SINGAPORE 2015 World Stamp Exhibition to bring Visitors on a Round-the-world Trip through Philatelic Gems

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1 For Immediate Release Media Release SINGAPORE 2015 World Stamp Exhibition to bring Visitors on a Round-the-world Trip through Philatelic Gems Award-winning collections and unique showcases from 66 countries, including more than 180 years of Singapore s Postal History and special exhibits for SG50 Court of Honour to display philatelic gems worth well over S$10m Rare Philatelic Errors to be showcased Singapore, 27 July 2015 Embark on an odyssey to relive some of history s greatest moments and explore rich cultural legacies through the world of philately. Come next month, Singapore will play host to one of the world s most high profile philatelic events the SINGAPORE 2015 World Stamp Exhibition (SINGAPORE 2015). The exhibition is held every 10 years under the full support and patronage of the Federation lnternationale de Philatelie (FIP) and under the auspices of the Federation of Inter-Asian Philately (FIAP). Singapore Post (SingPost) is the main sponsor of World Stamp Exhibition. To be held from 14 to 19 August at the Sands Expo & Convention Centre, visitors can look forward to a rare visual treat of over 2,000 frames of philately items from 450 exhibitors from 66 countries. Key highlights include a Court of Honour with award-winning collections from prominent local and international collectors, exhibits showing the development of Singapore's postal history and stamps over more than 180 years and in celebration of Singapore s 50 th Year of Independence. Said Mr Richard Tan, Chairman of the SINGAPORE 2015 Executive Committee, Singapore last hosted the World Stamp Exhibition in 1995 and the inaugural World Stamp Championship in Gathering the experience of both exhibitions and to commemorate the Nation's Golden Jubilee in 2015, we won the hosting rights of SINGAPORE We are honoured to have the opportunity to bring home iconic moments and stories of the world, documented through philately, as we celebrate a milestone in Singapore s progress. Mr Woo Keng Leong, Senior Executive Vice President and Head of Postal Services of Singapore Post, added, As the national postal services provider with access to more than 150 years of heritage, we are pleased to be the main sponsor of SINGAPORE 2015 to coincide with Singapore s SG50 celebrations. We want to play our part in promoting and growing philately in Singapore and around the world. An exhibition of such quality and scale doesn t come by very often. It also gives SingPost the opportunity to showcase our innovation and creativity to stay relevant as we become more globalized and digitized. 1

2 Court of Honour showcases top exhibits in the philately world Siam First Issue on Cover (5 April 1886) Ten Queens in Singapore (November 1854) SINGAPORE 2015 will showcase an extensive range of philately exhibits ranging from Traditional Philately, Postal History, Thematic Philately (topics include culture, technology and nature), Maximaphily, Revenue, Aerophilatey, Astrophilately, Youth Philately, Philatelic Literature, Postal Stationery and a recently introduced class of Modern Philately (of the 21 st Century). Philatelic gems from 27 FIP Grand Prix Members, including four prominent Singapore philatelists, will be displayed in the Court of Honour, a section that showcases award-winning exhibits. The estimated value of the items on display in the Court of Honour is over S$10 million. Highlights of the Court of Honour include an 1854 Ten Queens in Singapore cover, Siam First Issue on Cover (an important item of the Siam Classics, and the highest value stamp of the first Siam issue), and archival materials related to the manufacture of Hong Kong s c stamp. 2

3 Mauritius POST OFFICE Printing Plate Mauritius POST OFFICE Printing Plate The world famous Mauritius POST OFFICE Printing Plate will be displayed in SINGAPORE The Mauritius POST OFFICE stamps are among the world s rarest stamps, with a "Bordeaux" cover with both the one penny and two pence stamps auctioned for the equivalent of $4 million in The words "Post Office" appear in the left panel of the stamps printed, but on the following issue in 1848, these words were replaced by "Post Paid." This is the first time in Asia, and the second time in the world, that the printing plate will be exhibited in public. Rare Philatelic Errors Stamps in Singapore are printed by well-established international security printers. Often considered a rarity in the philatelic world, a collection of rare philately errors of Singapore stamps will also be showcased at SINGAPORE The exhibition will display a selection of interesting stamps that marks Singapore as a distinct stamp issuing territory since its first issuance of stamps on 1 September Visitors can look forward to stamp exhibits such as imperforate stamp proofs of the first and second National Day Issue. 3

4 Celebrating 50 years of Singapore s Independence with Postal Stamps National Day State Flag of Singapore (3 June 1960) Special Collector Sheets, of the National Flag and the Anthem, that use augmented reality The exhibition will feature special collections from the Singapore Philatelic Museum (SPM) in celebration of Singapore s Golden Jubilee. Titled Then and Now: Formative Years & 50 th Anniversary, 10 frames of stamp exhibits from the museum collection will date from the 1960s and 1970s, and Visitors can look forward to seeing rare philatelic materials such as the Republic s first stamp, colour proofs of miniature sheets and even the first day cover addressed to the first Prime Minister of Singapore, Mr Lee Kuan Yew, in [Please refer to Annex 1 for some of the stamps to be exhibited.] The Special Attractions Gallery curated by SPM will be family-friendly and suitable for families and casual collectors. The thematic exhibition, Celebrating 50 years of Singapore, will tell the story of how stamps were invented and the use of stamps in Singapore from Visitors will be able to find out that stamps depict the heritage and culture of a country. Interesting activities will be organised every day, and will provide opportunities for families to bond. General Post Office: Visitors can view a 50-year timeline of key Singapore milestones marked with stamps and learn more about how the postage stamps that we use come about. Other highlights include unusual stamps such as those embedded with beads and embroidery as well as scented stamps. Shophouse setting: Learn more about Singapore s unique heritage, multi-ethnic culture, food and traditional games. Visitors can take part in The Amazing Stamp Trail, get physical with original stamp-themed games and do crafts such as making their own 4

5 stamp badge and Merlion. [Please see Annex 2 for the list of activities and programmes at the Special Attractions Gallery.] Singapore Post, the main sponsor for SINGAPORE 2015, will showcase an exclusive collection of iconic Singapore stamps, including Singapore s first Augmented Reality (AR) stamps, and commemorative stamps for SINGAPORE To promote the study of postage stamps and philatelic materials to learn about Singapore and the world, the annual National Stamp Collecting Competition (NSCC) will be held during SINGAPORE Organised by SPM, 360 students from local primary and secondary schools compete with exhibits using stamps, philatelic products and narratives on a theme of their choice. [Please see Annex 3 for details on the competition] Shining a Light on Singapore in Philately Official Mascots for SINGAPORE 2015 Two official mascots Phil and Iris, have been created for SINGAPORE Phil (a stamp) signifies the international relationships, knowledge and the work of art that philatelic items are known to be among collectors. Iris (an eye looking through a magnifying glass), represents the avid collector, young or old, who is ever inquisitive and interested in the finer details of stamps. Together the mascots aim to bring out the spirit of lasting knowledge and friendship in the world of philately, as they welcome local and international visitors to Singapore. SINGAPORE 2015 is hosted by the Association of Singapore Philatelists. Admission is free. For more information, members of the public can check out 5

6 SINGAPORE 2015 World Stamp Exhibition: August 2015 Opening Hours: (Weekdays) 14, 17, 18 August: 10am 6pm 15 August: 12pm 8pm 16 August: 10am 8pm (Final Day) 19 August: 10am 4pm Venue: Sands Expo & Convention Centre Exhibition Halls B & C, Level 1 10 Bayfront Avenue, S(018956) ### 6

7 ANNEX 1: Then & Now: Formative Years & 50 th Anniversary Stamp Special Collections First National Flag on Stamp 3 June 1960 National Day State Flag of Singapore A state flag was created in 1959 when Singapore became a self-governing state under British rule. It was unveiled together with the crest on 3 Dec 1959, when the Head of State Yusof Ishak was sworn in. When Singapore became an independent nation on 9 August 1965 this became the national flag. 7

8 Republic of Singapore s First Stamp August 1966 First Anniversary of Independence This is the first stamp of a new Republic. It is the only issue that states Republic of Singapore. As Singapore became an independent nation so suddenly in 1965, there was a one year delay in the issuance of the first stamp. The different elements in the stamp highlight the important issues of the period unemployment and workforce, public housing and industrialisation. 8

9 First Day Cover addressed to Prime Minister, Mr Lee Kuan Yew at the Prime Minister s Off ice dated 9 August 1969 Mr Lee Kuan Yew took office in 1959 when the People s Action Party won 43 out of 51 seats in the General Election. He served as the first Prime Minister from 1959 to He remained in service for another 20 years as senior government adviser. 9

10 Colour Proofs of Miniature Sheets 5 August Years of Independence Our Journey Together 4 August Years of Independence I m Singaporean 10

11 ANNEX 2: Special Attractions Gallery s Activities & Programmes Ongoing Activities Everyday* The Amazing Stamp Trail Hunt for clues about the exhibition area and complete the trail It s Playtime! Play the Stamp Hopscotch, Stamp Twister & traditional games Big Jigsaw Challenge How fast can you put together these stamp jigsaws? Sampan Origami Fold your own sampan Fun Craft Get creative with crafts Make Your Own Stamp Badge A great stamp souvenir you can customize *except for Saturday, 15 August, which has The Amazing Stamp Trail, Sampan Origami & Make Your Own Stamp Badge only Special Programmes on Sunday, 16 August 11am to 12noon 2pm to 2.30pm 3pm to 3.30pm Oil Lamp Painting Workshop Paint your own authentic oil lamp Once Upon A Time Listen to two original stamp stories published by Singapore Philatelic Museum Moving House & Grandma s Treasures Eurasian Food from the Heart A talk by famous Eurasian chef Mary Gomes on her family recipes with food tasting 11

12 Annex 3: About the National Stamp Collecting Competition 2015 Singapore Philatelic Museum (SPM) is organising the National Stamp Collecting Competition 2015 (NSCC). NSCC aims to promote the study of postage stamps and philatelic materials to learn about Singapore and the world. Stamps are educational tools from which we can learn about the culture and heritage of the country, its flora and fauna, achievements and aspirations. Participants in the competition present an exhibit using stamps, philatelic products and narratives on a theme of their choice. Participants stand to gain knowledge in a variety of topics, pick up research and organisation skills, and learn to work as a team. Participants are conferred with Gold, Silver and Bronze awards. NSCC has its roots from the Singapore Philatelic Exhibition (Singpex) which was first organised in Singpex was held annually and consisted of entries from adults and youths. In the late 1980s and 1990s, the competition was held less regularly. In 2001, SPM and the Organising Committee of Singpex introduced the School Group Category to encourage student participation in the competition. From 2007, the School Group Category was separately organised by the SPM under the title of NSCC. Ministry of Education has supported the competition since