"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.

Foreign Post cancellation, Yangon-CME postmark

Recently, I have travelled to Myanmar and send some covers to Singapore.  When the letters arrives back to me, I notice that Myanmar Post used two new postmarks on the covers.  The best example is the cover sent from Nyaung Oo post office (Fig 1), it was struck with Nyaung Oo PO postmark on 5^th Jan, new Foreign Post postmark of Yangon on 8^th Jan and Yangon-CME mark dated 8^th Jan.  

Fig 1: Two new postmarks on the stamp

"Foreign Post" postmark (Fig 2) seems to be the replacement of old "Foreign Air Mail" postmark (Fig 3).  "Foreign Post" mark is in a double circle format; the date shown in the center with two stars on the sides.  It is struck in blue, except the date in red.  Its outer diameter is about 4 cm and inner circle is about 2.8 cm.  It is usually struck on the stamp.  Another never seen mark is "Yangon CME" mark (Fig 4), usually struck on the back of the cover.  CME here stands for Central Mail Exchange, which used to be known as Sorting.  "Yangon-CME" mark is struck in black.  Its format is a double circle with the date in the center.  Its outer diameter is around 3.5 cm and inner diameter is around 2.5 cm.  

Fig 2: Foreign Post mark

Fig 3: Foreign Air Mail postmark

Fig 4: Yangon-CME postmark

It is not found on the covers sent from the Mayangon Post Office and Bayint Naung Market Post Office which are in Yangon region.  I found these marks on the covers sent from Nyaung Oo, Bagan, Pyin Oo Lwin, and Chaung Thar Post Offices.

To reference this article, please cite:

Toe Kyaw Kyar, "New issues and developments: Foreign Post cancellation, Yangon-CME postmark", The Burma Fantail, Vol. 12, No. 2, Whole Number 44, pp. 20-21, April 2015.