Dr Prakob's visit to Myanmar Philatelic Society

Dr Prakob Chirakiti, FIP Vice President and FIAP President visited Myanmar Philatelic Society on 20 Feb 2020.  It is a remarkable and historic event in Myanmar Philatelic History.   It is the visit of high ranking official from FIP and FIAP for the first time ever in history.  The meeting was held at Mya Kan meeting room, Sagawa meeting space, No 587, 2nd Floor, The Gegency Offices, Pyay Road, Kamayut Township, Yangon.

Invitation Card

Total attendees exceeded 30 person, many enthusiastic collectors from Yangon turned up.  The executive Ko Sein Min from MPS Mandalay chapter also came all the way to Yangon for this meeting.  The meeting started at 2 PM with the networking and introduction session. MPS President gave a welcome speech followed by Dr Prakob's speech on future collaboration between FIAP and its member federation MPS.  And then, MPS Treasurer Ko Aung Kyaw Tun presented the presentation on 'Recent Philatelic Development in Myanmar'.  Then all the attendees took a coffee break.  

Standing - U Than Shwe, U Khin Maung Than, U Naing Win, U Sein Min, U Thein Tun Kyaw, U Myint Thein Tun, U Sun Myint Win, U Maw Lwin Sein, U Myo Thant, U Hla Tun, U Tin Hlaing, U Win Naing, U Ye Min Thu, U Aung Win Tun, U Myo Oo
Sitting - U Aung Kyaw Tun, U Khin Maung Yee, U Sitt Aung, Daw April Myint, Dr Prakob Chirakiti, U Mya Thaung, U Thein Hlaing, Dr Kyaw Myint Maung, U Bo Bo, U Toe Kyaw Kyar, U Wint Khine

After the coffee break, the session resumed.  Commentary and questions were raised on the subject matter of further development of Philately in Myanmar.  After the discussions, Dr Prakob and MPS president U Mya Thaung exchanged the gifts.  MPS Vice President U Sit Aung delivered the Thank you speech to conclude the meeting.  The meeting ended at 4:20 after the group photo session.

Dr Prakob and Ko Toe

After the meeting, Dr Prakob and MPS excos headed to Golden Duck restaurant, Kandawmin Garden for the networking dinner hosted by MPS Excos.  12 Attendees attended the dinner.  All MPS members and excos had a wonderful day of exchanging opinion, new friendship and knowledge.  MPS acknowledged Dr Prakob for his time and dedication to make this meeting happened.  And MPS hoped Dr Prakob also have a pleasant stay in Yangon.

 

The report is published in FIAP News.  Please browse this post for more details.

24-HOUR Delivery Service, 1993

In January 1993, the mails of Yangon addressed to Yangon area were struck with 24 Hour Delivery hand stamp.  But the hand stamp were also recorded on the mail from outside of Yangon. 

The example below was posted on 16 Aug 1993, from YANGON GPO to BOTATAUNG.  The cover was struck with “24 Hour Delivery” hand stamp in Burmese.  It was delivered in the morning of 17 Aug 1993, within 24 hour as promised.

There was no surcharge for faster delivery service.  It is the effort of Myanmar Post to make sure speedy delivery.  Another example below was sent on 19 Aug 1996, from YANGON GPO to AHLONE, it was also delivered in the morning of 20 Aug 1996, still in 24 hour time set.

Second Time Delivery service in 1990

Starting from 19 Feb 1990, Yangon GPO delivered mails two times.  The mails arriving for evening delivery were stuck with the “Second Time Delivery” hand-stamp before going out for delivery.  The hand-stamp was in use until May 1992.

The following cover was posted on 5 Mar 1992, at YANGON GPO addressed to KANDAWGALAY. Mail was delivered in the evening of 5 Mar 1992, same day as posted.  Hand-stamped “Second Time Delivery” in Burmese was applied at Yangon GPO.

Even though there is such hand-stamp for evening delivery, there was no “Morning Delivery” or “First Time Delivery” hand-stamp or postal marking.  The mails were processed as usual. The following example was sent on 28 Feb 1992, from BUTHIDAUNG to LATHA ~ YANGON and it was delivered on 4 Mar 1992, from YANGON GPO 2PM.  Only one day difference from the cover displayed above. It is delivered without any additional marking assuming that mail was in first delivery.

Reference: Khin Tun (Yangon), "Rangoon 'Second Time Delivery' handstamp", The Burma Peacock, Vol 11, No 1, Page 10-11, Spring 1990.

Large Registration Labels (1993-1996)

From Dec 1993, 10 cm x 10 cm sized registration label is started to use at Yangon GPO.  The labels are printed in black and white.  The registration fee for overseas mail is 9 Kyats at that time.    The GPO staff sell the registration labels at 1 Kyat each.  The following cover was sent on 22 Dec 1993, from YANGON GPO to ITALY.  Meterfranked 14.50 Kyats.  Original label is used and paid for it.  It is also the early usage of such label.  On the label, post office staff write down the total cost of posting.

Such label is used only at Yangon GPO, and are not used on inland registered mails.  To avoid 1 Kyat for registration label surcharge, some people used photocopies of labels.  The following cover shows the example of registered mail that used photocopied label.  It was sent on 22 Dec 1993, from YANGON GPO to SINGAPORE.  13 Kyats adhesives affixed on reverse.

Yangon GPO then introduced a violet hand stamp showing “G.P.O” in a box of 25 mm x 10 mm for validation.  On the cover shown below, which was sent on 11 Oct 199x, YANGON GPO to SINGAPORE.  Original Registration label is with violet hand stamp.

Some people soon reproduced the violet hand stamp and evaded the 1 Kyat surcharge yet again.  Hence, the labels were printed in blue as a precaution against photocopying.  The label used on the cover below is printed in blue.  The mail was sent on 23 Jun 1995, from YANGON GPO to U.S.A.  16.50 adhesive applied.

This label is supposed to use only on foreign mails. Following inland registered mail was sent on 12 Jul 1996, YANGON GPO to PANBEDAN.  The mailer apparently approached to Foreign Mail Department and send the inland letter. The sender’s address is written as 

U San Loon

Foreign Mail Department

Yangon GPO

Starting from 1996, the label purchase goes to the staffs of the post office.  On the reverse, 2 Kyats adhesive is affixed, where postage costs 0.50 Kyats and registration fee costs 1.50 Kyats.  Label fee 1.00 Kyat was paid in cash to PO staff.

Colored small registration labels were introduced on 1 Apr 1996.  Even though new labels were introduced, these large labels were still in used until 1999.  No usage example beyond 1999 was recorded.

Reference: Aung Myint, Khin Tun, T.A. Mickey, "Changing Registration Practices in Myanmar, ca. 1994-96", The Burma Peacock, Vol 17, No 3, Page 59-64, Fall 1996.