SingPost Magnet Stamps - 8th March 2000

Wonder if anyone still remembers the series of fridge magnets with SingPost stamps as the pictures? Here's a picture of one of them.

The series is the 8th March 2000 "Postal Landmarks" comprising of 4 stamps: NVI, $0.60, $1 and $2. There are also Miniature Sheet and Presentation Pack.

Personally I think it is a smart idea that SingPost released the fridge magnets. Thus whenever anyone passes by the fridge, they will see the SingPost stamps and remembers SingPost. Good prolong advertising strategy!

First Beaded Stamp in the World

In April 08, SingPost launched the first beaded stamp in the world to commemorate the opening of the Singapore Peranakan Museum. The beads are 'caviar beads' which are hand / manually pasted onto the stamps. Here's a picture of the 'collector's sheet' which is in the shape of a pouch with a $5 stamp.

Overall it is quite a unique set. There are two different designs for the four denominations (i.e. total 8 different stamps) - 26 cents, 32 cents, 65 cents and S$1.10. SingPost has also received an award from the Heritage Board at the same time when this set of stamps was publicly released.

Singapore Stamps & Philately Related Clubs / Societies

I've always wonder why the Singapore stamps & Philately related clubs / societies do not have a web presence. I did a simple search and all I get is some real physical addresses of these clubs. Guess it is a basic philosophy of real world letter / stamp based communities not touching the electronic communications tools?

Nonetheless here's the list of the clubs / societies that I could find. If you know of other such societies in Singapore, just let me know and I can add to the list. This list is also somewhat weird in the sense that many of the addresses do not appear permanent. If you have their web addresses that would be even more ideal!

• Association Of Singapore Philatelic - Jurong Point Post Office, P.O.Box 492. Singapore 916417. DID : 65-6261-2421 & Fax : 65-6266-2750.

• Kreta Ayer Stamp Society - Blk 4 #03-115 Sago Lane, Singapore 050004.

• Singapore Stamp - c/o Singapore Philatelic Museum (SPM), 23-B Coleman Street Singapore 179807. DID: 6337 3888.
  

• Singapore Philatelic Society - SPM (see above)
  

• Zui Yui Stamp Club - c/o 14 Moonstone Lane, Singapore 328456
  

Singapore '95 Orchids Theme

The theme selected for the World Stamp Exhibition '95 was Orchids. A series of 5 sets of the orchids stamp and miniature sheets was launched. The orchids and background for the sheets are as follow:

• Vanda Miss Joaquim & Dendrobium - Singapore Botanic Gardens
• Dendrobium Sharifah Fatimah & Phalaenopsis Shim Beauty - Singapore Skyline
• Vanda Sumatrana & Phalaenopsis Ambabilis - architectural scene of 1920s
• Paphiopedilum victoria-regina & Dendrobium smillieae - local fruits
• Vanda Marlie Dolera & Vanda limbata - illustrated impression of Singapore Zoo

There is another variation of the 5th set with Sentosa attractions as the background. This variant has two more sub-variants, and the sub-variants have serial numbers since they are limited runs.

These stamps and minisature sheets were designed by Mr Chua Ban Har. I have one of the sets (should have another one, but it is somewhere lost in the albums).

Orchids stamps are nothing new to Singapore, since orchids is the national flower (Vanda Miss Joaquim to be exact). At the tourists attraction shops, we could find many of these flowers immortalised in resins. Since 1962, Singapore already has stamps featuring orchids (see below).

Singapore World Stamp Exhibition 1995

Other than the World Stamp Championship 2004, Singapore had also hosted the World Stamp Exhibition 1995. It was a grand event, with the then President of Singapore (Mr Ong Teng Cheong) as the Patron, and supported by Federation of International Philately and Federation of Inter-Asian Philately. International judges (aka jury) were invited, and many outstanding exhibitions (over 3,300 frames) were displayed. Exhibitions included the recorded 'by accident' use of Penny Black prior to 6 May 1840 (David Feldman) and also 'Straits Settlements" Judicial and Revenue stamps (Koh Seow Chuan).

The event was held in Suntec City from 1 to 10 Sep 1995. Other than the exhibitions, there were other interesting events for the visitors, like "Traditional Trade" demonstrations showing works of Chinese Calligrapher, Indian garland maker, and Malay Batik painter. Another interesting event was the stamp perforating demonstrations that were performed hourly. Of course, we had the usual seminars on postal history, youth philately...etc. It was a free event, and well attended by many visitors.

The stamp theme for the event was Orchids and there was a different cancellation for each day of the event. Would cover more of the Orchids theme and other event news later.

Here's the list of the datestamp cancellations, and slogan die cancellations:

• 1 Sep 05 - Singapore '95 Day
• 2 Sep 95 - Thematic Philately Day
• 3 Sep 05 - Stamp Collecting Day
• 4 Sep 05 - Singapore Post Day
• 5 Sep 05 - Philatelic Museum Day
• 6 Sep 05 - Olympic Day - Youth
• 7 Sep 05 - Letter Writing Day
• 8 Sep 05 - Awards Day
• 9 Sep 05 - F.I.A.P. Day
• 10 Sep 05 - F.I.P. Day

IOC & Singapore Stamps (2004 & 2005)

With all the fervor about coming Olympics in Beijing, I can't help but notice that Singapore stamps too have some parts to play in the IOC history.

In Prix Olympia 2004, SingPost won the award for the most original stamp issued for the Athens 2004 Olympics Summer Games (see page 2 of this document). The stamps are shown below, and there is a short write-up accompanying the stamps in the 2004 yearbook. The award was presented by the IOC to SingPost during the 2005 session.

In 2005 we have the stamps series on the 117th IOC (International Olympic Committee) itself. Personally I prefer the 2004 design to the 2005 ones. The 2005 ones look a bit commercial somehow. Well, wonder if there will be stamps design for the 2008 Olympics, and also the Youth Olympics in 2010? Should have I would think. Let's hope the designs are good.

Holographic Rat Issue 2008 from New Chinese Zodiac Series

This set of Chinese Zodiac Stamp series starting from 'Rat' was released by SingPost earlier this year on 18 Jan 2008. This set is special cos' the printing uses an unique printing technique on stamps – offset lithography with high reflective index transparent hologram with morphing effect. I got two pictures of the stamps, and you can see the holographic effect in the second one.
Since this is the beginning of a new set, that means all other 11 of the series will also be holographic!

Here's some of the other details I got from SingPost's press release:

First Day Cover (without stamps) S$0.25. Complete set of stamps (1st Local, 65¢, $1.10) S$2.01

Pre-cancelled First-Day Cover affixed with complete set of stamps S$2.75. Presentation Pack S$3.75

Collectors’ Sheet (comprising of $5 and $10 stamps) S$16.80

Technical Details
Date of Issue : 18 January 2008
Denominations : 1st Local, 65¢, S$1.10
Stamp Size : 40mm x 30mm (1st Local & 65¢), 35mm x 44.8mm ($1.10)
Collectors’ sheet : 105mm x 65mm ($5 & $10)
Perforation : 14 x 14 (1st Local & 65¢), 14.25 x 14.25 ($1.10)

Paper : Unwatermarked (will be interesting to see how stamps with holographic effects can have watermarks)
Printing Process: : Offset Lithography (Stamps), with High Reflective Index transparent hologram with morphing effect (Collectors’ Sheet)
Designer : Leo Teck Chong