Ko Toe Philately: ASEAN issue of 2019, National Costumes

Friday, 16 August 2019

ASEAN issue of 2019, National Costumes

August 8 is the founding day of ASEAN association. Myanmar Post participated in Joint stamp issue of ASEAN anniversary 2019. This year, theme set among the ASEAN postal authorities is "National Costume". Since the beginning of the year, Myanmar Post is planning for an issue. The hobbyist U Thiha Lwin sponsored the cost for photo shot of 8 major ethnics groups of Myanmar, which was estimated at 50 Lakh Kyats.

Public Announcements in Newspapers

When we are talking about National Costumes, it is not appropriate to issue just the costume of Bamar ethnics. So, it should includes all 8 big groups of ethnics. But, to me, one set of 8 stamps or one MS with all ethics group is good enough to be issued. Myanmar Post issued two sheetlets of 8 stamps each for this release, one normal posture and one dancing in ethnics costumes.

Costumes of Myanmar's Ethnics Groups

Dancing in Costumes

The controversial issue to discuss is the name of the designer. All covers mentioned U Thiha Lwin as a designer of the stamps, but as far as I understand, he is the sponsor or donor of the photos for the usage in stamp production. Interestingly, the Shan man playing the Shan pot drum is identified as U Thiha Lwin. Anyway, his efforts to come out with design are to be recognized.

During the design stage of postmark, U Wai Zin Paing brainstormed the postmark design which can reflect the theme and Myanma's tradition. He designed the postmark with Spinning wheel used in making the threads for the preparation of looming the traditional cloths. Meanwhile, U Thiha Lwin proposed Myanmar Post that it is more convenience to use long postmark with wavy lines (like a roller canceller), suggesting one impression cancel all the stamps.

Suggested Postmark designs

Myanmar Post issued two types of official FDCs, two types of postcards sold at 100 Kyats each and one empty folder which was sold at 2500 Kyats. Myanmar Philatelic Society also produced two types of FDCs. All the FDCs includes stamps' technical details at the back of the cover. All FDCs are designed by MPS and B(M)PSC member U Wai Zin Paing.

The quantity of FDC on sale is notable and FDCs are serialized. There are two types of FDCs sold for each design, with or without the post office name. Selling price for one empty cover is at 200 Kyats. So, counting to the varieties of FDC, there are 12 types.

	With PO name	Without PO name
Nay Pyi Taw	2 x 500 sets	2 x 1000 sets
Yangon	2 x 500 sets
Mandalay	2 x 500 sets

There are some registration errors recorded by others. Here, I would like to record perforation error which I have collected. On the dancing sheet shown below, the left most two stamps has lesser perforation holes. This two Kachin and Mon stamps has only 21 perforation holes, while the rest has 22 holes. The stamps' width is measured at approximately 29 mm.