Myanmar Coffee Commemorative Stamp Issued

Following the earlier issue of the Myanmar Tea stamp, Myanmar Post has released a new stamp in souvenir sheet form commemorating Myanmar coffee. Known for its fine aroma and distinctive flavour, Myanmar coffee has increasingly become an important cultural and agricultural product of the country.

Myanmar Coffee Souvenir Sheet

Two main types of coffee are cultivated in Myanmar: Robusta and Arabica. Robusta seeds were first introduced by Christian missionaries in 1885 during the colonial period in the Tanintharyi Region. Later, Arabica coffee cultivation began in the Shan State and Pyin Oo Lwin areas around 1930. Over time, Myanmar coffee has grown in popularity and is now enjoyed by coffee lovers both locally and internationally.

The coffee plantation depicted on the souvenir sheet represents a plantation in Pyin Oo Lwin, a well-known coffee-growing region situated at an altitude of approximately 3,585 feet above sea level, where the cool climate provides favourable conditions for coffee cultivation.

The photograph used in the stamp design was provided by the Department of Agriculture, while the stamp itself was designed and issued by Myanmar Post. The souvenir sheet was officially issued on 27 March 2026. It is perforated 14 and printed using the offset four-colour process at the Security Printing Works, Myanmar, with a total printing quantity of 300,000 sheets.

An official First Day Cover (FDC), sold at 600 Kyats, without the stamp affixed, was made available by Myanmar Post. Collectors were required to purchase the empty cover separately, affix the souvenir sheet themselves, and obtain the first day cancellation. First day cancellations were available at Yangon, Nay Pyi Taw, and Mandalay, consistent with other recent stamp issues.

Myanmar Participation at Hong Kong Stampex 2026

Hong Kong Stampex 2026 was held from 13 to 15 March 2026 at the 6/F Exhibition Hall, Sheung Wan Civic Centre, Hong Kong. The exhibition featured 30 competitive exhibits and 7 literature entries, with participants from Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR, mainland China, Myanmar, and Singapore. The jury awarded 9 Gold, 8 Large Vermeil, 5 Vermeil, and 2 Large Silver medals. 

Hong Kong Stampex 2026 Logo

From Myanmar, U Thiha Lwin and U Kyaw Htet Aung participated in the literature class. U Thiha Lwin was awarded a Large Vermeil medal (83 points) for his book Myanmar Postage Stamps, while U Kyaw Htet Aung (Dr Kyaw Si Thu) received a Vermeil medal (77 points) for The Legends of the Philatelic World. In addition, U Toe Kyaw Kyar displayed his 8-frame exhibit British Burma Postal Stationery (1857–1947). The Palmares Dinner was held on 14 March 2026 at North Garden Restaurant, 2/F, 8 New Market Street, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong, where Ko Toe donated a special prize in the form of a traditional Burmese lacquerware plate.

Award Medal

This year also marks the 30th anniversary of the journal of the Hong Kong Philatelic Society. Congratulations to the Society on this significant milestone and its long-standing contribution to philately.

Myanmar Tea Commemorative Stamp

Myanmar Post issued a souvenir sheet on 26 February 2026 to commemorate Myanmar Tea, highlighting the country’s long-standing tea culture and its agricultural heritage.

Tea culture originated in Asia and has been deeply rooted in Myanmar for centuries. In Myanmar, tea is primarily cultivated in Shan State. The tea plantation depicted on the souvenir sheet is the Oolong tea plantation located in the Tah Moe Hnye region, Kutkai Township, Northern Shan State.

Traditionally, tea in Myanmar is consumed in two principal forms: pickled tea leaves and dried (green) tea leaves. Pickled tea leaves (laphet), produced through fermentation and careful preparation, are used to make the well-known tea leaf salad (Laphet Thoke), mixed with various ingredients such as beans, nuts, sesame, garlic, and oil. Dried tea leaves, on the other hand, are brewed to produce plain green tea, a staple beverage in daily life and social gatherings.

This is the second time Myanmar Post has issued stamps under the theme of flora. The first issue was the Myanmar Black Orchid and Seintalone Mango stamps released in 2004.

The Myanmar Tea souvenir sheet was denominated at 200 Kyats, perforation 14, and printed in four-colour offset by Wazi Security Printing Works, Myanmar. A total of 300,000 sheets were produced. The photographs used for the design were provided by Thiha Lwin (TMH), and the overall design was prepared by Myanmar Post.

The overall printing quality of the issue appears to be inconsistent, resulting in a number of noticeable colour varieties among different sheets. In addition, perforation alignment problems have been observed, with some sheets showing visibly misaligned perforations. These production variations may be of particular interest to collectors and researchers studying modern Myanmar stamp printing.

Colour Varieties

An official First Day Cover (FDC), sold at 600 Kyats, without the stamp affixed, was made available by Myanmar Post. Collectors were required to purchase the empty cover separately, affix the souvenir sheet themselves, and obtain the first day cancellation. First day cancellations were available at Yangon, Nay Pyi Taw, and Mandalay, consistent with other recent stamp issues.

Postcard Story : The Lion Throne of Burma

The Lion Throne, also known as the Sihasana or Thihathana Palin (Burmese: သီဟသနပလ္လင်, meaning “lion throne”), was the most distinguished of the eight imperial thrones used by the Burmese monarchs. Each throne served a specific ceremonial function within the royal court, but the Lion Throne stood above the others as the principal symbol of sovereignty and kingship.

Publisher: D.A. Ahuja

Its use was strictly ceremonial and governed by elaborate court protocol. The throne was occupied only three times each year: at the beginning of the Burmese New Year, and at the commencement and conclusion of the Buddhist Lent. These occasions reflected both royal authority and religious devotion. Anyone wishing to present a gift to the king was required first to seek permission from the Chief Eunuch and then from the king himself. Once approval was granted, the presenter had to touch the throne with the right hand only—since the left hand was regarded as inferior—before offering the gift.

Publisher: American Baptist Mission Press

Tragically, seven of the eight royal thrones were destroyed by fire during the Allied bombing of Burma in the Second World War. The Lion Throne alone survived. Its preservation was largely due to historical circumstance: following the Third Anglo-Burmese War in 1885, the throne was transported to India after the fall of King Thibaw. It remained there for more than sixty-two years before being repatriated to newly independent Burma in 1948.

Today, the Lion Throne is preserved and displayed at the National Museum of Myanmar (Yangon), where it remains one of the most important surviving symbols of the Konbaung dynasty and Burma’s royal heritage.

Dubai 2026 World Stamp Exhibition

Myanmar proudly participated in the Dubai 2026 World Stamp Exhibition, held from 4–8 February 2026 at the Sheikh Maktoum Hall, World Trade Centre, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The exhibition was organised by the Emirates Philatelic Association (EPA) and featured a total of 452 competitive exhibits from around the world.

Representing Myanmar in the Literature Class, U Thiha Lwin exhibited his book Myanmar Postage Stamp and was awarded a Large Silver medal, scoring 75 points.

In addition, the Myanmar Philatelic Society exhibited its journal The Burma StaMPS, Volume 3 (2024), which received a Silver medal with 71 points.

I warmly congratulate U Thiha Lwin and the Myanmar Philatelic Society on these commendable international achievements. Their success reflects the continued progress of Myanmar philatelic literature on the world stage.

World Food Day Stamps, 1981

The World Food Day commemorative set was issued on 16 October 1981 and printed by the Wazi Security Printing Works, Myanmar.

The stamps were produced by offset lithography, perforated 14, and measure 42 × 30 mm. They were printed in sheets of 50 (5 × 10 format) on unwatermarked white wove paper with white gum.

The set comprises three denominations:

• 25 pyas

• 50 pyas

• 1 kyat

A total of 1,000,000 stamps were printed for each of the 25 pyas and 50 pyas values, while only 100,000 copies were produced for the 1 kyat denomination, making it the scarcer value within the set.

The designs were prepared by the Design Department of Wazi Security Printing Works. 

First Day Cover

Pressing Iron of Burma on a Romanian Stamp

The Muzeul Recordurilor Româneşti (Museum of Romanian Records) issued a series of stamps on the theme of pressing irons in two parts. The second part was released on 1 September 2012, to coincide with the International Congress of Pressing Iron Collectors, a triennial event. The 14th edition of this congress was held in Sinaia, Romania, and for the first time the meeting was hosted in the country during that autumn.

Souvenir Sheet

The issue comprised 2,758,800 stamps illustrating pressing irons from Belgium, Italy, Sweden, Switzerland, the United States of America, and Burma (Myanmar). The Burmese pressing iron is shaped in the form of the mythical bird Hamsa (Hinthar), a motif that has also appeared frequently on Myanmar postage stamps.

Maxicard

The Romanian issue was produced in several philatelic forms, including a postage stamp, a souvenir sheet, and a maximum card. On the official maximum card, the pressing iron is shown complete with its carved wooden curved handle, which bears a resemblance to Chinese sculptural art, particularly representations of the goddess Guanyin. On the stamp design itself, however, only the iron body is depicted, without the handle.

First Day Cover

The Muzeul Recordurilor Româneşti® is known for holding the largest collection of pressing irons in the world, and this thematic stamp issue formed part of the celebrations highlighting this remarkable collection. 

Thanks to Kevin for sharing this information about the stamp.