SingPost will be releasing the Dragon Zodiac stamp issue on 5 January 2012 to usher in the year of the Water Dragon. This is the fifth out of twelve issues in the Zodiac stamp series, which started with the Rat Zodiac stamp beck in 2008. The Dragon is the fifth animal in the zodiac cycle.

Designer Leo Teck Chong illustrated the three stamps for this issue, which comes in the denominations of 1st Local, 65 c and $1.10.

On the 1st Local stamp, a dragon is featured on a beige-gold background, together with the Chinese character ‘ji’. The 65 c stamp features the character ‘xiang’, with a dragon on a bright red background. Put together, ‘ji xiang’ means auspicious.

Similar to the previous issue in this series, two dragons are featured on the $1.10 stamp, together with the phrase ‘xiang long xian rui’.

In addition, a collector’s sheet ($16.80) containing a $5 and $10 stamp will be released. The $5 stamp shows a morphing effect from the outline of a Rabbit to that of a Dragon, while the $10 stamp changes from the outline of a Dragon to that of a Snake.

For banknote collectors, the new banknotes for Chinese New Year will be released as early as 3 January, at selected DBS and POSB branches. OCBC and UOB will be issuing these new notes later in the week or early next week.

Lastly, wishing everyone a Happy New Year 2012!

Images by SingPost

The Year of the Dragon is just a few weeks away. Just like every other year, there will be a slogan message printed on selected mail items.

From 3 January to 18 January, the slogan message “Lunar New Year – Please Post Early” will be marked on mail items which pass through FC Stamp Cancelling Machine C4. However, do note that there is a possibility where mail items are randomly sorted to other cancelling machines.

As delays in mail processing and delivery are expected during the festive season, do remember to send out your greeting cards in advance so that it will arrive in time for the Lunar New Year.

Do note that the Year of the Dragon Stamps will only be available from 5 January.

Images by SingPost

On 2 December 2011, Singapore Post released the 2011 annual collection of stamps featuring the various philatelic issues throughout the year in a colourful coffee-table book.

Featured stamps include Singapore’s longest individual stamp in a joint issue with Egypt, Singapore’s largest individual stamp, Spirit of Giving, and Eric Kong’s latest definitive issue coated with reflective ink, showcasing Pond Life. It also commemorates international events such as the World Orchid Conference 2011.

The book comes with two stock cards containing a total of 60 pieces of mint stamps and two miniature sheets.

Every purchase comes with a limited edition story book entitled Little Otters to the Rescue!. It features four little otters on a rescue mission to save their father. This A4-sized children’s book is written by SingPost’s Stamp Ambassador, Edmund Chen Zhi Cai. Earlier this year, he illustrated a set of stamps featuring the oriental small-clawed otter. An autograph session was held on 2 December at Singapore Post Centre.

From 2 to 31 December 2011, The 2011 Collection of Singapore Stamps is available at all post offices for S$66.90 (US$52). The usual price is S$72.90.

Two new stamp cancelling machines C12 and C13 will be used for the postmarking of mail items with effect from 12 December 2011. Singapore Post has indicated that these cancelling impressions are applied to ‘C5 envelopes with a minimum weight of 50 grams’. However, it is not known if these machines will be used on a daily basis or during the peak season.

On 8 June 2011, SingPost started using the C11 stamp cancelling machine.

C12 is a round datestamp which is rolled onto mail items as they pass through the machine. It is similar to machines C1 to C7, C9 and C11.

C13 is a dot matrix printer which cancels stamps with a double octogon outline. This is the same as two other stamp cancelling machines, C8 and C10. C8 is said to handle C6 envelopes during peak period.

This is the tenth year since SingPost started offering festive postage rates. The rates apply to greeting cards of any size, shape or colour, posted from 4 December to 25 December 2011. The local rate is 26 cents (up to 20 grams) and 32 cents (up to 40 grams), while the overseas rate is 55 cents (up to 40 grams). For Malaysia and Brunei, the weight is up to 50 grams.

Update 12 Dec 2011: 

Here is the first day cancellation for the C12 and C13 stamp cancelling machines.

This is the last of a three-part series featuring the ‘Know 10 Trees’ maximum cards.

Another tree which was featured among the three maximum cards was the pink-flowered Trumpet Tree, together with the Rain Tree and the Yellow Flame. Printed on A5 cardstock, these colourful maximum cards are affixed with a matching 1st Local stamp from the  ‘Know 10 Trees’ issue released on 26 May 2010.

The Trumpet Tree (Tabebuia rosea) originates from South America and is often planted for its shady crown. The deciduous tree can be up to 30 metres tall, and has large, trumpet-shaped flowers which comes in a pink-white tint. In Singapore, flowering usually occurs twice a year after a dry spell, around April and August. The flowers then develop into fruits with elongated pods, which subsequently split open to release winged seeds.

Graphics by Singapore Post

Text adapted from Singapore Post