(With the collaboration of J. Chien)
2023 had been a particularly busy year for ATM issues in Taiwan. The ‘Bountiful Rabbit’ or Year of the Rabbit issue (see article) brought to a close the annual cycle of variable value stamp issues dedicated to the Lunar Year or animals of the Chinese zodiac, which had begun in 2012. This was followed by a special issue for the major TAIPEI 2023 – 39th Asian International Stamp Exhibition (article), and the year drew to a close with the traditional end-of-year event at the Far East SOGO Department Store in Zhongli (article).
But everything changed in 2024. Chunghwa Post, Taiwan’s postal service, decided not to launch a second series of issues dedicated to the Chinese zodiac, nor to issue new variable value stamp designs. The postal service had already been trying for years to find new equipment to replace the – now obsolete – Innovision kiosks installed in post offices across the country, and began to remove some of the machines. Furthermore, they had a large quantity of label rolls in stock left over from previous issues.
Consequently, in the absence of any new designs, the only activity relating to variable value stamps in 2024 was the special issue at ROCUPEX 2024, the annual national philatelic exhibition, held from October 9th to 12th at the Taipei Postal Museum.
(English edition last rewritten by J. Gareze – August 2026)
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