Flaw or Tear?

I found something interesting in recent ebay listing, the 5R value of 1946 King George VI stamp has obvious white strip.   The strip cross the King's face from nose to mouth.  It is unclear from the photo uploaded by the seller, but I tried my luck to explore more of the strip, flaw or tear.

When the item arrived to me, I takes the microscopic photos of it and did analysis.  Based on the close up photos, it is assumed as a flaw.  One more analysis to do is to use electronics watermark detector to check the thickness of the stamp paper.  If it has same thickness throughout the stamp, it can be confirmed that as a flaw.  The close up view is displayed below.

Burma Aerogramme found in BOAC "Comet - York Peter" Crash, 1954

The B.O.A.C flight 781 crashed near the Elba Island, Italy on 10 Jan 1954.  The comet was operating the flight from Singapore to London via Rome where it made a stop at 10:30 AM.  20 minutes after take off, from Ciampino airport, the aircraft crashes take place when the Comet broke up in the air, near the Elba island.  All occupants were killed in the accident. 

  

The following day postal bags were recovered by a fishing boat and taken to Genoa by the steamer “Persia”.  The recovered mail bears several different cachets depending on the destination. Covers and aerogrammes sent from Burma to UK were found in these mails.  The aerogramme highlighted below is sent from Rangoon addressed to Scotland.

7 Jan 1954, RANGOON to SCOTLAND. Backstamped London 30 Jan 1954.

Cachet in Red

 

Unrecorded International Reply Coupons

More types of International Reply Coupons for Burma, previously unrecorded, continue to be discovered. Fantail 30 recorded a 4 annas value, and Fantail 54 recorded a 62 pyas value IRC. In a recent auction, a new type of 4 annas IRC has been found, and a 50 pyas coupon, which is an unrecorded value, has also been found. According to the auction catalog, the 4 annas value IRC type B was issued in April 1947, and the 50 pyas value IRC was issued in November 1958. The list of recorded ICR types is extended.

Toe Kyaw Kyar, "Notes & queries: Unrecorded International Reply Coupons", The Burma Fantail, Vol. 15, No. 3, Whole Number 57, pp. 44-45, July 2018.

The 4 Annas Type B and 50 Pyas IRC were listed as uncut block of fours in Christoph Gärtner 40th Auction - Stamps (June 11th - 15th, 2018).  Minimum bid was set to 1000 Euro.  It's description stated "1947/1958. Lot of 2 different Intl. Reply Coupons (London type) each in an unused block of 4: one time "4 annas, issued April 1947", and one time "50 pyas, issued November 1958". Luxury quality. Collector's items from archives! (T)"

Thingyan Festival, new year for Burmese

Burmese new year starts from mid-April and celebration takes place four or five days.  It is known as Thingyan (Songkran in Thailand) and we splash water at others for the cleansing or purification of body.  For the purification of soul, we do good deeds like offering foods, taking care of elderly, setting animals free, etc. This year is 1380 in Burmese calendar, and new year starts from 17th April.  Ko Toe would like to take this opportunity to wish you all happy new year.

On this occasion, I want to share one postcard and postmark Myanmar Post produced for last year celebration.  The postcard was sold at Yasngon GPO on 4 April 2017, and pictorial cancellation was also provided.  Postmark did not specifically mention date.  The postmark shows atar-pot filled with seven kinds of flowers.

Yangon GPO cancellation

Mandalay GPO cancellation

One controversial issue here is the copyright of the design element in the postcard.  Ko Hlwann Hmi and I found out that the couple in the design is a creative artwork of Ko Aung Kyaw Khin, done in 2012.  We have checked with the owner of the artwork, and he said he is not informed by anyone for the usage on the postcard.  The original digital artwork is shown below.

Salay Post Office

Salay PO is located in Salay township, Magwe Division.  I visited on 31 Jan 2017.  It is grade 3 post office and its postal code is 04172.  Click the link for location on the map.   The postmark is not clear.  Post office manager and staff helped to get clear postmark but failed. The nearest tourist attraction is Salay Yoke Sone Kyaung, Shinbin Maha Laba Man temple, Shinbin Sar Gyo Hla temple and Salay House.

Salay PO

Registered from Salay PO.

70th Anniversary of Independence Day

Myanmar Post issued a set of three stamps for this year Independence Day.  As usual, Independence Day issue is the earliest issue of the year.  Three designs includes ceremonial barge at Inle lake, Myanmar traditional dance and orchestra, and children enjoying puppet show.

Stamp Set

Newspaper Appearances on 30 Dec 2017 (Myanma Alin, News Light of Myanmar, KyayMon)

Technical Details of Stamps

Date of Issue : 4 January 2018

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 : 300,000 pcs each design
Stamp Designers : Aung Kyi Myint (U Kyi Win) [Phaungdawoo Buddha Image at Inle Lake], Win Zaw Oo (Min Bu) [Enjoyable Village Night], Min Min Tun [Myanmar Traditional Dance]

First Day Covers 

FDC by Stamps Myanmar

FDC by Myanmar Philatelic Society (Limited edition of 700 covers)

FDC by KWK (Limited edition of 15 covers)

Official FDC 1 by Myanmar Post

Official FDC 2 by Myanmar Post

Official FDC 3 by Myanmar Post

First Day Cancellations of Yangon GPO, Naypyitaw CPO, and Mandalay GPO

Photos used in stamp design

70th anniversary of Russia-Myanmar Diplomatic Relation

Russia released the following pre-stamped envelope in 2018 to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the diplomatic relation between Russia and Myanmar.  The cachet shown on cover depicts flags of Russian Federation and Union of Myanmar.
Myanmar Post issued stamp on 65th anniversary of Myanmar-Russia Diplomatic Relation in 2013.  Whether Myanmar Post will release the stamp issue for this year is still in question.