Cultural Dances

Singapore's cultural dances offer a vibrant display of its multi-ethnic society. Behind each dance form - be it Chinese, Indian, Eurasian & Western or Malay - lies a wealth of history, culture, tradition and artistry. As seen in the four designs in this issue - for 1st Local, 2nd Local, $1.10 and $2 stamps- they provide a potpourri of cultural diversity and styles that is truly a feast for the senses.

Chinese cultural dances. Introduced to Singapore by the migant Chinese, these dances are rich and varied. They were originally steeped in folk tradition - performed at communities and celevrations. But with the flowering of arts and culture in the Han and Tang dynasties, more Chinese dance forms were created, especially for imperial court entertainment.

Indian cultural dances. In Indian culture, dance is a form of worship and an expression of human emotions. Divided into two categories - folk and classical - Indian cultural dances often include other art elements like Indian mythology, literature, music, poetry, mime and sculpture. Dancers usually enact stories through a series of facial expressions, elaborate body movements, hand symbols and postures.

Eurasian & Western cultural dances. Being a former British colony, Ballet and western dances like the Waltz and Tango are an integral part of Singapore's culture. The Eurasian community - with its fusion of western and Asian parentage - has also made a distinctive mark on the local dance map. Mostly portuguese in origin, with dance steps, music and costumes influenced by Portuguese folk dances, the repertoire includes dances like the Branyo. Uniquely Eurasian, they are often a mixture of Malay and Portuguese folk dances and were widely enjoyed by the earliest European settlers from Portugal.

Malay cultural dances. From folk to ethnic-tribe to court-classical, Malay cultural dances are graceful and rhythmic. Among them, the most popular are the Ronggeng and the Joget. The traditional folk dances were usually performed in villages for joyful occasions such as weddings and engagements, while the ethnic-tribe dances were related to rituals, such as the harvest festival.

Date of Issue: 16 May 2007
Denominations: 1st Local, 2nd, $1.10 and $2.00
Stamp Size: 50mm x 30mm
Perforation: 14 x 14
Paper: Unwatermarked
Printing Process: Offset-Lithography
Printer: Southern Colour Print
Sheet Content: 50 stamps per sheet
Designer: Tze Ngan

First Day Cover affixed with stamps: S$4.45

Washington World Philatelic Exhibition 2006

A special stamp sheetlet on the Washington 2006 World Philatelic Exhibition is issued to commemorate Hongkong Post's participation in this international event held in Washington DC, the United States, from 27 May to 3 June 2006. Hongkong Post is pleased to participate in Washington 2006 which provides an excellent opportunity to present quality Hong Kong stamps overseas and to promote philately as a universaly enjoyable hobby.

Under the patronage of the Fédération Internationale de Philatélie, the exhibition explores the themes of "Role of the Post Office in Uniting the Country", "Children - They Are The Future" and "Moving the Mail in the 21st Century".

The three themes are combined in the stamp sheetlet. Childresn holding hands in their ethnic costumes, doves carrying letters in their beaks and shapes decorated with serrated edges allude to postal services which connect millions of people around the world. The Bauhinia and the American Beauty Rose, the floral emblems of Hong Kong and Washington DC, highlight the good rapport between the two cities. The children's motif recurs in the First Day Cover design together with the offical logo of the exhibition in the bottom corner.

Date of Issue: 27 May 2006
Denominations: HKD10
Stamp Size: 45mm x 28mm
Stamp Sheetlet Size: 130mm x 75mm
Perforation: 13.07 x 13.33 (one elliptical perforation on each vertical)
Paper: Paper with security fibres
Printing Process: Lithography
Printer: Cartor Security Printing, France
Designer: Benny Lau

First Day Cover affixed with stamps: HKD11

Vanishing Trades

Since independence, Singapore has made tremendous progress in terms of economic development. With rapid urbanisation and modernisation come change, and many of the trades that were once a common sight in Singapore are now canishing. Some of these trades have vanished, replaced by modern machinery. Some are still thriving, given a new "facelift" while others are being phased out.

This set of ten stamps (5 x 1st Local stamps and 5 X $0.80 stamps) features some of these vanishing trades. The clog maker, wooden bucket maker, spice grinder, snake charmer and the satay man were featured in the set of five 1st Local stamps. The mama store, the roti man, the back-lane barber, the Chinese medicinal teashop and the tin bucket maker appeared in the set of five $0.80 stamps.

Beautifully illustrated, the stamps captured an important slice of Singapore's heritage, preserving parts of its multi-cultural lifestyles.

Date of Issue: 24 May 2006
Denominations: 1st Local and 80¢ (each value 5 designs)
Stamp Size: 34mm x 23mm
Perforation: 13
Paper: Unwatermarked
Printing Process: Offset-Lithography
Printer: Beijing Stamp Printing House
Sheet Content: 10 stamps
Designer: Tze Ngan

First Day Cover affixed with stamps: S$5.85

The Singapore Story

The four commemorative stamps tracing the Singapore story are released to mark the launch of the National Education Exhibition, a mammoth exhibition organised by the Ministry of Information and the Arts from 7 to 31 July 1998. The aim of the exhibition is to educate the young and promote public awareness of the nation's history. The stamps depict some of the defining moments of Singapore history from 1955 to 1965, when it was declared an independent nation. The photographs used on the stamps are reproduced with the kind permission of the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Information and the Arts.

1955-1959: Turbulent Years
The stamp design shows a montage of images: the foreground depicts the student and labour unrest; the background depicts rallies organised by the various political parties before the 1955 and 1959 elections. The Malay word "Merdeka" which means "freedom", is overprinted on the stamp.

1961-1965: Towards Merger and Independence
Singapore and Malaysia signed the Agreement in 1963, which led to the merger. However, the merger was not successful and Singapore was asked to leave Malaysia on 9 August 1965. Words like "Referendum", "Merdeka", "Konfrontasi", "Malaysian Malaysia" are used on the stamps to remind people of the various incidents. The Malay words "Majulah Malaysia" are overprinted on the stamp.

1959-1963: Self-Government
The stamp design captures the triumphant moment of the people and the housing and industrialisation programme started by the newly elected government. It also features members of the first Cabinet from the People's Action Party. The Malay words "Majulah Singapura" which means "Onward Singapore" are overprinted on the stamp.

1965..... A Nation is Born
Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew declared Singapore an independent nation on 9 August 1965. Singapore was also admitted into the United Nations (UN) in the same year. The stamp design depicts the joyous mood of the people with the Singapore and UN flags in the background. The words "one People, One Nation" are overprinted on the stamp.

Date of Issue: 7 July 1998
Denominations: One stamp with No value indicator (valued at the prevailing postage up to the basic weight-step for local mail). Three other stamps comprising 60¢, $1, $2
Stamp Size: 50mm x 33mm
Perforation: 12¾ x 13¼
Paper: Unwatermarked
Printing Process: Offset-Lithography
Printer: Joh Enschede Security Printers
Designer: Chua Ban Har / Design Business (S) Pte Ltd

First Day Cover affixed with stamps: S$4.40

Fragile Forest

The above set of stamps was launched on the 5th June 1998 inconjunction with the launch of the Fragile Forest and the 25th Anniversary of the Singapore Zoological Gardens. The Fragile Forest is a new ecological display in the Singapore Zoological Gardens, based on the various rainforest ecosystems. The display is primarily on invetebrates but will also include small mammals, birds, fish and reptiles. The 10 animals featured on the stamps are: Rhino Beetle, Surinam Horned Frog, Atlas Moth, Green Iguana, Giant Scorpion, Hissing Cockroach, Two-toed Sloth, Archer Fish, Cobalt Blue Tarantula and Greater Mousedeer.

Date of Issue: 5 June 1998
Denominations: No value indicator x 10 designs (valued at the prevailing postage up to the basic weight-step for local mail)
Stamp Size: 30mm x 25mm

Stamp Booklet Size: 70mm x 90mm
Perforation: 11
Paper: Unwatermarked
Printing Process: Photogravure
Printer: Joh Enschede Security Printers
Designer: Design Business (S) Pte Ltd

First Day Cover affixed with stamps: S$2.70

100 Years of FIFA

On 21 May 1904, the Fédération Internationale de Football Assocation (FIFA) was founded with the objective of organising championshop matches between professional teams of different nations. As FIFA turns 100 in 2004, the unique set of stamps commemorates this special event with designs featuring familar sports images such as the football field, the soccer ball, the jersey and the world map to symbolise a world bound by the universal game of football.

Date of Issue: 21 May 2004

Denominations: 30¢, 60¢, $1, $2

Stamp Size: 35.19mm x 38mm

Perforation: 13

Paper: Unwatermarked

Printing Process: Offset Lithography with Embossed Flockage

Printer: Cartor Security Printing

Sheet Content: 10 stamps

Designer Wong Wui Kong

Quantity Printed (FDC): 35,000

First Day Cover affixed with stamps: S$4.55

Introduction

This is a stamp gallery that encompasses the stamps that are collected by the owner of this blog.
None of which are for sale unless indicated. The objective of this blog / gallery is to bring about interest in stamp collecting and to educate the different type of stamps that are in this world.

For more enquiries please feel free to leave a comment within the post.
Post away~*

The owner of the blog is currently collecting mint Singapore Stamps / FDC and Used Japan Stamps.
(last edited 1800hrs 15/7/2008)