2011 - Personalized Stamps

Pos Malaysia released new personalized stamps on April 28, 2011. For the very first time Pos Malaysia issued official first day cover on personalized stamps. The new set of personalized stamps come in four different designs, two with denomination 35s and the other two with denomination 65s. These personalized stamps are printed in a sheet containing two full stamp sets (altogether eight stamps), and they are sold at face value for this special release (a single stamp sheet is sold at RM4). For this official release of the personalized stamps, Pos Malaysia places some nice graphic images on the customized part of the personalized stamps. It looks like the printing of these special graphic images on the customized part was done together at the same time of the printing of the whole personalized stamps. In other other words, these official personalized stamps are not similar to that of the normal personalized stamps where the customerized part (portrait/personal photo) is done separately using ink-jet colour printer. I personally think that these stamps (released on April 28, 2011 printed with special graphic images) are rather special stamps than personalized stamp. It is learnt that Pos Malaysia released/issued limited copy number of this official personalized stamp sheet. However, the single stamp sheet customized with personal portraits/photos will be released later, and most likely would be sold at RM19 or RM20 per sheet.

A Nice Registered Cover from Taiwan

Garden Flower Definitive Reprint 80 sen

I've got a special request from a regular visitor to my blog asking me to show the serial number and variety of the 80s Garden Flower Definitive reprint.... This reminds me the old and nostalgic TV show "YOU ASK FOR IT".... hehehehe

So far the 80s Garden Flower Definitive reprint has been printed in serial number 2010/1 and also without serial number. Apart from that, the 80s Garden Flower Definitive reprint also has two different formats - with border and without border. To make thing complicated, there are also two types of perforation for this 80s Garden Flower Definitive reprint - type I (P14x13.75) and type III (P14.75x14.5).

So, you may ask what are the combinations (serial number, border and perforation) for the 80s Garden Flower Definitive reprint available up to date. Well, there are so far only four combinations have been recorded:

i) Serial number 2010/1; with border; perf type I
ii) Serial number 2010/1; without border; perf type III
iii) Without serial number; without border; perf type I
iv) Without serial number; without border; perf type III

I have so far in my possession for three out of four combinations (see images below). How about you? Have you got all the four combinations?


Serial number 2010/1; with border; perf type I

Without serial number; without border; perf type I

Without serial number; without border; perf type III

Fruit Definitive (Starfruit) - Serial Number 2010/02

My goodness, the RM2 fruit definitive (starfruit) has not come to an end. The latest serial number for this RM2 definitive is 2010/02. I wrote something about this RM2 fruit definitive some time ago. You may click here to read the story.

Garden Flower Definitive 60 sen - 2011/1

Wow, the serial number for garden flower definitive 60 sen has reached 2011/1. Absolutely fabulous!

Thailand Cover

Singapore Stamp - Micro-printing

The below Singapore latest definitive stamp (45c) has micro-printing. The words "Ornate Coraltail" are printed on the wing of the damselfly.



The damselfly species depicted on the 45c-stamp is Ceriagrion cerinorubellum. Below is a photo showing Ceriagrion cerinorubellum in the same action as that of the 45c-stamp - having sexy fun.... hehehehehe

40th Anniversary of ASEAN

In 2007 ASEAN was celebrating its 40th Anniversay of existence. All the ten member countries of ASEAN released a set of stamps to commomerate this event. The design of the stamps is similar for all the issuing countries, 10 different designs with motif of buildings. All the ten member countries issued these stamp in format of block-of-10. The date of issue for these stamps varies from one country to the other. However, most the countries released these stamps on 8 August, 2007.


Brunei

Cambodia

Indonesia

Laos

Malaysia

Myammar

The Philippines

Singapore

Thailand

Vietnam

Two Covers from Thailand

Viewing Watermark

Majority of the recent Malaysia stamps are printed on watermarked paper. The watermark figure normally used on these stamps is of word "SPM". I wrote about SPM watermark some time ago, and you may click here to read about the story. Skilled collectors are able to view the SPM watermark easily by positioning a stamp or stamp sheet to a certain angle. Many collectors may use a watermark detector to view the watermark. However, the watermark detector could be expensive. Alternatively, one may view watermark by using money detector (uv light). SPM watermark can be easily viewed under uv light even the watermark is weak. If one showers uv light on the gum side of a stamp, the watermark will just stand up strikingly (see below photo).


the image of SPM view on the gum side of a stamp sheet under uv light (money detector)

2011 - Artifacts of National Heritage

Pos Malaysia released a set of 10 stamps on April 11, 2011. The title of the stamp issue is Artifacts of National Heritage. The stamps are printed in format of strip-of-5. Four strip-of-5 stamps (altogether 20 stamps) form a stamp sheet. So, there are two different stamp sheets for this issue. The stamp sheet with blue/grey background has SPM inverted watermark while the stamp sheet with brown/yellow background has SPM upright watermark.

Retour Cover - Japan

I also made a few retour covers from Japan. Japanese postal authority processes the retour covers with beautiful marks. These retour covers are beautiful, ain't they?

Retour Cover - Taiwan

I collect retour covers. I particularly like the retour covers from Taiwan because they contain beautiful marks. You can do yourself retour covers. These retour covers are just beautiful.


This cover was sent to Penghu from Malaysia on March 11, 2011, and the cover was later retoured to Malaysia.

This cover was sent to Nantou from Malaysia on September 12, 2009, and the cover was later retoured to Malaysia.

This cover was sent to Miaoli from Malaysia on December 17, 2009, and the cover was later retoured to Malaysia.

Agro Based Product - Wilayah Persekutuan 10s 2011/1

Agro Based Product state definitive stamps was released in 1986. After so many years in circulation, the 10s Agro Based Product definitive stamp for Wilayah Persekutuan has been reprinted for year 2011. My goodness, this state definitive has been around for 25 bloody years! I am totally speechless!

Surcharge Stamps

A surcharge is one type of overprint. A surcharge stamp is a postage stamp overprinted to alter its face value. There are a few reasons for a postal authority to produce surcharge stamps. For whatever reasons, surcharge is always done on surplus stamp stocks.

Pos Malaysia (previously known as Jabatan Perkhidmitan Pos) has not done any surcharge stamp as far as I remember. I like surcharge stamps as these stamps carry extra postal information. Thai Post has been doing surcharge stamps from time to time. Below are just a few surcharge stamps from Thai Post.


the original stamps were issued on December 14, 1994 with a face value of 2+1B. The stamps have been surcharged to 5B

the original stamp was issued on December 5, 1997 with a face value of 6B. The stamp has been surcharged to 10B.

the original stamp was August 28, 1997 with a face value of 6B. The stamp has been surcharged to 15B.

the original stamp was issued on July 19, 1998 with a face value of 6B. The stamp has been surcharged to 15B

Gorgeous Stamp Sheet - Continue

Some more gorgeous stamp sheets to show...... the below stamp sheets issued in 2001 were in the format of sheet-of-25.

Gorgeous Stamp Sheets

I just couldn't resist not to show these beautiful stamp sheets issued in 2004.

On the Move!

On the Move? Not me.... hehehehehe. Pos Malaysia is on the move!!!!! Pos Malaysia is re-introducing mobil post office (Pejabat Pos Bergerak) recently. These mobil post offices are vans (very sophiscated vehicles with internet connection) moving in the towns to provide postal services (including bill paying) to customers. These mobil post offices have unique postmarks. Showing below is a postmark from a mobil post office moving in Ipoh town.




Pos Malaysia (previously known as Jabatan Perkhidmatan Pos) provided mobil post office service some time ago, but it was terminated in 1980s. I believe that many young collectors might not have seen the appearance of old mobil post office. The below stamp (issued in 1978) shows the old mobil post office operating in 1970s - very nostalgic indeed.

Malaysia Stamp Sheet Again

The below stamp sheets on flowers issued in 2002 are truly gorgeous. I just couldn't resist not to show you these beauties, could I?

Taiwan Poeny ATM

Taiwan is one of the few countries always issue beautiful ATMs (frama labels). If not mistaken, Taiwan Post produces 2-3 ATM issues annually. Below are the ATM cover and ATMs on motif of poeny. These poeny ATMs were released on March 18, 2011. I wish Pos Malaysia could also produce beautiful ATMs not the ugly PAMs.