Philatelic of birds

Closure of Tai-O delivery office

2012-01-14T18:46:00.006+08:00

Due to lack of usage and reduce the cost, Hongkong Post decided to close their Tai-O delivery office on October 22, 2011. Which was a farthest-west delivery office in Hong-Kong. Before the closure, the delivery office only serves Tai-O and nearby uninhabited villages, also Ngong Ping. As a result, it is too expensive to set up a delivery office for such few inhabitant.

After the closure of Tai-O delivery office, the service was combined with Mui Wo delivery office on October 24, 2011. However the postmark, TAO-DR1 still in use in Tai-O post office until now. Below two covers shown examples of the procedure by two delivery offices, which are sent to same addressee in different days. The first one, by registered mail sent on October 22 and returned by Mui Wo delivery office (MWO) on October 27 ; while second one by ordinary mail sent on October 20, and returned by Tai-O delivery office also due charged by Maonshan delivery office (MOS) on November 8.

Review of Hong-kong first day covers 2011

2011-12-13T19:15:00.004+08:00

Here are the collection of all new regular issues of Hong-kong, 2011. Ten issues are came out and shown as below.

Year of the rabbit : 22 January, 2011.

Centenary of powered flight in Hong Kong : 18 March, 2011.

Volunteerism : 29 March, 2011.

Green living : 14 April, 2011.

150th anniversary of Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce :
26 May, 2011.

Children stamps - Chinese idioms and their stories :
28 June, 2011.

Centenary of The University of Hong Kong :
15 September, 2011.

Centenary of Xinhai Revolution : 10 October, 2011.

Hong Kong, China - Romania joint issue on handicraft :
24 November, 2011.

Hong Kong museums collection -
Hong Kong cultural and historical Series :
6 December, 2011.

Unfriendly service

2011-12-02T01:30:00.000+08:00

If pay attention to variety philatelic forum or discussion board, we can find many collectors complain their local philatelic service, from the quotation of stamp sale, to postmarking or mail processing. However, generally speaking, those are individual cases and those postal admissions wish to improve their service to meet philatelist demands. But in few months ago, I truly understand that what is the worst philatelic service.

Above letter received on late-October following the registered mail from Jersey Post. Just clearing to tell collector that they are beginning to charge operational fee for customer, it is very surprise to me although it is not new to me - for some countries, like China, each postmark for philatelic costs 0,50RMB.

I posted this letter to facebook and receive a lot of feedback in the meanwhile, they disagree the charge by Jersey Post. It is unacceptable customer should have account first, deposit £25 and then 35p of each postmark, it seems total cost £42,50 if you wish to have postmarking service in future.

Honestly speaking, I don't mind to pay small amount if you need the operational fee. But if as well as Jersey who needs a big deposit first, I am sorry I will terminated the account and will not be the customer anymore.

Self-served kiosks (3)

2011-07-01T23:32:00.005+08:00

After a year, Hongkong Post decided to terminate the trial of eCemtre. Although it didn't explain the reason of terminate, people normally to think that the posting centre lack of customer to use the self-severed kiosk. On April 29, it was the last day of the eCentre open, above domestic registered mail is shown a set of default set labels with specially printed $5,80 label, cancelled with the countered postmark. And below EMS mail to Germany affixed total $170 definitive stamps plus a specially printed $4,00 label.

The kiosk afterward moved to Kowloon Bay post office to continuous the trial, above domestic mail as well as first one, affixed a set of default labels plus one specially printed $5,80 label.

On the other side, in Switzerland. PTT discontinuous the FRAMA stamp vending machine in whole country. May 11 was the last day of the machine functioned. Below cover to commemorate this event sent from Basel, by registered mail to Hong-Kong.

Self-served kiosks (2)

2011-04-02T00:00:00.001+08:00

Tuen Mun Central Road Post Office

In the same time to post an ATM cover from Singapore, I would update the usage of self-served kiosks in Hong-Kong. If you remember, I had posted an essay introduce the kiosks in Cheungshawan, as known as eCentre ; and one for public in Hennessy Road Post Office. After the 22nd of January, probably a busy Saturday, the trial in Hennessy Road Post Office was terminated. And the machine be moved to Tuen Mun Central Post Office, which located in remotest new town of New Territories. The kiosk reopen on 8th February, and number of collectors queued up for sending mails and obtaining labels. Here are some mails of first day of using and other normal day.

A domestic registered mail with advise of receipt service total costs $25,40.
It is not possible to pay the fee of advance service so extra $11 stamps be affixed.
Cover cancelled with roller postmark (TCL-6).

An EMS mail to Singapore, the label is for make-up rate postage.
It also sent on the day of service.

A set of default set and extra $5,80 label sent by domestic registered mail,
it also cancelled by roller postmark on 8/3/2011.

For supplement, some mails of eCentre and Hennessy Road Post Office are shown here with simple description. Only eCentre is still serving customer in this moment.

Far left : A set of recent reel definitive stamps with
extra extra $5,80 label sent by domestic registered mail,
it sent from eCentre (EC01-1) on 3/8/2010.
Right : A returned express mail to Macao,
sent on the first day of using of Hennessy Road Post Office kiosk.
It via Airmail Centre (AMC-18) on 14/8/2010 and arrived
Macao on 7/8/2010 ; stored in post office from 9/8/2010 to 13/9/2010.
And returned to Hong-Kong on 11/10/10.

Review of Hong-kong first day covers 2010

2011-01-19T00:03:00.003+08:00

Here are the collection of all new regular issues of Hong-kong, 2010. Eight issues are came out and shown as below.

Year of the Tiger ; 6 February 2010.

Hong Kong's participation in Expo 2010, Shanghai China ; 27 April 2010.

Characteristic Streets in Hong Kong ; 24 June 2010.

Biodiversity ; 15 July 2010.

Centenary of Railway Service in Hong Kong ; 28 September 2010.

Children Stamps - Hong Kong in my Eyes ; 21 October 2010.

Redevelopment of Old Areas ; 16 November 2010.

Lighthouses of Hong Kong ; 29 December 2010.

Marcophily - Roller postmark of the world

2010-11-05T11:15:00.015+08:00

Actually, Hongkong is not the first postal administration to introduce roller postmark, since the Ernst Riner established in 1913, many countries chose their products, mostly are nearby European countries and also Asians, Africans and Caribbeans. Below is the list and examples of some postmarks.

Postmark © Ernst Reiner GmbH & Co.KG

Country	Post office / Place / Date (Postmark serial number to be omitted)	Example
Åland (XA)	Mariehamn ALAND Figure style :	Philatelic bureau reported that it was withdrawn.
Austria (AT)	(Wien 1090) Alsergrund, Wien 18th January, 1994. Figure style : 18.-1.94-21
Belgium (BE)	Gent 4th February, 2009. Figure style : 04.02.09-19
Brunei (BN)	(MPO) Belait 22nd March, 2008. Figure style : 22.-3.2008
Croatia (HR)	Zagrab Figure style :
Cyprus (CY)	LATSIA MAIL CENTER Figure style :
Denmark (DK)	Sydjyllands Postcenter 29th September, 2010. Figure style : 29.09.10-24
Faroes, the (FO)	Saltangará 20th June, 2011. Figure style : 20. -6. 2011
Finland (FI)	Kuopio 6th August, 2010. Figure style : 06.08 -2010
Germany (DE)	(Briefzentren 89) Neu-Ulm 18th August, 2009. Figure style : 18.-8.09-21
Greenland (GL)	3952 ILULISSANT Figure style :
Hongkong (HK)	(KWF) Kwai Fong 12th May, 2010. Figure style : 12.05.10
Iceland (IS)	Reykjavik 30th August, 2010. Figure style : 30 08 2010
Indonesia (ID)	Jakarta Figure style :
Iran (IR)	(Zone-P-11) Lashkar, Tehran 14th June, 2010. Figure style : 14/6/-10
Ireland (IE)	(Cork Mails Centre) Cork 21st May. 2010. Figure style : 21.05.20-10
Luxembourg (LU)	(Luxembourg-CT 3290) Bettembourg 14th June, 2010. Figure style : 1406 10-22
Malaysia (MY)	Butterworth, Penang Figure style :
Malta (MT)	(Priority) Gozo* 15th November, 2008. Figure style : 15.10.20-10
Netherlands, the (NL)	Amsterdam 15th October, 2008. Figure style : 15.10.08-22
Norway (NO)	Oslo 19th August, 2003. Figure style : 19.8 .03
San Marino (SM)	Arrivi - Partenze - 47891 - Dogana - R.S.M. Figure style :	Philatelic bureau reported that it was withdrawn.
Singapore (SG)	(Singapore Mails Centre) Singapore 30th September, 2010. Figure style : 30 SEP 2010
South Africa (ZA)	Bloemfontein 9301 20th December, 2000. Figure style : 2000-12-20
Taiwan (TW)	Taipei 1st June, 2010. Figure style : 01.06.10
Trinidad & Tobago (TT)	(Int. Mail Section) Port Spain 6th August, 2009. Figure style : 08·06·09
United Arab Emirates (AE)	(Emirates Post) Abu Dhabi* 22nd October, 2010. Figure style : 22.10.2010

Self-served kiosks

2010-10-24T03:30:00.003+08:00

From the 12th April, Hongkong Post introduces new self-served posting kiosk to customer. Actually it is not the first kiosk service in Hongkong Post history, on mid-1999 a self-service machine as known as Post-it-yourself Station, which manufactured by Nagler was installed in Tsimshatsui post office but unfortunately it terminated on late-2007, when it moved to Gloucester Road post office.

The new kiosk as well as Irish and Great Britain one which manufactured by Wincor Nixdorf installed at eCentre posting centre, Cheungshawan. It is new automatically posting centre to business customers and not fully open to public, the card shown on the left side is the membership card of the centre. The opening date of the centre probably in mid to late-December of 2009 while the kiosk begins to work on April 12. Below example is a local courier mail with its certificate sent on the 1st April, 12 days before kiosk open. In the meantime, it was the final minutes (probably last day) to use 'Certificate of posting unregistered items', after few days this habit is unaccepted in this centre.

A local courier post sent on 1/4/2010, few days before opening of kiosk.
Right side certificate shown the details of eCentre.

It is impossible to use this certificate to post ordinary mail
after few days of this cancellation.

On the first day service of kiosk, near 100 collector queued up for trying the machine and send mail, officially each customer limited to 10 labels or one mail per one queue, thus most of people queued more than 3 times. Below shown two first day examples are registered mail with one make-up rate $1,30 label and ordinary mail with one make-up rate $0,10 label respectively. It is specially note that $0,10 to $1,30 labels do not have chance to obtain after few months ! Registered mail normally cancel with eCentre postmark (this case is EC01-1) and ordinary mail cancel with International Mail Centre postmark (mostly IMC-D3), but sometimes specially cancel with other postmark if the mail not posting regularly.

1) Registered mail sent on day of issue, with make-up rate label $1,30.
2) Ordinary mail sent on day of issue under irregular method,
with make-up rate label $0,10.
3) Ordinary mail sent on 14/4/2010. Please note that it cancelled on
next day due to posted after deadline.
4) A registered mail to London shown the label with registration code
and individual registration label. Below are the receipts of this mail.

For overseas registered mails and local parcels, there also have key to input addressee address in English. Here is a mail to England sent by Advice of delivery, with computer receipt and formal certificate. Please note cancellation on two receipts is must.

After the day of opening, many collector obtain $0,01 labels according to the label imprinted UV-roll code. To avoid this situation, post office limited customer only 10 labels could be obtain each day. However it didn't useful until 2nd August, when last day of the machine could provide label values from $0,01 to $1,30.

Hennessy Road Post Office

On the 3rd August, one more kiosk promote to customer and it was be installed at Hennessy Road. Below are two examples of ordinary mail and registered mail sent from there on day of issue or few days later.

From left to right :
1) Registered domestic mail with a set of pre-set value labels,
plus make-up rate label $5,80.
2) Ordinary domestic mail sent on day of issue.

Talk again first day cover

2010-10-01T00:52:00.019+08:00

In last year, I had talked about first day cover in soapbox. However it just my opinion about arrange Hongkong's addressed first day cover, of course until today my mind never change I never interest on local first day cover - the main reason still the meaningless postmarks reduce the value of the cover.

My Malaysian friend Ronny in past days discuss his opinion of first day cover in his attractive blog Simple Guy with The LOVE for Philatelic (quite longed name). May I also have some comments about this topic, forget my theme first.

Generally speaking, mint first day covers as known as un-addressed first day covers are not collectable. I never collect them and absolutely reject this offer from others. The reason is they just a souvenir, and it seems lost their main function - use for postage. So, at least, my covers are postal used, either in ordinary form or registered form.

Left : Taiwan Ferns, Taiwan 2009.

Pre-postmarked but overpaid FDC sent on day of issue.

Right : Shanghai World Expo 2010, Hongkong 2010.

Insufficient postage FDC with postage due labels.

Okay, Ronny talks about the investment of cover. I am agree Ronny says first day covers, especially modern mint covers are not wroth in market. But I don't consider it is CTO (cancel to order) or other reason, just simply to say they are issue under mass production. But no one known how huge quantity they produced. If you misunderstand, why not I find two examples for your reference ? In Hongkong, after it was overtaken by China, the philatelic bureau arrange huge quantity first day covers to fulfil the demand from mainland China, unfortunately after they known philatelic bureau produces them as well as toilet paper, people understood that they are not valuable - in the theory less is dear. Moreover the worst thing is they have been cancelled and can't be reused. After few years, the market price of these covers only HK$1-5, worst than those mint discounted stamps in market.

WWF collection is another poison. The private coordinator, although they have permit to produce first day covers or maxicards with WWF logo, they haven't open how many of each product they produce. Those product now cheaper than mint stamps in large scale, even some of issues are costly nowadays.

Ronny wrongly to say that first day cover is not allow to show in exhibition. Oppositely it can, especially they were be postal used. The main point is it can proof the very first usage of one stamp, instead of official first day. Left side Taiwanese first day cover (example 1) is an example has two postmarks and two of them are match. But unluckily I would point that out it is not good example due to postage excessed. However, it is allow insufficient to postage, especially post office to charge you back the due (example 2).

Left : 50th anniversary of Sétif massacre, Algeria 2009.

Poor outstanding FDC does not attract people eye-catching and meaningless.

Right : Elevators, Portugal 2010.

Tidy FDC is more attractive even it was not send in day of issue.

Some countries allow their first day covers send on other days instead of first day of issue. These covers, I don't know is it can exhibit in public, but it should depends on individual cases. Above first day covers from Algeria and Portugal are examples shown the first day special postmark with ordinary postmark not cancel not day of issue. Actually they are not the best first day cover, however the Portugal one is more eyecathing than the Algeria one - it looks untidy and meaningless.

Below Falkland Islands' first day cover really in special case. The stamps couldn't be provide on the day of issue, the cover only be cancelled on the first day of available. Of course, some collector dislike that, but ... it really depends on different situations.

Petrels and Shearwaters, Falkland Islands 2010.

Official first day cover sent on available date.

Finally, I would point out that either the cover is in official form (below example from Estonia), private illustrated form (below example from Hongkong) or blank cover (below examples from Liechtenstein and Great Britain). The collect value do not change.

1. Bird of the year, Estonia 2010. 2. Biodiversity, Hongkong 2010.
3. Liechtenstein Panorama, Liechtenstein 2010. 4. 25th anniversary of Buzin, Belgium 2010.

Talk again letters of Liechtenstein and Swiss

2010-09-17T00:54:00.001+08:00

Okay, it is time to begin new topic of miscellaneous philatelic talk. Do you remember I've talked about the mail of Liechtenstein on April ? In these few months, I collected three more registered mail examples from Swiss and Liechtenstein, they look attractive and outstanding. Below are three of them.

The first one sent on May 4th from (CH-9497) Triesenberg Post Office, after the postage adjusted on April 1st. The postage, as well as Swiss, the priority mail to non-EU countries be adjusted from CHF1,80 to 1,90 however the registration fee remind unchanged, CHF6,00. This cover only affixed the stamps total amount at CHF7,80 ! It means the postage was insufficient but the post office still kindly helped me post to addressee.

The second mail also sent from Liechtenstein, by (CH-9485) Nendlen Post Office on September 3rd. Unfortunately the mail still insufficient postage but posted successfully. If check the tracking number hrough Swiss Post system, we can find the stage of mail processing. For this example, we can see Hongkong Custom and Hongkong Post shown how low effciency they have, they spent 26 hours for custom clearance and a day for delivery.

The last one, from (CH-8000) Zurich Philatelic Sale Point on 9th September, a special day for Taiwanese. The officer helpfully use tourist postmark on the mails and it looks attractive. The surprise is they also attach the certificate of the mail to me. Sadly, Hongkong Custom still using their ant speed to finish the clearance - 23 hours !

Marcophily - Roller postmark of Hongkong

2010-08-24T00:10:00.021+08:00

Few years ago, Hongkong Post began to use roller postmarks in three mail processing centres, they are General Post Office (GPO), International Mail Centre (IMC) and Airmail Centre (AMC) for obtain better cancellation on irregular packets or bulk stamps on envelopes. The postmarks are made in Germany by Ernst Reiner as well as the one using in other countries like Germany, Taiwan, Belgium, Luxembourg or Iran. The roller postmark of Hongkong measures in 28mm diameter and 85mm long, with double-ring circular date-postmark and six wave-shape curves. Below are the list and examples of the postmarks.

Processing Centre (In short form and Chinese)	Serial Number	Example
General Post Office (GPO / 郵政總局)	GPO-D43, 44, 45, 46 GPO-D43 > 6 February 2010
	GPO-D44 > 18 August 2010
	GPO-D45 > 18 August 2010
International Mail Centre (IMC / 國際郵件中心)	IMC-D41, 42, 43, 44 IMC-D41 > 20 August 2010
	IMC-D42 > 2 April 2010
	IMC-D43 > 20 August 2010
	IMC-D44 > 5 August 2010
Airmail Centre (AMC / 空郵中心)	AMC-D21, 22 AMC-D21 > 12 December 2009

After the successful using in processing centres, Hongkong Post tried to use roller postmark in counter post offices on 2 January of 2009, seven post offices were selected to introduce the postmark. The format of the postmarks are nearly same as processing centre one, but the date-postmark is in single-ring style. Seven post offices listed as below.

Post Office (In short form and Chinese)	Serial Number	Example
Fotan (FOT / 火炭)	FOT-6 FOT-6 > 2 January 2009
Gillies Avenue (GAV / 機利士路)	GAV-8 GAV-8 > 27 April 2010
King's Road (KNG / 英皇道)	KNG-7 KNG-7 > 24 June 2010
Kwong Wah Street (KWW / 廣華街)	KWW-8 KWW-8 > 17 December 2009
Shekwuhui (SWH / 石湖墟)	SWH-6 SWH-6 > 26 April 2010
Sheungwan (SWN / 上環)	SWN-7 SWN-7 > 24 June 2010
Tsimshatsui (TST / 尖沙咀)	TST-18 TST-18 > 5 December 2009

In 12 May and 26 May of 2010, roller postmark to be introduced on more 28 counter post offices, all the formats do not change as first seven. Here is the list shown these 28 post offices.

Post Office (In short form and Chinese)	Serial Number	Example
Introduce on 12 May 2010
Aberdeen (ABD / 香港仔)	ABD-5 ABD-5 > 29 July 2010
East Kowloon (KEA / 東九龍)	KEA-6 KEA-6 > 12 May 2010
Kwai Fong (KWF / 葵芳)	KWF-6 KWF-6 > 12 May 2010
Maonshan (MOS / 馬鞍山)	MOS-7 MOS-7 > 12 May 2010
On Ting (OTG / 安定)	OTG-4 OTG-4 > 15 July 2010
Shakeiwan (SKN / 筲箕灣)	SKN-6 SKN-6 > 12 May 2010
Shamshuipo (SSP / 深水埗)	SSP-7 SSP-7 > 12 May 2010
Shatin Central (SCL / 沙田中央)	SCL-9 SCL-9 > 12 May 2010
Taikoktsui (TKT / 大角咀)	TKT-5 TKT-5 > 12 May 2010
Tsat Tsz Mui (TTM / 七姊妹)	TTM-7 TTM-7 > 24 June 2010
Tsuen Wan (TSW / 荃灣)	TSW-12 TSW-12 > 12 May 2010
Wanchai (WCH / 灣仔)	WCH-7 WCH-7 > 12 May 2010
Yuen Long (YLG / 元朗)	YLG-9 YLG-9 > 15 July 2010
Introduce on 26 May 2010
Chai Wan (CHW / 柴灣)	CHW-4 CHW-4 > 9 August 2010
Cheungshawan (CSW / 長沙灣)	CSW-9 CSW-9 > 26 May 2010
Cityone Shatin (COS / 沙田第一城)	COS-3 COS-3 > 26 May 2010
General Post Office (GPO / 郵政總局)	GPO-43 GPO-43 > 26 May 2010
Hing Man Street (HMS / 興民街)	HMS-4 HMS-4 > 26 May 2010
Kowloon City (KCY / 九龍城)	KCY-7 KCY-7 > 13 August 2010
Lam Tin (LMT / 藍田)	LMT-4 LMT-4 > 26 May 2010
Sai Ying Pun (SYP / 西營盤)	SYP-5 SYP-5 > 26 May 2010
Shek Lai (SLI / 石籬)	SLI-6 SLI-6 > 26 May 2010
Tai Hing (THG / 大興)	THG-4 THG-4 > 15 July 2010
Tai Koo Shing (TKS / 太古城)	TKS-5 TKS-5 > 26 May 2010
Taipo (TPO / 大埔)	TPO-6 TPO-6 > 15 July 2010
Tseung Kwan O (TKO / 將軍澳)	TKO-5 TKO-5 > 26 May 2010
Tuen Mun Central (TCL / 屯門中央)	TCL-6 TCL-6 > 15 July 2010
Yeung Uk Road (YUR / 楊屋道)	YUR-6 YUR-6 > 26 May 2010

More examples will be added in future. In here I would special thanks for the regards of Yoram of London, Jean-Pierre of Amilly, James of Taipei, Myron of the Philippines and also Chanda Tan, Brain and Ivanov of Hongkong.

Redesign of the Philatelic of birds

2010-07-04T00:58:00.010+08:00

In last week, some readers may found their surprise as Philatelic of birds changed its own layout and launched new sub-page '2010 International Year of Biodiversity'. The new layout have most of new features provided by blogger. Same as before, the background images are come from variety photographers and organisation. The copyrights of the photographs are listed at the bottom of each pages.

The old layout has been used 5 years, when I began my personal blog and website. The main feature of old layout is the top navigation bar is in image map form which not provided by blogger, background image or pattern to be changed for each sub-pages and new blog. It is time to make change as blogger provided many new features and old layout does not capable of new configurations.

The new layout is simplified the navigation bar to plan text to show all sub-pages, includes 'WWF' and '2010 International Year of Biodiversity', reader now can become follower and subscribe new posts. Unfortunately, as some problems cannot be solved, 'Soapbox' still keep the old layout in a while. Once the problem solved, it also be renewed as others.

The change of Iceland's postage structure

2010-05-18T14:00:00.003+08:00

After the financial crisis of 2008, the economic of Iceland collapsed and the value of Icelandic króna fell more than 35% against Euro from January to August, and also the inflation in this period increased 14%, it caused the prime cost raised and no exception in postal service. In January 1 of 2010, Iceland Post decided change its foreign letter price by combination of two weight steps (under 20g, and from 20g to 50g) to one step (under 50g). New rates of priority mail to European countries and other countries are 165kr. or 220kr. respectively. That means if send a mail under 20g to Hongkong, it must pay double than send the same mail on 2009 (110kr.). After two months, on March 1, the rate for domestic mail also change. Same as foreign mail, the first step of mail is under 50g and costs 75kr., which means increased 10kr. than before.

Above cover sent from Flatey is used for sending the maxicard which shown in main page today. Originally it was overpaid as a set of whale stamps costs 170kr. while the postage only 110kr. before 2010. However after checked the rate from the website of Iceland Post, it was not enough and must affix more 50kr. stamps on the envelope.

Iceland Post is not the first one combine its weight steps of postage rate. Nowadays many postal administrations are set the first step of postage rate is under 50g or accept large packet sized mails while the postage much expensive than under 20g ones. The advantage of this policy is guarantee the postal system is not lose too much in ordinary mails.

Projects status

2010-05-15T18:20:00.012+08:00

This schedule list on this blog will be updated in each month. Here is the recent list of projects until May 15.

May - Planning to create a special site related to the International Year of Biodivisity, please take a look in future.

Country	Item details
Back issues		Updated date
Barbados	Piping Plover	20 May, 2010	Finish
Finland	Maxicard	20 March, 2010	Will be resent
Italy	Birds	12 April, 2010	Ongoing
Kenya	Definitive	27 December, 2009	Planning
Tunisia	White Crane	12 April, 2010	Ongoing
Upcoming issues		Issue date
British Antarctic Territory	50th Anniversary of the Antarctic Treaty	6 November, 2009	Ongoing
Burundi	WWF	TBA	Planning
Christmas Island	WWF	10 July, 2010	TBA
Estonia	Year of birds	13 May, 2010	Finish
Portugal	Herring Gull (meuselo) Picture show draft only, © 2010 Edward Hong	Late-April	On hold. Due to account problem.
TAAF	2010 issue	2 January, 2010	Awaiting

Registered mail from Liechtenstein

2010-04-03T20:00:00.001+08:00

As Liechtenstein is an independent country, this nation has its own government and related departments, of course it also has its own country code (LI), formally called ISO 3166-1 and calling code (423). Although Liechtenstein has its own postal service and issued its stamps since 1912, the post office has agreement with Switzerland so the system mostly base on Swiss Post, such as postmarks, postage rate, postal code and the UPU's standard registration label, which begun to use on 1996.

Above example is a registered mail example sent from Vaduz to Hongkong on the 8th August of 2008, it doesn't have any different than Swiss, which shown as below, exception is the stamps issued by Liechtenstein. Total postage is 7,90 Swiss Franc and the Vaduz's postmark are as well as Swiss rate and format. And also the registration label, it bears Swiss Post's logo, printed with postal code CH-9490 Vaduz and the 13-digit registration code RN875015102CH by laser print.

Beside of Liechtenstein, the situation of those small countries in Europe are nearly same. Here is the list of these countries.

Country (and original ISO 3166-1 code)	Details (Postage and the ISO 3166-1 code of registration label)	Notes
Andorra (AD)	Postage : same as France or Spain Registration Label : FR / ES	The counter used postage label as well as France, but in different country name.
Monaco (MC)	Postage : same as France Registration Label : FR	The counter used postage label is designed for Monaco only.
San Marino (SM)	Postage : same as Italy Registration Label : IT
Vatican City (VA)	Postage : same as Italy Registration Label : VA

Postage stamps not vaild for postage

2010-03-21T20:10:00.001+08:00

Few days ago, I received back my cover from Ascension Islands which sent on half year ago, it was inside a packet which haven't been cancelled and also enclosed a message from the post officer. The message says the stamps which issued before October of 2001 are not valid for postage, this situation let me upset and disappointed. Generally speaking, most of stamps are valid for postage forever, like Switzerland ; the United States and Canada. However as many reasons, some old stamps are lost their value after a period, like change of currency (e.g. Australia, New Zealand, China, Great Britain and Ireland) ; change of government (e.g. Hongkong, Macao and Liechtenstein) ; but some of countries do not have reasons (e.g. St Helena, Ascension Islands, Portugal). In recent years I received many messages from related philatelic bureaux who explained that their stamps not valid for postage. Below two letters, which sent by Portugal and Burkina Faso, to info customer the stamps not valid for postage since April of 2010 or 2001 respectively.

Left : Letter from Portugal ; Right : Letter from Burkina Faso (in French)

Most of post offices do not accept customers use devalued stamps on mail, but depends on different situations, the mails may postage due, receiver be notify or nothing happen. Here are three examples of Hongkong, Portugal and Burkina Faso : The stamps of Hongkong issued before 1st July, 1997 are not valid for postage after the day, processing centre will make a notify to receiver to remind sender does not use such stamp on next time. The cover as below sent on 2001, using a bird stamp issued on April, 1997. A notify cachet is on back side and the stamp cancelled by 'killer' postmark.

A returned domestic mail example affixed with invalid stamp,
shown the stamp cancelled by killer postmark and notify cachet on back side.

These two covers were shown before, the first one is came from Portugal. The postage label with Escudo denomination was used on the mail of 2008. The stamp was still accepted for postage and nothing happen. I have another situation of these stamps when I visiting Porto on 2007, the staff did not accept the stamp and charged me extra 0,75 Euro for postage. The last one, was a mail of Burkina Faso, the stamps are cancelled but there have a letter (as above) inside the envelope to say that the stamps issued before 2001 are devalued.

Left : A greater flamingo postage label issued on 2000,
was seen on a cover from Vendas Novas on October, 2008.
Right : A registered letter used the stamps almost issued before 2001,
was cancelled by Philatelic Bureau of Ouagadougou on 2009.

Marcophily - Airmail Centre (AMC) (1)

2010-02-28T00:10:00.017+08:00

Actually, I am happy to share modern postmarks of Hongkong, but I don't know do people interest it or not. Moreover, there have another excellent website about the postmarks by my friend Brain. So here just simple to introduce them and not be updated in frequency.

The first one to introduce is Airmail Centre. The Airmail Centre is located in Cheklapkok, nearby the airport. The office founded in 9 June 1980, was setting up at International Mail Centre (IMC), Tsimshatsui when beginning, afterwards it moved to Kai Tai Airport, a new building inside airport area. In 5 June 1998, following the grand open of Cheklapkok Airport and the closure of Kai Tai Airport, it moved to nowadays location. Now, Airmail Centre is one of the main mail processing and delivering centre of Hongkong.

Since it works, the office using couple of hand-postmarks indicated 'AMC' with 'double rings' format until 1997, and it renewed to new design as well as all other post offices of Hongkong, but the format still in 'double rings' measured as 27mm diameter. However as different batches and manufacturers, there have some vary in the length of diameter or fonts of the postmarks.

Below are some examples of the hand-postmarks. As Airmail Centre is not open for public, it doesn't have 'single ring' postmark (counter-used postmark).

Fig. 1 : Hand-postmark with time box AMC-D2 (27/1/2008)
Fig. 2 : Roller postmark AMC-D21 (12/12/2009)
Fig. 3 : Hand-postmark without time box AMC-D33 (11/11/2007)

Fig. 4 : Hand-postmark AMC-D19 (9/9/2009)
Fig. 5 : Hand-postmark AMC-D56 (23/2/2009)

Before 31 March of 2003, all postmarks of processing centres (GPO/IMC/AMC) were bearing cancellation date and time. On this day, this policy had been cancelled and Hongkong Post renewed all postmarks without time box. However, there have some exceptions, which include GPO-D38, AMC-D1 to D9 ; and also machine postmarks AMC1 to 2, GPO H1, are still leave the time box but don't visible the time. Above example figure 1 is hand-postmark AMC-D2, seen it on an airmail letter to Guizhou, China postmarked on 27 January of 2008, and arrived Changshun County on 7 February 2008, the first day of Lunar New Year. The example figure 2 shown the roller postmark cancelled on one domestic registered mail, until now only this example I recorded. Figure 3, is a regular formatted postmark without time box, cancelled on an express mail to Cape Verde on 11 November of 2007.

Beside are two 'double rings' hand-postmark examples, until now there have 56 hand-postmarks to be used in different ways. At last I listed what postmarks I collected.

Postmark type	Number	Notes
Hand-postmark (single ring)	-	-
Hand-postmark (double rings)	1, 2, 3, 8, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 29, 33, 56	1, 2, 3, 8 : With time box 21 : Roller postmark
Machine postmark	1, 2, 5	1, 2 : Computer ink-jet postmark

Year of the Tiger

2010-02-13T00:00:00.005+08:00

Beside of Valentine's Day on tomorrow, it also a big festival in Chinese culture. The 14 February of 2010, is the first day of lunar new year. In Chinese zodiac, the year belongs to tiger. Many countries issued different Chinese zodiac stamps in each year, it is no exception in Hongkong. For me, this festival just as same as normal day and nothing special, as this reason I don't have any interest to collect Chinese zodiac stamps.

Above covers are sent in last Saturday, which was the day of issue of Tiger stamps of Hongkong, I don't have any comment as above reason - I don't collect them. However I still send many covers to overseas friends as I missed to make a greetings in last Christmas, hope they like my illustrated covers.

Find stamps or covers from internet

2010-01-30T20:57:00.016+08:00

Beside of receiving the covers addressing to myself, I also buy stamps and covers from different dealers - most of them in overseas. Of course, I only chose historically covers, mostly are 40's year to 90's of last century. So I can rich my collection. I am very interested on these covers, firstly they were using colourful stamps (bird stamps, of course) and not using barcode registration label, most of things are traditional. Pictures shown four of them, sent from Angola (1951), Guinea Bissau (1989), Republic of Congo - now is DR Congo (1962) and São Tome e Príncipe (1989) respectively. They seem rare in the market and not easy to find.

Especially I need talk about the bird stamps of Angola, this stamp set issued on 1951 is the most interesting and favour stamps in my collection. The stamps I have been purchased in the beginning of my bird collection and now is still ongoing to find more covers in the market. However, I discover that most of covers are owned by Portuguese, and they are not want to sell them - when I visited the dealers in Lisbon!

New year, new wish ?

2009-12-31T00:00:00.002+08:00

It is the last day of 2009. To review of this year, I received many nice and wonderful covers, of course some of covers I dislike - don't worry those covers I will not post in here. The cover I mostly like is the series of French DOM covers, these four covers are spent me one day (holiday in October) to prepare. After the last cover came back, I felt very exciting and put them on my desk for display, they really wonderful. On the other hand, the covers most dislike are the stamps not I wish, but I think the worst cover in this year was from India, it was an unreal posted first day cover with only one bird stamps and oddly postmarks. three kinds of thing do not match. Especially I confirmed he known me don't collect first day cover, and he still does before sent.

Some stamps I really don't want to receive any more, as they don't attracted for me. First one is all postage labels (a.k.a ATM stamps) and meter, even they are very popular in some countries, but for me they are not real stamps. If say what theme I don't collect, I think all kind of stamps related to China is in the first place. Not I dislike Chinese cultural, the most reason is western can't design perfect Chinese cultural stamps and they feel curious.

For the schedule of 2010, just two sets from Israel and TAAF are confirmed. Others will be marked them down on the list in future.

Stonecutters Bridge, and other 2009 issues

2009-12-23T00:20:00.013+08:00

After the issue of Stonecutters Bridge released, it is tme to review all 2009 issues of Hongkong. Actually I haven't bought all of them and most of them have been sold, I only keep complete issue on cover when it is attractive and I also have interest. Otherwise, only computer files are recorded and put them on sale as fast as possible. Here are : 1. Year of the Ox ; 2. Mount Tianshan, Xinjiang ; 3. CHINA 2009 World Stamp Exhibition ; 4. Hong Kong Museums Collection ; 5. National Day and 6. Centenary of Customs and Excise Service. The recent two issues have been shown in last few thread and of course not miss the last one Stonecutters Bridge. I visited two of post offices Tsing Yi and Cheungshawan, where is the places as the description on the official first day cover, but they are not the nearest post offices. Postmarks look acceptable and still readable. However I think I will redo once which is from nearest post office.

Busy December

2009-12-12T17:05:00.012+08:00

There have four important days to Hongkong collectors in December, as two new issues to be released in this month. On 5 December released East Asian Games, once again new special stamps issues on Saturday. Actually I dislike stamps issue on Saturday, as most of post offices do not work whole day and the time become tight. Stamps look more attractive than original layout, gold, silver and bronze are foiled on the stamps. I gone two post offices Sheung Tak and Tsimshatsui to send the covers, however the postmarks do not clear enough. Above are the covers of them.

After two days, a counter used postage label launch on four post offices, Lee On, Fo Tan, Cheungshawan and King's Road. I am welcome the post office have this new service to save customer time. Unfortunately it only for full payment at counter and mixed payment is not allow. The label looks very simple, only country name, label value and tracking number if it sent by registered mail will be printed by machine, and the white coloured label preprinted Hongkong Post logotype and series number only can be viewed under UV night. Left cover shown first day domestic mail sent from King's Road post office, thank Brain of his great help.

In next day, 8 December. New re-printed definitive stamps release, the running number printed on top-margin begins with FB. Seven values are included in this lot. Same as before, a handmade cover was prepare for re-printed definitive stamps. On next week, the last issue of 2009 Stonecutters Bridge to be issued. This is a great stamp set and localised theme, more detail will be posted on next thread.

Mail delay

2009-12-09T22:11:00.009+08:00

During these few days, when I go post office for sending mails, I always hear that customers complaint their mails be held in airport few days to two weeks, and they feel angry to the post offices' staff. Just few weeks ago, one of popular newspaper in Hongkong reported this news and says ebay customers lost their budget due to dispatch delayed. I also have such experience and called customer hotline few times, the staff replied me due to lack of cargo space and the volume of mail suddenly increased. Anyway I don't know is it true or false, the reason seems unbelievable. I discussed with one friend lives in London, he said most of postal administration bought a lot of cargo space to prepare such situation, and of course it causes the postage will be increased. In Hongkong, a normal airmail to nowhere basic postage is $3, it is cheapest when compare to nearest areas and countries - especially Macao (MOP $5) and China (6 yuan). As the cheap rate, I am thinking that Hongkong Post does not have ability to buy more cargo space (same as you spend more in first class or economic class of your seat).

It is not acceptable if the outbound mails to be delayed, Hongkong is an international city and many goods and product samples are need send through postal system. Customers may lose their business if the postal system is not reliable and fastest, cheap postage will not cover the lost. Will Hongkong Post consider increase some postage, to improve back the service more reliable ?

Stamps of China

2009-11-18T23:46:00.005+08:00

In recent years, Chinese stamps become popular as Chinese Hit in western society, from 50's years single coloured stamps to near issues. Price of those stamps are increasing in there, however in China, most of them are selling under face-value in market just after couple of days of issue. I am not investor and don't want to talk which one is best for investment, if only talk about the stamps, the quality just so far so good, some of stamps are beautiful and attractive but some stamps not.

In mainland China, most of sub-post offices are not easy, or say cannot by special stamps. Mostly if I visit China and want to send mails, I will buy some stamps from dealers in Hongkong first and bring them cross the border. Of course, they may costly - as dealers sell the stamps higher than the face-value but dealers in China discounting them. However, I don't want to search stamp markets as seems little bit waste time.

Picture is one of first day covers from China, I think it is excellent ! Although it is not in bird theme. Send mail in China is a big problem and troubleshoot, different post office may have different rule for customer. One doesn't allow you affix the stamps on back side and other one doesn't allow you use non-standard envelope. I had tried one in Zhongshan is a clerk use domestic registration label on a mail to Hongkong, instead of international one - quite funny.

Talking stamps of Taiwan

2009-11-11T00:03:00.004+08:00

Few years ago, I began to exchange with couple of Taiwanese stamp friends, they seem happy to swap covers with me especially first day covers. As I said before, I don't have much interest on first day covers so I told them no need to send me each issues, however I don't reject them all as some themes are quite interesting, like animals, folk paintings or artcrafts. In my mind, design of Taiwanese stamps are not attractive, some of them are quite boring. Base on some reasons, these stamps still popular in mainland China either they are attractive or not.

Picture is one of first day cover of Ancient Chinese art treasures stamp set issued on this year. If I don't say the stamps issued on 2009, do you think when did it issue ? The stamps, overall styled with last century 80's year elements, treasure photograph with coloured background. Print quality is another main problem of Taiwanese stamps, the stamps are not easy to keep well or perforation of stamps are not in good condition due to they are not easy to tear. Some of old stamps are printed in the Netherlands and Switzerland for high quality production, but nowadays as the localised reason, very few examples will be printed by foreign printers.

Now most of the Taiwanese collector crazy on postage label, many mails are using them for make-up rate stamps or just use them for postage. I don't have a wish and interest to see this situation, as traditional formatted stamps still my main favour.

Recent issue - Football

2009-11-09T00:23:00.014+08:00

Hongkong Post issued a new stamp set Football in past Thursday, which was joint issued with Brazil. The stamps designed by Hongkong designer illustrated four cartoon style football players of Hongkong team and Brazil team, also backgrounded with two national flags. I think overall looks fine.

Of course, it is not first time to issue joint issue stamps, Hongkong Post has been cooperated with couple of postal administrations over the world, such as Singapore, Sweden, Australia, South Korea and Portugal, most of stamps seemed successful. In recent years, joint issue approaching popular in the world, many postal administrations interested to issue this theme one to three set each years. However, unfortunately Hongkong Post still keeps its grandfather mind to present only one joint issue in each year ! Moreover it doesn't sell partner's stamps in its philatelic sale points, collector need find the stamps from dealer or swap with others, it seems lost original define of joint issue.

Actually, Hongkong Post does not do its business to develop collectable items but interested to develop souvenir products. Follow this issue, Hongkong Post also produced a golden football ! It sold in high price and limited quantity, but .... is it collectable for philatelist ?

Returned covers

2009-11-06T22:43:00.012+08:00

Many collectors have been tried to send to insufficient address or Poste Restante of nowhere, from the northernmost Svalbard to southernmost Tristan da Cunha, to collect those postmark of the places or other signal marks. It is quite funny and not to be spent too much money if just send a flat mail to each places. I haven't sent such mails or try to do it in recent days as some of mails were lost in nowhere, such as Tunisia, Gabon or Equatorial Guinea - these countries did not return the mails to me. In here I post two examples of returned covers, one was sent to Cape Verde and other one is Pitcairn Islands respectively. I specially written down they should via New Zealand or Portugal, and want to take a look how do they look like when the mails come back to me.

First one sent on November of 2007, I dropped the mail onto express mailbox of Granville post office, after 9 months it laid on my mailbox. It looks fine, although I written down it should via Portugal, never Portuguese postmark can be found. Unfortunately also no cancellation of Cape Verde postmarked ! Only a big cross drawn and a Portuguese text Retour Desconhecido (Return Unknown) is written. Please note that the cover bears one British style barcode, but don't know when did it be postmarked.

Second one sent on January of 2008, which sent from closed Causeway Bay post office. The cover short paid 20 cents but the staff haven't discover. The mail returned after over a year - postmarked by Pitcairn Islands post office and labelled by New Zealand Post.

Stamps of Macao

2009-11-04T21:45:00.005+08:00

Lets talk about near places of Hongkong, of course only stamps and post service in here, first one I would talk about Macao. Macao is nearest neighbourhood of Hongkong, locals just travel ferry from Central or Tsimshatsui, arrive this attrative place after an hour - at least for Western.

For me, I have travelled to there many times, since in my child time, but I haven't try to post anything during Macao under Portuguese governor, it was so pity as I think Portuguese Macao stamps are more attractive than it gone back to China, especially it doesn't issue any stamps related to natural in this 10 years. Perhaps, it changes too much. In my last few trips, I specially visited outland islands - Taipa and Coloane. I haven't obverse one bird in there !

Go back to stamps, their recent issues are designed by professional designer - most of them are related to folk artcraft, traditional works, domestic thematic or heritage sites., but no natural (I need say again). They are beautiful but boring for me, most of them I don't have interest to collect, stamps for me only for obtain postmark of post offices. Their service seems excellent, counter service is quite helpful, I visited half of post offices in Macao, the staffs always help you cancel the stamps with pretty and clear postmarks if they known I am visitor. Please see the examples as left side, one envelope is scanned by my French friend and one is my collection, two of them cancelled with nice postmarks and readable.

For mail order, they also kindly to do the business. I tried to send them couple of request and never miss any order. However, sometimes will not have nice cancellation, maybe they are too busy for customer.

Marcophily

2009-11-01T16:40:00.005+08:00

In last thread, I said the postmark of Hongkong is meaningless due to it only contains three-digit alpha code of related post office, people may not understand it If you are not live in Hongkong, or not a local philatelist. For example of pictured post office, it is the newest post office of Tinshuiwai area named Tin Yuet Post Office, where it located in housing estate Tin Yuet Estate. Do you know the code of this post office ?

Before 1997, the postmark format of Hongkong was following British style, that means full name of post office appears on the postmark. Example of this post office, the postmark will be read TIN YUET HONG KONG if it using British style, it is very clear and easy to understand.

Once the postmark lost its main feature, philatelist will lose their interesting to collect them in the meantime, especially for maximaphily - collectors thought that it is very important where the location of the cancellation, coding postmark cannot tell clear location detail to collector. For traditional marcophily range, collectors also disappoint to see TYT instead of TIN YUET - meaningless and ugly are main problems, although some of them still happy to collect them as it still is a valid postmark.

After I considered to collect worldwide date-postmarks, I found that only New Zealand and France are also using coding postmarks, but they are mainly using in mail processing centre, and all post offices still using traditional format postmark. Why only Hongkong is using such ugly and meaningless postmark, who knows ?

First day cover

2009-10-30T00:20:00.008+08:00

I known many collecotrs interested in first day covers and make their collection more richer, first day cover contains attractive illustrations, sometimes it printed with details description about the stamps which either the cover issued by official or private, the most important thing is it always cancelled with pictorial first day postmark. Many collectors specially collect them and don't care what theme they are related to, from wild life to social affairs.

Attached example is a private illustrated first day cover for one new souvenir sheet issue of Hongkong. A classics and traditional format base on it bears enough postage stamps, date-postmark on two sides and registration label, of course included receiver address. Some people may feel pity why the cover does not cancelled by special postmark, it is because there is not allow to obtain that if send registered mail in Hongkong.

That why I don't like arrange addressed first day cover in Hongkong, only here has such straight rule to suspend collector obtain special postmark for their own registered first day covers. In the meantime, date-postmark is meaningless after all postmarks renewed in early-1997, do you understand what is the meaning of the postmark TKT which visible on the example ?

Secondly, collector always face unexpected accidents during post processing, and post office only responds model answer to collector when replies the complaint. Service will not be improved.

In the beginning, I have been said that some collectors don't care their first day covers what theme related to, just addressed are okay. However, I am a thematic collector specially collect bird theme, that means I don't have interested on any first day cover if they are not related to bird. For these covers, they will be stored in same place with other non-bird ordinary covers.

Talking about postcard

2009-10-25T00:25:00.010+08:00

Some friends may find that here is none of postcard had be shown, or some of them sent me couple of cards and waiting for a long time to see their card post here. In here I would say thanks and regret that I like your postcard but unfortunately except maxicard, all postcards shall not be shown due to privacy measure.

I don't have scanner, the only way to have high quality image is scan them in public library. I need collect couple of mails in one or two weeks and then selected some of them are pretty and attractive before I go to there. As most of postcards written with a lot of private message and some friends may care their message to be shown in public, I will not bring them to public library with mails.

The other reason is, postcard is independent than stamp collection. Thus I don't consider what stamps were affixed on the card (of course real stamps are better, not label, meter, computer stamp and ATM stamp), I think the message and the picture side are more important than the stamps on the card.

Only few of postcards in my collection I have been scan, most of them were sent by myself during travelling to Macao, China, Tunisia, Portugal and Spain. And couple of cards sent in Hongkong when I felt boring.

New features

2009-10-22T18:50:00.001+08:00

After 10 months of foundation of this blog, I launch new sub-pages and re-catalogued all posts of original blog. This may help vistors find what they interest, although those sub-pages not much funny than original blog. You can find the header has been added two links, one is to FAQ page and one is to Miscellaneous page. However I think the header design is not the best and I will try improve it later. Below is details of new features.

Miscellaneous page - All posts labelled with 'Miscellaneous' in original blog have been move to here, total 21 posts and re-labelled them by envelopes, first day covers or maxicards. This page may not update frequency as they only show non-bird philatelic items.

FAQ page (here) - As I say before, this page is talking about anything of my blog and philatelic items.

WWF page - This sub-page is specially for WWF stamps fans. I don't have rich collection of this theme but I think they are okay to show in one independent page. This page may repeats posts labelled with 'WWF' either in miscellaneous page or original page. The link will not show in header but can be found in right side of index in original page and miscellaneous page..

Original page - All posts labelled with 'Miscellaneous' are moved, except they also labelled with 'Envelope' or other labels. The labels on the right side which have '* (star)' after the name of country will be redirected to miscellaneous page.

LinkWithIn - Very good plug-in for bloggers, however I found that it only show limited posts from my blog.

I checked all the links mostly are work, if you find a dead link please kindly let me know. I will correct it on next update, thanks.

About Hongkong stamps for swap

2009-10-20T22:35:00.003+08:00

Finally, I decided launch this special page to talk about something of my blog - Philatelic of birds, as some friends who wish to exchange Hongkong stamps with me. Actually I am happy to exchange with them if I have ability, however sometimes I gave up as they the stamps are back issues.

In my mind, modern Hongkong stamps are not collectable and boring, one of reasons is recent issues far away from local collectors, we don't have any interest on those themes. Simplify the speaking, they are not localised. For example in each year, the post office issues heritage sight of mainland China, they look quite beautiful but those sights can't be found in Hongkong.

As I say, I don't collect Hongkong stamps, that means I don't keep a lot of back issues either for collection or swap. Meantime, due to the issue policy of Hongkong Post, special stamps only have 3 months of sale period in all general counters or philatelic sale points, and withdraw after the period. That means if you want the special stamps as the picture, I may find them from local dealers - I can do that but need couple of days. Of course in each issues, I still buy some extra stamps for swap, but they are very limited.

I am very sorry I will not swap mint stamps, except the request before day of issue.