IT'S NOT JUST A HOBBY


Friday, May 31, 2019

Sunday, May 26, 2019

Singapore 2018 - Early Trades in Singapore


Technical Details:
Date of Issue: 18 Apr 2018
Denominations: 1st Local, 60c, 90c, $1.30
Stamp Size: 45mm x 30mm
Perforation: 13-14
Paper: Unwatermarked
Printing Process: Offset Lithography
Printer: Thai British Security Printing
Sheet Content: 10 stamps per sheet
Designer: Lim An-ling

Descriptions:
The Early Trades of Singapore stamp issue is released to preserve the memories of the early trades in Singapore. Beautifully depicted in this stamp issue are four early trades – Samsui Woman, Sikh Guard, Boatman and Coolie.  They bear testimonies to growing and building of yesteryear Singapore and are part of our nations rich cultural heritage.

Samsui Women
Samsui women hailed from the Guangdong county of Sanshui in China and during Singapore's early years, they were employed to work in labour-intensive sectors such as building and construction.  They were characterised by their distinctive red headscarves or hong toujin which marked their membership in a sisterhood sworn to singlehood as well as their commitment to maintain their independence through labour.  They often worked long hours carrying heavy loads and performing manual work at wages lower than their male counterparts.  From the late 1970s onwards, industrial advancements such as the introduction of prefabrication technology resulted in decreased demand for Samsui women.  As a result, many Samsui women entered other fields of works such as housekeeping and general cleaning.

Sikh Guard
From the second half of the 19th century, Sikhs from Punjab, India were recruited by the colonial authorities to serve as policemen and security personnel in the Straits Settlements. to augment local recruits and expand the police forces.  The colonial authorities regarded Sikhs as loyal and honest, and as possesing great physical and martial prowess.  In 1881, a Sikh Police Contingent was established in Singapore and other police units (such as Tanjong Pagar Dock Police, Sembawang Naval Police Force, Seletar Air Base Additional Police Force) continued to recruit Sikh policemen up till the mid-20th century.  Those who could not meet the strict guidelines to join the police were employed as private security guards (jaga) or watchmen, or took up other trades.

Boatman
The Orang Laut, or Boatmen, refers to tribes of nomadic "sea people" who traversed the Malay Archipelago.  These sea tribes lived on houseboats and sought out a livelihood through fishing, simple trade and seamanship.  Due to the boatmen's deep knowledge of the monsoon patterns as well as the geography of local islands, reefs and estuaries, local rulers, regional traders as well as merchants hailing from around the world often sought their services.  The Orang Laut also rowed out to deeper waters in their sampans where the large merchant ships were anchored and transported cargo back to port.  Through the course of time, many Orang Laut have assimilated into the larger Malay community and the traditional boatman as an occupation has disappeared with the tides of time.

Coolie
Coolies were unskilled manual labourers who formed the backbone of Singapore's earliest labour force.  They were employed in almost every type of work during the colonial era, including construction, agriculture, shipping, and transport.  Old photographs of the Singapore River often show coolies carrying gurney sacks of commodities to and from vessels docked at the river.  Most of these coolies were Chinese and Indian immigrants who had come to Singapore during the second half of the 19th century and early 20th century to seek their fortune.  Despite the hardships they faced, few coolies returned to their home countries.  Instead, most of them settled down in Singapore doing odd jobs even as the need for manual labour decreased.

Singapore 2017 - Morning in Singapore




Technical Details:
Date of Issue: 4 August 2017
Denominations: 1st Local, 2nd Local, 60c, 90c, $1.30
Stamp Size: 48mm x 30mm
Perforation: 13
Paper: Unwatermarked
Printing Process: Offset Lithography
Printer: Secura Singapore Pte Ltd
Sheet Content: 10 stamps per sheet
Designer: Brett Antonio and Christian Hernandez (DNA Life Pte Ltd)

Singapore Post Limited (SingPost) has released a new set of stamps that depicts Singapore life through colourful illustrations of familiar morning scenes in the heartland. 


The pictures portray children dropped off at school, people catching the bus to work, breakfast at a hawker centre, cycling on the park connector network, exercising at a fitness corner, and grocery shopping at a wet market. On the $2 miniature stamp sheet, these scenes come together to show how public amenities are connected seamlessly in the neighbourhood to enable interaction among all residents of the community. 

SingPost, too, has been an integral part of Singapore for more than 150 years, and the General Post Office at the Fullerton Building was a vital centre for the community for decades. Fullerton: Familiar & Futuristic is a short film that retells the important role SingPost has in Page 2 of 3 connecting society through the provision of an affordable and reliable postal service that is familiar to all.

The Morning in Singapore stamp set comes in six denominations: 1st Local, 2nd Local, 60¢, 70¢, 90¢, and $1.30. Pre-cancelled First Day Covers affixed with the complete set of stamps are available at $5.20. There is also a $2 stamp set in a miniature sheet.

SIngapore 2018 - Evening in Singapore




Technical Details:
Issue Date: 3 August 2018
Denominations: 1st Local, 2nd Local, 60c, 70c, 90c, $1.30
Stamp Size: 40.8mm x 29.85mm
Perforation: 13
Paper: Unwatermarked
Printing Process: Offset Lithography with foil stamping
Sheet Content: 10 stamps per sheet
Printer: Secura Singapore Pte Ltd
Designer: DNA Life Pte Ltd

DESCRIPTION
Illustrating the unique Singapore identity, the bright stamps capture vividly how families, friends and co-workers spend their evenings in various distinctive ways. These familiar day-to-day scenarios speak volumes about the country’s ethnic diversity and social harmony. People of different cultures and backgrounds come together freely and readily to enjoy each other’s company and share experiences.

Thailand 2017 - Thai Traditional Festival, Long Boat Racing


Technical Details:
Date of Issue: 07 April 2017
Perforation: 13 1/2: 14
Quantity: 300,000 pieces
Designer: Ms. Mayuree Narknisorn (Thailand Post)
Printing: Thai British Security Printing, Thailand

3 Baht - Preparation Before The Race in The Province of Nan
3 Baht - Two Boats Ahead of The Finish Line in The Province of Nan
3 Baht - The Winner-Boat During The Festival From The Province of Chumphon
3 Baht - The Handle After The Flag on The Finish Line

Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya 1984 - Tripoli International Fair, Tea Serving


Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya 1985 - Tripoli International Fair, Musicians Playing Instruments


China 2018 - The 24 Solar Terms, Seasonal Periods, Painting Stamps III


Republic of China (Taiwan) 2002 - Regional Opera, Taiwanese Opera


Technical Details:
Issue Date: 25 October 2002
Stamp Name: Regional Opera Series-Taiwanese Opera (Games) Postage Stamps
Dimension of stamps: 40 mm x 30 mm
Printer: China Color Printing Co., Ltd.,R.O.C.
Designer: Kao Sian-Chi
Sheet Composition: 20 ( 5 x 4 )
Print Color: Colorful
Process: Deep etch offset
Paper: Phosphorescent Stamp Paper
Perforation: 11 1/2 x 11

Stamp Design:

To enhance our fellow countrymen's understanding of Taiwanese opera and to celebrate Taiwanese culture, the Directorate General of Posts is once again releasing a set of four stamps on the theme of Taiwanese Opera. Each of the stamps features a famous repertoire in one type of performance locale.

The designs of the four stamps follow:

1. Liang Shan-po and Chu Ying-tai Street Performance:
At the very beginnings of the development of the Taiwanese opera, people, when they were not busy with farm work, would often recite and sing to entertain themselves. At first, there were only male performers wearing everyday clothes. Later, they added some theatrical movements and started putting on some simple make-up, and the females started to perform too. Liang Shan-po and Cliu Ying-tai was one of the most popular repertoires in those days.

2. Hsuech Ting-shan and Fan Li-hua-indoor Performance:
From the end of World War II, when the Japanese left Taiwan, to the early sixties, indoor performance was the most popular form of entertainment. In those days, the dozen or so theaters that regularly put on Taiwanese operas could all accommodate six to eight hundred people. Hsueh Ting-shan and Fan Li-hua is a love story with martial arts movements and fancy special effects, and so was very popular at that time.

3. Hsueh Ping-kuei and Wang Pao-chuan-Outdoor Stage Performance:
From the late sixties through the seventies, with the rise of movies and televisions, Taiwanese operas were forced outdoors. At first, due to its strong local flavor, it was still popular. Later, price wars drove down the quality of performances, and Taiwanese opera started to fade from view. The story of Hsueh Ping-kuei and Wang Pao-chuan, where Wang waits in her cave dwelling for Hsueh to return for 18 years, was sort of like the situation of Taiwanese opera at that time.

4. The Living Buddha Chikung-Modern Theater:
In 1983, a Taiwanese opera company performed at Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall. Their combination of traditional drama and modern theater got an enthusiastic response. Excellent Taiwanese opera companies started to sprout up one after another. The Living Buddha Chikung combined modern theater, sound and light effects, movie production methods, and ample body movements (including flying stunts with actors attached to cables). These turned a love story into a touching, interesting and festive drama.

Laos 2015 - 20th Anniversary of Luangprabang World Heritage 1995 - 2015


Technical Details:
Issue date: 07 December 2015
Perforation: 13 : 12 3/4  ;  Imperforated
Souvenir Sheet Size: 139 x 109 mm
Quantity: 1,000 pieces
Designer: Vongsavanh Damlongsouk
Printer: Vietnam Stamps Printing

5000 Lao Kip - Silk Mill, Spinning Wheel
5000 Lao Kip - Dam, Bridge
5000 Lao Kip - Religious Ceremony
5000 Lao Kip - Wooden Stilt House