South Korea 2012 "The Age of Dinosaurs - Cretaceous Period"

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Issue Date	08.08.2012
ID	Michel: 2895-2898; Scott: 2389a-d; Stanley Gibbons: 3219-3221; Yvert et Tellier: 2685-2688; Category: pR
Design	Jiwon MO
Stamps in set	4
Value	Won 340 - Pachycephalosaurus Won 340 - Tyrannosaurus Won 340 - Oviraptor Won 340 - Protoceratops
Emission/Type	commemorative
Issue place	Seoul
Size (width x height)	stamps: 50mm X 33mm, Sheet: 250mm x 150mm
Layout	Sheet of 12 stamps
Products	FDC x1
Paper	White Unwatermarked
Perforation	13
Print Technique	Offset, six colors
Printed by	Korea Minting and Security Printing Corporation
Quantity	408.000 stamps each
Issuing Authority	Korea Post

On August 8^th 2012, Korean Post issued the last set "The Age of Dinosaurs" of the three-year series, started in 2010. This series covers Mesozoic Era and features dinosaurs found around the world. Every issue show four dinosaurs and cover one period of the Mesozoic Era:

• "Triassic Period" - 05.08.2010
• "Jurassic Period" - 11.08.2011
• "Cretaceous Period" - 08.08.2012

Below are, slightly corrected, quotes from official press release, of Korean Post, published on their website in 2012.

As the third installment of The Age of Dinosaurs Series Stamps, Post of Korea introduces the Cretaceous dinosaurs of the Mesozoic Era. The Cretaceous Period, the last period of the Mesozoic Era, refers to about 80 million years spanning from about 145 million years ago to 65 million years ago. During this period, a wide diversity of animals such as ammonites, dinosaurs, and birds, prospered with angiosperms.

Pachycephalosaurus dinosaur on stamp of South Korea 2011, MiNr.: 2895, Scott: 2389a.

Tyrannosaurus dinosaur on stamp of South Korea 2010, MiNr.: 2896, Scott: 2389b.

Pachycephalosaurus As an herbivorous dinosaur known as a dome-headed dinosaur, it is characterized by very thick skull that resembled a dome. The domed skull up to 25 cm thick was surrounded by a series of bumps, and the sharp bumps also existed around its mouth. Its flat teeth were bent backwards, with saw-like blades helping it to cut leaves. Pachycephalosaurus lived in USA and Canada, grew to be about 8 meters long and weighted 1~2 tons.

Tyrannosaurus as a carnivorous dinosaur of the late Cretaceous Period, it is one of the most frightening and fiercest dinosaurs, as indicated by its name which means tyrant lizard. It is easily distinguished with anatomical features fit to attack and dominate other dinosaurs such as sharp, cone-shaped teeth as long as 20 cm, saw-like blades both in front and back of the teeth, big and long hind legs, and sharp claws. Tyrannosaurus lived in USA and Canada, grew up to 10~14 m long and weighted 4.5~7 tons.

Oviraptor dinosaur on stamp of South Korea 2011, MiNr.: 2897, Scott: 2389c.

Protoceratops dinosaur on stamp of South Korea 2010, MiNr.: 2898, Scott: 2389d.

Oviraptor as an omnivorous dinosaur of the Cretaceous Period, Oviraptor was named egg stealer and characterized by a crest on its skull. It had a short dome-shaped skull, curved beak with no teeth, long and slender hind legs and a short tail. Oviraptor was 1.5~2.5 m long and weighted 25~35 kg, which has been found in Mongolia. It is believed that Oviraptor was very agile animal and could run swiftly.

Protoceratops as an herbivore of the Late Cretaceous, Protoceratops is characterized by a large skull with a frill comparable to its body size. Its body was bulky like a large pig, showing a primitive form. It also had a beak much like that of a parrot. Equipped with a strong and hard beak with sharp teeth, it is assumed to have been able to masticate plants very well. Protoceratops lived in Mongolia and China, was 1.8 m long and weighted 150 kg.

Products and associated philatelic items

FDC		First-Day-of-Issue Postmark
The reverse side of the FDC contains technical details about the issue.
Mini-Sheet	Maxi Cards	Boklet
Example of circulated covers

References:

• Technical details and short press releases:
  Korean stamp postal services, colnect.

Acknowledgements:

• Many thanks to Dr. Peter Voice from Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Western Michigan University, for review of a draft of this article.

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