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April 14th 2012. Visit of the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet to Hawai'i.

Two stamps and a mini-sheet were issued on April 14th 2012 honoring the visit of the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet to Hawai'i.

Tenzin Gyatso was born on July 6, 1935 in Taktser, Amdo province, Tibet. At the time, Tibet was an independent nation. Acting upon a grand vision by the Regent, a senior lama, he was picked as the successor to the 13th Dalai Lama at the age of three. Although he did not become the official 14th Dalai Lama until 1950, at the age of 15. After the 1949 Communist revolution in China, Tibetans became fearful. In October 1950, 80,000 Chinese soldiers invaded Tibet and took over the eastern part of the country. Negotiations with the Chinese, over the next few years, proved futile.

In 1959, there was an unsuccessful popular uprising against the Chinese. The 14th Dalai Lama secretly left the Potala Palace complex, Lhasa (shown on the Mini-sheet) and fled south to India, along with thousands of his followers. He has lived there in exile ever since. As the spiritual leader of Buddhism in Tibet, he is very much revered around the world. There are many Buddhists who live in Hawai’i. His visit there on April 14-15, 2012 was widely greeted with standing room only crowds wherever he went.

The $6 stamp (above left) prepays the Overnight rate. It shows the emblem of Tibet. Two snow leopards hold a dharma wheel aloft (see postmark), with the mountains in the background. A sun and moon are in the sky. A red ribbon displays in Tibetan "bod gzhung dga' ldan pho brang phyogs las rnam rgyal" which translated means "Tibetan Government, Gaden Palace, victorious in all directions". The Gaden Palace was the home of the Dalai Lama until the Potala Palace was built.

The $11.50 stamp (above right) prepays the 1.5 kilogram Same Day rate. It shows the 14th Dalai Lama in his traditional robes.

The $9 minisheet (above) prepays the Same Day rate. It shows the spectacular Potala Palace in Lhasa Tibet. Construction began in 1645, but was not completed until 1694. It was the home of all the Dalai Lamas until 1959, when the 14th Dalai Lama fled the country for India, to escape advancing Chinese troops. Upon taking over the country, the Chinese Communists expelled almost all the Tibetan monks and have now turned the Potala Palace into a museum for tourists.

The special postmark for this issue (above) depicts a dharma wheel which symbolizes the wheel of Buddhist law, the endless cycle of birth and rebirth. The eight spokes represent the Nobel Path - beliefs, aspirations, speech , conduct, livelihood, effort, mindfulness and meditation.

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Technical details of the stamps and mini-sheet:
Colors: $6 & $11.50 stamps and $9 mini-sheet - Multicolored
Size: $6 stamp 51mm x 38mm. $11.50 stamp 38mm x 51mm. Mini-sheet 76mm x 57mm.
Stamps sheet size: 16. 4 across, 4 down.
Perforation: Stamps perf 12. Mini-sheet - imperforate.
Stamps and Mini-sheet design: Enelani.
Layout & Pre-press: Enelani.
Printer: Hawai'i Security Printers, Honolulu, Hawai'i.
Printing Method: 4-color (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black) printing process.
Sheet margin markings: HAWAI'I POST (top middle), "Traffic Light" showing 4 colors used in printing (lower left side), © 2012 Hawai'i Post (lower right side) & Hawai'i Security Printers, Honolulu, Hawai'i. (bottom middle)
Paper: GPA coated white stock with water-activated gum on the back.


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