Costumes ~ Ava Era

Stamps featuring Ava era costumes are the third sets in the costume series and were issued on 8 Dec 2021.  The set includes two stamps depicting man and woman in Ava era costumes.  At Yangon GPO, Mandalay GPO and Naypyitaw CPO, the envelopes with cachet are sold at 200 Kyats each.  In addition to the envelopes, the folding card with the design facts is also sold at 200 Kyats each.

Technical Information

Date of Issue: 8 December 2021
Denomination: 200 Kyats
Perforation: 14
Colour: 4
Quantity: 300,000 Pieces
Printing Process: Offset
Stamp Composition: 50 Stamps per Sheet
Stamp Size & Format: 30 mm x 42 mm (Vertical)
Printer: Security Printing Works (Myanmar)
Stamp Designer: Professor Myat Tun Aung, Aung Than Hitay
Historical Perspective Adviser: Dr. Chit San Win
Art From Adviser: Academy Zinyaw MgMg (Film), Thiha Lwin (TMH)

Costumes ~ Bagan Era

Stamps featuring Bagan era costumes are the second sets in the costume series and were issued on 27 Oct 2021.  The set includes two stamps depicting man and woman in Bagan era costumes.  At Yangon GPO, Mandalay GPO and Naypyitaw CPO, the envelopes with cachet are sold at 200 Kyats each.  In addition to the envelopes, the folding card with the design facts is also sold at 200 Kyats each.

Essay 1 by U Aung Than Htay

Essay 2 by U Aung Than Htay

Technical Details of Stamps

Date of Issue : 27 October 2021

Printer : Security Printing Works (Myanmar)

Printing Process : Offset

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

Color : 4

Perforation : 14

Denomination : K200 two designs

Sheet Composition :  50 Stamps per Sheet

Quantity : 300,000 pc per design

Stamp Designers : U Aung Than Htay, Prof Myat Tun Aung

Two official FDCs were produced.

Official FDCs

FDC by Ko Myo Oo

Maxicard set by Ko Thein Tun Kyaw

BANGABANDHU 2021 FIAP 1st Virtual International Stamp Exhibition

BANGABANDHU 2021 FIAP 1st Virtual International Stamp Exhibition was virtually held from 10 Dec 2021 to 30 Dec 2021.  The exhibits were hosted on http://www.exhibit.bangabandhu2021.com.  Initially, it was planned to hold as Regional exhibition at Dhaka, Bangladesh.  But, due to COVID-19 situation, it was changed to virtual exhibition.  It was later recognized by FIAP as its 1st virtual exhibition.

BANGABANDHU 2021 was organized to celebrate Golden Jubilee Independence of Bangladesh and to commemorate birth centenary of its founding father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.  It displayed 543 frames of 160 exhibitors from 21 countries.  

Award Medal

 

Ko Thein Tun Kyaw exhibited his PPC exhibit titled Nostalgia of Burma in British Colonial Time.  His exhibit scored 78 points and won Large Silver medal.  Ko Toe's PPC exhibit titled People of Burma and Their Lifestyles scored 79 points and won Large Silver medal.

Costumes ~ Ava Era

The second set of costume series is issued on 8 Dec 2021.  The set includes two stamps depicting man and woman in Ava era costumes.  

Technical Details of Stamps

Date of Issue : 8 Dec 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
Sheet Composition :  50 Stamps per Sheet
Quantity : 300,000 pc per design
Stamp Designers :

Two official FDCs were produced.

<More photos of FDCs to be posted>

Costumes ~ Pyu Era

The first set of costume series is issued on 27 Sep 2021.  The set includes two stamps depicting man and woman in Pyu era costumes.  At Yangon GPO, Mandalay GPO and Naypyitaw CPO, the envelope with cachet are sold at 200 Kyats each.  In addition to the envelopes, the folding card with the design facts is also sold at 200 Kyats each.

Pyu Era Costume Stamps Design

Newspaper Appearance

Technical Details of Stamps

Date of Issue : 27 September 2021
Printer : Security Printing Works (Myanmar)
Printing Process : Offset
Stamp Size and Format : 30 mm x 42 mm (Horizontal)
Color : 4
Perforation : 14
Denomination : K200 two designs
Sheet Composition :  50 Stamps per Sheet
Quantity : 300,000 pc per design
Stamp Designers :

Two official FDCs were produced.

Maxicards

Maxicard set made by Ko Thein Tun Kyaw

PHILANIPPON 2021 37th Asian International Stamp Exhibition

PHILANIPPON 2021 was originally planned as FIP World Stamp Championship.  Due to the COVID-19 pandemic situation, the exhibition was changed to 37th Asian International Stamp Exhibition.  It was successfully held at Pacifico Yokohama Hall B/C from 25th Aug to 30th Aug 2021.  Total of 186 exhibits participated and 100 are literature exhibits.

I served as a Myanmar Commissioner for PHILANIPPON 2021.  For and on behalf of Myanmar Philatelic Society, the special prize was donated to PHILANIPPON.

Special Prize donated by Myanmar

 

My own exhibit was withdrawn due to some logistics issues.  Myanmar submitted one entry in literature class.  The book "Postage Stamps of Myanmar" by U Kyaw Myint Maung (Reggie) has scroed 78 points and won Large Silver medal award.  My congratulations to Reggie.

This book is the complete compilation or survey of Burma and Myanmar stamps. Every stamp has its own reason of issues and historical background on the topic matters. Based on author’s lifetime study and familiarity with all the many necessary sources, the most thorough and comprehensive book to date can now be published.

In this book, every stamp issues of Myanmar are discussed and illustrated in color, from the 1937 overprints to the Htamanè Festival stamp of 2019 February. For every stamp issues of Myanmar, the detail design study in terms of historical background and design elements are discussed. The motives that make the issue possible are also researched and discussed. Most importantly, the printing methods, printers, and other technical aspects are also studied in this book. The extremely complex BIA peacock overprints characterizations and Showa surcharges of the Occupation period are sensibly summarized.

As well as the philatelic details, much of the text is devoted to the historical context and subject matter of each issue, making the book accessible to the interested beginner, as well as a detailed reference.
A brief introduction provides a historical overview, and then eight colour coded sections cover each era of stamp issues, set by set. Each era shows depicts different administration, historical artifacts, and most interestingly political instability through the stamps. The era covered in this book are

• British Burma Era (1937-1947)
• Japanese Occupation Era (1942-1944)
• Parliament Democracy Era (1948-1961)
• Revolutionary Government Era (1962-1973)
• Burma Socialist Party Era (1974-1985)
• State Law and Order Restoration Council Era (1990-1997)
• State Peace and Development Council Era (1998-2010)
• Republic Myanmar (2010-2019)

Finally, there are some technical details, and useful tables and charts, covering aspects such as designs with flags, national titles, etc. This section includes the analytical study of stamp issues in different era, quantitative study of Myanmar stamps related to United Nations, Sports, Buddhism, Capital City, etc. It’s a measure of the regard with which the book has been received that a number of forewords are included by interested personalities, including U Htin Kyaw, ex-President of Myanmar.

My involvements and commitments in societies

As of 2021, I am the member of four philatelic societies around the world, one in Myanmar, one in Singapore and two in U.K.  This report is to update my involvements and commitments in some of these societies.  I attended the virtual AGM of Zui You Philatelic Society, based in Singapore, on 12 December 2020.  In this meeting, the new executive committee was successfully elected and Mr Seow Shin Horng was elected as the new President.  My congratulations to Shin Horn and committee members.  As in the last term, I was appointed as an Auditor by the committee.

ZUI YOU PHILATELIC SOCIETY EXCO COMMITTEE (2020-2022)
Honorary Advisor	Tan Kan Buay
Executive Advisor	Henry Ong Seow Yee, FRPSL
President	Seow Shin Horng, CFA
1st Vice President	Alan Chong Siow Min
2nd Vice President	Wong Han Min
Honorary Secretary	Zhao Jia
Ast. Honorary Secretary	Fong Weng Min
Honorary Treasurer	Wang Lei
Ast. Honorary Treasurer	Eric Lee
Executive Members	Loo Wing Tek
	Soh Poh Cheng
	Hong Kay Jin
	Er Chiang Song
Auditor	Toe Kyaw Kyar

 On 20 February 2021, Burma (Myanmar) Philatelic Study Circle [B(M)PSC in short], based in U.K, held the virtual AGM.  In this meeting, the existing committee members were re-elected, while Mike Ley from U.S.A and I were elected to the positions of committee members without office. My congratulations to the new exco.

B(M)PSC COMMITTEE (2021-2023)
Chairman / Treasurer	Rufus Barnes
Secretary	Michael Whittaker
Librarian	Andrew Skilling
Editor	Richard Warren
Committee Members	Mike Ley
	Toe Kyaw Kyar

The Burma (Myanmar) Philatelic Study Circle is a UK based organisation with an international membership, for collectors of all aspects of Burma. It was founded in 2005, and grew out of the UK Chapter of the “old” Burma Philatelic Study Circle, which existed from 1979 to 2000 and published The Burma Peacock under the very able editorship of Alan Meech in Canada.

The main benefit to B(M)PSC members is our quarterly journal, The Burma Fantail, successor to the Peacock, which is mailed printed and stapled in full colour, or emailed as a colour pdf file. Twice yearly, UK members meet in London at Stampex; meetings are cordial and members’ displays are always interesting and worthwhile.

For a sample back issue of the Fantail in pdf format please contact the Editor, Richard Warren, at rwarren99@yahoo.com. For details of current memberships rates, or to join, please contact our Secretary, Mike Whittaker, at manningham8@mypostoffice.co.uk.   

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.