2004 - 30th Anniversary of Malaysia-China Diplomatic Relationships - Watermark Varieties

30th Anniversary of Malaysia-China Diplomatic Relationships

date of issue: 31 May 2004

Watermark Varieties

Based on my own collection, the 30s stamps have two types of watermark - sideway down and upright (click here to read about the SPM watermark of Malaysia stamps). According to a stamp catalogue, the sideway down watermark is more common than the upright watermark. On the other hand, the RM1 stamps in my collection are only in sideway down watermark. I am not sure if the RM1 stamps might also have upright watermark.

watermark: sideway down and upright

watermark: sideway down

Colour Shade - Silver Jubilee of the Reign of Sultan Perak 2009

The 50s of the Silver Jubilee of the Reign of Sultan Perak (date of issue: 3 February 2009 has different colour shade - one is light purple and the one is bluish purple. I am not sure which type is less common. 

30s Frog Stamp - Watermark Variety

The 30s frog stamp sheet shown below was issued on 3 May 2007. This 30s frog stamp has two types of perforation size - P12 and P13.5 (click here to see the post showing the perforation varieties of the frog stamps).  Apart from that, the 30s stamp also has two types of watermark - SPM sideway down and SPM sideway up (click here to read about the SPM watermark). The SPM sideway up is an uncommon type of watermark for this 30s frog stamp. I acquired the SPM sideway up 30s frog stamp long time ago from post offices. 

the stamps in this sheet have perforation size P12 and SPM sideway up watermark

Perforation - RM2 Garden Flowers 2012/1

Garden flower RM2 serial number 2012/1 comes in two different perforations - type I and type III.

You may click here to learn how to tell apart perforation types I and III for these garden flower definitive stamps.

left: perforation type I; right: perforation type III

Stamps of Malaysian Salad - Watermark

The stamps of Malaysian salad were released on 25 July 2013. The stamps were printed by Percetakan Keselamatan National, and they were printed on SPM watermarked paper (side way watermark). The stamp composition in a stamp sheet is unique - two stamps are positioned upright and the two stamps are positioned inverted - forming a plate shape composition. Therefore, each of the four stamps will have two types of watermark - SPM sideway up and SPM sideway down.

Kedah Exhibition Overprint Miniature Sheet

Kedah Postal History Exhibition was held on 20-22 March 2013 in Alor Setar, Kedah. Pos Malaysia released an overprint miniature sheet to commemorate the event.

There are two types of watermark on this overprint miniature sheet - SPM upright and SPM inverted. I am not sure which watermark type is less common. Have you got an answer for the rarity of the watermark varieties?

P/S: I was informed that the SPM inverted watermark variety is less common.

Premier School - 50s SMK Convent Bukit Nenas

The 50s SMK Convent Bukit Nenas stamp comes with two different watermark varieties - SPM sideway up (swu) and SPM sideway down (swd). The swd is less common than the swu. You may contact me, if you are interested in the swd variety. :)

Exotic Pets 60s Stamp - Perforation Variety

The 60s stamp of Exotic Pets issued on 5 February 2013 have two types of perforation size - P12 and P13.5. If you are not sure how to measure the perforation size of this stamp, you may just count the number of pin holes at the horizontal edge of the stamp. The stamp with perforation size 12 has 17 pin holes at the horizontal edge while the stamp with perforation size 13.5 has 19 pin holes at the horizontal edge. Now you may dig out your stamps and start counting to see if you have stamps with both of the perforation sizes. If you have not, then you may start hunting for it!

left: perforation size is 12; right: perforation size is 13.5

Fruit Definitive Mango RM10 - 2012/01

The serial number for fruit definitive Mango RM10 is now 2012/01. The colour control plate is no longer printed on the sheet margin. Colour control plate was present for earlier serial numbers. Click here to see those earlier serial numbers for RM10 Mango.

The RM10 Mango from serial number 2012/01 is a "NEW" stamp because it is different from those of serial numbers 2002/01 and 2003/1. The scientific name of mango is in italics (Mangifera odorata) for those of 2002/2 and 2003/1, but not in italics (Mangifera odorata) for 2012/01 (see below image for comparison).

the top stamp showing Mangifera odorata in italics font and the bottom stamp showing Mangifera odorata in normal font.

Agong Stamp - Different Colour Shades

Pos Malaysia released a set of three stamps on 11 April 2012 to commemorate the installation of XIV Agong. The stamps came with denominations 60s, 80s and RM1. The background colour of the 80s stamp is in blue. Different colour shades have been recorded for the 80s stamps. The normal background colour for the 80s stamp is dark blue. However, less common light blue has been recorded. The below image shows the obvious two different colour shades of the 80s stamp. I believe that other shades (between the two shades as shown at below image) may also occur.

left: less common light blue background; right: normal dark blue background

Currency Stamps - Varieties

The currency stamps issued on 16 July 2012 were printed on no-watermark paper. However, fluorescent mark was used as a security measure on these stamps. The fluorescent mark is of "T" motif. All the eight hexagon-shaped stamps are fluorescent marked. Due to the position of fluorescent mark on the stamp sheet, three fluorescent varieties have been created for each of the eight stamps - i) fluorescent mark on bottom, ii) fluorescent mark on top and bottom, iii) fluorescent mark on top - with a ratio of 2:1:2.

If you are a variety collector, you should make sure that you have all the fluorescent mark varieties in your collection.

left: stamp block viewed under normal light; right: stamp block viewed under ultra-violet light

Beta Fishes - Watermark and Perforation Varieties

The beta fish stamps were issued in 2003 (click here to see the stamp sheets). These stamps have a good number of perforation and watermark varieties. I am listing down those perforation and watermark varieties that I possess in my collection. I believe that there are more perforation and watermark varieties for these stamps. I am very happy to exchange with you on those varieties not in my collection.

For those not familiar with the watermark terminology used here, you may visit to my another entry on watermark here for explanation.

in my collection (30 sen):
P12; SPM sideway down
P12.5; SPM sideway down
P13.5; SPM sideway down

in my collection (50 sen):
P12; SPM sideway down
P13.5; SPM sideway down
P12; SPM sideway up reversed
P13.5; SPM sideway up reversed

in my collection (RM1 pair):
P12; SPM sideway down
P12.5; SPM sideway down
P13.5; SPM sideway down

Perforation and Watermark Varieties - Quails and Partridges 2001 - Revisit

I wrote some time ago about the challenging task on figuring out the number of varieties (watermark and perforation) for the stamp issue of Quials and Partridges released on January 22, 2001. You may click here to read the old entry. Until today, the number of varieties for these Quials and Partridges still remains uncertain. However, I am updating the varieties that I have in my collection. All this while, the watermark recorded for these stamps is SPM sideway down. However, someone told me that SPM sideway up watermark has been recorded for the denomination 30s. I am not sure how true is this information.


in my collection (30 sen):
P13.75 sideway down watermark
P13.75 no watermark
P14.25 sideway down watermark
P14.25 no watermark

in my collection (50 sen):
P13.75 sideway down watermark
P13.75 no watermark
P14.25 no watermark


in my collection (RM1):
P13.75 no watermark
P14.25 sideway down watermark
P14.25 no watermark

Garden Flower RM1 - 2011/2

The serial number for RM1 garden flower definitive now is 2011/2.

The RM1 stamp from this serial number (2011/2) is different from those of the previous two serial numbers (2010/1 and 2011/1). The difference is on the border of the stamp. The stamps from 2010/1 and 2011/1 have white border but the stamp from 2011/2 is without white border. So, the stamp from 2011/2 is a "new" stamp!

Visual Art 50s - Ring Flaws

The 50s stamp of the visual art set released in 2008 has a few ring flaws....

Virtue Stamp - Original vs Reissued

The virtue stamps issued on June 13, 2011 created a little storm because one of the stamps in the set portraying "THANK YOU" is controversial. The original print of the stamp contain Hindi language of THANK YOU while the re-issued print of the stamp contain Tamil language of THANK YOU. The reissued stamps were released on July 18, 2011.

original print

reissued print

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

Train MS - Watermark Varieties

The original print and the overprint (Bangkok 2010) of the train miniature sheet have two types of watermark - SPM upright and SPM inverted. For the original print miniature sheet, the upright watermark is less common. On the other hand, the inverted watermark is less common for the overprint miniature sheet. Have you got all the watermark varieties?


original print

overprint (Bangkok 2010)

Watermark Varieties of Malaysia Stamps 2010

The Malaysia recent stamps are full of watermark (SPM) variety. Some of these watermark varieties occur almost in equal number, and some of them happen to be less common. Looking for those less common watermark varieties is definately challenging but fun. One has to spend time to look for them, and of course, one has to have luck to bump into them. Do you collect watermark varieties of the Malaysia recent stamps? If you are not familiar with the terminologies of SPM watermark, you may visit to this entry for information.

I'm listing down here those varieties found/recorded for stamps issued in 2010. I may not own all these watermark varieties. The rarity of the watermark varieties stated here is just a guide, and their rarity status needs thorough study to verify. This list is by no mean exhaustive. Your help is sought to make this list more comprehensive.


Malaysia-Korea Joint Issue (Tigers) - 23 Feb 2010
- both the 50s stamps (Malayan and Korean tiger stamps) have sideway up and sideway down watermark. The sideway down watermark is less common.

Local Markets - 23 Mar 2010
- the 50s setenant pair stamps have upright and inverted watermarks. The upright watermark is rare.

Medical Excellence - 26 Apr 2010
- the 30s stamp has sideway up and sideway down watermarks. The sideway up watermark is less common.
- the 50s stamp has sideway up and sideway down watermarks. The sideway up watermark is less common.

Fireflies - 10 May 2010
- the 30s (Pteroptyx beami) stamp has sideway up and sideway down watermarks. The sideway down watermark is less common.
- the 30s (Pteroptyx valida) stamp has sideway up and sideway down watermarks. The sideway down watermark is rare.

Malayan Railway - 22 Jun 2010
- setenant pair 30s stamps have sideway down and inverted watermarks. It looks like the inverted watermark is rare.
- the RM3 miniature sheet has upright and inverted watermarks. the upright watermark is less common.

National Definitive Series (Garden Flowers) - 1 Jul 2010
- all the eight denominations (30s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, RM1 and RM2) have both upright and interverted watermarks with roughly equal number.

Threatened Habitats - 15 Jul 2010
- the 60s stamp has sideway up and sideway down watermarks. The sideway up watermark is less common.

Brave Warriors - 31 Jul 2010
- the 60s stamp has upright and inverted watermarks. The inverted watermark is less common.

Traditional Festival Food - 10 Aug 2010
- the booklet stamps (10 different stamp altogether) have sideway up and sideway down watermarks with roughly equal number.

Tiger Stamps - Watermark and Perforation Varities

The tiger stamps issued on February 23, 2010 have varieties of watermark and perforation. A complete collection for all the watermark and perforation varieties consists of six stamps.




50s Siberian/Korean Tiger
- P13.5; wmk sideway up
- P13.5; wmk sideway down

50s Malayan Tiger
- P13.5; wmk sideway up
- P13.5; wmk sideway down
- P13.5 but P14 at right; wmk sideway up
- P13.5 but P14 at right; wmk sideway down