Hongkong Post will release a set of special stamps themed on the Year of the Tiger on Jan. 18 and the official First Day Covers of the same theme were put on sale on Tuesday.

As an integral part of Chinese history and culture, the 12 Chinese zodiac animals convey good wishes and bear symbolic meanings. Ringing in the tiger for a bright year to come, Hongkong Post will present a set of four mint stamps and a stamp sheetlet showing the tiger in different handicrafts.

The four mint stamps display respectively a tiger soft toy, a porcelain tiger, a ceramic tiger and a paper art tiger that look playful and adorable against a warm gradient background with embroidered plants, heralding good luck in the Year of the Tiger.

Other philatelic products to be released include the "Gold and Silver Stamp Sheetlet on Lunar New Year Animals - Ox/Tiger," a silk stamp sheetlet, souvenir covers, mini-panes and Lunar New Year greeting cards.