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.