This is an auction for a CHINESE NEW YEAR $88 phonecard featuring the Chinese God of Wealth, Ts'ai Shen.

It was issued in 1988 in a red felt presentation case, lined with satin.

888 of these cards were issued. This is card # LUCK1192.

From Wikipedia:

"Chinese New Yea (or Lunar New Year) is the Chinese festival that celebrates the beginning of a new year on the traditional Chinese calendar. The festival is usually referred to as the Spring Festival in mainland China, and is one of several Lunar New Years in Asia. Observances traditionally take place from the evening preceding the first day of the year to the Lantern Festival, held on the 15th day of the year. The first day of Chinese New Year begins on the new moon that appears between 21 January and 20 February. In 2019, the first day of the Chinese New Year was on Tuesday, 5 February, initiating the Year of the Pig. Chinese New Year is a major holiday in Greater China and has strongly influenced lunar new year celebrations of China's neighbouring cultures..."

More on Wikipedia.

For background information about the rise and fall of the New Zealand phonecard market, see:

http://thorndon.co.nz/thorndon/phonecards.htm

For an extremely helpful list of Telecom New Zealand's collector packs and other phonecard products, see:

https://www.sergent.com.au/phonecards/nz/packs.html

For a current pricelist of most Telecom phonecards, see:

http://www.newzeal.com/steve/nzprices.html

This set is in new condition.

The cost of shipping is $6.95.

There is of course no charge for shipping if you collect this pack from my shop in Palmerston North following the auction.

Payment within seven days, please.

phonecard