High-resolution images of the stamps are available for media use only by emailing lindsay.n.richardson@usps.gov

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Postal Service will welcome the Year of the Snake with a bang by issuing the sixth of 12 stamps in its Celebrating Lunar New Year series. Customers may pre-order the Forever stamps at usps.com/stamps or by phone at 800-STAMP24 (800-782-6724) for delivery a few days following the dedication ceremony.

The Celebrating Lunar New Year: Year of the Snake Forever stamps sheet of 12 Forever stamps will be issued early next year. The date and location for the first-day-of-issue dedication ceremony has yet-to-be-determined.

The Year of the Snake takes place between Feb. 10, 2013, and Jan. 30, 2014. First introduced in 2008, the series will continue through 2019 with stamps for the Years of the Horse, Ram, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Boar.

The snake is one of twelve animals associated with the Chinese lunar calendar. According to an old legend, the animals raced across a river to determine their order in the cycle. The rat crossed by riding on the back of the ox, jumping ahead at the last minute to win the race. The tiger, rabbit, and dragon came in after the ox, followed by the snake in sixth place.

People born in the year of a particular animal are said to share characteristics with that animal. Individuals born during the Year of the Snake are said to be deeply philosophical, mysterious, and comfortable being alone.

The Lunar New Year is celebrated primarily by people of Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Tibetan and Mongolian heritage in many parts of the world. Images associated with some of these widespread customs are depicted in the Celebrating Lunar New Year series.

Customers may view the Lunar New Year Forever stamps, as well as many of next year’s other stamps on Facebook at facebook.com/USPSStamps, on Twitter @USPSstamps or on the website Beyond the Perf at beyondtheperf.com/2013-preview. Beyond the Perf is the Postal Service’s online site for information on upcoming stamp subjects, first-day-of-issue events and other philatelic news.

There are three philatelic products for these stamps.

• 578684, Press Sheet with die cuts, $48.60
• 578686, Press Sheets without die cuts, $48.60
• 578623, Notecards (Set of 12 with stamps), $16.95

The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

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