Too Hot to Handle......

I think year 2012 was started excellently for philately in Malaysia. The dragon miniature sheets (below image) issued on 12 January 2012 are so hot.... I mean really really hot. Stamp collectors in Malaysia have not seen for many years the enthusiasm of people (collectors and non-collectors) queuing up (very long queue) at post offices throughout the country to buy these miniature sheets. Many early birds went to post offices, but came back becoming angry birds as the miniature sheets were sold out early on the day of issue (within half an hour in some post offices).

The printing number for RM3 miniature sheet is 25,000 and RM5 miniature sheet is 20,000. At the GPO Kuala Lumpur, the RM3 miniature sheet has totally been sold out. However, there are still a few thousand of RM5 miniature sheet (at GPO Kuala Lumpur) to be sold later to SODA members ONLY. So, for those SODA members who are not able to buy the RM5 miniature sheet at the day of issue, they may order this RM5 miniature sheet by filling up special order form. Bear in mind also, there will be issue of annual book (for 2012) by Pos Malaysia later after completing all the stamp issues for year 2012, and the dragon miniatures should appear in the annual book. So, collectors are still able to get these dragon miniature sheets from Pos Malaysia much later.

Among the many countries issuing dragon stamps for year 2012, I personally think the dragon stamp from China is the most beautiful. The pair of dragon stamps (the two miniature sheets) of Malaysia is also one of the most beautiful ones, if it is not better than that of China.

I was learnt that Pos Malaysia has received many new application forms from collectors to become SODA members due to these dragon miniature sheets (these non-SODA members failed to get the miniature sheets on the day of issue). So, the philately of Malaysia started excellently for year 2012. I wish the dragon miniature sheets would bring some life to the dying hobby of stamp collecting in Malaysia.....