Scribbled Lives Week 11—Philately

Well, that’s just a $100 word for the collection and study of postage stamps.

My original idea was to create a book for two series of stamps that I’ve been collecting for 25 years. Since 1997, Canada Post has issued a stamp design commemorating each Lunar New Year and to feature the animal in the Chinese zodiac for that year. There are 12 animals, so Canada Post has continued this series for two cycles, culminating in 2021 with an omnibus collection of the 12 stamps designed for the second cycle. Thus concludes the popular and long-standing Lunar New Year series.

The project that was conceived proved to be too large scale for one week (a habit of mine), so I pivoted when there were also too many ideas for Week 12—Fairy Tales!

I’m thinking about Chinese folk heroine, Mulan, and decided to create a postage stamp to honour her courage. The stories that impress us in childhood stay with us for life. More currently, the victims of anti-Asian racism are also in my thoughts.

Image created by Disney for the animated film “Mulan” (1998). Text is adapted from Sally Little’s book: Mulan: Honor To Us All. Although the Bensgothic hand is not the obvious lettering choice, it offers the bold rustic look I was after. Folded pen and Dr. Martin’s Pen White on Canson Mi-Tientes.

More on Mulan coming up.