As the first phase of Ko Toe's efforts to bring Myanmar collectors to international philately, Myanmar Philatelic Society also known as MPS submitted an application for membership to FIAP in January 2019. The application was provisionally approved at the FIAP Executive Committee Meeting held on 1 March 2019 in Hong Kong.
The membership application was approved unanimously in 22nd congress of FIAP on 3 Aug 2019. The congress was held in Singapore together with Singpex 2019. The approval news was recorded in FIAP News 47 and FIP Flash 129.
2019 is the record breaking year for Myanmar Post as it issued the most numbers of stamps throughout time. Myanmar Post is selling its first ever annual collection book in history. The full color book includes many photographs and the facts and historical backgrounds of all the stamps issued in 2019. The bilingual (Burmese/English) yearbook is to be on sale from 24 Jul 2020 at the post offices in Yangon, Mandalay and Nay Pyi Taw.
The text were written by U Kyaw Myint Maung and translated into English by Daw Mra Hnin Hsi. The book comes with the complete set of stamps in clear hingless mounts. Individual copies are sold at 50,000 Kyats each. The organizer for this year book is Tah Moe Hnye Ko Thiha Lwin and the books are published by China Color Printing Co. Ltd, Republic Of China (Taiwan).
Due to low stocks of 100K and 200K stamps at Post Offices, the Post Office is planning to issue a new series of Definitive. As there is an urgency, the new series with new topic cannot be adopted immediately as it needs long and time taking process of approval. So, the temporary solution is to reuse the topic which was previously used as definitive. In 2017, the Musical Instruments definitive of 1990s were revisited with new arrangements and denominations. This time also, adapting the same idea and Bird series of 1960s is revisited.
The first stamp in this series is Indian Roller bird (Hnat Khar), of which scientific name is Coracias benghalensis. It is the same bird illustrated in my logo. The four color stamp has denomination of 100 Kyats. Total of 3400 official FDCs were produced.
Universal Postal Union was established in 1875 by the Treaty of Bern. In 2019, UPU celebrates its 145th anniversary. Currently, with its 192 member countries, the union is headquartered in the Swiss capital Berne. On 9th October, World Post Day, Myanmar also issued a stamp to commemorate the 145th anniversary of UPU.
Stamp Design
Technical Details of Stamps
Date of Issue : 9 Oct 2019
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 : Universal Postal Union
Maxicard
First Day Covers
Official FDC by Myanmar Post
MPS FDC (900 Covers) [MPS-FDC-037]
FDC by U Mya Thaung
On 9th October, the World Post Day celebration was held in Nay Pyi Taw by Myanmar Post. At this event, a special commemorative cover was prepared and gave to the attendees as a souvenir and sold a few numbers of covers. Total of 500 covers were produced. The cancellation is also different from the first day cancellation. The cover is shown below.
This year marks 150th Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, and many countries around the world issues stamps commemorating Mathama Gandhi. Myanmar also join the commemoration by issuing the stamp. Mathama Gandhi was born on 2 Oct 1869.
Empty first day cover were sold at 200 Kyats each, and postcard at 100 Kyats. Large folder which can hold one full sheet, a postcard and a first day cover are also sold at 5000 Kyats.
On the first day of issue, 50000 stamps, 1000 First Day Covers, 700 postcards and 200 folder were sold at Mandalay GPO.
Stamp Design
Technical Details of Stamps
Date of Issue : 2 Oct 2019
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 : 1,000,000 pcs
Stamp Designers : Thiha Lwin (TMH)
First Day Covers
Official FDC by Myanmar Post, cancelled at Mandalay
The twelveth and last stamp of the festivals series is for the month of Nadaw and it was issued on 27 November which is the first day of the month of Nadaw.
The stamp for the month of Nadaw depict its seasonal flower Thazin [Bulbophyllum auricomum] and Myanmar Literature festival. The artists and writers are invited to give a talk on their literature. First Waxin of Nadaw is also known as writers’ day. But, in the old time, Nadaw is the month of ritual feasts honouring Burmese Nats (spirits).
Stamp Design
Technical Details of Stamps
Date of Issue : 27 Nov 2019
Printer : Security Printing Works (Myanmar)
Printing Process : Offset
Stamp Size and Format : 84 mm x 30 mm (Horizontal)
Color : 4
Perforation : 14
Denomination : K200
Sheet Composition : 30 Stamps per Sheet
Quantity : 150,000 pcs each design
Stamp Designers : Wai Zin Paing (MPS)
The eleventh stamp of the festivals series is for the month of Tazaungmone and
it was issued on 28 October which is the first day of the month of Thazaungmone.
The stamp for the month of Tazaungmone (November) depict its seasonal flower Khawe [Luffa acutangula Roxb] and Kathina or Kahtein robe offering festival. Buddhists bring
offerings, which must include the new robe, to the monastery. Burmese
hung the robe and other offerings on the Kahtein Trees or Badaythabin and
donates to the Monks.
Stamp Design
Technical Details of Stamps
Date of Issue : 28 Oct 2019
Printer : Security Printing Works (Myanmar)
Printing Process : Offset
Stamp Size and Format : 84 mm x 30 mm (Horizontal)
Color : 4
Perforation : 14
Denomination : K200
Sheet Composition : 30 Stamps per Sheet
Quantity : 150,000 pcs each design
Stamp Designers : Wai Zin Paing (MPS)
The tenth stamp of the festivals series is for the month of Thidinguyt and
it was issued on 29 September. It is the 1st day of the month of Thidinguyt.
Thindinguyt festival of lights is held on the seventh month of Burmese lunar calendar. During the festival, people offer lights to Buddha and light candles, lanterns and oil lamps to decorate the houses and temples. And young people pay respects to their parents, teachers and elders. The stamp on the card
featured Thidinguyt's seasonal flower Kyar [Nelumbo nucifera] and Festival of Lights.
Stamp design
Technical Details of Stamps
Date of Issue : 29 Sept 2019
Printer : Security Printing Works (Myanmar)
Printing Process : Offset
Stamp Size and Format : 84 mm x 30 mm (Horizontal)
The ninth stamp of the festivals series is for the month of Tawthalin and
it was issued on 30 Aug. It is the 1st Waxing of Tawthalin.
The Regatta festival with boat races traditionally held in the month of Tawthalin (September) is the proof of Burmese King’s royal water forces for defense or flotillas of war ships and boats of different sizes well recruited, trained and maintained by the State. The stamp on the card featured
Wagaung's seasonal flower Yinmar [Chukrasia tabularis] and Boat Racing Festival.
Stamp design
The spelling for the name of the flower is widely argued. Some people said ရင်းမာ or some said ယင်းမာ, even though they both has same pronunciation. According to Burmese Spelling Dictionary, ရင်းမာ is correct. So, the name on the stamp spelled correctly.
Technical Details of Stamps
Date of Issue : 30 Aug 2019
Printer : Security Printing Works (Myanmar)
Printing Process : Offset
Stamp Size and Format : 84 mm x 30 mm (Horizontal)
Color : 4
Perforation : 14
Denomination : K200
Sheet Composition : 30 Stamps per Sheet
Quantity : 150,000 pcs each design
Stamp Designers : Wai Zin Paing (MPS)
The seventh stamp of the festivals series is for the month of Wagaung and
it was issued on 1 Aug. It is the 1st Waxing of Wagaung. Total of 3200 official FDC were issued. On the first day of issue, 1250 FDCs were sold at Mandalay GPO.
The month of Wagaung (August) is the fifth month of traditional Burmese calendar. During this month, monks are invited to receive the bowls filled with rice meal or some offerings prepared by donors. Alms-giving is by means of casting lots. Each monk receives whatever bowls his lot falls. The stamp on the card featured
Wagaung's seasonal flower Khatta [Crimum amoenum] and Buddhist Offering Festival.
Stamp design
Technical Details of Stamps
Date of Issue : 1 Aug 2019
Printer : Security Printing Works (Myanmar)
Printing Process : Offset
Stamp Size and Format : 84 mm x 30 mm (Horizontal)
Color : 4
Perforation : 14
Denomination : K200
Sheet Composition : 30 Stamps per Sheet
Quantity : 150,000 pcs each design
Stamp Designers : Wai Zin Paing (MPS)
August 8 is the founding day of ASEAN association. Myanmar Post participated in Joint stamp issue of ASEAN anniversary 2019. This year, theme set among the ASEAN postal authorities is "National Costume". Since the beginning of the year, Myanmar Post is planning for an issue. The hobbyist U Thiha Lwin sponsored the cost for photo shot of 8 major ethnics groups of Myanmar, which was estimated at 50 Lakh Kyats.
Public Announcements in Newspapers
When we are talking about National Costumes, it is not appropriate to issue just the costume of Bamar ethnics. So, it should includes all 8 big groups of ethnics. But, to me, one set of 8 stamps or one MS with all ethics group is good enough to be issued. Myanmar Post issued two sheetlets of 8 stamps each for this release, one normal posture and one dancing in ethnics costumes.
Costumes of Myanmar's Ethnics Groups
Dancing in Costumes
The controversial issue to discuss is the name of the designer. All covers mentioned U Thiha Lwin as a designer of the stamps, but as far as I understand, he is the sponsor or donor of the photos for the usage in stamp production. Interestingly, the Shan man playing the Shan pot drum is identified as U Thiha Lwin. Anyway, his efforts to come out with design are to be recognized.
During the design stage of postmark, U Wai Zin Paing brainstormed the postmark design which can reflect the theme and Myanma's tradition. He designed the postmark with Spinning wheel used in making the threads for the preparation of looming the traditional cloths. Meanwhile, U Thiha Lwin proposed Myanmar Post that it is more convenience to use long postmark with wavy lines (like a roller canceller), suggesting one impression cancel all the stamps.
Suggested Postmark designs
Myanmar Post issued two types of official FDCs, two types of postcards sold at 100 Kyats each and one empty folder which was sold at 2500 Kyats. Myanmar Philatelic Society also produced two types of FDCs. All the FDCs includes stamps' technical details at the back of the cover. All FDCs are designed by MPS and B(M)PSC member U Wai Zin Paing.
The quantity of FDC on sale is notable and FDCs are serialized. There are two types of FDCs sold for each design, with or without the post office name. Selling price for one empty cover is at 200 Kyats. So, counting to the varieties of FDC, there are 12 types.
With PO name
Without PO name
Nay Pyi Taw
2 x 500 sets
2 x 1000 sets
Yangon
2 x 500 sets
Mandalay
2 x 500 sets
There are some registration errors recorded by others. Here, I would like to record perforation error which I have collected. On the dancing sheet shown below, the left most two stamps has lesser perforation holes. This two Kachin and Mon stamps has only 21 perforation holes, while the rest has 22 holes. The stamps' width is measured at approximately 29 mm.
Sheet with perforation error
Technical Details of Stamps
Date of Issue : 8 Aug 2019
Printer : Security Printing Works (Myanmar)
Printing Process : Offset
Stamp Size and Format : 30 mm x 42mm (Vertical)
Color : 4
Perforation : 14
Denomination : K100 (16 designs)
Sheet Composition : 2 x 8 stamps per sheet
Quantity : 100,000 pcs each design
Stamp Designers : Thiha Lwin (TMH)
