Commemorative Stationery of Russia-Myanmar Diplomatic Relation

In my earlier post, I documented the postal stationery envelope released to mark the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Russia and Myanmar. This isn't the inaugural instance of Russia releasing philatelic materials for such occasions; previously, commemorative envelopes adorned with illustrated cachets were issued for the 25th, 30th, and 40th anniversaries as well.

In this post, I aim to compile a comprehensive record of all four covers, encompassing the postal stationery envelopes issued to commemorate the 25th, 30th, 40th, and 70th anniversaries of Russia-Myanmar Diplomatic Relations.

25th Anniversary (1973)

30th Anniversary (1978)

40th Anniversary (1988)

70th Anniversary (2018)

First three were issued under Soviet Union and the last one was issued under Russia.  The USSR established diplomatic relations with Myanmar upon the latter's independence in 1948, which remain to the present day through Russia.  Myanmar also issued the stamp to commemorate 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations with Russia in 2013.

Insein Post Office

Insein PO is located on Lanthit Road, near Insein park.  It is grade 1 post office and its postal code is 11011.  Please click the link for the location on the map.  It is just beside the Insein flyover.

Insein PO seen from the Lanthit Road

I visited Insein PO on 22 Feb 2018 and sent a registered mail to myself to collect the postmark and registration mark.

Registered mail from Insein PO. Paid 2500 Kyats for oversea registered mail.

 

There is no Registeration mark, but the box handstamp reading Insein in Burmese.  The registration number is manuscript-ed and separate date stamp was applied.  The letter arrived to Foreign Mail Exchange at Yangon on next day and applied duo color date stamp and trackable registration label was pasted before sending out to oversea country. 

Certificate of Posting, Burma

A Certificate of Posting is your proof that you have posted the item declared on the postal network.  It has to be issued by post office with the charge.  In Myanmar, as far as I have learnt, you can get the certificate of posting only at the Yangon GPO.  One certificate can certify up to three unregistered letters or items.

The current rate for issuing one certificate is 200 Kyats.  According to my records, the rates are as follows:

200 Kyats : 2017 May 25 to Present
100 Kyats: 2011 November 30 to 2017 May 24
5 Kyats : 1997 December 1 to 2011 October 29
50 Pyas : 1991 March 1 & April 1 to 1997 November 30
10 Pyas : 1976 May 1 to 1991 March/April

Some certificates I have collected in my collections are displayed for your viewing.

Issued on 14 Mar 1996

Issued on 25 Jun 1998

Issued on 26 Feb 2018 (200 Kyats rate, unstamped)

Issued on 10 Aug 2018

Myanmar Post Code Ambassador

Myanmar-descent Japanese actor Morisaki Win was appointed as postcode ambassador of Myanmar Post on 23 Sep 2018.  During the event, bilingual postcode books, posters, calendars and postcards were presented to Myanmar Post by JICA.  For more information, please refer to the press release by JICA which can be retrieved at this link.  The pamphlet can be downloaded here and the postcode book for three region (Naypyitaw, Yangon, Mandalay) can be downloaded here.

The postcards and posters show same design with the ambassador's portait.

Postcard promoting postcodes.  "What is your Postcode"

Yankin Post Office

Yankin PO is located at No 5, Thitsar Main Road, 1st Qtr, Yankin township.  It is situated in front of Yankin Education College.  Click the link for the exact location of the Yankin post office.  It is grade 2 PO and its postal code is 11081.  I visited this PO on 21 Feb 2018.

Yankin Post Office

Posting box at Yankin PO

Registered letter sent on 21 Feb 2018.

Kamayut Post Office

Kamayut PO is located at the corner of Adipadi Road and University Avenue Road, 9th ward, Kamayut township.  This PO is also known as Yangon University PO aka Rangoon University PO. Click the link for the exact location of the Kamayut post office.  It is grade1 PO and its postal code is 11041.  I visited this PO on 14 Feb 2018.

Kamayut PO

Registered oversea mail (Sent on 14 Feb 2018)

"MANADALAY" postmark named wrongly

While introducing new and standardized postmarks in 2018, Mandalay GPO has an interesting event. One of its new postmark comes with the wrong spelling of "MANADALAY" instead of "MANDALAY".  Once public and officials noticed, it was widthdrawn from GPO.  It was used about a month, I believed.  As Mandalay GPO is the high grade PO, it has more then one set of new postmark.  I have also received one postcard with the correct town name which was used on same day.  The wrong and correctly spelled postmarks are compared below.

The new postmarks were introduced on 9 Oct 2018. The new set of postmarks (Burmese and English) were distributed to 778 full service post offices around the country.

Pazundaung Post Office

Pazundaung PO is located at No 133, Upper Pazundaung Road, Pazundaung township.  It is grade 3 post office and its postal code is 11171.  Please click the link for the location on the map.  Some landmarks near to this post office are Pazundaung train station and Chantha plaza.

Pazundaung PO

I managed to get the new set of postmarks which were introduced in Oct 2018.

Bahan Post Office

Bahan PO is located at No 69, Kabaraye Pagoda Road, Shwegonedine junction, Bahan township.  It is grade 2 post office and its postal code is 11201.  Please click the link for the location on the map.  The nearest attractions are Nga Htat Gyi pagoda and Chauk Htat Gyi pagoda.

Bahan PO

I managed to get the new set of postmarks which were introduced in Oct 2018.

MPS Philatelic Show at Yangon GPO

In conjunction with the celebration of 100th anniversary of Yangon GPO building, MPS organized the philatelic show at Yangon GPO on 23 Sept 2018.  MPS members participated and exhibited.  Myanmar Post authorized the commemorative cancellation for the event.  MPS produced the event cover, used 100th anniversary GPO stamp and cancelled with the event cancellation.

The certificate of appreciation was awarded to MPS and its exhibitors by Myanmar Post.

110th Anniversary of Yangon GPO Building

Myanmar Post issued single stamp to mark the 110th anniversary of Yangon GPO building.  The building was originally built by Scottish brothers James and George Bulloch in 1908. 

Myanmar Post invited interesting parties to submit the design concept for this commemoration through MPS.  Some members showed their interests and created an artworks.  Unfortunately, Myanmar Post just used simple portrait of Yangon GPO Building, due to late submissions.  Among the artworks, the concepts created by Wai Zin Paing are outstanding.  It featured the element of Yangon GPO building such as portico,  balusters and windows.   

Myanmar Post officials also satisfied with his design works.  So, they decided to use them in other ways.  Wai Zin's designs are used in first day cancellation, official first day cover, and four official postcards.  Wai Zin also helped Myanmar Post to design official stamp presentation folder, which was sold at 500K without the stamp.  Being the member of MPS, Wai Zin contributed to MPS first day cover.  As single designer contributed in many items, their designs shared the common features.      

Two controversial issues here is the stamp sheet preparation and missing country name.  The stamp do not show the country name in Burmese and English.  It just shows "100th anniversary of Yangon GPO building" in Burmese and "AD 1908-2018" in English.  Another issue is sheet preparation.  The Burmese wording touch the frame in some stamps, and some not.  It is obvious that it is not an registration shift of black, but the design inconsistency throughout the sheet.  Close observation tells that wording placement is same for the stamps in the same column.  It is concluded the wording for the whole column of 10 is copied and paste into five.

Myanmar Alin Newspaper (13 Sep 2018)

Technical Details of Stamps

Date of Issue : 20 September 2018

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 : 1,000,000 pcs
Stamp Designers : Myanmar Post

Cancellation Designer : Wai Zin Paing (MPS)

Stamps Myanmar FDC

Official FDC by Myanmar Post

FDC by Myanmar Philatelic Society

Stamp Folder (Front)

Stamp Folder (Inside)

Privately produced maxicard by Wai Zin Paing

Official Postcard 1 - GPO Building

Official Postcard 2 - Balusters of Yangon GPO

Official Postcard 3 - Windows of Yangon GPO

Official Postcard 4 - Portico of Yangon GPO

Mandalay GPO New Counter Opening

On 2nd July 2018, Mandalay GPO has its official opening of new counters.  Myanmar officials attended the ceremony and officially launch the new counters into operation.  Myanmar Post sell the event postcard to public and provide commemorative date stamp for the event.  Collectors in Mandalay and Myanmar Post officials has an opportunity to grab them.

Front side of the postcard showing the new counters of Mandalay GPO

Rare side of the postcard, with 200K definitive attached, cancelled with commemorative date stamp

New booklet on the postal codes of Myanmar

Myanmar Postal Codes system was introduced in Burma on 12th Feb 1980.  Five digits postal codes defines as the post office identifier as well.  First two digits of the codes says the state or division of the PO, followed by two digits for township and last digit is PO ID.

Illustration taken from KHIN(1982)

In 1989, Post Office created a campaign to encourage the mail senders to make use of postal codes.  The boxed handstamp from various post offices appears on some of the mails.   One of the example is shown below.

Mingalar Taung Nyunt PO (Postal Code 11221)

Myanmar Post published the postal codes guides booklet, with details of postal codes of the POs around the country.  This year, we have seen, the new edition of booklet has been published by Myanmar Post.

New Edition of Postal Code Booklet by Myanmar Post (Photo courtesy of Ko Sein Min)

But anyone can easily check the postal codes of Myanmar online at https://myanmarepost.com/postoffices.  Hotline number, 067 420888, is also available to check the postal codes between 9:30 and 16:30.

Reference
KHIN (1982) Khin Htun, U, The Postal Code of Burma, The Burma Peacock, Vol 4, No 3, Page 47.

70th Anniversary of Independence Day

Myanmar Post issued a set of three stamps for this year Independence Day.  As usual, Independence Day issue is the earliest issue of the year.  Three designs includes ceremonial barge at Inle lake, Myanmar traditional dance and orchestra, and children enjoying puppet show.

Stamp Set

Newspaper Appearances on 30 Dec 2017 (Myanma Alin, News Light of Myanmar, KyayMon)

Technical Details of Stamps

Date of Issue : 4 January 2018

Printer : Security Printing Works (Myanmar)

Printing Process : Offset

Stamp Size and Format : 42 mm x 30 mm (Horizontal)

Color : 4

Perforation : 14

Denomination :K100

Sheet Composition :  50 Stamps per Sheet
Quantity : 300,000 pcs each design
Stamp Designers : Aung Kyi Myint (U Kyi Win) [Phaungdawoo Buddha Image at Inle Lake], Win Zaw Oo (Min Bu) [Enjoyable Village Night], Min Min Tun [Myanmar Traditional Dance]

First Day Covers 

FDC by Stamps Myanmar

FDC by Myanmar Philatelic Society (Limited edition of 700 covers)

FDC by KWK (Limited edition of 15 covers)

Official FDC 1 by Myanmar Post

Official FDC 2 by Myanmar Post

Official FDC 3 by Myanmar Post

First Day Cancellations of Yangon GPO, Naypyitaw CPO, and Mandalay GPO

Photos used in stamp design