Low value definitive (1st stamp)

Due to low stocks of 100K and 200K stamps at Post Offices, the Post Office is planning to issue a new series of Definitive.  As there is an urgency, the new series with new topic cannot be adopted immediately as it needs long and time taking process of approval.  So, the temporary solution is to reuse the topic which was previously used as definitive.   In 2017, the Musical Instruments definitive of 1990s were revisited with new arrangements and denominations.  This time also, adapting the same idea and Bird series of 1960s is revisited.

The first stamp in this series is Indian Roller bird (Hnat Khar), of which scientific name is Coracias benghalensis.  It is the same bird illustrated in my logo. The four color stamp has denomination of 100 Kyats.  Total of 3400 official FDCs were produced.

Stamp Design

   Technical Details of Stamps

Date of Issue : 12 Dec 2019

Printer : Security Printing Works (Myanmar)

Printing Process : Offset

Stamp Size and Format : 30m x 42m (Vertical)

Color : 4

Perforation : 14

Denomination : K10

Sheet Composition :  50 Stamps per Sheet

Quantity : 2,000,000 pcs

Stamp Designers : Wai Zin Paing

First Day Covers

Official FDC, cancelled at Mandalay

MPS FDC (1000 Covers) [MPS-FDC-040]

145th Anniversary of UPU (World Post Day)

Universal Postal Union was established in 1875 by the Treaty of Bern.  In 2019, UPU celebrates its 145th anniversary.  Currently, with its 192 member countries, the union is headquartered in the Swiss capital Berne.  On 9th October, World Post Day, Myanmar also issued a stamp to commemorate the 145th anniversary of UPU.

Stamp Design

 Technical Details of Stamps

Date of Issue : 9 Oct 2019

Printer : Security Printing Works (Myanmar)
Printing Process : Offset
Stamp Size and Format : 42 mm x 30 mm (Horizontal)
Color : 4
Perforation : 14
Denomination : K200
Sheet Composition :  50 Stamps per Sheet
Quantity : 1,000,000 pcs
Stamp Designers : Universal Postal Union

Maxicard

First Day Covers

Official FDC by Myanmar Post

MPS FDC (900 Covers) [MPS-FDC-037]

FDC by U Mya Thaung

On 9th October, the World Post Day celebration was held in Nay Pyi Taw by Myanmar Post.  At this event, a special commemorative cover was prepared and gave to the attendees as a souvenir and sold a few numbers of covers.  Total of 500 covers were produced.  The cancellation is also different from the first day cancellation.  The cover is shown below.

150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi

This year marks 150th Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, and many countries around the world issues stamps commemorating Mathama Gandhi.  Myanmar also join the commemoration by issuing the stamp.  Mathama Gandhi was born on 2 Oct 1869.

Empty first day cover were sold at 200 Kyats each, and postcard at 100 Kyats.  Large folder which can hold one full sheet, a postcard and a first day cover are also sold at 5000 Kyats.

On the first day of issue, 50000 stamps, 1000 First Day Covers, 700 postcards and 200 folder were sold at Mandalay GPO.

Stamp Design

 Technical Details of Stamps

Date of Issue : 2 Oct 2019
Printer : Security Printing Works (Myanmar)
Printing Process : Offset
Stamp Size and Format : 42 mm x 30 mm (Horizontal)
Color : 4
Perforation : 14
Denomination : K100
Sheet Composition :  50 Stamps per Sheet
Quantity : 1,000,000 pcs
Stamp Designers : Thiha Lwin (TMH)

First Day Covers

Official FDC by Myanmar Post, cancelled at Mandalay

MPS First Day Cover (900 Covers) [MPS-FDC-036]

U Mya Thaung FDC

Video News (Mandalay GPO)

The month of Nadaw

The twelveth and last stamp of the festivals series is for the month of Nadaw and it was issued on 27 November which is the first day of the month of Nadaw.

The stamp for the month of Nadaw depict its seasonal flower Thazin [Bulbophyllum auricomum] and Myanmar Literature festival. The artists and writers are invited to give a talk on their literature.  First Waxin of Nadaw is also known as writers’ day.  But, in the old time, Nadaw is the month of ritual feasts honouring Burmese Nats (spirits).

Stamp Design

 Technical Details of Stamps

Date of Issue : 27 Nov 2019

Printer : Security Printing Works (Myanmar)

Printing Process : Offset

Stamp Size and Format : 84 mm x 30 mm (Horizontal)

Color : 4

Perforation : 14

Denomination : K200

Sheet Composition :  30 Stamps per Sheet
Quantity : 150,000 pcs each design
Stamp Designers : Wai Zin Paing (MPS)

Maxicard

Grab your copies at my eBay store. 

First Day Covers

Official FDC by Myanmar Post

FDC by Myanmar Philatelic Society (1000 covers) [MPS-FDC-039]

U Mya Thaung FDC

 <More images to come, stay tune!>

The month of Tazaungmone

The eleventh stamp of the festivals series is for the month of Tazaungmone and it was issued on 28 October which is the first day of the month of Thazaungmone.

The stamp for the month of Tazaungmone (November) depict its seasonal flower Khawe [Luffa acutangula Roxb] and Kathina or Kahtein robe offering festival. Buddhists bring offerings, which must include the new robe, to the monastery.  Burmese hung the robe and other offerings on the Kahtein Trees or Badaythabin and donates to the Monks.

Stamp Design

 Technical Details of Stamps

Date of Issue : 28 Oct 2019

Printer : Security Printing Works (Myanmar)

Printing Process : Offset

Stamp Size and Format : 84 mm x 30 mm (Horizontal)

Color : 4

Perforation : 14

Denomination : K200

Sheet Composition :  30 Stamps per Sheet
Quantity : 150,000 pcs each design
Stamp Designers : Wai Zin Paing (MPS)

 First Day Covers

Official First Day Cover by Myanmar Post

FDC by Myanmar Philatelic Society

FDC by U Mya Thaung

Maximum Cards

Video News and my interview (Yangon GPO)

My Interview in radio
https://soundcloud.com/myanmar_radio/xetlya4yzbzd

HayPost issued stamp featuring Kyaw Hla Aung

HayPost, the national postal operator of Armenia, issued the postage stamp featuring Kyaw Hla Aung for his winning Aurora prize on 16 Oct 2019.  Face valued is 350 AMD, together with the stub of 150 AMD as a donation coupon.  A sheet consists of six pairs of stamp and stub.  Total of 12,000 copies were produced.

Stamp with stub

FDC

Postcard

New logo for my blog

Well, it is time now to create a logo for my blog.  I have to say "Thanks" to Wai Zin Paing who designed this logo and many modern Myanmar stamps.  The overall idea of the design comes from him.  Lets go through the design elements of the logo.

The main element is the bird "Indian Roller".  My pen name in Burmese is "Hnat Khar" referring the same bird.  Here is the reason why I choose this bird.  Burma issued Birds definitive in 1964 and 1968.  Among the set, three low value stamps are 5 Pyas, 10 Pyas and 15 Pyas which featured "Indian Roller".  At the time, the inland letter rate is 15 Pyas and solo use of 15Pyas bird stamp is enough for postage.  The Indian Rollers carried the letters all over the country.  They served their duties well.

In 1966, the inland air letter sheet with red imprint design of Indian Roller was issued. In the logo, that air letter sheet was illustrated with color changed as we limits two colors in the logo.  Thus the logo illustrating the Indian roller bird is carrying the air letter.  The bird is in illustrated double rings of which outer one is simulated perforation.

At the background, the small texts can be seen.  These are extracted from the article I published previously.  It symbols that I am writing. Again, Thanks Pi for your nice design work.

The month of Thidinguyt

The tenth stamp of the festivals series is for the month of Thidinguyt and it was issued on 29 September. It is the 1st day of the month of Thidinguyt.

Thindinguyt festival of lights is held on the seventh month of Burmese lunar calendar.  During the festival, people offer lights to Buddha and light candles, lanterns and oil lamps to decorate the houses and temples.  And young people pay respects to their parents, teachers and elders.  The stamp on the card featured Thidinguyt's seasonal flower Kyar [Nelumbo nucifera] and Festival of Lights.

Stamp design

 Technical Details of Stamps

Date of Issue : 29 Sept 2019

Printer : Security Printing Works (Myanmar)

Printing Process : Offset

Stamp Size and Format : 84 mm x 30 mm (Horizontal)

Color : 4

Perforation : 14

Denomination : K200

Sheet Composition :  30 Stamps per Sheet

Quantity : 150,000 pcs each design

Stamp Designers : Wai Zin Paing (MPS)

Maxicard

Grab your copies at my eBay store.

First Day Covers

Official FDC by Myanmar Post

MPS FDC (900 FDC) [MPS-FDC-035]

FDC by U Mya Thaung

Kawthoolei Separatist Stamps

The Karen independent self-proclaimed states of Kawthoolei issued the set of stamps in 1986.  The set includes six values as shown below, where a Kawthoolei dollar equals to 20 US cents.  The sheet includes 25 stamps per sheet, printed using multi color printing in western Australia by direct colour printers.

Karen children singing

Karen Flag

Saw Bo Mya, Karen Leader

Map of the state of Kawthoolei

Karen Coat of Arms

River (probably Than Lwin) and Mountain Scene

For more details about the stamps can be found in original article by Carlos Swanson re-published in Burma Peacock Vol 12, No 2.

Myanmar Post Code Ambassador

Myanmar-descent Japanese actor Morisaki Win was appointed as postcode ambassador of Myanmar Post on 23 Sep 2018.  During the event, bilingual postcode books, posters, calendars and postcards were presented to Myanmar Post by JICA.  For more information, please refer to the press release by JICA which can be retrieved at this link.  The pamphlet can be downloaded here and the postcode book for three region (Naypyitaw, Yangon, Mandalay) can be downloaded here.

The postcards and posters show same design with the ambassador's portait.

Postcard promoting postcodes.  "What is your Postcode"

Yankin Post Office

Yankin PO is located at No 5, Thitsar Main Road, 1st Qtr, Yankin township.  It is situated in front of Yankin Education College.  Click the link for the exact location of the Yankin post office.  It is grade 2 PO and its postal code is 11081.  I visited this PO on 21 Feb 2018.

Yankin Post Office

Posting box at Yankin PO

Registered letter sent on 21 Feb 2018.

Kamayut Post Office

Kamayut PO is located at the corner of Adipadi Road and University Avenue Road, 9th ward, Kamayut township.  This PO is also known as Yangon University PO aka Rangoon University PO. Click the link for the exact location of the Kamayut post office.  It is grade1 PO and its postal code is 11041.  I visited this PO on 14 Feb 2018.

Kamayut PO

Registered oversea mail (Sent on 14 Feb 2018)

The month of Tawthalin

The ninth stamp of the festivals series is for the month of Tawthalin and it was issued on 30 Aug. It is the 1st Waxing of Tawthalin.

The Regatta festival with boat races traditionally held in the month of Tawthalin (September) is the proof of Burmese King’s royal water forces for defense or flotillas of war ships and boats of different sizes well recruited, trained and maintained by the State.  The stamp on the card featured Wagaung's seasonal flower Yinmar [Chukrasia tabularis] and Boat Racing Festival.

Stamp design

The spelling for the name of the flower is widely argued.  Some people said ရင်းမာ or some said ယင်းမာ, even though they both has same pronunciation.  According to Burmese Spelling Dictionary, ရင်းမာ is correct.  So, the name on the stamp spelled correctly.

 Technical Details of Stamps

Date of Issue : 30 Aug 2019

Printer : Security Printing Works (Myanmar)

Printing Process : Offset

Stamp Size and Format : 84 mm x 30 mm (Horizontal)

Color : 4

Perforation : 14

Denomination : K200

Sheet Composition :  30 Stamps per Sheet
Quantity : 150,000 pcs each design
Stamp Designers : Wai Zin Paing (MPS)

Maxicard

Grab your copies at my eBay store.

First Day Covers

Official First Day Cover

FDC produced by Myanmar Philatelic Society (900 covers) [MPS-FDC-033]

FDC by U Mya Thaung

The month of Wagaung

The seventh stamp of the festivals series is for the month of Wagaung and it was issued on 1 Aug. It is the 1st Waxing of Wagaung.  Total of 3200 official FDC were issued.  On the first day of issue, 1250 FDCs were sold at Mandalay GPO.

The month of Wagaung (August) is the fifth month of traditional Burmese calendar.  During this month, monks are invited to receive the bowls filled with rice meal or some offerings prepared by donors.  Alms-giving is by means of casting lots.  Each monk receives whatever bowls his lot falls.  The stamp on the card featured Wagaung's seasonal flower Khatta [Crimum amoenum] and Buddhist Offering Festival.

Stamp design

 Technical Details of Stamps

Date of Issue : 1 Aug 2019

Printer : Security Printing Works (Myanmar)

Printing Process : Offset

Stamp Size and Format : 84 mm x 30 mm (Horizontal)

Color : 4

Perforation : 14

Denomination : K200

Sheet Composition :  30 Stamps per Sheet
Quantity : 150,000 pcs each design
Stamp Designers : Wai Zin Paing (MPS)

Maxicard 

Grab your copies at my eBay store.

First Day Covers

Official FDC

MPS First Day Cover (950 Covers) [MPS-FDC-033]

U Mya Thaung

Video News (Yangon GPO)

Video News (Mandalay GPO)