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 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)
The seventh stamp of the festivals series is for the month of Waso and
it was issued on 2 Jul. It is the 1st Waxing of Waso. On the first day of issue, 1200 FDCs were cancelled and sold at Mandalay GPO.
The month of Waso (July) is the fourth month of traditional
Burmese calendar. In the ancient time, the Buddhist ordination ceremonies and noviciation ceremonies are held throughout the nation. It is also the first month of the three-month annual retreat observed by Theravada monks and practitioners. The stamp on the card featured Waso's seasonal flower Ponenyat [Alexandrian laurel] and Buddhist Ordination Festival.
Stamp design
The scientific name of the Ponenyat flower is Calophyllum inophyllum. As I reported in here, the name is replaced with the common name.
Technical Details of Stamps
Date of Issue : 2 Jul 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 sixth stamp of the festivals series is for the month of Nayon and
it was issued on 3 Jun. It is the 1st Waxing of Nayon.
The month of Nayon (June) is the third month of traditional
Burmese calendar. During this month, national Pariyatti Sasana
Examinations for Buddhist monks are held countrywide. The exams were held
since the time of the Burmese Kings. The exam includes written test and
viva voice. The stamp on the card featured June's seasonal flower Sabei [Jasminum
Arborescens Robx] and religious exam festival.
Stamp design
Technical Details of Stamps
Date of Issue : 3 Jun 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 fifth stamp of the festivals series is for the month of Kason and
it was issued on 4 May. It is the 1st Waxing of Kason.
Kason (May) is the second month of the Burmese lunar calendar. As it
falls in the middle of summer, the water in ponds and lakes reduces to
its lowest level. Burmese celebrates by pouring water at the holy Bodhi
tree where the Buddha enlightened to keep it green. The stamp for the
month of Kason featured its seasonal flowers Sagarwar [Michelia Champaca]
and Bodhi Tree watering festival.
Stamp design
Public Announcement
Technical Details of Stamps
Date of Issue : 4 May 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 fourth stamp of the festivals series is for the month of Tagu and
it was issued on 5 Apr. It is the 1st Waxing of Tagu. One empty first day cover was sold at 200 Kyats.
The stamp for the month of Tagu featured its seasonal flowers Padauk [Pterocarpus macrocarpus] and Gantgaw [Mesua ferrea] and water festival. Burmese New Year festival, known as Thingyan, is held in the month of Tagu (April). It celebrates over a period of four to five days. People splashes water at one another during the celebration and it means washing away one’s sins of the previous year.
Stamp design
Newspaper announcement
Though the stamp depicts two flowers, the actual seasonal flower is Gantgaw flower according to Burmese old literatures. But, Padauk is well known and famous these days and treated as de facto national flower. So, after rounds of discussions and design drafts, Myanmar Post recommended to design with two flowers.
Technical Details of Stamps
Date of Issue : 5 April 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 third stamp of the festivals series is for the month of Tabaung and
it was issued on 6 Mar. It is the 1st Waxing of Tabaung, first day of
the month of Tobodwe.
The stamp for the month of Tabaung featured its seasonal flower Tharaphi [Calophyllum inophyllum] as depicted on stamp and sand pagodas (stupa) festival. Sand stupa festival is held in Tabaung (March) which is the last month on traditional Burmese calendar.Sand stupas are built by piling up the clean and white sand, shaped using bamboo frames, decorated with umbrella crown and paper banners to be look like with an actual stupa.
Stamp design
Newspaper announcement
One unintentional mistake on this stamp design is the scientific name of the Tharaphi flower. The actual name for Tharaphi is Calophyllum amoenum. But it was mistakenly labeled as Calophyllum inophyllum which is actually Ponenyat flower. For this reason, the flower's scientific name on the stamp for the month of Waso was replaced with its common name "Alexandrian laurel" which is noticeably not italicized.
Technical Details of Stamps
Date of Issue : 6 March 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)
