French Polynesia released its Year of the Rat stamp on 20 January, designed by Claude Sengues and printed using offset lithography by Phil@Poste in France. The 140-franc stamp comes in sheets of ten and measures 36 x 36 mm.
In Chinese culture, the rabbit has the unique characteristic of waiting for an opportune moment and then leaping into action. More than any other zodiac animal, the rabbit symbolizes luck. In the zodiac origin story about the Great Race, all of the animals who would go on to become zodiac animals needed to race across a wide river. The rabbit crossed the river by jumping from one stone to another in a nimble fashion. Halfway across, the rabbit appeared to be losing the race, but was lucky enough to grab hold of a floating log that later washed him to shore.
There are also several regional superstitions regarding rabbits in China. In northwestern China, buns shaped like rabbits are popular at weddings. The bride’s mother personally cooks the buns for her daughter, who takes some to her husband. This is done in hopes that the couple will soon give birth to children.
Not all superstitions involving rabbits are positive, however. For example, some people forbid pregnant women from eating rabbit meat out of the fear that their babies will be born with a harelip.
Technical Information
| Date of Issue: | 20 January 2023 |
| Number of Stamps: | One (1) gummed stamp |
| Denomination: | 140 CFP francs |
| Designer: | Claude Sengues |
| Printer and Process: | Phil@poste, Boulazac, Dordogne, France by offset lithography |
| Stamp Size: | 40mm x 40mm |
| Sheet Layout: | 10 stamps |
| Quantity Printed: | 20,000 |
Sheet of 10 Stamps
On 7 February, La Poste released a single stamp to commemorate the 20th edition of the International Oceanian Documentary Film Festival (FIFO) which took place at the Maison de la Culture de Tahiti from 4-12 February. There was also a digital version of the festival. FIFO is the unmissable meeting place for documentary film enthusiasts. Every year, it brings to mind the voices, cultures and issues of the Pacific beyond the borders of our great ocean. It is also a unique professional opportunity for the media and the audiovisual sector in the Pacific: the possibility of meeting the directors and producers of the films selected and attending conferences, workshops and other events that immerse you in the audiovisual universe of the Pacific.
Technical Information
| Date of Issue: | 7 February 2023 |
| Number of Stamps: | One (1) gummed stamp |
| Denomination: | 130 CFP francs |
| Designer: | Fare Rata |
| Printer and Process: | Phil@poste, Boulazac, Dordogne, France by offset lithography |
| Stamp Size: | 40mm x 30mm |
| Sheet Layout: | 25 stamps |
| Quantity Printed: | 70,000 |
Sheet of 25 Stamps
First Day Cover
Philatelic Pursuits 
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