Liechtenstein and the Chinese Year of the Dragon

On November 14, 2011, the Liechtenstein Postal Service issued a special block of four stamps to commemorate the Chinese Year of the Dragon. The Year of the Dragon ran from February 23, 2012, to February 9, 2013. The block contained four identical stamps with a value of 1,90 Swiss francs. The block containing the four stamps was designed by Stefan Erne from Triesen, Liechtenstein. Erne is a professional photographer and designer. The block was printed using red printing ink in offset at Gutenberg AG in Schaan, Liechtenstein. The printing was carried out on Gascogne type white tropimatic silk stamp paper and is self-adhesive. The blocks were printed in sheets of four. Subsequently, the stamps were perforated (12:12½). After the blocks had been cut from the sheets of four, a different printing press was used for the gold printing. The gold was applied using a foil, employing heat to make it adhere (pressed) to the red-printed stamp paper. Once all this was successful, the next process followed: cutting out the dragon using laser technology. A very special technique was used for the image of the dragon on the stamp. Small pieces of paper were removed using a laser so that one could see right through the stamp. That the laser sometimes malfunctioned can be seen on the stamp shown on the right, where a small scrap remains (green arrow). Some Chinese characters were also incorporated into the Vaduz first-day stamp. Just like on the top margin of the four-piece printing sheet. My knowledge of Chinese characters is not good enough to dare say that these are the same characters as in the stamp. The first-day cover does feature the same image as the block. It is also executed in gold. Personally, I consider the block a fine example of printing technology in conjunction with laser technology. But whether many stamps from the block ended up on a letter or card as postage? I doubt it!