Celebrating 150 Years of Singapore s Postal Service! Postal Services through the Years: Stamp Collection

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Irma Hampton
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1 Immediate Release Celebrating 150 Years of Singapore s Postal Service! Postal Services through the Years: Stamp Collection Singapore, 28 October Wednesday, 29 October 2008 marks the 150 th year of Singapore s postal service. It was on that day that the Post Office was separated from the Marine Attendant s Office and became an independent department financed from the postal revenue. To commemorate this 150 th anniversary, Singapore Post Limited (SingPost) is issuing a special set of stamps, entitled Postal Services through the Years: tracing the changing phases of the postal industry in Singapore. Singapore s Strong Postal Heritage Over the past 150 years, Singapore s postal service has transformed significantly. In 1865, the sale of stamps was conducted at the Post Office for the first time. Six years later in 1871, the first local Money Order was introduced and this was followed by Parcel services, postal orders, and telegram service. In 1979, the 4-digit postal district code system was implemented, replacing the 2-digit postal district code number which had been in use since In 1992, SingPost introduced the next-day mail delivery standard for mail posted within the Central Business District (CBD) by 7pm and outside the CBD by 5pm. This was a significant change for mail processing staff from a predominantly day to an overnight operation. In 1995, a 6-digit postal district code system was introduced to replace the 4- digit system. SingPost started its neighbourhood postman scheme in 1996, and a year later, it introduced a new generation Self-Service Automated Machine, known as SAM, which could weigh postal items, dispense postage labels and accept bill payments, replacing the first generation postal automated machine, known as PAM which had been in use since In 1998, it installed state-of-the-art mail-sorting system at the mail processing centre. Through the years, SingPost has been investing considerably to improve its mail handling processes. In 1998, SingPost achieved at least 95 per cent of mail delivered by the next business day, bringing Singapore s postal service standards from 3 rd world standard to 1 st world standard. Keeping in pace with the changing times, SingPost launched vpost (Virtual Post) to provide electronic services in Offering bill presentment/payment services initially, Page 1 of 5

2 vpost has now grown to become one of the largest online shopping and shipping service providers in the region. In 2003, SingPost, a subsidiary of Singapore Telecom since 1992, became a public listed company. Several years later, it diversified its business, expanding its operations beyond postal services as it geared up for the liberalisation of the Basic Mail Service (BMS) market and to counter the effects of e-substitution. As part of its diversification strategy, SingPost introduced financial services at its post offices in SpeedCash (pawnbroking) marked SingPost s foray into financial services. Since then, it has launched six additional financial services CASHOME Remittance (remittance service), Care for Life (insurance and unit trusts), EzyShield (insurance products), ezycash, James and PostLine (unsecured loan services). Today, SingPost stands as one of only several postal operators in the world that consistently achieves a Quality of Service standard of 98% or better for next day delivery. SingPost, for the seventh consecutive year since 2001, has won the Express Mail Service (EMS) Cooperative Certification Gold Level Award by the Universal Postal Union (UPU) for its Speedpost Worldwide courier service. It also clinched its first win in the annual World Mail Awards for the Quality category in The Quality Award is in recognition of SingPost s long-time initiatives which have significantly advanced its mail quality. As a result of years of transformation and innovation to meet its customers fastchanging needs, its tri-channel network of 62 post offices, more than 260 SAMs and its internet portal, vpost, offers one-stop convenience not only for one s postal essentials, but also other services such as bill payments, government services, ticketing and financial products and services. While we have built a strong heritage and tradition, we will not rest on our laurels but will forge ahead and ride on advancements in information technology to serve our customers better. The introduction of the new ClickPost service 1 and the AM Mail 2 service are examples of our constant push of the envelope and innovate in the face of changing times to better serve our customers, said Mr Wilson Tan, Group Chief Executive Officer, SingPost. 1 ClickPost is a one-stop mailing solution. Users will send their documents to ClickPost via the Internet, afterwhich ClickPost will print, fold, stamp and deliver the mail by the next business day. 2 AM service, a time-certain service, bridges the gap between express mail or courier service and regular mail. Customers can post their mail using pre-paid envelopes at any of SingPost s 800-odd posting boxes and their addressees will receive the mail before 11am the following work day instead of the current 5pm. Page 2 of 5

3 Postal Services through the Years: Stamp Collection Postal Services through the Years magnet set comprises 5 stamps with each sealed in a magnet, depicting the changing times through postmen and post boxes. These magnets are presented in a classy box with a short summary of how Singapore s very first Post Office came about. This exclusive magnet set is priced at S$35.00, and SODA members can purchase it for S$ The stamps come in denominations of 1st local, 2nd local, 50 cents, 80 cents and S$1.10. Also available on sale are the complete set of stamps for S$2.98; the Pre-cancelled First Day Cover affixed with complete set of stamps for S$3.80; and the Presentation Pack for S$4.75. Both the Pre-cancelled First Day Cover and Presentation Pack carry the watermark of very first General Post Office at Fullerton and the current Singapore Post Centre at Paya Lebar. All first day covers will be cancelled with the Singapore Postal Services through the Years logo. The complete set of stamps, first day cover and presentation pack will be on sale from 29 October 2008 at all post offices and philatelic outlets as well as the Singapore Philatelic Museum. All the stamp products of this issue can also be ordered at its online shopping portal vpost, Information and enquiries For more information on this new stamp issue, please call the Singapore Philatelic Bureau at telephone numbers (toll-free within Singapore) or during office hours or visit or us at sinstamp@singpost.com - End - About Singapore Post Limited (Reg. No M) SingPost, the designated Public Postal Licensee for Singapore, provides efficient and high quality domestic and international postal services. One of the most efficient postal operators in the world, SingPost received global recognition in the World Mail Awards for the Quality category in SingPost is also the leading logistics provider in the domestic market, with global service offerings to more than 220 territories/countries. It has won the EMS Cooperative Certification Gold Level Award by the Universal Postal Union (UPU) for its Speedpost Worldwide courier service and is the only postal administration in the world to win this for seven consecutive years since SingPost also owns one of the largest retail distribution networks through its trichannel platform of post offices, Self-service Automated Machines (SAMs) and vpost, its internet portal. With its extensive network, SingPost provides a one-stop convenience to its customers for a wide range of products and services, including agency, postal and financial services. Page 3 of 5

4 Appendix 1 Postal Services through the Years Magnet Set Complete set of stamps Precancelled First Day Cover affixed with complete set of stamps Presentation Pack Page 4 of 5

5 Appendix 2 FACT SHEET Items on Sale Items First Day Cover (without stamps) Complete set of stamps (1 st local, 2 nd local, 50, 80, $1.10) Pre-cancelled First Day Cover with stamps Presentation Pack Price S$0.25 S$2.98 S$3.80 S$4.75 Technical Details Date of Issue : 29 October 2008 Denominations : 1 st local, 2 nd local, 50, 80 and $1.10 Stamp size : 33mm x 38mm Perforation : 13 Paper : Unwatermarked Printing Process : Offset Lithography Printer : Secura Singapore Pte Ltd Sheet Content : 20 stamps per sheet Designer : Sylvia S.H. Tan For general information on SingPost, call 1605 toll-free or visit us at Page 5 of 5

Edmund Chen Zhi Cai to be SingPost s Stamp Ambassador

For Immediate Release Edmund Chen Zhi Cai to be SingPost s Stamp Ambassador New stamp issue, The Endangered Animal - Oriental Small-Clawed Otter by Edmund Chen will be on sale on 3 June 2011 Complete set