Date slug errors of Burma

Shown below are two examples of inverted date lines (1899), and two cover showing just the month being inverted (1896 and 1949).  Since the date slugs in the circular date stamps are changed daily, such errors were likely corrected the following day. These are some examples of such inverted date slugs I have recorded, there may be more dates out there.

Inverted date lines

23 Mar 1896 (month slug inverted)

28 May 1949 (month slug inverted)

Setting the date slugs.

It is the daily routine of the post office to set the date slugs of the cancelers in the morning.  And each date stamps have to be recorded in the record book.

Popa Post Office

Poppa PO or Popa PO is located in Poppa township, Myingyan district, Mandalay division.  Click the link for the exact location of the Popa post office.  It is grade 5 PO and its postal code is 05242.  I visited this PO on 31 Jan 2017.  I reached there in the late afternoon, so the post office was already closed.  So, I did not have a chance to send the registered mail.  Instead, I dropped the mail into the posting box hanging outside of the post office compound.

Popa Post Office

Signage and hanging posting box

Popa PO postmark used in 2017

The letter was successfully delivered to me, but with some reasonable delays.  The nearest attractions to this POs are Mount Popa and its volcanic plug.

1950 Hintha air letter sheet sample sheet from printer

After attaining Independence in 1948, Burma planned to issue its first own air letter sheet. The overall design was modeled closely to its predecessor the 1946 air letter sheet. The new design air letter sheet was issued by independent Burma on 11 January 1950. The imprint depicts a flying mythical Hintha bird, and tablet values of 6 Annas. 6 Annas rate is enough for the basic air mail fees. The printer for this air letter sheet type was unknown previously. Fortunately, a 1950 sample folder from Thomas De La Rue & Co Ltd was discovered.

Sample Air Letter (left) and Folder (right)

A 1950 Flying Hintha type air letter specimen was stuck in the folder, together with six specimens of Pakistan and one specimen of Sudan. All these postal stationeries were issued in 1950 and were pin overprinted “CANCELLED” with the holes touching the imprints. The same type of perfins “CANCELLED” were also observed on specimen paper monies printed by Thomas De La Rue & Co Ltd. This folder is the proof of where the 1950 Flying Hintha type air letter sheets were printed. The total number of sheets printed is unknown. The sheets are in four fold format and sheet size is 125 x 95 mm when folded. These air letters were printed on un-watermarked paper.

To study more about 1950 Hintha air letter sheet, please read the following article.  The Burma Fantail is quarterly journal published by Burma (Myanmar) Philatelic Study Circle.

Toe Kyaw Kyar, "1950 Flying Hintha type air letter", The Burma Fantail, Vol. 17, No. 2, Whole Number 64, pp. 28-31, April 2020.

1st Congress of Burmese Socialist Program Party

Burmese Socialist Program Party (BSPP in short) was established on 4 July 1962.  The first congress of the BSPP was held from June 28 to July 11, 1971 at Institute of Political Science, Mingalardon.  The State Philatelic Advisory Board (SPAB), which formed on 5 February 1970 suggested some stamps to be issued to mark the part congress.  It is second and last set of stamps issued in the recommendation of SPAB.  Four stamps were issued together with the souvenir sheet.  

Souvenir Sheet

This is the first time for Burma to issue the souvenir sheet.  The perforation on the sheet is printed one unfortunately.  

Technical Details of Stamps

Date of Issue : 28 June 1971
Printer : Bradbury, Wilkinson & Co., Ltd.
Printing Process : Offset Lithography
Stamp Size and Format : 48 x 32 mm, 178 x 127 mm (souvenir sheet size)
Color : 4
Perforation : 13½ (stamps), simulated perforation on souvenir sheet
Denomination : 5, 15, 25, 50 Pyas
Quantity : 1,000,000 (5, 15 Pyas), 500,000 (25, 50 Pyas)
Stamp Designers : U Ba Moe (5, 50 Pyas), U San Toe (15, 25 Pyas)
 

First Day Covers

Large FDC for MS

Official FDC by Burma Post & Telegraph (Large Size meant for MS)

Official FDC by Burma Post & Telegraph (Small size)

The presentation folder was also issued.  Please note the the folder shown below was cancelled in 1973, at the second congress of the BSPP.

Folder Front

1954 Universal Multivalue U1 Metermark

It is the universal multivalue type with Chinthes and Pylons, inscribed UNION OF BURMA.  First machine of its type appeared in 1954, with license number U1.  Two types of U1 has been recorded.  The first type, which will be noted as U1a, is more rare variety and used for a short period only.  The main differentiation is the symbol between the K and P, U1a with the short vertical line and U1 with the pylon-shape ornament.  The specimen print of U1a is shown below with the value of 64K 78p.  The author has seen two such examples, one with the word "SPECIMEN" handstamped in turquoise color and set the value at 24K 35p.  Both bare the same date, 21 Jan 1954.   

Specimen print of U1a

Comparison of U1a (left) and U1 (right)

The date on the above sample can be assumed as the earliest date of usage, but in contradictory, no commercial usage was recorded until 1957.  According my records and study, U1a was recorded in use between 3 May 1957 to 1 August 1957.

U1a, earliest known usage

To date, U1 type is recorded in use from 11 November 1957 to 12 December 1957.  Other examples beyond that period is yet to discover.  Same as U1, with the pylon ornament, license numberU2 to U39 were also recorded.

Inverted and reversed "B" for "G" of Rangoon

The postmark shown below has RANGOON mis-spelled with inverted and reversed "B" for "G".  Proud noted of this mis-spelled town from 21 Dec 1900 to 4 Feb 1901.  It is interesting that the device with this error was not retired sooner.  Shown below are the earliest and latest known uses.