Stamps with Holes/Design Perforations/Cut Outs

Category - Touch
Subcategory - Stamps with Holes/Design Perforations

Leichtenstein 2012 – Chinese Lunar Year of Snake 2013 – Laser silhouette on miniature sheet

Issued on 19 November 2012

The Liechtenstein Post has launched a stamp issue devoted to the "Year of the Dragon" and to the official sign of the zodiac for the current Chinese year: the "Snake" (face value CHF 1.90).

The Year of the Snake begins on 10th February 2013 and lasts until 30th January 2014.

The stamps have been designed by Stefan Erne. They are being issued in the form of a silhouette produced using state-of-the-art laser technology. However the sheetlet, which bears four stamps, is not in portrait but in landscape format. This is principally because there is on the sheet an illustration and an inscription in Chinese characters referring to the in China very popular "Legend of the white snake". In this legend two 1000-year-old snakes, one white and one green, transform themselves into two beautiful women in order to live on earth as humans. Bai Suzhen (the white snake) falls in love with the apothecary Xu Xian and they marry. Unfortunately however their wedded bliss is severely tested by the intrigues of the monk Fa Hai, who knows that Bai Suzhen is an evil serpent. Eventually Xiao Qing (the green snake) succeeds in vanquishing the evil monk.

People born in the Year of the Snake are reputed to be thoughtful and wise and to approach problems rationally and logically, seldom instinctively. They have a sure touch in money matters but are also inclined to be greedy and somewhat egoistical. But they readily help others less successful than they are. For better handling, the stamps are self-adhesive stamp.


Belgium 2012 Bruges Market Square Laser cut MS with holes

Issue date 29 October 2012

Belgian Post issues commemorative stamps honoring famous places in the country. The Bruges Market square was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Center in 2000. A miniature sheet with 5 stamps was released October 29, 2012 using lace as a background, and what makes the sheet truly unique is a laser cut lace corner. 

The issues were designed by Jean Libert and Guillaume Broux. The souvenir sheet is 16 cm x 18.5 cm. Face value of the sheet is 3.25 Euros. 

South Korea 2012 – Stamp set "The Age of Dinosaurs Series (3rd Issue)" with perforations in the shape of dinosaur.

Issue date : 08 August 2012

As the third installment of "The Age of Dinosaurs Series Stamps," we introduce the Cretaceous dinosaurs of the Mesozoic Era.

The Cretaceous Period, the last period of the Mesozoic Era, refers to about 80 million years spanning from about 145 million years ago to 65 million years ago. During this period, a wide diversity of animals such as ammonites, dinosaurs, and birds, prospered with angiosperms.

Pachycephalosaurus

As an herbivorous dinosaur known as a dome-headed dinosaur, it is characterized by very thick skull that resembled a dome. Domed skull up to 25 cm thick was surrounded by a series of bumps, and the sharp bumps also existed around its mouth. Its flat teeth were bent backwards, with saw-like blades helping it to cut leaves. Pachycephalosaurus lived in U.S. and Canada, grew to be about 8 meters long and weighted 1~2 tons.

Tyrannosaurus

As a carnivorous dinosaur of the late Cretaceous period, it is one of the most frightening and fiercest dinosaurs, as indicated by its name which means "tyrant lizard". It is easily distinguished with anatomical features fit to attack and dominate other dinosaurs such as sharp, cone-shaped teeth as long as 20 cm, saw-like blades both in front and back of the teeth, big and long hind legs, and sharp claws. Tyrannosaurus lived in U.S. and Canada, grew up to 10~14 m long and weighted 4.5~7 tons.

Oviraptor

As an omnivorous dinosaur of the Cretaceous Period, Oviraptor was named "egg stealer" and characterized by a crest on its skull. It had a short dome-shaped skull, curved beak with no teeth, long and slender hind legs and a short tail. Oviraptor was 1.5~2.5 m long and weighted 25~35 kg, which has been found in Mongolia. It is believed that Oviraptor was very agile animal and could run swiftly.

Protoceratops

As an herbivore of the late Cretaceous Period, Protoceratops is characterized by a large skull with a frill comparable to its body size. Its body was bulky like a large pig, showing a primitive form. It also had a beak much like that of a parrot. Equipped with a strong and hard beak with sharp teeth, it is assumed to have been able to masticate plants very well. Protoceratops lived in Mongolia and China, was 1.8 m long and weighted 150 kg. 

French Andorra 2012 – Visit Andorra Stamp with window pane

Issue date 04 May 2012

Marc Andre Figueres creator of sculptures has designed the mini sheet issued by French Andorra Post topped with an EMPTY BOX that offers a personal landscape environment and allows the customer to create their own view of the landscape of his/her choice.  

Against the background of the block, iconic views of Andorra, the peak Casamanya in the top left, Andorra la Vella down and Val Setúria right.

Leichtenstein 2011 – Chinese Lunar Year of Dragon 2012 – Laser silhouette on miniature sheet

On 14 November 2011 Liechtenstein issued stamps depicting Chinese Signs of the Zodiac 2012 – Year of the Dragon. A self-adhesive stamp with face value CHF 1.90, depicting a dragon in the filigree style of a silhouette. This process is one of the oldest folk arts in China and was applied to the special stamp, using state-of-the-art laser technology. Designer Stefan Erne chose the colour red for the souvenir sheet of four identical stamps, as red symbolises luck in China. All imprints were applied in fine gold foil embossing. In addition to the Chinese character for dragon on every stamp, the souvenir sheet features all zodiac signs in a circle as well as four other Chinese characters meaning luck, prosperity, happiness and longevity.

South Korea 2011 – Stamp set "The Age of Dinosaurs Series (2nd Issue)" with perforations in the shape of dinosaur.

Issue date: 11 Aug 2011

"The Age of Dinosaurs (1st)" issued in 2010 Jurassic dinosaurs of the Mesozoic Era are introduced. As the second installment of the "Age of Dinosaurs Series," Jurassic Period of the Mesozoic Era, which spanned about 50 million years from about 199.6 million years ago to 145.5 million years ago, refers to the period that followed the Triassic Period. In this period, giant reptiles such as dinosaurs thrived on the land, and ammonites, in the sea. In the latter part of the Jurassic Period, birds appeared for the first time, with gymnosperms like cycads and Ginkgo thriving.

Scelidosaurus

  As an herbivorous dinosaur, it had a rather small head and small body, being 250 kg in weight and about 4m in height. It walked on four legs. With its hind legs being longer than the front legs, it is thought to have run with its hind legs and to have walked with its hind legs to reach and feed on the leaves of tall trees. Its most prominent body feature is the oval-shaped dermal scutes on both its back and tail. It was discovered both in the U.K. and U.S.A.

Stegosaurus

As an herbivorous dinosaur during the Late Jurassic Period spikes on its tails. Compared to its large body, its head was relatively very small, with its long hind legs and short, crooked front legs making its back crook forward. With its large body, it moved very sluggishly. It is 9 m in height and 2 tons in weight. It was discovered in the western part of the U.S.A.

Allosaurus 

As a carnivorous dinosaur flourishing in the latter part of the Jurassic Period, it is known to be the fiercest predator in the North American continent. Its feature is the crests just in front of its eyes. It also had a sturdy jaw and teeth made for killing herbivorous or other carnivorous dinosaurs, as well as the hand that had sharp claws. It was 3.6 tons in weight and 14m in height. And it was discovered in the western part of the U.S., Portugal and Australia.

Dilophosaurus 

As a carnivorous dinosaur during the Early Jurassic Period, it had two crests split in the shape of a V on top of its head. Its razor-sharp teeth, long and strong legs, and long claws were perfect for hunting. Its first toe on its hand was shaped in the way to hold a prey, functioning like a thumb. It was 330~450 kg in weight, and 6~7 m in height. It was first reported in the U.S., with the possibility of having been discovered in the southern part of China being raised.

Taiwan 2011 – Euploea Butterfly miniature sheet with butterfly shaped holes

Issue date 08 April 2011

Because of its richly varied geography and its location straddling the tropics and subtropics, Taiwan has a great number of butterflies with rich species diversity. To call public attention to the importance of ecological conservation, Chunghwa Post previously issued a set of stamps on Taiwan butterflies on June 25, 2009, and it is now following up with a souvenir sheet (Issue of 2011), consisting of four stamps, featuring Euploea butterflies. The souvenir sheet, following the format of its forerunner of 2009, is printed in the shape of a butterfly, with a butterfly-shaped cutout on each stamp. The designs follow:

1. Euploea eunice hobsoni (Butler) (NT$5): This butterfly has dark brown fore wings with an iridescent blue shimmer. There are some pale blue gray markings on the submarginal areas of each of its wings and at the center of its fore wings. 

2. Euploea sylvester swinhoei Wallace & Moore (NT$5): The upper surfaces of the fore wings of this dark brown butterfly have an iridescent blue shimmer near the apex and light blue spots along the outer edges of its cells. There are three pale blue gray spots at the center of the underside of its fore wings.

3. Euploea tulliolus koxinga Fruhstorfer (NT$12): This dark brown butterfly has iridescent blue fore wings. There are rows of white markings in the submarginal areas of the upper surfaces of each of its wings. The undersides of its wings are paler in color, with white markings at the center of its fore wings and also in positions that correspond to the white spots on its upper surfaces. 

4. Euploea mulciber barsine Fruhstorfer (NT$12): The male has a large violescent patch with some scattered tiny white spots near the apex of its fore wings. The female has white scattered spots near the apex and white streaks on the inner edges of the fore wings and the cells of the hind wings. 

South Korea 2010 – Stamp set "The Age of Dinosaurs Series (1st Issue)" with perforations in the shape of dinosaur.

On 05 August 2010, Korean Post issued the stamp set "The Age of Dinosaurs Series (1st Issue)" with perforations in the shape of dinosaur. This fascinating animal appeared hundreds of millions years ago to dominate life on earth for 160 million years only to abruptly go extinct. During the next three years, dinosaurs of each epochal period (the Triassic period, the Jurassic period and the Cretaceous period of the Mesozoic era) will be introduced. As the time when the dinosaur first appeared, the Mesozoic era's Triassic period lasted from 245 million years to 208 million years ago. Approximately at this time, all the continents on the earth were clumped together, with the continental areas being dry and rivers and seaside swarmed with ferns, tall coniferous trees, ginkgos and cycads.

Herrerasaurus: Known as one of the oldest kinds of dinosaurs, Herrerasaurus had carnivorous features: a big jaw, sharp teeth, and features favorable for hunting such as long claws and quick and nimble legs. Being about 3~4 m long and weighing 250~300 kg, it was a biped ambulatory animal. It inhabited the northwestern areas of Argentina during the latter part of the Triassic period.

Coelophysis: As a quick and agile dinosaur, its front legs were very short and its body except for the tail was a little bigger than a turkey. In 1947, hundreds of Coelophysis fossils were found in Ghost Ranch, New Mexico. Unlike other large, carnivorous dinosaurs, Coelophysis seemed to have lived in groups, moving in herds. Its body was 3 m at longest and weighed 15~30 kg.

Plateosaurus: As the largest among Triassic-age dinosaurs, it had a small head, long neck, shorter front legs as compared to its well-developed hind legs. It walked on four legs. The big toe had a big claw, which seemed to have been used either for hunting or as a weapon. Its fossils have been found in more than 50 areas in Europe. This herbivorous dinosaur stood 9 m long and weighed 4 tons.

Riojasaurus: Riojasaurus, with legs as thick and robust as an elephant and a long neck, had a non-proportionally longer tail, which seemed to have been used either for balance or as a weapon. It grabbed its food using five, long, front toes. Like other herbivorous dinosaurs, it had spoon-shaped teeth. It stood 11 m long and weighed 4.5 tons.  

Austria Israel 2010 Joint Issue – Simon Wiesenthal – Stamps with laser cut micro holes in the Star of David form 

Issued on: 14 June 2010

Austria Post and Israel Post have released a joint issue commemorative stamp, showing a portrait of Simon Wiesenthal in a frame in the form of the Star of David, which was applied using a Laser etching and lacing technology. The Star of David can be seen on both sides of the stamp. The perforations were also done using Laser technology. The text elements on both stamps are written in German and Hebrew with the words "Recht, nicht Rache" (Justice, Not Vengeance) the German title of an 1989 award winning film on the life of Simon Wiesenthal, printed on the margin underneath the mini sheet. Face value of mini sheet EUR 65 x 4 = EUR 260 (Austria issue) NIS 5 x 4 = NIS 20.00 (Israel issue).

Portugal 2010 – Europa Childrens book Stamps with a Cross perforations

Issue date 07 May 2010

The 2011 Europa Set produced by Portugal under the theme Europa 'Children's Books'

A good children's book is not merely a children's book, it is just as soon a book for everybody to enjoy, both to look at and to read. Each person gets something out of it, the adult as well as the young reader. There must be room for all age groups. The same goes for all true works of art – they neither are timeless and not confined within certain limits, neither time- nor age group-limits. If the work is of good quality, everybody ought to be able to enjoy it.

The child as such is a 19th century “invention'. Until then, children were essentially miniature adults. Dressed as adults and treated as something one really wasn’t sure of what it was, children would share both work and leisure spaces with the adults; thus a six year old child could work in the field, in a factory or do household chores, the difference being that the child would either not get paid at all or would get a much smaller pay.
The tales that one heard in the evening, at the work place or by the fireside, were either accounts of “things that had happened” or wonderful “tall tales”. In the latter, everything was possible, above all the impossible, and everything was permitted according to an internal logic and a very specific “moral”. Usually told by women, they were gathered by men during the Romantic period, who believed that the tales were the mirror of the people’s soul. 

Among these, in Portugal, Adolfo Coelho, Teófilo Braga, Consiglieri Pedroso and Leite de Vasconcelos were the most important.
Tales and legends, which are often confounded, differ from each other mostly by the fictional nature of one (the tale) and by the supposedly truth of the other (the legend), assumed with indicators of time and space. Naturally suitable for being told and retold, tales and legends smoothed the process of bringing adults and children together as well as their interaction, occasionally serving pedagogic aims – especially in the case of the “tales of warning”. Strongly visual, the traditional tales, rimances (short epic chants) and legends were the first children’s books to be published with that intent and distinction, as far as target public was concerned. 
Traditional tales have a sort of peculiar grammar, themes and motives that for the most are repeated in an identical sequence. Several theories have tried to explain this coincidence, some of them through the migration and meetings between peoples, others to something called the universal, “archetypical” imagination. 


Tales may be rhymed (which helps commit them to memory, as well as the rhythm of the tale, as it is the case in the Romanceiro (compilation of epic/lyric poems), they emphasize and repeat actions, they use and abuse the symbols for figures, spaces and objects and recuperate the idea that a hero or heroine (because there are also female heroes, as the text chosen for Madeira proves) conquers the right to heroism through his/her own effort or because he/she has an assistant (animal, human or superhuman) capable of guiding him/her. 


There are however tales in which it is the animal that is the hero, tales in which the “Monkey who lost his tail” sees himself mixed up in a succession of trades and ends up playing the guitar and singing a refrain that has been repeated for generations – and because this is one of the few typically Portuguese tales, we found it would be fitting to select this tale to represent the Portuguese Mainland.

 
From the Romanceiro do Arquipélago da Madeira (compilation of epic/lyric poems from the Archipelago of Madeira, 1880), a version of the “Maiden that went to War”, in which the female attributes are charmingly highlighted (since they may “betray” the maiden in a men’s world), and the easiness with which bravery, imagination and ingenuity disguise them. 

As far as the Azores is concerned, there is always a tendency to associate these islands with legends, not only because they are very propitious to all sorts of enchantments and evasions, but also because the legend is highly suggestive and visual: the “Legend of the Seven Cities', reminding that breaking a prohibition may result in a punishment capable of updating scenarios of chaos and creation.


Children’s books are the books that have the greatest impact on us. Seeing them, running through them and re-reading them may be equivalent to travelling in time, to a flashback that carries us back, not only to the time but also to the spaces of our childhood: spaces with smells, flavours and sounds – echoes of a childhood that we still cuddle inside us.

Taiwan 2009 – Swallow Tail Butterfly miniature sheet with butterfly shaped holes

Issue date 25 June 2009

To call public attention to conserve natural habitat, Chunghwa Post is following up with a souvenir sheet on swallowtail butterflies. The designs follow:

1. Papilio xuthus Linnaeus (NT$5.00): It has dark brown wings, although the coloration in females is somewhat lighter. There is a pale yellow crescent (lunule) behind the fore wings and hind wings, and there are some light yellow markings near the base of the hind wings. The males and females are similar in appearance except for some obvious orange markings on either side of the bluish gray band on the underside of females’ hind wings. In addition, there is a black spot on the front edge of males’ hind wings, which is absent in females. 

2. Troides aeacus formosanus Rothschild (NT$5.00): The male has black wings, and the bright yellow markings on the upper side and underside of its hind wings are larger than those of the female. There is a row of black saw-tooth markings on the outer margin of its hind wings and some red markings on its thorax. Females are larger than males, with broader fore wings and a complicated yellow and black pattern on their hind wings. This butterfly is an endemic subspecies to Taiwan. It is listed as a rare and valuable protected species. 

3. Graphium agamemnon (Linnaeus) (NT$12.00): Females and males have identical wing patterns. The male has black wings with four vertical rows of yellowish green spots on each wing. There is a fuzzy gray brand in the fold at the inner edge of the hind wings. Females lack the brand and are larger than males. 

4. Papilio paris nakaharai Shirôzu (NT$12.00): It has black wings. There is a broad, metallic greenish blue marking on its hind wings, which shimmers during flight. It is one of the most beautiful butterflies in Taiwan. There is a row of red crescents on the outer edge of the underside of its hind wings. Females and males are similar in appearance, except that in males the blue marking on the upper side of the hind wing extends narrowly below and above.

GB 2009 Charles Darwin stamp set with jigsaw puzzle form cutout

Issue date 12 Feb 2009

Royal Mail celebrated Year 2009 which marks both the bicentenary of the birth greatest naturalist in history Charles Darwin and the 150th anniversary of the publication of On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection with a set of six Stamps.

Of the six stamps the 1st class shows a portrait of Charles Darwin while the others show Darwin's areas of study that helped to contribute to his ideas on evolution: Zoology, Ornithology, Geology, Botany and Anthropology through a mixture of present day photography. 

Zoology (48p) is represented by a photograph of a Marine Iguana, just like the uniquely adapted reptiles observed on the Beagle Voyage; Ornithology (50p) by the Galapagos Finches that demonstrated variation through the shapes of their bills; geology (56p) by a Pacific atoll; botany (72p) by an illustration of a Bee Orchid; and Anthropology (81p) by an orang-utan like the one Darwin studied in London Zoo.

These stamps design incorporate a radical jigsaw design, featuring a cut out and 'peg' into each stamp, to demonstrate how the various areas of Darwin's studies interconnected with each other.

UAE 2007 Etisalat - 30 years of Reach - Stamps with holes

Issue date 17 May 2007
Etisalat's 30th Anniversary   

Etisalat is celebrating thirty years of operations in a sector that has advanced significantly, and one that impacts lives daily- making communications for the individual and the enterprise easier and better. 

Following international advances in technology, Etisalat took on the challenge of establishing and advancing the regional telecommunications industry through its mission to build, accomplish and advance. Etisalat's creative achievements throughout its 30 years have been admired and recognized locally and internationally. Etisalat has made the UAE a nation with over 135 percent mobile penetration, which is among the highest rates in the world. The UAE also boasts the highest rates in the region with regards to I Internet penetration, reaching 60% of UAE's population. 

The 30-year anniversary celebration coincides with some of Etisalat's greatest achievements, which include an award for the 'Best Overall Telecommunications Provider' and the 'Best Customer Service' in the Middle East and Africa. Gulf Business magazine ranked Etisalat the leading UAE Company in terms of market value and capitalisation. The Middle East magazine ranked Etisalat as the largest in the UAE and fourth largest in the Middle East in terms of capitalisation and revenues. 

Now entering its fourth decade of existence, Etisalat seeks to be distinctive in its customer service and commitment towards providing the best and most relevant services. Etisalat is also determined to create a positive image as an employer and investment of choice.  

UAE Post has issued 4 stamps with triangular holes on the stamps to commemorate the Etisalat's 3 Decades of service to the nation.

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