the Year of the Ox”
6 stamps, souvenir sheet
Release date: June 28, 2020
Liechtenstein
2 stamps, souvenir sheets, FDC, maxi cards
Designer: Stefan Erne, Triesen
Erne has designed 9 previous Lunar New Year Stamps winning awards for their design.
Release date: November 16, 2020
M – Macau to Mongolia
Macau
4 stamps, Souvenir sheet, maxi cards, FDC, booklets, presentation packs plus a joint issue with China
Lei Tak Seng
Designed 2019’s “MACAO NEW EIGHT SCENIC SPOTS”
“The conceptual design of the fourth series is based on the four seasons “Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter”, with the changes of the four seasons being a beautiful painting”
Stamp Issue “Lunar Year of the Ox” – Philately (ctt.gov.mo)
Release date: January 5, 2021
1 stamp, FDC, Information Brochure
Release date: Jan 20, 2021
10 stamps, sheet, 3 souvenir covers, 3 post cards, folder set (2000 issued)
The stamp sheet centrepiece features a golden Metal Ox adorned with traditional Chinese couplets or “Chun Lian” in Mandarin, with the message “Be Oxsome”
Pos Malaysia
Release date: Feb. 9, 2021
Mali
2 stamp, souvenir sheet
Release date: Jan. 2021
Marshall Islands
6 stamps on a souvenir sheet
Release date: November 20, 2020
Mongolia
gutter pair stamps, sheet of 10, FDC, cancel
*note the different lunar new year animals in the selvedge
Release date: Jan. 3, 2021
N – Netherlands to Niuafo’ou
Netherlands
2 stamps, souvenir sheet
Release date: Jan. 1, 2021
Nevis
6 stamps on a souvenir sheet
Release date: December 28, 2021
New Zealand
4 stamps, presentation pack, souvenir sheet, Gold-plated stamp sheets, numbered & framed 24-carat, 99.9 gold-foiled, block platesDesigner: Ying Chu, YMC Design
Release date: Dec. 2, 2020
Niuafo’ou
1 stamp on souvenir sheet
Release date: 2021
P – Philippines to Poland
Penrhyn
1 stamp on a souvenir sheet
Release date: 2021
Philippines
3 stamps, souvenir sheets, FDC, cancel
Designer: Rodine C. Teodoro
Teodoro has designed previous Lunar New Year stamp 2017 Year of Dog
Release date: Feb. 12, 2021
Poland
1 stamp, FDC, cancel, sheet of 8
Designer: Andrzej Gosik
Gosik has designed numerous stamps for Poczta Polska including 2020’s dinosaurs, city of Leszno and the Year of the Rat Lunar NY stamp
Release date: February 26, 2021
See all Poland’s 2021 stamps: Poland 2021 stamp program – Poczta polska | Bitter Grounds Magazine
S – Serbia to Slovenia
Serbia
2 stamps, FDC, cancel, sheets of 25
Designer: Boban Savić, MA
Release date: Feb. 23, 2021
See all of Serbian 2021 stamp issues: 2021 Serbian stamps – a visual feast | Bitter Grounds Magazine
Singapore
2 stamps, 10 stamp booklets, postcards, sheetlet, Ox Special pack, gold stamp, presentation pack, spring decorative folder,
The artist behind the illustrations for the entire series is Ms Lim An-Ling, the designer behind the 2019 Singapore Bicentennial stamp sets. An established animator and illustrator, Ms Lim has been designing stamps for SingPost since 2013.
Singapore Post media release 01/06/2021
Designer: Lim An-ling
Previous designs: 2016 Traditional Board Games, 2014 & 2016 Singapore’s Myths & Legends I & II, 2013 & 2014 Vanishing Trades, 2014 Past Street Scenes, My Stamp sheet
Release date: Feb. 11, 2021
Slovenia
Lunar New Year – Year of the Ox
1 stamp, 1 FDC, cancel
Designer: Maja Tomažič
Some of Marat Design’s previous issues include 2020 Prominent Personalities – Hugo Wolf, 2019 Year of the Pig, 2018 Slovenia Ballet, and Superstition and Magic in Slovenia in 2018.
Release date: Jan 28, 2021
T – Taiwan to Tuvalu
Taiwan
3 stamps, First Day Covers, FDC for souvenir sheet, Folder (with or without mount), Folder with mount for souvenir sheet, Loose-leaf album page, Pre-cancelled FDC affixed with one stamp, Pre-cancelled FDC affixed with a full set of stamps, Pre-cancelled FDC affixed with a souvenir sheet, Uncut press sheets in a poster tube
Designer: Lin Chun-liang
Release date: Dec. 1, 2020
Tajikistan
2 stamps, 1 stamp on souvenir sheet, 12 stamps on sheet
1 stamp released Dec. 2020 as part of a sheet of full Lunar New Year set.
2 stamps released Jan. 2021
Release date: December 2020 and January 2021
Thailand
1 stamp, sheets of 10, FDC, 20 First Day (FD) post marks from different cities
‘The Ox catches the fish. Money will be plentiful’.
Seventh stamp in current series “Royal Illustrations”
Artwork by Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn
Designer: Mr. Udon Niyomtham (Thai Post Co., Ltd.)
Release date: Jan 4, 2021
Tonga
1 stamp on a souvenir sheet
Release date: 2021
Tuvalu
6 stamps on a souvenir sheet
Release date: January 7, 2021
U – Ukraine to Uruguay
Ukraine
1 stamp, Maxi card, sheet of 9, postcard, FDC,cancel
Artist: Maria Primachenko (1908-1997)
Prymachenko Maria – Ukrainian Art Library (uartlib.org)
Release date: Dec. 9, 2020
Ukrainian 2021 stamps – happy collecting! | Bitter Grounds Magazine
United Nations
1 stamp, souvenir sheet
Designer: Wang Huming
Release date: Feb 1, 2021
United States
1 stamp
Designer: Camile Chew with art director Antonio Alcalá
Release date: Feb. 2, 2021
Uruguay
1 stamp, souvenir sheet
Designer: Daniel Pereyra
Release date:
V – Vietnam
Vietnam
2 stamps, souvenir sheet
Designer: Nguyen Quang Vinh
Release date: Dec 12, 2020
W – Wallis and Futuna Islands
Wallis and Futuna Islands
Designer: Jean-Jacques Mahuteau
Release date: Feb. 12, 2021
I like Armenia best. Some of the presentation cards that go with the stamps are as interesting as the stamps. Also the images that look like toys.