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Snake stamps
in short supply but
more coming

The postage stamps designed
by Honolulu's Clarence Lee
are popular

Kung Hee Fat Choy!

---

By Treena Shapiro
Star-Bulletin

Collectors trying to get their hands on Clarence Lee's Year of the Snake stamps may have to go post office hopping or hold tight until more of the stamps hit the island.

Hawaii received fewer than 800,000 of the locally-designed Lunar New Year stamps, which were issued Monday. Some Oahu post offices have already run out of the stamps, but the supplies should be replenished in the next few weeks, according to post office spokeswoman Felice Broglio. While there will be a wait, there isn't likely to be a shortage of stamps, she said.

Hawaii should receive more than 1 million snake stamps in all, more than in previous years, she said.

"It was not this large in the beginning. The demand was not this great. Probably more people are tuned in to the whole series, whether it's been from reading about it or talking to friends about it, and many people have gotten into the collection of it, saving for generations to come."

Standing in line to buy stamps at the Ala Moana post office yesterday, Ron Tom said he'd been collecting the stamps for his grandchildren since the series started nine years ago. Since he hadn't purchased the stamps on the first day of issue, he was concerned that he wouldn't be able to buy 300 stamps the second day.

However, post office personnel said the stamps weren't moving quickly at that location and at least 10,000 were still available. Sales weren't expected to pick up significantly, especially after sluggish sales last year.

"Last year, Year of the Dragon, year 2000, we was thinking everyone would buy it but it was slow," one staffer said.

The post office projects that sales will pick up today, however, because stamped cachet envelopes will be postmarked for the Lunar New Year. The envelopes cost $8 each, or two for $15.

According to Broglio, the 55 million Lunar New Year stamps are distributed to states according to their general and Asian populations. Stamps are likely to be available from cities with smaller Asian populations as of next week.

For those who can't wait, stamps also can be ordered by phone at 1-800-STAMP24 or www.usps.com.