Tuesday, 28 July 2009
Postmarks of Malaysia 050
Monday, 27 July 2009
2005 Bird Definitives 30 sen - 2009/4
The serial number for 30 sen bird defintive is now 2009/4........
Sunday, 26 July 2009
Friday, 24 July 2009
Thursday, 23 July 2009
Malaysia 2009 - Tuber Plants
Pos Malaysia released tuber plant stamps on July 23, 2009. The stamp issue contains four stamps (two types of each of 30 sen and 50 sen) and a miniature sheet (RM3). Five tuber plants appear on the stamps and miniature sheet, i.e. sweet potato, cassava, yam bean, yam and cocoyam. The stamps and miniature sheet are printed with unwatermarked paper and flourescent makred with Pos Malaysia logo of that of the palm tree stamps.
cassava (Manihot esculenta)
sweet potato Ipomoea batatas
yam (Dioscorea alata)
yam bean (Pachyrrhizus erosus)
cocoyam (Colocasia esculenta)
Wednesday, 22 July 2009
Storing Collection
Tropical rainforest enchants the wild beauty of Malaysia, and foriegn tourists are always impressed by the tranquility and freshness of Malaysian forest. For stamp collectors, however, the tropical rainforest does not seem to be a good thing because the presence of tropical rainforest is always associated with high humidity. Stamp toning is one of the most headache problems for collectors, and high humidity seems to attribute to this problem. Therefore, collecting and keeping stamps in good condition is always a challenging task in Malaysia. The humidity in Malaysia ranges from 70 to 90% with average 84% throughout the year!
I have developed my own way of storing my stamps and covers. I reduce the humidity of the storing space with recylced silica gel. It costs RM50-60 for a kilogram of recycled silica gel. The silica gel is blue colour when it is in dry condition. It slowly changes to pink colour by absorbing moist from surrounding. When the silica gel turns pink, I will dry it in an oven (dedicate a small oven for drying silica gel only, and do not use this oven for cooking food). The pink colour will slowly turns blue again when the silica gel is being dried. Once in blue, the silica gel is readily to be used again.
silica gel in dry condition - blue colour
silica gel saturated with moist - pink colour
In Malaysia, if the blue silica gel is left on the table it will turn pink colour in just half a day. This indicates the high humidity in the surrounding atmosphere. It will be costly and tiring to keep on recycling silica gel frequently. Therefore, I put my collection in airtight plastic containers. These airtight plastic containers come in different sizes to cater different items (FDC, stockbook, envelop, stock card etc.). When the silica gel is put inside the plastic container, it only absorbs moist within the compartment of the plastic container, and this will prolong the saturation period. Therefore, the frequency of recycling silica gel could be reduced. One more good thing of keeping collection in airtight container is keep pest insects away from your precious collection.
airtight plastic containers come with different sizes
I have been using this method for more than ten years, and the collection seem to be well managed.
I have developed my own way of storing my stamps and covers. I reduce the humidity of the storing space with recylced silica gel. It costs RM50-60 for a kilogram of recycled silica gel. The silica gel is blue colour when it is in dry condition. It slowly changes to pink colour by absorbing moist from surrounding. When the silica gel turns pink, I will dry it in an oven (dedicate a small oven for drying silica gel only, and do not use this oven for cooking food). The pink colour will slowly turns blue again when the silica gel is being dried. Once in blue, the silica gel is readily to be used again.
In Malaysia, if the blue silica gel is left on the table it will turn pink colour in just half a day. This indicates the high humidity in the surrounding atmosphere. It will be costly and tiring to keep on recycling silica gel frequently. Therefore, I put my collection in airtight plastic containers. These airtight plastic containers come in different sizes to cater different items (FDC, stockbook, envelop, stock card etc.). When the silica gel is put inside the plastic container, it only absorbs moist within the compartment of the plastic container, and this will prolong the saturation period. Therefore, the frequency of recycling silica gel could be reduced. One more good thing of keeping collection in airtight container is keep pest insects away from your precious collection.
I have been using this method for more than ten years, and the collection seem to be well managed.
Tuesday, 21 July 2009
Monday, 20 July 2009
Malaysia Postmark 049
The below is a postmark from Kuala Lumpur Mail Centre. This postmark is a new design for the mail centre. The old postmark from mail centre carried the word "KUALA LUMPUR" but not the word "PUSAT MEL KUALA LUMPUR". It is quite hard to receive letter with nice and clear postmark from Kuala Lumpur Mail Centre. I think I am lucky to receive one :)
Pusat Mel Kuala Lumpur M6, Wilayah Persekutuan KL; date: July 17, 2009
Sunday, 19 July 2009
Belarus - Fluorescent Marking
Belarus bird definitive stamps have beautiful fluorescent marking............
Thailand - Fluorescent Marking
Flourescent mark has been used as a security measure for printing of stamps for many countries. A paper money detector (ultra violet light) will be enough to view these spectacular markings on stamps.
Thai Post uses fluorescent marking on her frama stamps/labels. The marking is logo of Thai Post. Showing below are two different fluorescent markings on these frama stamps/labels.
one big Thai Post logo appears on the stamp/label under uv light
two small Post logos appear on the stamp/label under uv light
Thai Post uses fluorescent marking on her frama stamps/labels. The marking is logo of Thai Post. Showing below are two different fluorescent markings on these frama stamps/labels.
Friday, 17 July 2009
Thursday, 16 July 2009
Wednesday, 15 July 2009
Garden Flower State Definitives - Negeri Sembilan
I checked the webpage of Pos Malaysia on the latest status of stamp issuing schedule. To my surprise, the stamp issuing schedule has been revamped totally after the issue of traditional houses (date of issue: July 9, 2009). One particular stamp issue attracted my attention is the garden flower state definitive series collection. This issue was initially scheduled on September 9, 2009. However, the latest stamp issuing schedule indicates the change of date to November 9, 2009. If one looks carefully the latest stamp issuing schedule, a new entry has been added to the schedule on October 26, 2009 - Installation of DYMM Tuanku YDPB Negeri Sembilan.
What do all these imply? Well, my speculation is simple. The portrait of new ruler of Negeri Sembilan will appear on the garden flower state definitive series collection! However, before the new portrait can be used, the new state ruler needs to be installed first! That is the most likely reason why the garden flower state definitive series collection has to be delayed to a later date (November 9, 2009), and the installation of Negeri Sembilan state ruler must take place first (October 26, 2009).
Actually, the original garden flower state definitive issue was released on December 31, 2007. At that time the ruler of Negeri Sembilan was Tuanku Ja'afar Ibni Almarhum. Therefore, the portrait of Tuanku Ja'afar Ibni Almarhum appeared on the Negeri Sembilan state garden flower definitive stamps (see below stamp image). However, his majesty passed away on December 27, 2008. The new ruler of Negeri Sembilan is Tuanku Muhriz Ibni Almarhum. So, the Negeri Sembilan stamps in the garden flower state definitive series collection (will be released on November 9, 2009) are most likely to have the portrait of Tuanku Muhriz Ibni Almarhum while the other stamps in the series collection will remain the same as those original ones. If so, the Negeri Sembilan stamps will be considered as new stamps.
Negeri Sembilan garden flower definitive (5 sen lotus) with portrait of Tuanku Ja'afar Ibni Almarhum
What do all these imply? Well, my speculation is simple. The portrait of new ruler of Negeri Sembilan will appear on the garden flower state definitive series collection! However, before the new portrait can be used, the new state ruler needs to be installed first! That is the most likely reason why the garden flower state definitive series collection has to be delayed to a later date (November 9, 2009), and the installation of Negeri Sembilan state ruler must take place first (October 26, 2009).
Actually, the original garden flower state definitive issue was released on December 31, 2007. At that time the ruler of Negeri Sembilan was Tuanku Ja'afar Ibni Almarhum. Therefore, the portrait of Tuanku Ja'afar Ibni Almarhum appeared on the Negeri Sembilan state garden flower definitive stamps (see below stamp image). However, his majesty passed away on December 27, 2008. The new ruler of Negeri Sembilan is Tuanku Muhriz Ibni Almarhum. So, the Negeri Sembilan stamps in the garden flower state definitive series collection (will be released on November 9, 2009) are most likely to have the portrait of Tuanku Muhriz Ibni Almarhum while the other stamps in the series collection will remain the same as those original ones. If so, the Negeri Sembilan stamps will be considered as new stamps.
Tuesday, 14 July 2009
Monday, 13 July 2009
Sunday, 12 July 2009
Saturday, 11 July 2009
Friday, 10 July 2009
Postmarks of Malaysia 048
Thursday, 9 July 2009
Malaysia 2009 - Traditional Houses
Pos Malaysia released her 8th stamp issue on July 9, 2009 on theme of traditional houses. Altogether 16 different stamps with denomination 50 sen each (face value for one single set is RM8) are printed in a single sheetlet. This issue is one of the most expensive commemorative stamp sets Pos Malaysia has ever issued. SPM watermarked paper was used in the printing of the stamps. The 16 stamps portraying 16 traditional houses were issued as follow:
1) Malaya traditional house - Selangor
2) Dusun lotus traditional house - Sabah
3) Kutai house - Perak
4) Twelve pillars house - Kelantan
5) Iban long house - Sarawak
6) Semai house - Pahang
7) Limas house - Johor
8) Long house - Kedah
9) Limas bungkus house - Terengganu
10) Adat Minangkabau house - Negeri Sembilan
11) Elephant milking verandah house - Pulau Pinang
12) Long roofed house - Perak
13) Melaka Malay house - Melaka
14) Bajau Laut house - Sabah
15) Verandah house - Pahang
16) Bidayuh headhouse - Sarawak
1) Malaya traditional house - Selangor
2) Dusun lotus traditional house - Sabah
3) Kutai house - Perak
4) Twelve pillars house - Kelantan
5) Iban long house - Sarawak
6) Semai house - Pahang
7) Limas house - Johor
8) Long house - Kedah
9) Limas bungkus house - Terengganu
10) Adat Minangkabau house - Negeri Sembilan
11) Elephant milking verandah house - Pulau Pinang
12) Long roofed house - Perak
13) Melaka Malay house - Melaka
14) Bajau Laut house - Sabah
15) Verandah house - Pahang
16) Bidayuh headhouse - Sarawak
Wednesday, 8 July 2009
Tuesday, 7 July 2009
Monday, 6 July 2009
A Busy Registered Cover
Below is an ordinary registered cover sent from Sungei Siput (Perak) to Bangi (Selangor) on October 1, 1993. Two definitive stamps ($1 and 30c) were used on the cover indicating the postage of 30c (basic rate for letter weighed 10g) and registration fee $1. Nevertheless, the back of the cover is more interesting...... the postmarks at the back of the cover indicate that this registered cover had stayed at six post offices on its journey to the receiver!
1) Sungei Siput K; date: October 1, 1993
2) Ipoh P1; date: October 1, 1993
3) Kuala Lumpur P20; date: October 2, 1993
4) Ulu Langat M; date: October 2, 1993
5) Kajang K; Date: October 4, 1993
6) Universiti Kebangsaan P1; date: October 5, 1993
1) Sungei Siput K; date: October 1, 1993
2) Ipoh P1; date: October 1, 1993
3) Kuala Lumpur P20; date: October 2, 1993
4) Ulu Langat M; date: October 2, 1993
5) Kajang K; Date: October 4, 1993
6) Universiti Kebangsaan P1; date: October 5, 1993
