"RE-PACKED MAIL ITEM" Bag of MPT

As a collector, I've always cherished the first day covers sent to me by my friends in Myanmar whenever there's a new stamp issue. Recently, I received one such cover in a plastic bag, which stimulated my interest. The bag was labeled "RE-PACKED MAIL ITEM" and came from Foreign Post, Myanma Post & Telecommunications (MPT). These bags have been in use since 2004.

It's fascinating to see that these same bags are still in use 20 years later, in 2024. Following a rebranding in 2015, Myanma Post & Telecommunications is now known as Myanmar Post. The bag measures 17.8 cm x 31 cm, and I learned that there is also a larger version of this bag available.  The text on the bag is printed in English. The cover inside was properly canceled and secured in the bag with staples. The printed text on the bag reads as follows:

RE-PACKED MAIL ITEM

We regret to inform you that the enclosed mail item received in damaged condition during transit before despatch to your office.

Myanmar Post has re-packed the said item in plastic wrapper and sent to you for further disposal.

Any inconvenience caused to you is much regretted.

There are two sizes of such bags recorded and larger one measures 30.48 cm x 50.8 cm.  My special thanks to U Khin Maung Yee for his help in finding the big bag.

Return to Sender Due to Conflicts in Myanmar

Since the 2021 military coup, Myanmar has descended into a full-scale conflict. Revolution forces have been gaining strength, progressively taking control of more areas and towns. As a result, the territories under the control of the military junta have been shrinking.  The ongoing conflict has severely disrupted postal services. Many regions have become inaccessible to mail carriers, leading the postal service to mark undeliverable mail with "Please make it Return to Sender and cite "Road Closures" as the reason.

Type I

Usually, these marks are applied at the Yangon or Mandalay mail exchange centers. The instruction given to the foreign postal mail exchange (FPME) is to "Please make it 'Return to Sender'." This allows the FPME to return the undeliverable mail to the originating countries overseas.

Type II

There have been instances where mail intended for areas no longer controlled by the military has been found, but it remains unclear whether these items were returned to the sender or simply discarded. So far, two such examples have been documented, and it is likely that more will surface as the situation continues to evolve.

Personalized Burmanica Stamps from Austria

I recently discovered some Burmanica-themed personalized stamps from Austria. While these are not official postage stamps, they are personalized creations and therefore do not qualify for inclusion in the official Burmanica stamp catalog. Consequently, I have decided to document these stamps in this blog post.

Seller described it was produced in 2023

Both stamps feature the word ÖSTERREICH and a face value of 100. The first stamp displays segments of the Berlin Wall adorned with paintings of Nobel Peace Prize laureates. Among them is a portrait of Aung San Suu Kyi. The second stamp portrays the ancient city of Bagan in Myanmar, capturing its serene landscape.

Peace Nobel Price serial on Berlin Wall segments

Given that these are personalized stamps, numerous variations may exist, showcasing various aspects related to Burma. However, they are not officially recognized as part of the Burmanica collection.

Painted Jezebel - Myanmar Butterfly Species

Myanmar Post issued fourth stamp of the Myanmar Butterflies Species Stamp Series on 5 May 2024. It features Painted Jezebel (Delias hyparete metarte). Myanmar Post issued the official FDC (blank) and sold at 400 Kyats each.  Collectors also made their own first day covers, maximum cards and album pages.  U Sun Myint Win produced the butterfly shape postcard as in previous stamps.  

Technical Details of Stamps

Date of Issue: 5 May 2024
Printer : Security Printing Works (Myanmar)
Printing Process : Offset
Stamp Size and Format : 42 mm x 30 mm (Horizontal)
Color : 4
Perforation : 14
Denomination : K200
Sheet Composition :  50 Stamps per Sheet
Quantity : 200,000 pc
Subject Matter Consultants : Dr Khin San Wai (Entomologist), Dr Thein Aung (Ornithologist)
Design Consultants : Kyaw Myo Naing, Academy Zinyaw Mg Mg (Film), Thiha Lwin (TMH), U Aung Ko (Philatelist)
Artist : Cho San Lin
Graphic Designer : Ahmonoo 

First Day Covers

Official FDC

Private FDC by U Sein Min