Postcard Story : The Burmese dwarf "Smaun Sing Hpoo"

Smaun Sing Hpoo is noted as "the smallest athlete in the world" by the Dakota Farmers' Leader and "the smallest most perfectly formed man in the world". Smaun Sing Hpoo is 34 inches tall, 20 pounds weighted and an expert gymnast. His chest measures 22.5 inches and his hip measures also 22.5 inches. He was born on 6 Sep 1883 in Mergui, British Burma. He has one sister who is also dwarf and three brothers who are at normal sizes [5].

Smaun Sing Hpoo

Smaun (left) and Fatma (right) standing next to a champagne bottle. Artwork from the 19th volume (first period of 1897) of the French popular science weekly 'La Science Illustree'.

The arrival of he and his sister (Fatma Sing Hpoo) to Europe and their trips were comprehensively traced in the work done by Louis Takacs [6].  During 1900-1902, they are in US as non-immigrant aliens.  They then toured Europe before arriving in New York in 1905.  According to the manifest of S.S. St. Louis ship on which Smaun boarded, destined to US, he is unmarried in 1905. 

They performed at Hammerstein's Victoria Theater on 42nd Street.  Fatma Sing Hpoo is also a dwarf, weighted 15 pounds and is 28 inches height.  She is two years older than Smaun.  The Daily News - Democrat newspaper published about the Sing Hpoo in [4].  This is one year before the Fatma's death and her weight and height are noticeably lower.

Newspaper Cutout

Fatma and Smaun performed at many shows.  There are some records on their performances at Birmingham Hippodrome history website.

• Fatma and Smaun Sing Hpoo – The Indian Pygmies- the smallest coloured midgets living from 24 Dec to 29 Dec 1900 at Birmingham Hippodrome
• Fatma and Smaun Sing Hpoo - 'The Burmese Midgets' from 29 Dec 1902 to 3 Jan 1903 [Fatma passed away on 29 Dec] at Old Opera House Building
• Smaun Sing Hpoo – ‘the famous Burmese Midget – age 22 years; height 34 ins; weight 18lbs’ from 27 Feb to 4 Mar 1905 at Birmingham Hippodrome.  Smaun Sing Hpoo does a clever act conducting a band and finishing with an acrobatic turn.
• Smaun Sing Hpoo - 'The Burmese Balancing Marvel' in Apr 1910 at Birgmingham Hippodrome
• Smaun Sing Hpoo – ‘Ring Performer’ from 21 Nov to 26 Nov 1910 at Birmingham Hippodrome

Newspaper advertisement of programme which includes Sing Hpoos performance

The Royaume de Lilliput, Paris, France." New York Times (1857-1922) 10 April 1910, p.55 . Source [6]

Fatma died at the age of 22, at the Crosby House on 29 Dec 1902 and they were there for the exhibition.  According to [3], the information about her final time can be found in Dec 30 issue of San Francisco newspaper.

Sing Hpoo can speak English well, German fluently and French slightly, while Burmese is his native.He is noted as a big eater with respect to his body size.  He can eat just as much as any ordinary man.  He likes to eat three to four eggs during breakfast.  He can swallow a couple of dozen oysters at a sitting.  He eats a large quantity of meat but is not found of potatoes or other vegetables.

Although Sing Hpoo is a Burmese, he spent most of his time in Western countries.  I do not observe any of postcard with his picture, published by Burmese postcard publishers of that time.

Newspaper cutout of [5]

There is no records found on the death of Smaun Sing Hpoo, but found one record he is still acting the performance at his age of 31.  He may quite live longer than that.

References
[1] "Is the Tiniest Gymnast", Dakota Farmers' Leader, 7 Jul 1905, Page 3.
[2] Thant Myint Oo, The Burmese dwarft "Smaun Sing Hpoo", The lost footsteps of Burma, retrieved from https://lostfootsteps.org/en/history/the-burmese-dwarf-smaun-sing-hpoo on 4 Mar 2020.
[3] Paul, "The Mysterious Little Stone", Rediscovering Southeast Taxes, retrieved from https://www.rediscoveringsetx.com/2014/02/26/the-mysterious-little-stone/ on 4 Mar 2020.
[4] "The Atoms of Humanity", The Daily News = Democrat, Huntington, Indiana, 21 Jan 1902, Page 3.
[5] "Smaun Sing Hpoo, Tiny Burmese, Smallest Man in the World", Albuquerque Evening Citizen, New Mexico, Vol 19 No 292, 20 Nov 1905, Page 2.
[6] Louis Takacs, "Two Extremes", LET ME GET THERE, Retrieved from https://scalar.usc.edu/works/let-me-get-there/two-extremes on 4 Mar 2020.

Peasants' Day Prepaid Postcards

In 1960s, Myanmar Post issued several prepaid postcards.  The postcards are prepaid by meter franks of 5 Pyas or hand stamp "Postage Paid".  2nd March is commemorated as the Peasants' Day in Myanmar. In this post, I would like to share some prepaid postcards issued for the Peasants' day.

1966

1967

1968

1969

1970

Dr Prakob's visit to Myanmar Philatelic Society

Dr Prakob Chirakiti, FIP Vice President and FIAP President visited Myanmar Philatelic Society on 20 Feb 2020.  It is a remarkable and historic event in Myanmar Philatelic History.   It is the visit of high ranking official from FIP and FIAP for the first time ever in history.  The meeting was held at Mya Kan meeting room, Sagawa meeting space, No 587, 2nd Floor, The Gegency Offices, Pyay Road, Kamayut Township, Yangon.

Invitation Card

Total attendees exceeded 30 person, many enthusiastic collectors from Yangon turned up.  The executive Ko Sein Min from MPS Mandalay chapter also came all the way to Yangon for this meeting.  The meeting started at 2 PM with the networking and introduction session. MPS President gave a welcome speech followed by Dr Prakob's speech on future collaboration between FIAP and its member federation MPS.  And then, MPS Treasurer Ko Aung Kyaw Tun presented the presentation on 'Recent Philatelic Development in Myanmar'.  Then all the attendees took a coffee break.  

Standing - U Than Shwe, U Khin Maung Than, U Naing Win, U Sein Min, U Thein Tun Kyaw, U Myint Thein Tun, U Sun Myint Win, U Maw Lwin Sein, U Myo Thant, U Hla Tun, U Tin Hlaing, U Win Naing, U Ye Min Thu, U Aung Win Tun, U Myo Oo
Sitting - U Aung Kyaw Tun, U Khin Maung Yee, U Sitt Aung, Daw April Myint, Dr Prakob Chirakiti, U Mya Thaung, U Thein Hlaing, Dr Kyaw Myint Maung, U Bo Bo, U Toe Kyaw Kyar, U Wint Khine

After the coffee break, the session resumed.  Commentary and questions were raised on the subject matter of further development of Philately in Myanmar.  After the discussions, Dr Prakob and MPS president U Mya Thaung exchanged the gifts.  MPS Vice President U Sit Aung delivered the Thank you speech to conclude the meeting.  The meeting ended at 4:20 after the group photo session.

Dr Prakob and Ko Toe

After the meeting, Dr Prakob and MPS excos headed to Golden Duck restaurant, Kandawmin Garden for the networking dinner hosted by MPS Excos.  12 Attendees attended the dinner.  All MPS members and excos had a wonderful day of exchanging opinion, new friendship and knowledge.  MPS acknowledged Dr Prakob for his time and dedication to make this meeting happened.  And MPS hoped Dr Prakob also have a pleasant stay in Yangon.

 

The report is published in FIAP News.  Please browse this post for more details.

24-HOUR Delivery Service, 1993

In January 1993, the mails of Yangon addressed to Yangon area were struck with 24 Hour Delivery hand stamp.  But the hand stamp were also recorded on the mail from outside of Yangon. 

The example below was posted on 16 Aug 1993, from YANGON GPO to BOTATAUNG.  The cover was struck with “24 Hour Delivery” hand stamp in Burmese.  It was delivered in the morning of 17 Aug 1993, within 24 hour as promised.

There was no surcharge for faster delivery service.  It is the effort of Myanmar Post to make sure speedy delivery.  Another example below was sent on 19 Aug 1996, from YANGON GPO to AHLONE, it was also delivered in the morning of 20 Aug 1996, still in 24 hour time set.

Second Time Delivery service in 1990

Starting from 19 Feb 1990, Yangon GPO delivered mails two times.  The mails arriving for evening delivery were stuck with the “Second Time Delivery” hand-stamp before going out for delivery.  The hand-stamp was in use until May 1992.

The following cover was posted on 5 Mar 1992, at YANGON GPO addressed to KANDAWGALAY. Mail was delivered in the evening of 5 Mar 1992, same day as posted.  Hand-stamped “Second Time Delivery” in Burmese was applied at Yangon GPO.

Even though there is such hand-stamp for evening delivery, there was no “Morning Delivery” or “First Time Delivery” hand-stamp or postal marking.  The mails were processed as usual. The following example was sent on 28 Feb 1992, from BUTHIDAUNG to LATHA ~ YANGON and it was delivered on 4 Mar 1992, from YANGON GPO 2PM.  Only one day difference from the cover displayed above. It is delivered without any additional marking assuming that mail was in first delivery.

Reference: Khin Tun (Yangon), "Rangoon 'Second Time Delivery' handstamp", The Burma Peacock, Vol 11, No 1, Page 10-11, Spring 1990.

Large Registration Labels (1993-1996)

From Dec 1993, 10 cm x 10 cm sized registration label is started to use at Yangon GPO.  The labels are printed in black and white.  The registration fee for overseas mail is 9 Kyats at that time.    The GPO staff sell the registration labels at 1 Kyat each.  The following cover was sent on 22 Dec 1993, from YANGON GPO to ITALY.  Meterfranked 14.50 Kyats.  Original label is used and paid for it.  It is also the early usage of such label.  On the label, post office staff write down the total cost of posting.

Such label is used only at Yangon GPO, and are not used on inland registered mails.  To avoid 1 Kyat for registration label surcharge, some people used photocopies of labels.  The following cover shows the example of registered mail that used photocopied label.  It was sent on 22 Dec 1993, from YANGON GPO to SINGAPORE.  13 Kyats adhesives affixed on reverse.

Yangon GPO then introduced a violet hand stamp showing “G.P.O” in a box of 25 mm x 10 mm for validation.  On the cover shown below, which was sent on 11 Oct 199x, YANGON GPO to SINGAPORE.  Original Registration label is with violet hand stamp.

Some people soon reproduced the violet hand stamp and evaded the 1 Kyat surcharge yet again.  Hence, the labels were printed in blue as a precaution against photocopying.  The label used on the cover below is printed in blue.  The mail was sent on 23 Jun 1995, from YANGON GPO to U.S.A.  16.50 adhesive applied.

This label is supposed to use only on foreign mails. Following inland registered mail was sent on 12 Jul 1996, YANGON GPO to PANBEDAN.  The mailer apparently approached to Foreign Mail Department and send the inland letter. The sender’s address is written as 

U San Loon

Foreign Mail Department

Yangon GPO

Starting from 1996, the label purchase goes to the staffs of the post office.  On the reverse, 2 Kyats adhesive is affixed, where postage costs 0.50 Kyats and registration fee costs 1.50 Kyats.  Label fee 1.00 Kyat was paid in cash to PO staff.

Colored small registration labels were introduced on 1 Apr 1996.  Even though new labels were introduced, these large labels were still in used until 1999.  No usage example beyond 1999 was recorded.

Reference: Aung Myint, Khin Tun, T.A. Mickey, "Changing Registration Practices in Myanmar, ca. 1994-96", The Burma Peacock, Vol 17, No 3, Page 59-64, Fall 1996.

Different Posting Box Types used in Myanmar

When I travel around Myanmar, I visited post offices in cities, towns and villages.  I have seem different types of posting boxes used at different post offices.  Some post offices are still using posting boxes British colonial time.  This post is to list down different types of posting boxes and share with readers.  Enjoy!

Wall-fitted posting box

Wall fitted posting box.  (Chauk PO)

The posting box is embedded in the post office wall.

Wall fitted posting box (Yangon GPO)

Wall fitted posting box (Mandalay GPO)

Hanging Type

Cylindrical posting box (Poppa PO)

Rectangular box type 1 (Ngaphechaung PO)

Rectangular box type 2 (Heho PO)

Rectangular with semi-circular arch box (Yangon Air Port)

Standing

Cylindrical Type (NyaungShwe PO)

Rectangular Type (Bagan PO)

Rectangular with semi-circular arch type (Kamayut PO)

Rectangular Japanese type (Kamayut PO)