OHMS Economy Label, used by the Government of Burma in exile

When Japanese invaded Burma in 1942, the Government of Burma moved to Simla, India.  Some functions of administrative were operated and headquarter was set up.  The following cover was sent by Chief Secretary's Office of the Government of Burma, and addressed to Bajpur, India.  

OHMS Cover from the Government of Burma, Chief Secretary's Office.

26 Mar 1943

The OHMS economy label was pasted on the used India postal stationery envelope.  The postage of one and a half Anna paid for first tola inland letter rate.  

Economy labels are sometimes used to solve the stationery shortage problem.  This is a gummed piece of paper, with the and office address on it.  This instructions were to put the response in the original envelope, cross out or cover the original address,  fasten the envelope using the economy label, and put it in the mail. The recipient can open it by cutting the label slip.

Prepaid registered envelope with QR codes

Following the prepaid DEMS smart envelopes, Myanmar Post issued prepaid registered smart envelopes on 5th Jan 2021.  Initially it was planned to issue on 1st Jan, but was actually issued on Jan 5 due as 1st to 4th Jan falls on public holidays in Myanmar.

New postal stationery issued

The envelopes are printed by Za Company.  The QR codes paper slips are also printed and pasted by Za before they deliver to Myanmar Post.  The envelopes are bundled of 100.

The envelope comes with the trackable QR code and receipt.  Once posted, the tracking information part is teared off and given to the sender as acknowledgement.   Although there is no stamp imprint, the postage and registration fees are prepaid.  The envelopes were sold at 600 Kyats (200 Kyats of domestic mail up to 20 grams, 300 Kyats for registration fees, 100 Kyats for envelope).

On the envelope, it is printed "Do not exceed 20g".  But, the up-rated usage was experimented by sending 50g mail.  The domestic rate for 50g is 500 Kyats.  Additional 300 Kyats adhesives were added to pay for the balance.  According to the officer at Mandalay GPO, the Za system only accept up to 20g.  

Up-rated usage (50 gram rate)

Another up-rated example is with air mail fees.  The mail sent from Sittwe, Kawthaung, Myeik, Dawei and Kengtung can be sent through internal mail service.  This stationery envelope needs to be affixed with another 100 Kyats for air mail fees.

 

Up-rated usage (with internal air mail service)

The envelopes were first on sale on 5th Jan at most of the major post offices.  Some experimental mails were posted since 1st Jan.

73rd Anniversary of Independence Day ~ 2021

As usual, first issue of the year is an Independence Day issue.  The stamp designs are based on the photo greeting cards produced by the Ministry of Information.  The original greeting cards are distributed among the Government.  

Shwe-Kyet-Yet and Shwe-Kyet-Kya Pagoda, Mandalay. Photo by Thant Zaw Oo

Landscape of Bagan Cultural Heritage Zone. Photo Tun Tun Thein

Myanmar Folk Dance - U Shwe Yoe and Daw Moe, Photo Zaw Maung Maung Oo (Sandaku)

Technical Details of Stamps

Date of Issue : 4 January 2021
Printer : Security Printing Works (Myanmar)
Printing Process : Offset
Stamp Size and Format : 42 mm x 30 mm (Horizontal)
Color : 4
Perforation : 14
Denomination : K200 three designs
Sheet Composition :  50 Stamps per Sheet
Quantity : 300,000 pc per design
Stamp Designers :

Three official FDCs were produced.