2008 - Butterflies of Malaysia

Pos Malaysia released new stamps on topic of butterflies on 24 April 2004. Seven different stamps and one miniature sheet were released on this issue. The stamps consist of five types of 30 sen, one type each for 50 sen and RM1. The miniature sheet appears in a denomination of RM5. The species depicted on the stamps are smaller wood nymph (30 sen) , Malayan lacewing (30 sen), common rose (30 sen), blue grassy tiger (30 sen), green dragontail (30 sen), Malay red harlequin (50 sen), glorious begum (RM1) and five-bar swordtail (RM5). Stamps depicting smaller wood nymph, Malayan lacewing, Malay red harlequin and glorious begum were printed in a format of 20-stamp sheetlet. On the other hand, stamps depicting common rose, blue glassy tiger and green dragontail were only available from booklet. Smaller wood nymph and Malayan lacewing stamps were also available from the booklet. So, the booklet containing all the five 30 sen stamps.

The stamps are attractive, and I believe that it will be a hot issue for many collectors in Malaysia. I was told that the booklet was completely sold out on the first day of issue. Anyway, there is a mistake on this issue. All the stamps depict butterflies (not moths), and the word "butterflies" appearing on miniature sheet, booklet cover, first day cover and other printed materials is correct. Nevertheless, the word "rama-rama" (malay word) is incorrect. "Rama-rama" is moth! The correct translation for butterflies should be "kupu-kupu".

Smaller wood nymph (Ideopsis gaura perakana); available in sheetlet and booklet.

Malayan lacewing (Cethosia hypsea hypsina); available in sheetlet and booklet.

Common rose (Atrophaneura aristolochiae); available in booklet only.

Blue grassy tiger (Ideopsis vulgaris); available in booklet only.

Green dragontail (Lamproptera meges); available in booklet only
.

Malay red harlequin (Paralaxita damajanti damajanti); available in sheetlet.

Glorious begum (Agatasa calydonia calydonia); availbale in sheetlet.

Five-bar swordtail (Graphium antiphates)

The printing of these stamps in the format of 20-stamp sheetlet and booklet has created some varieties (different perforations and watermark) for these stamps.

Smaller wood nymph (30 sen):
i) perf 12 wmk sideway down (sheetlet)
ii) perf 13.5 wmk sideway down (sheetlet & booklet)
iii) perf 13.5 wmk sideway up (booklet)

Malay lacewing (30 sen):
i) perf 12 wmk sideway down (sheetlet)
ii) perf 12 but 13.5 at right vertical wmk sideway up (sheetlet)
iii) perf 13.5 wmk sideway down (sheetlet & booklet)
iv) perf 13.5 wmk sideway up (booklet)

Common rose (30 sen):
i) perf 13.5 wmk sideway down (booklet)
ii) perf 13.5 wmk sideway up (booklet)

Blue glassy tiger (30 sen):
i) perf 13.5 wmk sideway down (booklet)
ii) perf 13.5 wmk sideway up (booklet)

Green dragontail (30 sen):
i) perf 13.5 wmk sideway down (booklet)
ii) perf 13.5 wmk sideway up (booklet)

Malay red herlequin (50 sen):
i) perf 12 wmk sideway down (sheetlet)
ii) perf 12 but 13.5 at right vertical wmk sideway down (sheetlet)
iii) perf 13.5 wmk sideway down (sheetlet)

Glorious begum (RM1):
i) perf 12 wmk sideway down (sheetlet)
ii) perf 12 but 13.5 at righ vertical wmk sideway down (sheetlet)
iii) perf 13.5 wmk sideway down (sheetlet)