Singapore-Philippines Joint Issue

Last year marked the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Singapore and the Philippines. To commemorate this anniversary, Singapore and the Philippines had issued joint stamp issue on 28 Aug 2009, with the theme "Bridges".

1st local (26 cents) : Bamban Bridge
65 cents : Cavenagh Bridge
80 cents : Henderson Waves & Alexandra Arch
$1.10 : Marcelo Fernan Bridge

Showed below the Commemorative Cover and First Day Covers issued by SingPost (with autograph by Ambassador of the Philippines, Ms Minda Calaguian Cruz) as well as First Day Covers issued by PhilPost.

Discover the beauty of butterflies through FDC ...

Family : Papilionidae, Subfamily : Papilioninae (凤蝶科 - 凤蝶亞科)

• 1st local (26 cents) : Troides helena cerberus (Common Birdwing, 裳凤蝶)
• 80 cents : Graphium agamemnon agamemnon (Tailed Jay, 统帅青凤蝶/绿斑凤蝶)

Family : Lycaenidae, Subfamily : Lycaeninae (灰蝶科 - 灰蝶亞科)

• $1.10 : Drupadia ravindra moorel (Common Posy)

Family : Nymphalidae, Subfamily : Danainae (蛺蝶科- 斑蝶亞科)

• $2.00 : Ideopsis vulgaris macrina (Blue Glassy Tiger)
  

Butterflies of Singapore

Philatelic News

Forthcoming stamp issues in Singapore (Apr-Jun 2010):
You may visit Singpost website for more details.

Painting from Austria ...

Today i like to share with you a beautiful painting stamp, as shown on the right of cover above. This painting stamp was issued on 18 Mar 2010 by Austrian Post (Post.at) in commemoration of 100th anniversary of Max Weiler's birth. Danke schön, Florian!

Max Weiler (27.8.1910 - 29.1.2001), a great Austrian artist of classical modern and contemporary art, was born in Hall in the Tyrol. Featured on stamp was Max Weiler's painting, "Bald geht die Sonne auf" (Soon the sun will rise), painted in 1970. This painting is part of collection held by the Essl Museum in Klosterneuburg and Vienna.

The other stamps on the left -

The €0,10 flower definitive stamp was issued in 2007.
The €0,55 bee-eater stamp was from the issue of Animals (honeybee and bee-eater, a set of 2 stamps), issued on 28 Aug 2009.

Also, I received the cover above sent by Edna. Thanks, Edna :-)

Edna used a €0,65 ATM label to complete the postage. This ATM label, which was purchased from "Sonderpostamt" (shop of philatelic services in centre of Vienna), was from the new ATM series of floral theme, issued early this year by Post.at. Designed by Hannes Margreiter, this new ATM series came with two designs, namely marguerite (as shown above) and water lily.

Cover from United Nations ...

It is rare to receive a cover - not from a country, but from United Nations (UN) office.
The nice cover above was sent to me by Florian, from UN office in Vienna. Danke schön, Florian!

The two stamps on the right were from the thematic series of "Endangered Species", issued on 16 Apr 2009. The endangered species - Blue Ground Beetle and Mexican Redknee Tarantula, were featured on these stamps. Find out more info here.

The stamp on the left was from a set of 4 stamps, issued by United Nations Postal Administration (UNPA), on 28 Jan 2008. This stamp featured Johann Strauß Memorial in Stadtpark, Vienna.

Also, like to share with you the three photographs above, taken 5 years ago during my visit to UN office in Geneva, Switzerland (not Vienna). Due to security concern, we were escorted throughout the entire visit. Other areas (including the post office, not many know where the post office is) were strictly out of bound by visitors.

Therefore, it would be greatly appreciated if there are covers from UN offices in my mailbox :-)

Alfa Romeo covers ...

This year marks the centenary celebrations for Alfa Romeo, which was founded on 24 June 1910 in Milan. Poste Italiane had issued, on 20 Mar 2010, gutter pair of two €0,60 stamps, to commemorate this event, in its "Made in Italy" thematic series.

The above cover was sent to me by Giovanni from Milan. Grazie, Giovanni!

The stamp on the left of the gutter pair shows the 24 HP model, which was one of Alfa Romeo's first model, produced between 1910 and 1913 while the stamp on the right shows the latest Giulietta model, which was introduced during March 2010 Geneva Motor Show.















I received another Alfa Romeo cover, sent by Riccardo from Livorno. Grazie, Riccardo!

In my opinion, these "Made in Italy" stamps are great! They showcase many luxury Italian brandnames such as Bvlgari (issued on 24 Apr 2009), Lamborghini (issued on 23 May 2007) and so on.

Take a break, have a bar of chocolate?

Soooorry, this is not real chocolate, but it indeed smells chocolate! This is another scratch and sniff product!

This impressive cover with minisheet, which resembles a chocolate bar with artwork around the perforations to represent the wrapper's foil, was sent to me by Eric. Merci beaucoup, Eric!

Issued by La Poste France on 25 May 2009, this chocolate-scented minisheet was to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the first arrival of cocoa beans to the French port city of Bayonne (near Spainish border), in 1609.

Postcard that smells roses ?

Yes, it's true. This is a real scratch & sniff postcard!

Not only the postcard, the stamps too are scratch & sniff.

This limited edition item was sent to me by Igor. Danke schön, Igor!

The scent, which is only released upon scratching the card's surface, is made possible with scented oils wrapped in miscroscopic capsules. (I'm wondering how long can the scent last)

It's Time for a Tiger ...

I just can't wait to share with you a self-made cover with Tiger Beer label and Tiger stamps from Malaysia-Korea joint issue. This cover, which was franked with 2 stamps, i.e the Malayan Tiger & Korean Tiger, with first day cancellation and traditional datestamp cancellation from Johor Bahru (JB) on the day of issue, is simply gorgeous!

Since it was brewed in 1932, Tiger Beer has become an Asian icon, serving the taste of Asia to more than 70 countries the world over. Find out more about Tiger Beer here.

A point to add on - this stamp issue was so hot that it ran out of stock in most of the post offices in JB, hours after started selling. I managed to purchase only few sets for these self-made covers and sending to friends abroad, from a remote post office in JB, insufficient stamps for the number of covers that i'd prepared.

Imam Khomeiny cover ...

Thanks, Yasi :-)

Click here for more info about Imam Khomeiny.

Interesting to note that the Iranian postmark (at the back of cover) follows Iranian calendar, which is different from the international accepted Gregorian calendar. It is also different from the Islamic calendar (or Hijra calendar). For instance, year 2010 (Gregorian) = year 1431 (Islamic) = year 1389 (Iranian).

The Iranian new year usually falls on 21-24 March.

Therefore, March 2010 (Gregorian) is the first month of Iranian calendar in the year of 1389.

By calculation, 25.8.1388 (Iranian, as in postmark) is equivalent to 16.11.2009 (Gregorian).

From Russia with love ...

I received another postcard and cover from Russia.

Spasiba, Karmanovsky :-)

The postcard with night scene at Hermitage museum above was affixed with stamps of Vancouver 2010 and new year celebration. Stamps were cancelled with new cancellation (from 2010) from the special post office inside the Hermitage.

The cover above has a minisheet and two "stamp-holders".

The minisheet was issued in commemoration of 150th anniversary of Anton Pavlovich Chekhov's birth. Anton Pavlovich Chekhov was born in Russia in 1860 and died in Germany in 1904. This Russian short story writer and playwright was a physician by profession. His short stories and plays made him famous in his lifetime, when he was recognised as one of the national glories of Russia.

The stamps show scenes from one of his best-known plays : The Seagull (Чайка, 10P) and two of his short stories : The Lady with the Dog (Дама с собачкой, 8.00) & The House with the Mezzanine (Дом с мезонином, 12P).

Postcard with new cancellation from the Hermitage ...

Spasiba, Karmanovsky :-)

A few years back, i had the opportunity to travel to the Russian Federation, backpacking. Despite the complicated bureaucracy in visa application, Russia is worthwhile visiting as the country has so much to offer. Besides, it is nice to have visa from the Russian Federation in the passport :-)

The following pictures were taken in St Petersburg - beautiful morning scenery outside the train station & at the Hermitage museum.

The following pictures were taken in Moscow - with the statue of Vladimir Lenin & monuments of the Soviet era. With the fall of Soviet Union, not many Lenin's statues could be seen nowadays. Am I too tiny as compared to the statues? :-)

The following picture is the iconic St Basil's Cathedral in Moscow.

Also, not forgetting the banknotes used during the Soviet era ...

They were with Lenin's portrait on the banknotes.