Year of the Dog stamp designed by graphic designer and artist Zhou Lingzhao [Photo by jiang Dong/China Daily]

The two stamps were issued nationwide Friday. Each bears a face price of 1.2 yuan (18.5 US cents).

The motif of the stamps highlights canine royalty and a blessing for being safe and sound, said Li Guohua, general manager of China Post.

He says it also wishes for a good fortune, as "wang"— the Chinese word for a dog's woof — is pronounced the same as a character meaning prosperity.

Annually since 1980, China Post has issued special stamps featuring one Chinese zodiac animal corresponding to a lunar year. The dog for the upcoming Chinese New Year is the 11th in this repeating cycle of 12 animals.

China Post has commissioned renowned artists to design the stamps for Chinese New Year, including Han Meilin for the Year of the Rooster in 2017 and Huang Yongyu for the Year of the Monkey in 2016.