Two Covers from Thailand

Phetchaburi; date: May 19, 2010

An Aerogramme from Jersey

I am delighted to receive an aerogramme from a small country - Jersey. The aerogramme was sent on May 21, 2010.

Stamp Design I

Sometimes we comment the stamp design on the stamps acquired by us. We want to feel good or contented to spend good money on good stamp design. One definitely feels bad and grumbles if the stamp design is not good, and it becomes worse if the denomination of the stamp is not low. Of course, different people have different opinions/tastes on stamp design. What is a good stamp design for one person is not neccessary good for the other persons. Well, beauty is always subjective.

Anyway, I particularly fancy the design of a Great Britain stamp set issued on June 23, 1998 to commemorate 50th Anniversary of National Health Service. The design inspires me alot in many ways. The design has the elements of simplicity, creativity and EMOTION. I feel warm by looking straight into the stamps - caring and love. Believe it or not, all these are acheived only by two hands! So, the morale of the story is you don't need complicated pictures/images to make a good stamp design...... hehehehehe


two hands forming a heart with the message "10,000 donors give blood everyday"
an adult hand clasping a child hand with the message "1,700,000 prescriptions dispensed everyday"
two hands form a cradle with the message "2,000 babies delivered every day"
taking pulse with the message "130,000 hospital outpatients seen everyday"

Subsidy Cutting - In the Perspectives of Philately

The Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Idris Jala alerted the public two days ago that the Malaysian government will look into the gradual removal of subsidy for various commodities (of course this includes the petrol). I am no an economist, but my immediate instict is to tell me that the life in front of us is getting tough. I will view this coming event in the perspectives of philately.

Cutting/removing subsidies meaning the commodities will become more expensive. This in turn will of course translate into higher living cost - cosumers have to pay higher price for transport, food and almost everything. Stamp collectors are no spare of the chain effect as the increase is on daily spending. There will be some collectors (poor ones) have to stop collecting because they don't have anymore extra money for stamps. There will be also some collectors (not too poor ones) will have to reduce the amount of spending on stamps. Of course, they will be rich collectors whom they won't be much affected by this coming event. On the other hand, the stamp dealers will also not be spared if their main customers are of local. Pos Malaysia may have to reduce the printing quantity of each issue and may also have to look into the number of issues per year...... the philately in Malaysia is going to be tough, really tough.......

Personalised Stamp - New Format

I am not sure if you have noticed the new format of personalised stamp that has been released recently. Pos Malaysia issued a new format of personalised stamp (1-Malaysia stamp; denomination 30s) by removing the perforation between the stamp and tab. So, now the portrait is actually part of the stamp. The price of a stamp sheet (20 stamps) for this new format is RM19. I was just wondering if Pos Malaysia will re-denominate the 30s-stamp to a 60s-stamp after the postal tariff adjustment on July 1, 2010. If it does, then will the selling price for a sheet (20 pieces of 60s stamps) be still RM19? Something to ponder.........

I myself have not yet made the new format personalised stamp. I probably will just do one or two sheets (have to take into the consideration of the price.....hehehehehe) because it is unique that the personal portrait will be part of the stamps. Below is an order brochure/leaflet from Pos Malaysia for this new format personalised stamp.

What Will Be the Status of 2005 Bird Definitives?

The currently used bird definitive stamps have been around for just over five years (the bird definitives were issued on May 14, 2005). The collecting of serial numbers on the reprints of these bird definitives for denominations 20s, 30s, 50s, RM1 and RM5 has been very exciting. I think a handful of collectors really get involved in the serial numbers of the bird reprints. I am not sure how many of these collectors have a complete collection of all the serial numbers including the watermark and gum varities. I myself still have a few missing ones for the watermark varieties.

With the introduction of new national definitives (garden flowers) on July 1, 2010, the bird definitives will most likely be phased out, at least for the denominations 30s, 50s and RM1. However, the fate of the bird 20s and RM5 remains unclear because the new national definitives (garden flowers) do not have denominations 20s and RM5. In other words, the collecting of serial number for these bird definitives might still be continuing, but with slower rate. We serial number collectors for these bird definitives have not got over from the hangover yet.......... hehehehehe

2005 Bird Definitive 30 sen - 2010/1

The serial number for 30 sen bird defintive is now 2010/1......

Malaysia Stamp Issueing Programme For Year 2010 - Update

It has now gone into the month of May for year 2010, and Pos Malaysia has again altered/revised its stamp issueing programme 2010 for many times (click here to see the content of the very early programme). Here is the latest stamp issueing programme for year 2010:

1. Malaysian Currency - 18 Jan 2010
2. Malaysia-Korea Joint Issue (Tigers) - 23 Feb 2010
3. Ferns - 10 Mar 2010
4. Local Markets - 23 Mar 2010
5. Medical Excellence - 26 Apr 2010
6. Fireflies - 10 May 2010
7. Malayan Railway - 22 Jun 2010
8. National Definitive Series (Garden Flowers) - 1 Jul 2010
9. Threatened Habitats - 15 Jul 2010
10. Brave Warriors - 31 Jul 2010
11. Traditional Festival Food - 10 Aug 2010
12. Orang Asli Live Style - 27 Sep 2010
13. Post Offices - 9 Oct 2010
14. 35th Anniv. of Diplomatic Relationship of Malaysia-Nepal - Oct 2010
15. Heritage of Pahang - 24 Oct 2010
16. Malaysia-Iran Joint Issue - 10 Nov 2010
17. Traditional Games with Upin and Ipin - 13 Dec 2010

Pos Malaysia - Postal Tariff Revision

Pos Malaysia will revise its postal tariff on July 1, 2010. The postal tariff change only affects the domestic mail.

postcard - 20s (old); 30s (new)
standard mail <20g - 30s (old); 60s (new)
standard mail <50g - 40s (old); 70s (new)
non-standard mail <50g - 50s (old); 80s (new)
non-standard mail <100g - 75s (old); 90s (new)
non-standard mail <250g - RM1 (old); unchanged (new)
non-standard mail <500g - RM2 (old); unchanged (new)
non-standard mail <1kg - RM3.50 (old); unchanged (new)
non-standard mail <2kg - RM6 (old); RM5.50 (new)
parcel <1kg - RM2.50 (old); RM4.00 (new)
parcel <2kg - RM3.50 (old); RM5.50 (new)
parcel >2kg - RM3.50 + RM1/kg subsequently (old); RM5.50 + RM1.50/kg subsequently (new)

Apart from the postage increase, the registration fee for domestic registered mail will also be increased by 20s. So, the minimum cost to send a domestic registered mail will be RM2.20 (old rate is RM1.70).

Having said that, I'm learned that Pos Malaysia will be releasing new definitive stamps on July 1, 2010. Most likely eight denominations will be released: 30s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, RM1 and RM2. This is going to be hillarious for collectors in Malaysia!

An ATM Cover from Taiwan

Chunghwa Post released a new ATM label with motif of tung blossom on May 12, 2010. Below is a cover with the new ATM label (NT$ 13) sent on May 12, 2010 from post office at Ming Sen Road, Pingtung.

Domestic Registered Cover 043

PP K.K. Bharu K1, Selangor; date: May 11, 2010

A Cover from Faroe Islands

Topshavn, Foroyar; date: May 10, 2010

PAM Kuantan - First Day of Release

PAM label from machine 002 is located at GPO Kuantan. The first day of operation for the machine 002 was on March 12, 2010. Below are the PAM label produced/printed on March 12, 2010 and a PAM label cancelled on the first day of release. You may view the PAM label from machine 001 here.

Two Covers from Thailand

Below are two covers from Thailand sent from Phetchaburi on May 12, 2010.

Maxicards - Siberian Tiger II

I showed some maxicards on Siberian Tiger some time ago (click here to see the maxicards). Those maxicards were created using Malaysian stamps. Here are three maxicards on Siberian tiger as well, but they were created using Korean stamps.

Malaysia Postmarks 059

Here are some of the postmarks on Mel Rakyat. The Mel Rakyat was released on April 26, 2010. These postmark are of April 26, 2010.


Pusat Mel Kuala Lumur M6; date: April 26, 2010
Kuala Lumpur M5; date: April 26, 2010
Pusat Mel Kerajaan Putrajaya M1; date: April 26, 2010

Pos Laju Labels - Fragile

Parcels with fragile material sent by Pos Laju (expressed mail) will have a red label/sticker stuck on it. Below are two red labels/stickers of Pos Laju with word "Fragile". The small label/sticker is for small parcels..... of course, the large label/sticker is for large parcels :)


small label measuring at 30 mm x 15 mm

large label measuring at 80 mm x 121 mm

Postmark of China - Shanxi

Postmarks from China are always clear and nice. I really enjoy looking at these beautiful postmarks. Below are a small collection of postmarks from Shanxi province of China.