The Brunei Numismatist and Philatelist

Brunei's New Currency Notes

2011-07-22T09:31:00.006+08:00

I was curious as to whether the local banks have the new currency notes in circulation. Most said next week, the notes will be available. But I found one local bank which has them now. Here are the first images of the Brunei new currency notes in circulations:

The $1 note. The blue colour I thought was much lighter than the previous currency notes. Other than the portrait of His Majesty and the new see-through, the bunga simpur, the national flower, has increased in size. The reverse has obviously changed from a scene from the forest to a scene of Bandar Seri Begawan, the Brunei capital.

The $5 note lost the pitcher plant and that was replaced by a Bunga Kunyit. The reverse too is now the picture of the Lapau, Brunei's former Legislative Assembly building.

The $10 note also lost its keladi plant and this is replaced by the rancah-rancah. The reverse now depicts the Al-Jame Asr Mosque.

New Brunei Currency Notes 2011

2011-07-19T23:16:00.006+08:00

The Brunei Times 19th July 2011 had this news about the new Brunei polymer notes:

AL-HAADI ABU BAKAR
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

BRUNEIANS can now get their hands on the new $1, $5 and $10 polymer banknotes when they will be made available and circulated this week.

The new banknotes were issued by the Autoriti Monetari Brunei Darussalam (AMBD) yesterday to mark the 65th birthday of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam.

Hj Adi Marhain Hj Leman, assistant managing director, AMBD Monetary Operations Department, said that the issuance of the new polymer notes introduces eight "new and advanced security features" to combat counterfeits and will be circulated side by side the present notes, which all will remain legal tender in Brunei and in countries which accept them.

The new polymer notes contain a dynamic optical feature which alternates between gold and blue when viewed at varying angles, as well as a multicolour raised fine line printing of His Majesty's portait, Red Crest of Brunei Darussalam, the flower design and surrounding text.

Raised printing of the Braille '1', '5' and '10' numerals are also introduced to aid the visually impaired.

The Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien mosque and the ceremonial barge, the Royal Ceremonial Hall (Lapau), and the Jame' Asr Hassanil Bolkiah form the complex clear window design on the $1, $5 and $10 notes respectively, each incorporating a shadow image and vignette of the corresponding numeral.

When raised to the light, His Majesty's portrait, initials 'HB' and a section of the mosque or Lapau design will appear, along with a flower design through a combination of front and back printing in registration.

The new banknotes also feature complex fine line background security patterns in multiple rainbow print with fluorescing elements illuminate under ultra violet light.

Serial numbers are printed in varying sizes and fluoresce yellow/green under ultra violet light.

The Brunei Times

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Other additional photographs from The Brunei Times and The Borneo Bulletin:-

Largest Ever Brunei Stamp

2011-07-16T08:28:00.001+08:00

It's His Majesty The Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam's 65th Birthday today. And what better way to celebrate the 65th birthday?

Yes, a $65 miniature sheet which consisted of the highest ever face value for a Brunei stamp - $65! Size wise, the $65 stamp itself is probably the biggest size stamp that has been produced by Brunei.

In its 116 year of history, the Brunei postal authorities highest value stamp before this was a $60 stamp which was in commemoration of His Majesty's 60th Birthday. That has now been superseded. However it has to be noted that the 50th Birthday Miniature Sheet had 5 $50 stamp making that worth $250, thus making that the highest value for a miniature sheet.

If you can't afford the $65 stamp, don't worry. The postal authorities have the much cheaper miniature sheet containing all 6 of 65 cents each stamp.

Or you can always get the first day cover with all 6 of the 65 cents stamps.

And for those who needed the technical details:

Name of Issue
Anniversary of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzadin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar 'Ali Saifuddien Sa'adul Khairi Waddien, The Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, 65th Birthday

Date of Issue
15 July 2011

Stamp Denomination
65 cents x 6

Price of Miniature Sheet
$3.90

Price of Miniature Sheet High Value
%65

Designer
Pengiran Haji Mohd Yamin bin PSJ Pengiran Haji Abd Momin

Printer
Southern Colour Print, New Zealand

Size of Stamps:
30 mm x 40 mm

Size of Miniature Sheet
150 mmm x 140.5 mm

Size of Miniature Sheet High Value
160 mm x 120 mm

Printing Process
Lithography

Paper
110gsm

Perforations
13 per 2 cm

Pakistani Rupees

2011-02-15T12:08:00.003+08:00

I was in Islamabad in December to attend a meeting. The last time I was in Islamabad was way back in 1997. I realised that a lot has changed. The public places where in those days I could travel to are now closed to traffic.

The most important thing for visitors to this blog is that the money has changed. Here are the obverse of the notes being issued nowadays. Note that the 20 Rupees have been replaced. According to the people I spoke to, the old 20 Rupees looked like the 5000 Rupees and hence the confusion. I thought the old 20 Rupees is much smaller than the 5000 Rupees and it is quite hard to think that these were alike. Anyway, the new 20 Rupees were much more colourful.

The Pakistani Rupees start from 5 Rupees and goes all the way to 5000 Rupees.

100 Years of Modern Land Administration

2010-06-27T09:31:00.001+08:00

1906 was the beginning of Brunei's modern administration brought about the first British Resident, Mr. MSH McArthur. With the modern administration, many old institutions were broken up. One national institution was the administration of land ownership. Up to 1906, land belonged under one of the three types of administration, the kuripan, kerajaan and tulin. You either had to be one of the descendants of these holders or you are not. Or if you are rich enough, you can own the beneficial rights by paying the holders lots of money. Anyway, come the modern government in 1906. The first thing they did was to establish state lands which could be leased out or given out to companies who can make economic use out of it so that the country can benefit. The 1909 Land Code did that.

Last year was the 100th anniversary of the modern land administration. The Land Department did a 100 year celebration by holding a national land seminar but unfortunately the stamps to commemorate it were not ready.

Last week, the Land Department celebrated its existence as an independent department since 1960. In 1906 to 1960, land was administered under each district office. It was not until 1960 that the first Land Commissioner was appointed and a separate land department was created. So to commemmorate Land Department's 50th anniversary, the stamps for 100 years modern land administration were finally released:

The stamps came in three values 10c, 20c and $1. The 10c and 20c depicted, employees at the Land Department doing internal and external work and the one on the $1 stamp was a lucky recipient receiving land title given out under the Skim Penggeranan Tanah TOL.

There is also a first day cover:

For those interested in the technical details of the stamps:

Date of Issue: 23 June 2010
Stamp Denominations: 10cents, 20cents and $1.00
Designer: Ajihis bin Haji Terawin
Printer: Thai British Security Princxxxting, Thailand
Size of Stamp: 30mm x 40mm
Printing Process: Offset
Paper: 102gsm
Perforation: 13 per 2cm

United Nations FDC 1989 Brunei

2010-06-15T06:16:00.001+08:00

On 22nd September 1989, the United Nations issued this first day cover. I am not sure whether the UN only issued one first day cover for Brunei only on this day or whether the UN issued many other first day cover on the same day - all based on the nations' flags. This flag design is surprisingly the only flag design that any stamp, Brunei or otherwise has depicted. Not a single stamp issued by Brunei has the country's flag as its theme. That must be an oversight of sorts.

The first day cover also depicted the shape of the country and a picture of a person. Those actually are on a piece of silk attached to the front of the cover. The map of Brunei is clearly wrong - there is a land attachment between the four districts. Whoever it was that was assigned to do the map could not have believed that there is such a country completely cut off from its fourth part. So he decided to do a land attachment which was so nice of him and I am wondering since this is on an official United Nations first day cover, whether this could be used as a basis for you know what.

The second interesting thing is - who is that person? If it is meant to represent His Majesty, the artist was a very unskilled one. If it is meant to represent the then Brunei's Permanent UN Representative, I cannot recall who he was. Maybe someone can help me.

Brunei's Unissued Stamps

2010-06-13T08:18:00.002+08:00

We had a couple of hours to ourselves after our official visits before flying off back to Brunei. As usual I dropped into my usual philatelic shop at Peninsula in Singapore. I always asked him what he had managed to acquire recently. He smiled and he showed me these 4 stamps!!!! (Produced but never issued.)

These 4 stamps were produced to commemorate Muara Port's Official Opening in 1970. On the stamps it is stated 'Pada Meresmikan Pembukaan Pelabohan Negeri Brunei'. I don't know what actually happened why the stamps were not issued. The Muara Port was officially opened by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II when she officially visited Brunei then. But the stamps did not depict her opening the Port. Probably that is one reason why the stamps were not issued. I am only guessing. I really can't see anything wrong with the designs of the stamps for the stamps not to be issued.

There are 4 values, 12c, 20c, 25c and 75c. The 12c stamp shows the Kampong Ayer or probably try to depict some of the houses in Muara then. I don't recall there were that many houses on water then. The 20c stamp shows what Muara Town used to look like standing from the Port looking inland. The 25c showed the cut split where the tanjung was cut to allow in ships to pass through. Finally the 75c showed what the Port facilities look like from the air.

I asked him how he managed to acquire these 4 stamps. As usual, someone brought them in for him to buy. I asked him how much. He left the price to me. This was most difficult. I have never seen these stamps in real life. Forget the catalogues, it does not matter which catalogue you refer to, there is no price. I don't know how many pieces are out there, so I can judge the supply level. I don't even know anybody who had these stamps.

So I showed my hand. He looked at the hand and told me that he expected the stamps to be worth at least that much, he said he will make money but he said that the stamps may be worth much more. I thought about it and add three more fingers, I was going to show 2 1/2 fingers but I don't know how to do that in finger signs. He accepted the price. I was just happy and overjoyed to have acquire a set of stamps of which I don't know whether I will ever see again.

Greetings!

2010-06-08T21:35:00.005+08:00

Greetings! It has been ages since I last updated this blogsite even though my main one is updated frequently. The main reasons were that there have been too many sad passings, my uncle, my aunty, my mother-in-law and a few others in the space of a short few weeks. I thought I will take a break. However when I wanted to start again, guess what? I can't remember the password to this blogsite. It took me quite a few attempts before being able to get in. But here I am.

Over the last few months, I have traveled a fair bit too. Let me see. I have been to Bangkok, London and Rio de Janeiro with stopovers in Dubai, Paris and Singapore. It has been that hectic. I have managed to acquire lots of currency notes during my travels but most importantly I have managed to acquire quite a good collection of postcards as well from ebay. It has been that busy!

Let me start with the Brazilian Reais. I have never actualy seen what the Brazilian currency look like until I exchanged British Pounds for Reais in London. That's when I began seeing it. The 100 Reais notes is the highest value note of the current Brazilian series. The others are 2 Reais, 5 Reais, 10 Reais, 20 Reais and 50 Reais. There used to be a 1 Real note but that has gone the dodo, so you only get 1 reais round coin.

I tried searching for an antique dealer. Dealers are easier to deal with. Unfortunately I could not find one in Rio. But our driver managed to acquire some old notes and sell them to me. I tried buying the rest on ebay and found that it is almost a daunting task. Brazilian currencies depreciate so fast that they keep coming up with new currenies.

I will share the other stuffs sometimes in the future.

Brunei $1 2008

2009-11-07T06:00:00.002+08:00

I came across the 2008 $1 note during Hari Raya Aidil Fitri (the Muslim festival to mark the end of the fasting month). During this month, many families give out money to the children who come visiting their houses. What I did not realise was that the 2008 is new as the ones before this was the 1996 and the 2007 series. It took an email from my friend Kai before I realised that I got the 2008 series.

Anyway, here is the scan of the 2008 Brunei $1. The note remained the same except with this 2008 printed at the obverse of the note.

Singapore $50 1990

2009-11-04T06:27:00.002+08:00

I bumped into one of my junior colleagues at MOF yesterday. I was there defending my ministry's budget request for the next financial year. He told me that he had something that I might be interested in. He showed me a $1,000 worth of $50 Singapore notes.

I already had a few of these notes. I was quite surprised that he had 20 pieces of them. My colleague travelled frequently but even then I was surprised that he had managed to collect about 20 pieces of these notes. They are not rare but certainly you don't find them laying about. He asked me how much they are worth. Used notes are difficult to judge so I can't answer him. He said that someone offered to buy each note for $55. I thought that was a bit cheap but they are used. Anyway to cut a long story short I got a few of those notes. Who knows when I will see 20 of them again in the future.

These Singapore notes I think were the first time that Singapore forayed into the polymer notes. It was certainly an experiment back in 1990 for them. The notes were issued to commemorate Singapore's 25th Anniversary of their independence.

Brunei $5 1989 Second Series

2009-09-24T07:34:00.002+08:00

Every now and then, good luck happens. My nephew, a branch manager with one of the banks in Brunei called me up and said that one customer deposited $185 worth of the above notes. He did not the value, all he said was, paper notes with white borders. That perked me up. White borders means either the 1st series or 2nd series Brunei notes.

Apparently the customer's father had been keeping this money under his bed or pillows or something like that. He was worried that the money might be lost and he had decided to deposit it into his dad's account. What a dutiful son.

The amazing thing was that almost all of the notes were in AUNC condition (Almost Uncirculated which means looking very unused to people not in the numismatic jargon). Anyway, I rushed over and exchanged brand new notes for these old notes. I could not believe my luck in my collection this last two months. Last month, I got about $3,000 worth of 1990s paper notes. This month, not as much, but equally or more valuable, the 2nd series.

How much is this worth if it was in the market? For a pure UNC, it might be worth ten times its face value. For each $5 notes first issued in 1981, if I am not mistaken, you probably, if you find a buyer, sell it for $50. Though this one is not as valuable. Issued in 1989, probably worth around 4 times its face value. Still it is a good 2nd series collection and I am glad for my good luck this Hari Raya.

Unattainable Wish

2009-09-17T12:07:00.001+08:00

If someone was to ask me what is it that you want? There are many things that many of us want and I too have my own wants. But I am pretty much satisfied with the Al-Mighty's gifts.

However philatelically, there is something I want the most. That one is this Brunei's stamp during the Japanese Occupation in the second World War. During the War, the Japanese overprinted Brunei's stamps with their Imperial Japanese mark and used these stamps. These stamps are all highly valued because not many were available due to the fact that not many people were sending out letters during the War - the Allied (British, Australians etc) were captured and who on earth were the then Brunei people want to write to?

The most expensive of all the overprinted Brunei is this one. This 1 cent stamp overprinted for $3 payment for telegraphic use is valued at about $12,0000 to $15,000 today! Get hold of one and you can live quite happily to the end of days. However, I acquired this stamp recently. And most of you readers are thinking WoW!

Unfortunately this is not the real McCoy. This is a fake and I paid pittance for it. Relatively speaking pittance but even fakes still cost a fair bit. If ever you find an original one hidden somewhere in your grandfatherh's stamp collection that looks almost like this or better than this and want to know who will pay good money for it, let me know. I can't offer $12,000 but let me know, we can work out a new price.

Brunei $100 4th Series 1996

2009-09-15T11:43:00.002+08:00

The other day my sister called me up. She said they came across someone depositing paper notes. Every now and then I had been asking her whether paper notes have come in. This time I struck lucky. 8 of these notes came in and I was very lucky. Their condition was almost AUNC. You can't get any better than that.

Anyway, I am posting the notes, so you can see for youself what they are.

Hari Raya Stamps

2009-09-12T15:32:00.002+08:00

We will be celebrating the end of the fasting month soon. In Brunei, Malaysia and Singapore, the festival would be known as Hari Raya Eid Fitri. Most other countries would just say celebrating the Eid Fitr. Surprisingly, I don't ever remember seeing any stamps produced specifically for the celebrations by any of the Muslim countries. So, I was pleasantly surprised to receive these two sets of stamps from my good friend, Kai in Australia. He sent me these stamps which came from his own personal collection and hoped that these would come at the right time. Yes indeed Kai! The stamps came in time for the Hari Raya celebrations.

The first set is from Christmas Islands. I checked and found out that these stamps were issued in 1989.

The second set is from Keeling or Cocos Islands and these were issued in 1991.

Thank you Kai! And Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Fitri to you...

Brunei $25 1992

2009-08-23T06:58:00.002+08:00

Every now and then, I come across this $25 paper money. Recently my sister managed to get a few pieces for me. I had a few but my stocks dwindled down when I left MOF one and a half year ago.

This $25 note was issued to commemorate His Majesty's 25th Anniversary of ascending the throne in 1992. His Majesty ascended the throne in 1967 when his father, Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddin Saadul Khairi Waddien abdicated the throne.

On the front of the note, you can see the royal chariot which was used by His Majesty during his coronation as the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam in 1968. The chariot is the master show at the Royal Regalia Museum in Bandar. At the back of the note, you can see His Majesty being crowned by his father.

This $25 note is worth around US$30 for uncirculated notes.

Australian Space Stamps

2009-08-15T22:10:00.002+08:00

My sister bought this for me at an auction for my birthday present. The miniature sheet and a set of stamps came together in one nice presentation package with the word Space on the front cover and a detailed explanation of Mars statistics. I was not sure which year this is as I don't collect Australian stamps either. When I heard the price, I thought she overpaid for it but then it was for charity, so I guess it is okay.

Anyway, I checked the stamps out. It was issued in 2000 but I am not sure what the occasion was. If there is anyone out there who can tell me more about these stamps, I would be most happy to hear from you.

Brunei $50 Begawan Series 1967

2009-04-17T07:46:00.002+08:00

Yesterday, I managed to get two of the above notes. The Begawan Series or the 1967 Brunei First Modern Series is still a favourite among collectors. Issued in 1967, it marked the first time that Brunei issued its own currency by its own Currency Board. Prior to that, Brunei currency notes were issued by the Straits Settlements Government and the Malaya-Borneo Board of Currencies.

The $50 Begawan Series are rarely available in the numismatic shops. In Kuala Lumpur, an uncirculated note is being sold for around MYR800 and in Singapore for around S$400 and on eBay for around US$300. A used note depending on the condition would be slightly cheaper but not that much cheaper if it is very fine or very good.

I chanced upon these notes accidentally. One of our local food blogger recently emailed me telling me that she has recently came into possession of these notes. She asked whether she should deposit it into a bank. Anyway, I gave some pointers including the value of the notes and asked if she is selling some of the notes, can I also buy them. That was how I managed to acquire two of these notes to add to my collection.

So I would suggest for those of you who has older aunties etc who you think might be hoarding notes, to ask them nicely. They might think they are just sitting on notes worth the face value but not realising the value of those notes have indeed risen beyond their expectation.

One of my colleagues at the office was telling me this story when he asked one of his aunties. His auntie told him that she had plenty of paper notes but has deposited them in the local bank. She said that why don't they all go to the bank and take the notes out again. My friend laughed and told her that the bank will surely give back the amount of money she put in but she will never see the same paper notes that she had deposited in the bank. She certainly missed out on the increased valuation of those notes. Well, tell your auntie this story and tell me if you have any Brunei paper notes for sale.

Food on stamps

2009-02-08T18:11:00.002+08:00

I spent my Sunday morning, drying my stamps out. I have been keeping all these used stamps cut out from envelopes all over the world sending my ebay purchases. One interesting stamp from Singapore was this set. I only received one of the four and it intrigued me to know about the stamps.

I found that particular stamp was one of 4 stamps of Singapore's local delight stamps. I also discovered that this stamp set was issued together with Macau. So there is also another set of Macau food and Macau stamp sets had two sets as well. Interesting.

I guess the other reason why this stamp is interesting is that I am now on a diet. So even photos of food on stamps looked fantastically nice to me!

Star Coin - Brunei 1886

2009-01-11T23:10:00.002+08:00

This is the one coin that I will never get tired of. Everytime one of these babies come up on ebay, I buy it, well almost everytime. I have a price limit of around USD50 which is still a bid high compared to about B$45 which you can buy from the local dealers here.

This coin was part of a million coin minted in Edinburgh. Someone convinced Sultan Hashim that he needed a new coin by suggesting that he pay for the minting and he will take half of the mints. The British was appalled when the coins came into the market. As soon as the British ran the government from 1906, the first act was to ban all these coins.

United Arab Emirates 200 Dirham 2004

2009-01-03T06:08:00.003+08:00

Happy New Year 2008! I do hope you enjoyed last year's postings of stamps and currency notes. This year I hope to do more and blog more often about stamps and currency notes which I have collected as well as the news about some of these.

I was happy last March when I got my 500 dirham note from United Arab Emirates. I was on the way back from Iran when we stopped by Dubai. I went up to the money changer and said I wanted a 500 dirham note, how much was it... Anyway when I got that 500 dirham note, I thought my UAE Dirham collection was complete. It was sometime last month when I discovered that UAE had 200 dirham and 1,000 dirham notes as well. Aargh...

Anyway, one of my wife's niece's husband was a pilot with RBA and I asked him when he will be flying out to London and to help me get those notes. Anyway he hasn't been flying to London lately but he had a 200 dirham in his wallet and I changed for that first. The 200 dirham was issued together with the 100 dirham in 2004. Here is the 200 dirham note for you to enjoy. I still want that 1,000 dirham note.

Iran 500 Riyal

2008-12-29T10:28:00.003+08:00

I got this Iranian 500 Riyal note when I was in Iran in March this year when I attended the Asia-Pacific Housing Ministers meeting in Tehran. In fact I got the entire Islamic series as well as the Pahlavi series. I could not get the pre Pahlavi series as they were too expensive.

However this Islamic series is interesting. I don't think there is any other currency in the world showing a group of people praying be it Islamic or otherwise. Though this 500 Riyal note is not worth much as the Iranian currency has weakened since the days of the Shah of Iran.

Russia 500 Rubles 1997

2008-12-28T10:03:00.003+08:00

Continuing my series of 500 unit notes of many countries. This 500 ruble note is from Russia. I was in Moscow in 2007 leading the Brunei MOF team negotiating for a treaty with Russia. That was the third round - the first two were in Brunei. I have to admit then I was not expecting to go to Moscow. Most times, I am able to complete a negotiation by two rounds at most but Russia was slightly different. Anyway, it gave me and my team a chance to visit Moscow and not that many people had that opportunity.

When we arrived at the hotel, there was not much hassle at the airport, our passports were taken from us. Russia has a policy where every visitor had to be registered and you cannot go out without your passport (most important rule). So for the next few hours while the hotel was arranging for our registration with the local authorities, we were holed up at the hotel. As soon as we got our passports back, we went out to see what Moscow was like.

Anyway, their currency was just like any other currency and the 5 pieces that I have are used notes which I saved up from the trip. This one is 500 rubles and the largest note then was 5000 rubles. I didn't remember buying much in Russia other than a nice carved wooden chess set from Ukraine or something. Moscow was full of buildings - old ones. But the most memorable was being taken on this ship cruising the Moscow River and to see the famous Russian ballet show. A visit to Moscow hold special memories.

Cambodia 500 Riel 1970

2008-12-25T09:33:00.002+08:00

I found another old 500 note in my currency notes collection. This one is from Cambodia bought by my sisters when they went to Angkor Wat. I was once in Cambodia attending an ASEAN meeting but at that time, I was not into notes collection and I only used US Dollars there.

This particular 500 Riel note is quite old (around 1970) and no longer in use. But it had an interesting painting and not many countries have paintings on their currency notes. The interesting bit about Cambodia is that by 1975 when Khmer Rouge ran the country, the country did not use money. It was not until 1980 when Cambodia was taken over by Vietnam did the country has money again.

Singapore Ship Series $500

2008-12-24T07:00:00.003+08:00

Talking about 500 note, I had a rare surprise last month. Over the last few months, I had asked my banker nephew to keep a lookout for paper notes. One day he text me and send a photo image of this $500 Singapore note which had come through its branch and asked me whether I would like to have it. Would I?!

I certainly would. I dropped at his bank in lunch time, handed him $500 worth of Brunei money and got the $500 Singapore note. It is not a good note though but a used one and I would grade it around F/VF. But it is certainly a rare example of a Singapore ship series note making the rounds in Brunei. This one will certainly not be returning back to the Monetary Authority of Singapore.

Yemen 500 Riyal

2008-12-23T07:24:00.002+08:00

When I posted the Qatar 500 Riyal yesterday, I remembered this Yemeni 500 Riyal which I got when I was in Singapore recently. I was at a money changer when I saw this 500 Riyal in his glass cabinet and asked whether I could buy it. I can't remember what the cost was but it was relatively cheap and I managed to buy it. The colour and design really reminded me of that Qatari 500 Riyal. What do you think?

Qatar Riyal 500

2008-12-22T07:04:00.004+08:00

My DM went to Qatar in November and I asked his PA to get me Qatar's 500 Riyal note. When I went to Qatar in January earlier this year to lead the negotiation team for Brunei-Qatar Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement, I forgot to save the 500 Riyal note. I think I did but I had to pay for something on the last day and I had to use it.

This time round, I made sure that I got the 500 Riyal note which is worth just slightly more than B$200. The note is a polymer and had a small window in the middle of it. This is like the new Qatari 100 Riyal note.

The Qatari notes have a special place in my life. It was the last country I went to as a Ministry of Finance official. The day after I arrived back in Brunei, I was promoted to my current job.

China FEC 100 Yuan 1980

2008-12-21T08:20:00.002+08:00

I purchased this very recently through ebay. This is a 100 Yuan Foreign Exchange Certificate (FEC). In the days when the Yuan was not allowed to be change in the open market, foreigners going to China had to buy this FEC note from the government thus paying whatever official exchange rate that was in force at that time. It also limited the holder to shopping at certain places only. This FEC note is now very very difficult to get.

In fact when this note came out in ebay, I did not win the auction as the price went beyond my limit. But I was surprised when the owner gave me a second chance offer because he said he had another note available and I had to pay him my highest bid. I did that. When the note arrived, I realised that I had struck lucky. The original note that was on offer was actually a 1990 version thus had a catalogue value of around 400 Yuan. But the one that I got was a 1980 version and had a catalogue value of 900 Yuan! I am using a Chinese notes catalogue which I bought when I was in China recently. The book is in Mandarin and I can't read it but I know enough to know where the prices are. Now I feel guilty whether I should tell the owner...

Disney Dollars

2008-12-17T08:12:00.002+08:00

Every now and then to calm my nerves trying to win bids for Brunei dollars and stamps on ebay, I would go and bid for the Disney dollars. Disney dollars are more fun and less stressful. The above are the ones released for 2008 and in time for Disney's 80th Anniversary. Disney dollars are reasonable but the older ones are rising in prices. What are Disney Dollars?

Disney Dollars were released to the public on May 5th., 1987. Disney Dollars came in one and five dollar denominations from 1987 thru 1989. Starting in 1990 they added the Disney ten dollar bill. Disney Dollars are redeemable for goods or services at the Disney theme parks, Disney cruise ships, and the Disney stores.

Disney Dollars are printed in "A" dollars and "D" dollars. The "A" Disney Dollars created for Disneyland in Anaheim, California, the "A" refering to Anaheim, and the "D" Disney Dollars for Walt Disney World in Orlando Florida. Starting in 2005 Disney Dollars are also available as "T" dollars. Also In 2005 , Disney offered a Fifty Disney Dollar bill that was designed by Disney master artist for 39 years, Charles Boyer for Disneyland's 50th Anniversary Celebration. Charles Boyer also personally signed a select number of these. In 2007 "E" & "F" prefix Disney Dollars were added.

Disney Dollars are beautifully printed in bright, vibrant colors. The intaglio printing process used to print Disney Dollars allows you to "Feel The Steel" on the paper, as banknote engravers would say. Disney Dollars are much sought after collectables by Disney collectable fans.

New Disney dollars have been produced every year since 1987 except 1992, 2004 and 2006. Disney Dollars can be exchanged dollar for dollar with US currency. The Disney Dollar is a source of revenue for the Walt Disney Company as it is assumed a certain number of Disney dollars will never be redeemed, and will be gobbled up by collectors.

Rare Brunei's 6 cents stamp

2008-12-15T08:01:00.003+08:00

Over the last week, I have been tracking and bidding on this rare 6c Brunei stamp Japanese Occupation. Yesterday I lost it. My final bid was GBP400, the winning bid was GBP411, I think.

This is one of the last four Brunei stamps which I am trying to get. These are the highest values of the entire Brunei collection. This 6c stamp only comes out once in a blue moon. Scott listed it at around USD775. The next time this comes out, I am not going to play nice.

Singapore's $10,000

2008-12-09T08:46:00.003+08:00

For those who kept with my other blog would have known that I have spent the last 6 days in Singapore. And numismatically, it was worth the 6 days. I managed to get a few notes especially older Brunei and a number of other notes as well. But I thought the one I posted above takes the cake.

This is a Singapore $10,000 genuine specimen note. The only difference between this one and the one in circulation (if you can find any) is that this one has the word specimen on it. According to my numismatic dealer, this note was available for $180 when it first came out. Of course, it is not $180 anymore when I paid for it.

According to my dealer too, apparently some of these specimen notes were taken to one country and over there they managed to wipe off the word specimen and then changed each note for an actual $10,000. I have never heard of this story but if this is true, I am not surprised that the story was not publicised. No one wants to look like a fool and at the same time no one wants many people to find out that these $10,000 specimen notes are actually worth something more than the original price of $180.

On a separate note, if you were to find a Brunei $10,000 specimen note, how much do you think you would have to pay for it? Well, the price on ebay is at least $10,000.

4th World Urban Forum, Nanjing 2008

2008-11-20T06:46:00.006+08:00

When I attended the Asia Pacific Housing Minister's Meeting in Tehran in March, each of us delegates was given special commemorative stamps. So I was not surprised when I opened my bag when I attended the 4th World Urban Forum in Nanjing, I found a commemorative album with stamps, first day cover and two miniature sheets. Three of them are all related to the Urban Forum but one of them is not. The second miniature sheet was an older 2005 miniature sheet which was commemorating Admiral Zheng when he set sail for his seven voyages in the early 15th century from Nanjing. Here are all four of the philatelic items:-

World's Most Expensive Stamp

2008-11-12T22:57:00.003+08:00

New York, 4th October 2008 - A stamp issued by the U.S. post office in 1868 sold for $1,035,000 in an auction at Siegel Auction Galleries in New York City. The amount includes a 15% buyer's premium. The stamp was purchased by a collector who bid anonymously over the telephone.

The million-dollar price was paid for a 3-cent "B Grill" stamp, which was printed in 1868 with an embossed pattern in the paper. Collectors are said to prize these "grilled" stamps and only four copies of the "B Grill" are known. The stamp was sold during a three-day auction of more than 1,100 stamps owned by Perry B. Hansen, a mid-western banker.

"Collectors who want rare stamps don't seem fazed by the chaos in the financial markets. We had four bidders on the B Grill over $600,000, and the stamp has a current book value of only $250,000," said Scott R. Trepel, president of Siegel Auction Galleries.

Last year a rare Inverted "Jenny" stamp was sold at Siegel Auction Galleries for $977,500.00.

China's Olympics Currency Notes

2008-11-11T06:41:00.007+08:00

I got a lot of currency notes from China but the one that I wanted was a modern one - the 10 yuan Olympics souvenir. I could not get that note. I found out that only 6,000,000 was printed and you would have thought that would be plenty. Apparently not. Distributed nationwide, each city only get a few thousand pieces. In Nanjing, only 3,000 pieces were released there. So there is no way I could get it unless I want to pay big money for it. It cost at least US$300 each.

The AP said when it first released the news, only the Olympics could bump Mao Zedong, the founding leader of communist China, off a Chinese banknote. To commemorate the Beijing Olympics, China's central bank is issuing a new 10-yuan note, according to a report by Monday's official Xinhua News Agency. The note is worth $1.45, the starting price for a taxi ride in the capital. Mao is gone from the note, replaced by a sketch of the new National Stadium — the Bird's Nest — and the emblem of the Beijing Games, according to the report. Both are set against the backdrop of the Temple of Heaven, one of Beijing's iconic sites. The back of the note features a statue of a Greek discus-thrower and the year 2008 written in Arabic script. The bank said it will issue 6 million notes beginning Tuesday, a tiny distribution meant almost as a souvenir. The new note is slightly larger than the ordinary 10-yuan note, which will continue to circulate.

I did manage the get the next best which are the Hong Kong $20 and Macao 20 Patacas issued by the Bank of China.

China's New Millennium Note 2000

2008-11-09T21:22:00.002+08:00

This was the newest issued noted of China for the new 21st century. This was issued on 28th Novembe 2000. It is a polymer note. On the front can be seen a rising dragon of the nine dragon wall in Beijing, a laser mark on the right and a transparent window with the logo of Temple of Heaven. On the reverse is the China Century Temple.

I managed to get this note for 360 Yuan when I was in China. I don't know what the market value is really but I thought 360 was a reasonable figure. That works out to be around B$75.

What I really wanted to get was the Olympics 10 Yuan. On ebay that is currently traded at about US$300 which I thought was a little steep.

Philippines 500 Peso English Series

2008-10-27T22:30:00.003+08:00

Another note which cost me a bit when I was in Manila was this 500 Peso note. I don't have my catalogue with me to say what year this was but I remembered that this one was issued a few years after the end of the Second World War.

This was an unusual series called the 'English' series as all the writings on the notes are in English unlike today's which is purely in Tagalog. This particular fine note cost me 3,000 Peso which is around B$100.00 which actually is quite expensive. I would have to wait for a Filipino to comment on the photograph and features of the currency note.

Philippines 20 Peso 1921

2008-10-26T20:30:00.003+08:00

When I was in Manila recently, I came across a shop in San Juan selling Philippines currency notes. At first I just wanted to have a look but when the lady started taking out all her notes, I could not help but just had to buy everything she had on Philippines. Over the next few weeks, I will highlight those that I bought.

One of the more expensive note which I bought was this 1921 note. The original price for this note was 17,000 Peso which is far from what I am willing to pay. But after negotiation plus the fact that my total purchase have already exceeded four figures, I decided to purchase this one for around 10,000 Peso which is roughly around B$300 which is again much more than I should spending on this.

But it is 1921 and it is one of the more rare notes so I guess I should not regret this. I managed to get all the modern currencies as well as the various bank notes issued during the war by the various regions. Those were interesting. I am still following up a few of the Philippines Currency notes which I do not have in my posession.

SOAS Mosque $50 stamp

2008-10-22T04:59:00.001+08:00

Last month, 26th September 2008, was the 50th anniversary of Masjid Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien. The Postal Services issued a set of new stamps to commemorate the event plus two miniature sheets. The first miniature sheet is shown above which is the high value miniature sheet with a $50 stamp.

This $50 stamp is not the first $50 stamp for Brunei. The first $50 stamp was issued in 1996 for His Majesty's 50th Birthday. In fact five $50 stamps were produced especially for that and the miniature sheet sold for $250 (it is about $800 on the market now). A $60 stamp was issued for His Majesty's 60th Birthday and a $40 stamp was issued for His Majesty's 40th Coronation earlier this year. This high value stamp is certainly an interesting marketing strategy for Brunei's Postal Services as not that many people will be using this $50 stamp. I would say a used one would probably cost more than an unused one.

Back in the 1970s, most people did not know that the mosque was also a school. In those days, Madrasah, the building next to the mosque was the only school that provided sekolah ugama in the morning in the whole of Brunei, I think. Most of us who attended the Brunei Preparatory Schools would be going to school in the afternoon. So the only way to go get sekolah ugama would be going to madrasah. Madrasah classes were overflowing. I remembered there were about 50+ of us in each class. The classes were not even partitioned properly except with standing wooden partition. You can hear the classes next to you.

We were like that for a few months before they started using the balconies overlooking the main prayer hall at SOAS Mosque. Every day we would be dragging up a standing blackboard up to the balcony. The balcony is not very visible from the main prayer hall but every Thursday I would remember looking down at the workers laying the carpets for the next day Friday prayers. I think in those days, the carpets were not permanently placed on the floors. So on the balcony, there would be two or three classes, one on both ends and one in the middle. This went out for a few months before we got moved to the classes at BPS Bandar at today's SOAS College padang. That's another interesting story in itself.

I remembered SOAS Mosque. I am probably one of a few people in Brunei who can say I studied there.

Brunei's New One Cent Coin

2008-10-14T12:26:00.004+08:00

The Brunei Currency and Monetary Board (BCMB) issued new one-cent coins yesterday. The new coins will be in circulation alongside present one-cent coins and both would remain as legal tender in Brunei Darussalam and countries that accept them.

The announcement was made by Sainin bin Hari Mohammad, manager of the Brunei Currency and Monetary Board (BCMB) currency operation, who spoke on behalf of the Chief Executive Officer during a press conference at the BCMB building yesterday.

The difference between the new and present one-cent coin is that new one-cent coin is made from a composition of copper and zinc metals and is yellowish in color, while the present one-cent coin is made up of only copper metal and is brownish in color.

However, the new one-cent coin still retains some of the present one-cent coin features. The weight of the new and present coin is around 1.780 to 1.8010 grams per unit and has a diameter of 17.610 to 17.660 millimeters.

According to the BCMB official, the selection of copper and zinc metals in producing the new coins was to save production cost, thus, justifying the face value of the coin.

SOAS Mosque Opening 1958

2008-09-21T19:20:00.004+08:00

A Miss Jennifer sent me this set of First Day Covers all commemorating the opening of Brunei's Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque in September 1958. The 50th Anniversary of the opening is coming up this Friday and there is currently a lot of interest in these old philatelic items. I only had one of these 3 FDCs but I was not surprised when Jennifer sent me these three different designs. I found that for other stamp issues in the 1950s and the early 1960s, there will always be more than one FDC design. I am guessing that in those days, these FDCs were not always issued by the Postal authorities and that other people may be allowed to issue them as well.

The SOAS Mosque was opened on 25th September 1958. That day was a public holiday because it was also Prophet Muhammad's birthday. So that day was Maulid Rasul or Maulud Nabi. The stamps were officially issued on 24th September 1958, the day before the official opening.

Two of the three FDC had 24th as the postmarked on the FDC. But one of them was issued on 26th, the day after. It would be interesting to know why that is so.

Brunei's 'Pead' First Day Cover 1895

2008-09-16T05:10:00.002+08:00

I am trying to win ebay's auction on this item but I fear I am not closer to getting it. The price at this point in time is US$409.00 which is already too much what I am willing to pay for.

In 1895, when John Robertson managed to get the stamps concession from Sultan Hashim, he produced a set of 10 stamps in exchange for running the postal service in Brunei. With hindsight, we now know that what he wanted was to get the rights to producing the stamps and make gains from it. The postal service which he ran was described as 'sporadic at best' so he was not meeting his end of the bargain of running that postal service.

As part of his investments, he sold first day covers. He sent two batches of first day covers, one was to a Mr. Parker and the other was to a Mr. Pead, both in London. These two, maybe numerous in 1895, have now been much harder to find and their prices have increased as well. I managed to obtain the 'Parker' first day cover for about GBP220 in an auction a few months ago. I thought getting the 'Pead' first day cover would complement the 'Parker' first day cover. But not at more than US$400+.

Brunei's $40 Stamp

2008-09-09T16:38:00.001+08:00

Last month was His Majesty's 40th Anniversary of his coronation. I wrote about the stamps that were issued specially to mark the occassion which you can read here.

Together with the set of stamps were two miniature sheets. One contained all the stamps and the other contained a very high valued stamp of $40. At the time of the stamps, the lady at the philatelic unit informed me that the high value miniature sheets were being reprinted. There was a wrong colour or something like that. I did not get mine until today. So here it is:

When I went to the counter last month, the lady said she would reserve me a number - the miniature sheet has a serial number. I just said 500 as the number that popped up in my head and I got that 000500. I should have asked for something like 888 or something.

This is not the first time Brunei postal authorities issued high valued miniature sheet. The previous one was to mark the occassion of His Majesty's 60th Birthday. The authorities issued a $60 stamp on miniature sheet and sold it for $235. The previous one to that was when His Majesty celebrated his 50th birthday. The postal authorities issued a miniature sheet with five $50 stamp and the miniature sheet had a face value of $250. Then I was not an avid collector and $250 was a lot of money to pay for stamps. Nowadays I am willing to pay much more. Much to my regret that $250 miniature sheet cost me $600 at a philatelic store in Singapore in March.

So the lesson would be - get your hands on this $40 miniature sheet. It would rise up in value in the future and this is a pretty good investment.

Brunei's $5 1995

2008-09-06T06:52:00.005+08:00

I bought a book about Brunei published around 1980s. The book was relatively modern but it does show a number of changes that Brunei has undergone over the last 20 odd years. I was surprised when I saw the photo above. It shows a Kampong Ayer on Pulau Pepatan. So it is strictly not Kampong Ayer proper. I remembered this scene as I know it appeared on one of Brunei's older currency notes.

And here it is forming the illustration of 1995 series of $5 notes. Most of these series took their photos from one of the postcards or more relatively known photographs. I have written about a few in the past.

For those still wondering which $5 note I am talking about, here it is.

Brunei Japanese Occupation 30c Stamp

2008-09-05T07:58:00.002+08:00

This is the 16th stamp of the 20 stamp set of Brunei Japanese Occupation. The others which I am looking for is the 6c red stamp, the $5, the $25 and $3 overprints which all have catalog values of four to give digits.

This 30c stamp cost me US$135. Its catalog value is much lower at around US$100 but the opening bidding price was already at US$125. So the catalog value should be revalued higher. I had a tough time searching for this stamp and the moment I saw it I thought I will grab it.

It's an ordinary 30c 1924 issue but I think by the time of the Japanese occupation, there was not much of this issue left for them to overprint. Hence the scarcity of it. Similarly with the 8c grey which has a catalog value of around $2,000+. I purchased that the other day for around M$700+.

Brunei Stamps Definitive 1947

2008-08-29T17:17:00.003+08:00

One young lady answered my appeal for the misssing Brunei stamps. By today I will get a used set. I am still waiting for my mint set. So if there are mint sets out there, please let me know.

She wanted to know more about one particular stamp a 15c 1947 definitive. So I thought I will highlight the entire 1947 set. The 1947 set was produced after the Japanese occupation. So all Japanese stamps were to be replaced with an entirely new set of colour. The entire mint set would set you back around $200 catalog value making it affordable to most collectors. There are some high values, the $10 stamp is worth $140 singly, the $5 stamp is worth around $36 and the $1 stamp is worth around $18.

But if you can get your hands on a 1c stamp where the A of the watermark CA is missisang its A is worth around $2,500.00. The 5c retouch if you can get it is worth around $275 each. The sky retouch on 2c stamp would be worth around $150.

APPEAL for Missing Brunei Stamps

2008-08-27T21:39:00.002+08:00

This is an APPEAL. I thought I have all the Brunei stamps ever issued since 1895. I take pride in that. When I was updating my stamp albums, I realised I don't have the above stamps. Urrghhhhh.......

I am willing to pay good money to whoever who can sell me those stamps both mint and used sets. You know the email and let me know the price.....

Brunei's $5 1908

2008-08-20T21:23:00.002+08:00

I guess this is a celebration of sorts. I managed to purchase the Brunei's 1908 $5 stamp (right). A few months ago, I managed to purchase the Brunei's 1908 $5 stamp (left) but it was flawed. So I had to wait for a new one to come on the market and finally it did. It cost me $82 when I won it. It is worth it as the catalogue value is US$175.

This stamp was part of the second set of the Brunei series. This was issued in 1908, exactly 100 years ago. The stamps are used both for fiscal and revenue as well as pay for postage. It will be in 1947 before the Brunei Postal Authorities issued another $5 stamp.

Brunei Japanese Occupation Rare 8 Cents Stamp

2008-08-18T22:39:00.003+08:00

This is my latest acquisition - a very rare 8 cent stamps overprinted by the Japanese Imperial Government for use in Brunei during the Second World War. The 8 cents stamp even without overprints are rare as not many were produced. This one cost me US$230 which makes it the most expensive among my 15 Brunei overprint Japan stamps. I thought I had completed my series but there are sill 5 stamps which I still need to collect.

The catalogue value for this stamp is US$760, so the US$230 I paid for is worth it. The other expensive values will be the $5, $25 and $3 overprints. I am trying to get the 16th stamp which is the 30 cents overprint. Luckily that only has a CV value of US$105 but I probably have to pay much higher than that.

The Olympics

2008-08-08T17:47:00.003+08:00

It's the 2008 Olympics in Beijing today. Today's illustration is the Olympics stamps issued by Australia given by a fellow collector friend, Kai from Australia. When did the Olympics start?

According to legend, the ancient Olympic Games were founded by Heracles (the Roman Hercules), a son of Zeus. Yet the first Olympic Games for which we still have written records were held in 776 BCE. At this Olympic Games, a naked runner, won the sole event at the Olympics, the stade - a run of approximately 192 meters (210 yards) making him the very first Olympic champion in history.

The ancient Olympic Games grew and continued to be played every four years for nearly 1200 years. In 393 CE, the Roman emperor Theodosius I, a Christian, abolished the Games because of their pagan influences.

It took almost 1,500 before a Frenchmen named Pierre de Coubertin began its revival. He believed that the French lost to the Germans not because of military tactics but because they were weak. So Coubertin decided that it was exercise, more specifically sports, that made a well-rounded and vigorous person. It took him a while to get France interested. In 1890, he organized and founded a sports organization, Union des Sociétés Francaises de Sports Athlétiques (USFSA).

After one failure, four years later, Coubertin organized another meeting. This time with 79 delegates who represented nine countries. He gathered these delegates in an auditorium that was decorated by neoclassical murals and similar additional points of ambiance. At this meeting, Coubertin eloquently spoke of the revival of the Olympic Games. The delegates at the conference voted unanimously for the Olympic Games. The delegates also decided to have Coubertin construct an international committee to organize the Games. This committee became the International Olympic Committee and Demetrious Vikelas from Greece was selected to be its first president. Athens was chosen for the revival of the Olympic Games and the planning was begun.

The very first modern Olympic Games opened in the first week of April 1896. Since the Greek government had been unable to fund construction of a stadium, a wealthy Greek architect, Georgios Averoff, donated one million drachmas (over $100,000) to restore the Panathenaic Stadium, originally built in 330 BCE, with white marble for the Olympic Games.

Since the Games were not well publicized internationally, contestants were not nationally chosen but rather came individually and at their own expense. Some contestants were tourists who happened to be in the area during the Games. Athletes wore their athletic club uniform rather than a national team one.

Since then, the Olympic Games have been held at:
1896 - Athens
1900 - Paris
1904 - St. Louis
1906 - Athens ("Unoffficial")
1908 - London
1912 - Stockholm
1916 - Not held
1920 - Antwerp
1924 - Paris
1928 - Amsterdam
1932 - Los Angeles
1936 - Berlin
1940 - Not held
1944 - Not held
1948 - London
1952 - Helsinki
1956 - Melbourne
1960 - Rome
1964 - Tokyo
1968 - Mexico City
1972 - Munich
1976 - Montreal
1980 - Moscow
1984 - Los Angeles
1988 - Seoul
1992 - Barcelona
1996 - Atlanta
2000 - Sydney
2004 - Athens

Brunei's Latest Stamps

2008-08-03T07:06:00.000+08:00

Last Friday was 1st August 2008. It was 40 years ago when His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah was coronated as the 29th Sultan of Brunei, a long line of Sultanate which started in the 14th Century.

However according to Chinese records, friendly exchanges between Brunei and China have a long history. The earliest records date back more than 2,000 years ago as early as the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC to 23 AD) when commodity trade relations existed and official exchanges between the governments during the Tang Dynasty (618 AD to 907 AD). By the time of the Song Dynasty (960 AD to 1270 AD), there were official and non-governmental commercial and cultural exchanges have been officially recorded in the history of China. I got the information from a book called 'The Collection of Historical Documents Related to Bilateral Relations Between China and Brunei Darussalam' edited by Liu Xinsheng, published by World Affairs Press China in 2006.

So if we were to take the lineage of the rulers of Brunei beyond the 13th century, then our rulers have been in existent and we as a country has certainly been in existence for a really really long time.

Anyway, I digress. To mark His Majesty's 40th Coronation Anniversary, the Postal Services Department issued a special set of commemorative stamps. These stamps depict events from the coronation in itself. This is the 4th set of Coronation Anniversary Stamps. The previous ones were to celebrate the 10th Anniversary in 1978, the 20th Anniversary in 1988 and the 30th Anniversary in 1998.

This year's stamps are also available on first day covers as well as on miniature sheets. When I went to the Philatelic Counter yesterday to get my order, I was told that there are two types of miniature sheets. One is the one that you can see here and the other is a $40 miniature sheet which the Postal Services had to return back because due to colour differences. That one will be released as soon as the printers come back with the corrected colours.

Terengganu Borneo-Malaya Exhibition 1922

2008-06-20T23:47:00.002+08:00

I managed to acquire another set of the states that showcased their stamps during the Straits Settlement Malaya-Borneo Exhibition of 1922. This time that of Terengganu though the set is complete compared to the other states' collections that I had shown before this.

Kedah Malaya-Borneo Exhibition 1922

2008-05-28T05:01:00.002+08:00

In 1922, Brunei joined the Straits Settlements states exhibiting its products in the Borneo-Malaya Expo which was held in Singapore. It is not known whether Brunei actually exhibit its products and who actually went to the expo. But what is known is that during the expo, all the Malaya states plus Singapore, North Borneo (present day Sabah), Sarawak and Brunei all produced overprinted stamps - stamps with the words Malaya Borneo Exhibition. In Brunei's case, it was Malaya Borneo Exhibition 1922. Most of the other states just overprinted with the words 'Malaya Borneo Exhibition'.

These stamps were not in the earlier form accepted as new stamps as they are old stamps with the overprints. But over time, these have been accepted as a special print and are now recognised. I have been trying to collect the other staes ever since I completed the Brunei set a few months earlier. The other day I was able to buy additional stamps for the Kedah set. I am only short of the $1 stamp for the Kedah state. If you happen to have that particular stamp, please let me know.

Iran 2000 Riyals

2008-05-25T10:50:00.006+08:00

For those who have been keeping up with what I do would know that I was away in Tehran for a few days. What did I get there?

Plenty of knowledge especially numismatically. The Iranians still keep their old currencies, coins and stamps. I was able to get what I thought was the entire set of the Shah Reza Pahlavi, the former King who lost the throne to the Islamic revolution in Iran. But when I checked back, there was a couple of notes missing. The price was pretty reasonable.

The note I am showing here is not that of the old one. In fact this is the current 2,000 riyals worth around US$0.30. I found it amazing that the note shows the Kaabah. Even the Saudis, it was only recently that the Kaabah appeared on their notes.

US $1 billion?

2008-05-06T06:53:00.002+08:00

When I was in Singapore, I found this note and several versions of it including the million dollar. These sold for $2 each. I am not sure of the legality of selling these notes or even buying them.

US Dollars are currently printed denominations are $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100. Notes above the $100 denomination ceased being printed in 1946 and were officially withdrawn from circulation in 1969. These notes were used primarily in inter-bank transactions or by organized crime; it was the latter usage that prompted President Richard Nixon to issue an executive order in 1969 halting their use. With the advent of electronic banking, they became less necessary. Notes in denominations of $500, $1,000, $5,000, $10,000, and $100,000 were all produced at one time but never the $1,000,000 or the $1,000,000,000 which is reproduced above.

ASEAN-Japan Exchange Year 2003

2008-05-04T18:27:00.002+08:00

In 2003, ASEAN countries and Japan had an ASEAN-Japan Exchange stamp issue to commemorate the ASEAN-Japan Cooperation. Each ASEAN country was supposed to come up with their own stamp designs.

Japan did a whole set on their own where they depicted one particular scene of each country. If you look at the stamp for Brunei, you would see the dome of SOAS Mosque. This probably marked the first time that the SOAS mosque appearing in another country's stamps. I don't think there has been another ocassion for that.

Kelantan Malaya Borneo Expo 1922

2008-05-02T17:43:00.003+08:00

During my trip to Singapore a couple of weeks ago, I went round the philatelic shops there. I did not have anything specific but I just wanted to see if there are any gems that other people have overlooked or something which I have not bought before. I came across a few stamp collections of the Malaya Borneo Exhibition. The Malaya Borneo Exhibition of 1922 was when the Straits Settlement Government in Singapore decided to have a big expo with products from the Federated Malay States, the Unfederated Malay States pus a different sort of federation like Brunei.

Anyway, all the states produced 'new' stamps which are their existing stamps and overprinted that with the words 'Malaya Borneo Expo'. I have the complete Brunei set and now I am slowly builing up on the other states as well. This one is the 'cents' values of the Kelantan set.

Brunei's New Stamps of 2008

2008-04-29T06:23:00.002+08:00

This post is slightly late (5 days) but so is the commemorative issue (2 years late). On Thursday, 24th April 2008, the Post Office issued the first of this year's commemorative stamps. This issue is to celebrate 100 years of moving Brunei's capital to dryland. Prior to 1906, Brunei's capital or administrative centre was always on the water. Though reading some of the older books, it may have been that the palace was not always on water, but tre rest of the administrative capital was always on the water.

Prior to that Bandar Seri Begawan or Pekan Brunei as it was then known was a city on water. Peter Blundell in his book ‘City of Many Waters’ published stated that the “town was unique, the only one in the world built almost entirely over the water, and the Bruneis were justly proud of it. They were folks who live a semi aquatic life, and their methods of living, household arrangements, family life, and town government, adapted as they had been to life over the water.”

When did the capital move to dry land? The official record was that of the first British Resident, McArthur, who wrote in his report the following words “I want a clean, dry village with suburbs of kampong houses. I also want to discourage building on the water village.”

The government persuaded a group of Pengirans to move out to dry land and to build their houses in the Tumasek area. His Majesty Sultan Muhammad Jamalul Alam built the first Istana on dry land in 1909. This was followed by some of the populace who started to build their houses in the Kianggeh and Sumbiling areas.

A group of Chinese businessmen moved out from Kampung Pekan Lama (then known as Kampung Bakut China) which served as the business area in Kampong Ayer, and started to build their shops on dry land. In 1910, there were six shops, the year after, in 1911, there were 26 shops and just before the Second World War in 1941, that number has increased to more than 80 shops. The shops are built along the current Jalan Sultan.

As for the population, it was not only in Kianggeh and Sumbiling, but they have also moved to Sultan Lama, Barangan, Sungai Kedayan, Tasik, Tungkadeh and Pusar Ulak. Although there were a number of houses now built on those areas, there were still many more left on Kampong Ayer.

The Post Office was quite innovative this year compared with other previous issues. You can buy the First Day cover with stamps, the miniature sheet of the four stamps, a sheet of 20 stamps for each stamp in a mounted frame and also a booklet of stamps. The stamps commemorated the beginning of modern Brunei and I think it is worthwhile to keep them. The stamps are available at the Philatelic Unit at the General Post Office, go there, get the stamps and visit the stamps gallery at the same time. You can see the earliest stamps of Brunei including that of the 1895 stamps.

The stamps are issued in denomination of 20 cents, 30 cents, 60 cents and $1.00. The designer is Awang Abd Ajihis bin Haji Terawih. They are printed by Secura Singapore Pte Ltd through offset lithograph using 106 gsm yello green phosphor coated stamp paper with perforation of 13 per 2 cm. The stamps size are 30 mm x 48 mm.

Hong Kong 10th Anniversary SAR 2007

2008-04-27T08:17:00.004+08:00

I received this from a philatelic friend in Lumut. When I first got it, I did not realise this 2007 miniature sheet from Hong Kong celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in China (the British left Hong Kong in 1997) is actually a hologram miniature sheet. The scanned sheet does not do it justice. The 1997 transforms to 2007 and there are lots of fireworks visible as well. This is worth some US$6 on ebay. Thanks Hung!

Brunei's 3 cents 1908

2008-04-20T21:47:00.002+08:00

I managed to visit another philatelic dealer in Singapore. There was nothing in particular that I wanted, I did buy the lower values of Kelantan's Malaya-Borneo 1922 Exhibition stamps. I was quite surprised that I managed to get the 6 stamps for about $70 only. I also bought this 3 cents 1908 Brunei stamp with a postmark of 15th June 1908. This stamp was postmarked almost a hundred years ago.

Sabah North Borneo 50 cents 1938

2008-04-13T07:11:00.002+08:00

This 60 year old note is the Sabah's 50 cents paper note issued in 1938, just prior to the second World War. This paper note is interesting as most fractional (less than $1) notes were issued during the war itself. The Straits Settlement fractional notes were issued in 1940 and in 1941 (used in 1946). But the Sabah one is issued a couple of years earlier in 1938. Metal must have been in shorter supply even before 1938 or the metal cost is so high that the North Borneo government felt that it was worthwhile to go to paper instead of minting metal coins. I got this from a German dealer for about US$200, a bit on the high side but I could not find this anymore.

Brunei's Highest Value Miniature Sheet 1996

2008-03-31T06:20:00.000+08:00

In 1996 when His Majesty celebrated his 50th birthday, our Postal Services issued Brunei's highest face value stamps ever. Five stamps in a miniature sheet each with a face value of $50 per stamp was issued. The miniature sheet was sold at $250 in a framed cover. This remained the most expensive face value item that the Postal Services had issued in its entire history (though in 2006, the postal services issued a $60 stamp to commemorate His Majesty's 60th birthday).

That miniature sheet now has a catalogue value of some $1,000 and almost impossible to find. I managed to find one - the last one in this particular philatelic agency I went to - and luckily not at the full catalogue value. According to the agency that sold it to me, it bought 10 in 1996 and only managed to sell all 10 in the period of about 12 years. This sheet must not be that popular because of the expensive cost.

Anyway, I have the feeling that not many have seen it and since it is quite attractive and not to mention an unusual piece of Brunei's history both philatelically and otherwise, I thought I will post it up here so that everyone can look at it.

Straits $1 1911

2008-03-30T21:17:00.002+08:00

I was away in Singapore for the last week. I managed to visit a number of philatelist and numismatist agencies in Singapore and managed to find a few gems. When I arrived back, there were also a number of items that arrived from ebay.

One of them is the Straits Dollar $1 note of 1911. This is part of the 1906 to 1924 series which the Straits Settlement Government in Singapore issued. I have one which is of 1916 variety which I have posted here in the past.

Malaya $10 1940

2008-03-20T15:28:00.003+08:00

This is probably one of the more difficult note for me to obtain. This note and the 10 cents and 25 cents paper notes issued just at the start of the Second World War were the only surviving set of paper notes issued by the Straits Settlement Government. The printers sent a whole set of currency but the story was that the German intercepted the ship that carried the other currencies and only these three notes were able to reach Malaya and Singapore.

For Brunei, this note is the first ever paper currency note to carry the Brunei crest (see lower quarter right). The subsequent notes have been with the national crest.

Saudi Arabia 50 Riyal 1968

2008-03-18T19:59:00.002+08:00

I haven't been updating the numismatic side of this blog. Actually I have bought a few currency notes but I have been a tad too busy to scan them to put up on the blog.

One of the last few which arrived is my purchases of old Saudi riyals. I managed to get this particular 1968 50 riyal note. It's 40 years old and about the same age as Brunei's first Sultan Omar Ali note of 1967. This riyal note series is the last before the portraits of the Kings of Saudi Arabia appears on it, the first of which is 1976. Early Saudi notes are interesting as they carry no King's portraits on them.

Well travelled envelope

2008-03-16T13:10:00.004+08:00

I collect stamps, first day covers and normally get them from overseas, so I received a fair number of letters as well. Once in a while I wondered whether all my letters are on time as I know I have quite a few which have not arrived yet.

This one took a few months to arrive and when it did. Look. It went on a tour round the world from Belgium to Bermuda and then to Malaysia.

Sultan Omar Ali Definitives

2008-03-14T06:30:00.002+08:00

In 1952, Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien who had taken over the throne on the death of his elder brother, issued the first definitive stamp with his portrait. The previous Sultan, Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin did not issue any definitive stamp but did issue a special commemoration in 1949 to celebrate his 25th Silver Jubilee on the throne.

The Sultan Omar Ali series were issued from 1952 to 1971. Three definite series can be determined. The first series was issued in March 1952 on papers with watermark multiple script CA and a perforation of 13.

The second series was issued from 1964 to 1968 with the only difference with the earlier one of the watermark changed to Block CA. The other difference is that the second series only issued stamps up to $1 value.

Despite Sultan Omar Ali abdication of the throne in 1967, the third series of definitive stamp using his portrait continue with the third series issued from 1969 to 1971. This time the paper was changed to glazed paper but the watermark was unchanged still using Block CA and the perforation remaining 13.

Brunei Stamp Postmarked Limbang

2008-03-12T07:02:00.002+08:00

By the time you read this, this item will be in someone's hands. I have bid for it on ebay but the price has gone beyond my financial limit. It was US$227, way above the US$150 max I put on it. Why is this valuable?

Firstly, this is a Brunei stamp overprinted during the Japanese occupation of the country. That makes a used stamp expensive. Think of how many Bruneians sending letters in those days. Secondly, this was postmarked Limbang. Limbang, as you know, is currently a part of Malaysia and had been a part of Sarawak ever since it was forcefully taken away from Brunei in 1890. For a Brunei stamp to be postmarked in Limbang is almost impossible except during the Japanese occupation when they treated all the British Borneo territories as one prefecture. And that's why the 4 cent stamp could exceed US$300 by the time you read this.

Brunei's Very First First Day Cover 1895

2008-03-04T05:40:00.002+08:00

This is my latest pride and joy. I have often seen these in books and catalogs and I have only seen one real one at the Postal Gallery at Brunei's General Post Office in Bandar. When I saw it come up for auction at Spink's and with my recent promotion, I thought I will treat myself. It was listed at around GBP120 but I thought I will put up the bid to about GBP220 wanting to make sure I don't lose it. I won it at GBP180.

This FDC is the first of Brunei's stamps. It had a controversial beginning. Declared as bogus by some as it was printed by a fellow called Robertson who obtained a concession from the Brunei Sultan. Robertson's ulterior motive was to cash in on stamp collections and examples of his letters leave us to no doubt. He did try to run the postal service system in Brunei but by 1902 or 1903, that ran down as well.

Since Brunei at that time did not belong to UPU, the FDC sent to London had to be overprinted with the Labuan stamp as well. That's why the FDC also bore one Labuan stamp. Not all the Brunei stamps are on this FDC, the last 3 high values, 25c, 50c and $1 are not affixed.

Brunei's $60 Miniature Sheet

2008-03-01T19:40:00.002+08:00

I thought I missed out on this issue and when I saw it at the Philatelic Booth at the current book expo at ICC, I grabbed this. This is the second of very high value miniature sheet produced by the Brunei Postal Services. The first was a $50 issue issued during His Majesty's 50th birthday.

This $60 miniature sheet is produced for His Majesty's 60th birthday. I am not sure how many are produced but not many people would want to buy it. The Postal Services actually sell this with a golden coloured wooden frame and they are not selling it at $60. The selling price is $260 and for that price only an enthusiast would want to buy it. Anyway, I am sharing this one with all of you out there.

Brunei SOAS Mosque FDC 1958

2008-02-26T17:57:00.004+08:00

The Brunei Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque in Bandar Seri Begawan will be celebrating its golden jubilee this year. It will officially be 50 years old on 24th September 2008. It was officially open 50 years ago on that date. The mosque is currently undergoing restoration and a lot of tourists are unfortunately unable to take a good photograph of it. The mosque is actually based on Moghul architecture and hence the similarity of the design of the dome with that of the Taj Mahal in India.

Anyway, I have managed to acquire very recently a first day cover issue on that day. It was sent by a Mr YF Chin of the Telecommuncations Department in Brunei to a Mr Fong Pang Loi, presumably his friend at Posts and Telegraph of North Borneo in Jesselton (today's Kota Kinabalu). The first day cover will soon be 50 years old too.

Happy National Day Brunei!

2008-02-24T08:48:00.003+08:00

Yesterday was Brunei's 24th National Day celebrations but being the 24th is not significant enough for a special philatelic issuance. The last time anything interesting was issued was for the 20th National Day. Now, next year is the 25th Anniversary, expect something.

Brunei First Day Cover UPU 75th Anniversary 1949

2008-02-15T20:38:00.002+08:00

By the year 1949, Brunei had issued only a handful of stamp designs - the 1895 Brunei Local, the 1906 Labuan Overprints, 1907 to 1947 Brunei River Scene and additional Kampong Ayer scenes. In October 1949, Universal Postal Union was celebrating its 75th Anniversary and all countries around the world issued their own stamps to commemorate it.

Around 70 countries and territories of the Commonwealth issued a set of identical stamps. The designs were the same for all 70+ territories with the exception of the colours, the postal amount and the name of the territory. Brunei issued its own 4 stamps. Recently I managed to acquire the First Day Cover which had the 4 stamps addressed to someone in Sandakan and was postmarked 4 November 1949 from Kuala Belait.

Saudi Arabia Haj Riyals 1956

2008-02-11T06:39:00.000+08:00

Here are the 1 Riyal and 5 Riyal which was issued by Saudi Arabia Monetary Authority way back in 1956 to be used by Haj Pilgrims. These are among the earliest of all Saudi Arabian Riyals in paper form. Before that only coins were used. Surprisingly people like it and Saudi Arabia introduced the first proper riyal for circulation in Saudi in 1961.

These riyals are interesting as there are other languages on it including Malay. On the reverse, one can read in Jawi that the Saudi Arabia Monetary Authority promises to refund you in full to the amount of one riyal or five riyal as the case may be.

Old KB and Seria Photographs

2008-02-06T05:36:00.000+08:00

My friends in KB and Seria sometimes complained I don't write enough about Kuala Belait and Seria. Despite the fact that I was born in Seria, I have to admit that I don't write enough about my birthplace. You have to remember Seria did not exactly exist prior to 1929 and most of its history is actually Shell's. Kuala Belait was also a tiny fishing village and it is Kuala Balai which used to be the capital for the district until oil was commercially produced. KB and Seria has relatively shorter history compared to Brunei or Tutong.

Anyway, I found some old colour photographs of Seria and Kuala Belait which I presumed is taken in the early 1970s. See if you can place them.

Foreign Stamps in Brunei

2008-02-05T05:24:00.001+08:00

The above is a Sarawak stamp complete with a portrait of Charles Vyner Brooke. Look closely and you will see the word Brunei handstamped onto the stamp and dated sometime 2nd March 1946. For those of you who are both history challenged and postal knowledge challenged would wonder when we used Sarawak stamps in our country? And if that surprised you, look at the stamp below.

This is a North Borneo stamp also handstamped Brunei. North Borneo was the name for Sabah, in case you are wondering. What's the story behind both stamps?

In 1945, when the Allied Forces took over Brunei and the rest of Southeast Asia basically from the Japanese, they set up a temporary administration in all of the countries. These administrations were called British Military Administration and hence BMA. These administrations in starting up the government found that most of the local stamps that were in used at the local postal authorities were mutilated - local stamps being overprinted by the previous Japanese administrations. So BMA in order to restart postal services needed new stamps.

In some countries, they were lucky to find existing stamp stocks which had no Japanese overprints such as those in Sarawak and North Borneo. For Brunei, no such luck. And at the same time, in order to simplifly administration, all three states were treated as one. So for a time in 1946, Brunei's postal authorities had to use either Sarawak or North Borneo stamps overprinted BMA and hence, that's why for a short time, foreign stamps were in use in Brunei.

I had a hard time hunting these stamps down. Fortunately I managed to get my hands on these two. I also managed to get the entire North Borneo BMA set but at the moment I am still searching for the entire Sarawak BMA set. If anyone out there is willing to part with the entire Sarawak BMA set, let me know.

Saudi Arabia 10 Riyal Haj Note 1954

2008-02-02T23:18:00.000+08:00

Even though Saudi Arabia had been issuing coins very much earlier, their currency notes did not appear until 1953 and even then it was not meant for full circulation throughout Saudi Arabia.

In 1953, the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (SAMA) began issuing Haj Pilgrim Receipts for 10 riyals, with 1 and 5 riyals following in 1954 and 1956, respectively. These currency notes resembled banknotes and were initially intended for use by pilgrims who exchanged foreign currency for them. However, they became widely accepted in Saudi Arabia and largely replaced silver riyal coins in major financial transactions. Finally in 1961, the Monetary Agency began issuing regular banknotes for 1, 5, 10, 50 and 100 riyal with the Pilgrim Receipts being demonetized in 1964.

The above banknote is the second 10 riyal being issued in 1954 replacing the first 10 riyal note issued in 1953. I have the 5 riyal and 1 riyal pilgrim notes as well.

Viet Nam's 500,000 Dong 2007

2008-01-30T23:09:00.000+08:00

Thanks to my Vietnamese friend at the Stamp Club in Saigon, I managed to get my hands on Vietnamese new polymer notes. I helped purchased for them lots of new ASEAN 2007 architecture first day covers. I also managed to get the Vietnamese ASEAN 2007 architecture series.

This 500,000 dong is very much different from the old paper note. I have been to Vietnam around 4 times, so I pretty much have their older paper notes. Luckily now I managed to get their polymer notes.

Saudi Arabia New Riyals 2007

2008-01-29T07:05:00.000+08:00

Someone from Malaysia has kindly emailed me Saudi Arabia Monetary Authority's poster with all the new Ssaudi currency in circulation. It tells you all about the Saudi money, so I won't waste time.

Thailand 60 Baht

2008-01-28T06:17:00.000+08:00

One of the things I did in Qatar was to go round the Old Souk (Old Market). Qatar has only one old market left and they mostly sell Qatari's old trade which was actually fishing and pearls. So you can buy all sorts of fishing and pearl related products. However they do sell other things which included old coins and paper currencies. One trader even sells ancient roman coins. But I was searching for the Doha Dubai Riyal because at one time these now two separate countries issued the same currency. But I couldn't find any at whatever price.

Surprisingly the sellers also sell a number of other currencies as well including this special Thai Baht note which commemorated the 60th year of King Bhumibol Adulyadej of either his birthday or his 60th anniversary on the throne. This is an interesting large square note and obviously could not fit any wallet without it being folded in 4 at least.

Qatar 100 Riyals

2008-01-25T06:36:00.000+08:00

I am back! For those who keeps up with my other blog www.bruneiresources.blogspot.com would have known that I was away for the whole of last week. I did not mention where in that blog but over the next few days, I will feature the country's currency notes as well as the country where I had to do a stop over.

The first notes are Qatar's 100 Riyals. Qatar still maintained an effective fixed exchange rate tied to US dollars at 100 Riyal = USD36. Given the relative weaknesses over the last few months' of the US dollars, Qatar might have to rethink this policy in the future.

Anyway, this 100 Riyal notes come in 2 versions - the regular paper money and the additional polymer series. Surprisingly until 1966, Qatar was using the Indian rupee as currency, in the form of Gulf rupees. When India devalued the rupee in 1966, Qatar, along with the other states using the Gulf rupee, chose to introduce its own currency. Before doing so, Qatar briefly adopted the Saudi riyal, then introduced the Qatar and Dubai riyal. The Saudi riyal was worth 1.065 rupees, whilst the Qatar and Dubai riyal was equal to the rupee prior to its devaluation. Until 1973, Qatar and Dubai jointly issued the riyal. However, following Dubai's entrance into the United Arab Emirates, Qatar began issuing the Qatari riyal separate from Dubai.

I tried to go to the old markets in Doha, Qatar's capital to search for old currency notes. Either I am too late or there is just none available, I couldn't find them. It would have been interesting to find the Qatar and Dubai Riyal or even the Gulf rupees.

The Deltiologist

2008-01-18T07:27:00.000+08:00

Over the years, I have purchased and collected many old Brunei postcards as an extension of my paper money and stamp collections. This not only makes me a numismatist and a philatelist but also a deltiologist! Deltiology is the study of postcards.

Anyway, when I saw this postcard on ebay, I was quite surprised. I had to have it and this postcard arrived yesterday. This view of the Jembatan Rangas or Clifford Bridge could only have come from one vintage point - the SOAS Mosque. But when was SOAS Mosque built and when was Edinburgh Bridge built? So this must have been around the time when SOAS was under construction and Edinburgh Built was not yet under construction. SOAS mosque was completed in 1958.

I have an older photograph of Clifford Bridge here.

Early Happy Chinese New Year 2008!

2008-01-16T06:42:00.000+08:00

I received this Australian miniature sheet from a fellow numismatist and philatelist in Oz Land. Thanks so much KAI! He was also very nice in sending me an Australian $1 proof coin too - celebrating the APEC which the Australians just hosted last year in 2007.

I was going to wait until the Chinese New Year but I thought that would be too late. Here it is - the Australaian Post celebrating the upcoming Chinese New Year - Year of the Rats or Mouse or some look alike rodents.

Brunei Postcard Sungai Kianggeh 1968

2008-01-15T05:19:00.001+08:00

This postcard was posted from Brunei to USA in 1968. I bought it and this postcard has returned back to Brunei.

You know in the 1960s, the Sungai Kianggeh was still wide enough that not only small boats can go in, even the big tongkang can go in. Before that it was even wider. The government ask anyone who wants to help in with the widening of the Jalan Kianggeh by coming up with some earth and get paid for it. People started bringing in earth by the boatfull and dumping it to the side of Sungai Kianggeh thus enabling the Kianggeh road to be built. That narrowed the river somewhat but it was the latest project in the 1970s that narrowed the Sungai Kianggeh to what we see today.

Anyway, this postcard showed the Kianggeh river in the mid 1960s when it looked wide enough. What's noticeable is the small hut in the middle of the river. This is where pigs used to be slaughered. There are a couple of buildings to the left of this hut. That's where Immigration Department used to be - this is the place to get your IC.

The World's First Stamp?

2008-01-11T13:58:00.000+08:00

S.Muthiah from The Hindu newspaper wrote on 7th January 2008 the following:

The Indian National Philatelic Exhibition which concluded yesterday in the city after drawing record crowds from the 2nd, was marked by the release of a set of stamps featuring butterflies on the 2nd and special covers on the 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th. The cover that specially interested me was the one released on the 5th, a day designated as Heritage Day, which featured what I learnt were called ‘copper tickets’. These “copper tickets” had been brought to the public’s notice even earlier. During the first International Philatelic Exposition to be held in Delhi, a Re.1 stamp featuring two ‘copper tickets’ was released on January 25, 1980 (my picture today).

The ‘copper ticket’ was, however, not a piece of government issue paper; it was a piece of thin metal, a small copper token. Nevertheless, the Indian Postal authorities have long claimed it as the “world’s first postage stamp.” It was first issued in Patna on March 31, 1774 and was valued at 2 annas (12.5 paise). Each token bought when sending a letter made it possible for the letter to travel 100 miles in East India Company territory, carried by dak runners. Thus, being a medium of prepayment for postage, it gained the pioneer status it claims.

It was in 1840 that Rowland Hill invented the first adhesive paper postage stamp in the U.K. Taken up with Hill’s invention, Sir Bartle Frere, then Chief Commissioner of Sind, in 1852 issued what are said to be the first postage stamps in Asia - pieces of paper embossed with a circular design in red, white or blue lacquer and featuring the East India Company’s merchant mark. These stamps were of half anna (3 paise) denomination and could be used for mail being sent within Sind and on the Karachi-Bombay route. The stamps in later years attained fame amongst philatelists under the name `Scinde Dawk’ stamps.

Brunei Stamps 1924-1937

2008-01-09T22:49:00.000+08:00

If anything, there is an orgasmic, if I am allowed to use that word, for me. This is the final complete set of all the Brunei stamp sets prior to the second world war that I need to complete. Before this I have the 1895 set, the 1907 set, the 1908 set, the 1922 set and the 1947 set. The missing 1924/1937 set had three stamps short.

This the 1924/1937 series of Brunei stamps, the final 3 stamps arrived yesterday. This set had the most changes in its 13 year existence. For instance the 5c stamp appeared three times each a different colour. This set also introduced a new design of the Kampong Ayer and the capital. Take a good look.

Brunei Stamps Definitives 1968

2008-01-05T06:24:00.000+08:00

This is Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien 2nd definitive stamp series issued in 1968. According to the catalogues, there were 3 series of definitive stamps. What's the difference between the three? There's hardly any as the designs are all the same! And that's the crux of the problem.

The 1952 definitive which looked exactly the 1968 had $2 and $5 stamps but everything else looked the same. The only way to tell the difference between them is to take out the watermark reader and looked at the back of the stamps. The 1952 used script CA and the 1964 and 1968 used the block CA. How do you distinguish between 1964 and 1968? Well, technically one used glazed paper and the other used non-glazed paper. Hahaha..... Try to distinguish between the two. Anyway, if there is anybody out there who can tell the foolproof way of telling the difference, do let me know.

World's Most Expensive Stamp

2008-01-02T21:57:00.000+08:00

Some were surprised my previous posting on the expensive airmail stamp at $800,000+ is still not the most expensive stamp in the world. So, what is the most expensive? This is arguable if you ask me. There are considered about half a dozen more or less stamps that are valuable. One will never the true value unless that particular stamp goes under the hammer duing an auction. The last to go on sale was Sweden's Three Skilling Banco, Yellow Color Error and Sweden Three Skilling Banco, Yellow Color Error.

The three skilling stamp (yellow color error) was issued in Sweden in 1855. Due to a printing error, this stamp is printed on yellow colored paper (meant for the eight skilling stamp of the same set) instead of the usual green color (used for the three skilling stamp). One copy of the yellow error variety of this stamp was found in 1885 by a young Swedish boy in his grandfather's collection. It is a one-of -a- kind rarity, as no other copies have been discovered to date. In 1996 the stamp was sold to an anonymous collector for $2.3 million at auction.

The three skilling stamp (yellow color error) was issued in Sweden in 1855. Due to a printing error, this stamp is printed on yellow colored paper (meant for the eight skilling stamp of the same set) instead of the usual green color (used for the three skilling stamp). One copy of the yellow error variety of this stamp was found in 1885 by a young Swedish boy in his grandfather's collection. It is a one-of -a- kind rarity, as no other copies have been discovered to date. In 1996 the stamp was sold to an anonymous collector for $2.3 million at auction.

World's Most Expensive Airmail Stamp

2008-01-02T00:05:00.000+08:00

Dec. 28, 2007, 12:36AM
Rare 'Inverted Jenny' stamp sells for $825,000

By PAUL J. WEBER
Associated Press

DALLAS — One of the most famously flawed stamps in U.S. history sold for $825,000 to a New York man who bought it slightly cheaper than the record price another "Inverted Jenny" copy fetched at auction last month.

The rare 24-cent stamp, depicting an upside-down Curtis JN-4 biplane known as "Jenny," was sold privately this week to a Wall Street executive who did not want to be identified.

But Heritage Auction Galleries president Greg Rohan, who brokered the sale, said the buyer is the same collector who lost an auction last month in which another "Inverted Jenny" sold for $977,500. The winning bidder was New York real estate magnate Charles Hack, Rohan said.

Rohan said his client, whom he described as not being a rare stamp collector, was glad to get another chance at the prized misprint.

"I suspect he's going to enjoy owning it and showing it to a few close friends," Rohan said.

The mint condition red, white and blue stamp is one of the finest known surviving stamps from the original sheet of 100 misprints. The original 100 were bought at a Washington, D.C., post office in 1918.

The Dallas auction house calls it one of the world's most famous rare stamps.

Randy Shoemaker, founder of Professional Stamp Experts, said there are probably fewer than 1,000 collectors in the world with the money and obsession to seriously pursue such a rare item.

"This is the Rolls Royce," Shoemaker said. "It's the most expensive airmail stamp in the world."

Rohan said Heritage acquired its stamp from Sonny Hagendorf, a dealer from Scarsdale, N.Y. Rohan said the copy sold by Heritage is one of fewer than five to have never been hinged, meaning affixed with adhesive to be placed in a stamp album.

[Note: there are other more expensive stamps out there but this one is meant for airmail and can claim to be to the world's most expensive airmail stamp.]

Brunei Stamps 1922

2008-01-01T06:26:00.000+08:00

In 1922, a trade exposition known as the "Malaya-Borneo Exhibition" was staged between the 31st March and 17th April 1922 on a newly reclaimed land at Telok Ayer. The exhibition was organised by the Chinese Chamber of Commerce with the participation of the Governments of the Straits Settlements, Kedah, Kelantan, Trengganu, North Borneo and Brunei. It was opened by HRH The Prince of Wales. The participating countries and territories issued their own stamps with overprints of Malaya-Borneo Exhibition. However both Brunei and North Borneo also added the year 1922 thus the overprints of these two sets read "Malaya Borneo Exhibition 1922".

The above is the Brunei 1922 stamps. These stamps were taken from the existing 1908/1916 stamp stock. I have had all the set up to 50cents but I could not get the final $1 stamp. I knew someone who had a whole set but would not sell me just the one stamp. So I had to buy the entire set from him for $220 which is not a bad price really considering the CV Of the market.

By the way, Telok Ayer is in Singapore. It was the site of the original Chinatown in Singapore.

Saudi Arabia 500 Riyal 2007

2007-12-31T06:17:00.000+08:00

My sister-in-law who just arrived yesterday afternoon from the haj saved for me a Saudi Arabia 500 Riyal issued this year. This 500 Riyal shows the Masjidil Haram and the Kaabah.

Malaysia $50 2008

2007-12-30T06:20:00.000+08:00

I finally got my hands on the first issuance of the new Malaysian $50 note thanks to my uncle in Kuala Lumpur. He bought it on the 26th, pos laju it to me and on the 29th, I got it! According to my Australian friend, this issue sold out within 4 hours. And Pa Uchu Mud, thanks so much for taking the time to buy this for me all the way from KL.

I am still studying the note but I thought I will share the image of my new note to everyone out there in the world. I am not sure what the difference is with this new special issuance other than it comes in a nice pack with the circulation note which will come out in mid January 2008. In the meantime enjoy!
The details of the note as described in the package:

SIGNIFICANCE OF ISSUE This new design RM50 banknote is issued to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Malaysia's Independence Day which took place on 31 August 1957. This banknote captures the birth of Malaysia as a constitutional monarchy, its rich cultural heritage and the success of its economic development.

DESIGN AND SPECIFICATIONS

SIZE 145 x 69 mm

FRONT The design motifs on the front side feature the portrait of the first Seri Paduka Baginda Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Abdul Rahman, on the rigan and the national flower hibiscus on the centre. Design patterns from songket weaving, which are in the background and edges of the banknote, reflect tradtional Malaysian textile handicraft and embroidery. Incorporating the latest security features, the multicolour latent image of the denomination 50 can be seen when the banknote is tilted slightly and the colour changes when it is rotated. The holographic stripe features the denomination 50 and the hibiscus flower, with a multicoloured pumping and matt-structure effect.

BACK The design depicts Malaysia's economic transformation from agricultural to that of higher value-added manufacturing and services-based economy. Malaysia's first prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj, is capture in the historic declaration of Malaysia' independence. The logo of the 50th Anniversary of Independence is inspired by the national flag 'Jalur Gemilang'. The logo represents the nation's achivement since independence and symbolises the unity of the diverse ethnic groups living together. To mark this anniversary, Bank Negara Malaysia has commissioned the issuance of this new design RM50 banknote.

MAIN SECURITY FEATURES

* Watermark portratin with electrotype highlight
* Security thread
* Intaglio micro-letterings
* See-through registration
* Anti-scanner/copier patterns
* Hidden image with more effect
* Multicolour latent image
* Holographic stripe

Saudi Arabia 50 Riyal 2007

2007-12-29T00:05:00.000+08:00

Just to complete the Saudi Arabia 2007 currency series, here is the second of the 5 set series. This one is interesting as it shows the Dome of the Rock on the obverse and the Masjidil Aqsa Mosque in the reverse.

Many people actually assumed the Dome of the Rock is the Masjidil Aqsa which is actually very wrong. The Masjidil Aqsa is besides the Dome of the Rock. I guess the Saudi Authorities chose this because they wanted to complete the three Islamic holy mosques.

By the way, I was right. The 500 Riyal does have the photograph of the Masjidil Haram and the Kaabah. Soon I will get it as my brother in law who will be returning from haj has promised me that note.

USA Star Wars Yoda Stamps 2007

2007-12-28T00:05:00.000+08:00

I read somewhere that the United States Postal Services took a vote from its special Star Wars stamps collection of which character deserves to be focused on. Yoda won hands down. So the USPS complied and issued this special Yoda collection. It was issued towards the end of the third quarter this year.

Saudi Arabia 100 Riyal 2007

2007-12-27T06:30:00.000+08:00

My sister just came back from her haj and I asked her to keep for me all the Saudi Riyals which are new this year. This is the 100 Riyal of the 2007 series. I was expecting a photo of the Kaabah in Mekah but this is Prophet's mosque in Medina. I am assuming that there is a 500 Riyal which will have the photo of the Kaabah.

Incidentally, the 50 Riyal note has the Masjidil Aqsa Mosque of Jerusalem which is not a Saudi but obviously very Islamic - one of the three holy mosques of the Muslim World. The 5 Riyal note is very economic - oil fields but I was not sure what the 10 Riyal note is supposed to exemplify. The reverse of the 100 Riyal note is as follows:-

Antartica $3 2007

2007-12-26T05:46:00.000+08:00

This is the $3 of the Antartica Notes. I wrote earlier about the $1 note. I still find this note even if it is technically not legal tender in the usual sense but people do do used it.

The reverse is interesting. Just like some of the European currency, it is vertical.

Brunei Stamps 1916

2007-12-23T12:26:00.000+08:00

It's amazing what insomniacs can do. I used my 'unable to sleep' time to check and recheck my stamps collection. Armed with a magnifying glass and a $60 watermark reader, I checked almost all my Brunei collection. The early Brunei collections are crazy as there are so many colour changes and the only way to tell them apart is to check the watermark. Some watermarks are visible but some are next to useless. But if it was not for the watermarks, then it is very hard to tell when one stamp was produced when compared to another.

What I managed to discover what that hidden among the spares are two stamps specifically issued in 1916 which was to complement the 1908 series. The 1916 had 2 colour changes, the first was the change of the 5cents from black and orange to full orange and the second was the change of the 5cents from blue or inidgo blue to ultramarine. However they kept the watermark the same which is Multiple Crown CA. Subsequent 5cents in 1924 and 1947 kept the same colour but the paper watermark is Multiple Script CA. Similarly for the 8cents stamp.

How much are these worth then? The 5cents mint is about $70 and the 8cents is half that. Next I have to look at the 5cents label on the 5cents stamp. If I can prove that the 5cents was a retouch (someone in England when printing made a mistake with the 5cents label and printed the 5cents separately), then that piece would be worth $2,000.00.

Most catalogs would place these two stamps as part of the 1908 collection, so the 1908 with all the various colour options would be around 16 stamps in total.

Brunei Stamps 1908 Collection

2007-12-16T20:41:00.000+08:00

I was at my uncle's a couple of nights ago looking through his collection. He had some of his own but when he was in the States, he managed to get the entire pre 1998 Brunei stamps collection. My uncle lent me that album during Hari Raya but I could only glance through it. A couple of nights ago, I took the opportunity to have a thorough outlook. What I realised was that I had some of the stamps which I thought was missing.

So I spent a half hour searching through my spare stamps. And guess what? I really did have some of the missing stamps to complete my collection. And guess what for the second time? I have the entire 1908 stamp collection plus the colour changes from 1908 to 1916! Though this set is more common and the highest price I could get was only RM900 for the entire set.

Brunei Stamps Collection 1906

2007-12-14T22:42:00.000+08:00

YES!!!!! It took me a few months but I finally managed to get the entire 1906 set. For this who do not know, the 1906 set is the very first official stamps issued by the Brunei postal authorities. There was an early 1895 set which was done by a private entrepreneur who got the right to sell the stamps outside Brunei in exchange for running a postal service (it went defunct in about 1902/03). However not all philatelist accepted that as an official set as it was not done by the postal authorities.

This particular collection is worth some RM$2,400 for mint and about a thousand more for used stamps. Up to yesterday, I had 10 of the 12 stamps. I could not find the 5c and $1 stamps. So when an entire set came up I had to purchase the entire set just to get the two missing stamps. I ended up paying about US$350 for the entire set. The difficulty is that this set was seen as a temporary replacement stamps for the ones which was issued in 1907. So only limited stamps were available. For instance the $1 stamp - only about 2,000 were printed. So trying to assemble the entire collection was very very hard.

Sultan Hashim handed over the general administration of the State to a British Resident on 2nd January 1906. Plans were made for a complete postal service, with the official inauguration of this service on the 11th October 1906. New stamps were ordered from the Crown Agents and, pending their arrival, surplus stocks of the Labuan Crown issue were overprinted and surcharged by the Government Printers in Singapore.

NumisMaster Adds Paper Money Pricing

2007-12-01T06:22:00.000+08:00

NumisMaster Adds Paper Money Pricing

Iola, WI (November 30, 2007) -- United States paper money listings have been added to the NumisMaster online pricing and information service powered by Krause Publications.

“All of the photographs and listings found in the Standard Catalog of United States Paper Money are now available online, with quick searches that take you right to what you’re looking for,” said George Cuhaj, paper money market specialist at Krause Publications. “The escalation of the currency market creates a need for current pricing and the most accurate information available.”

The up-to-date prices listed in the United States Paper Money Guide, available at www.numismaster.com, include: all non-coin monetary issues of the United States, including large-size, small-size, Fractional Currency, National Bank Notes, error notes, pre-Civil War Treasury notes, Silver and Gold Certificates, Military Payment Certificates, encased postage and postage stamp envelopes.

Current market values are listed in up to four grades of preservation.

“The addition of paper money to NumisMaster is welcome,” said Numismatic News editor Dave Harper. “It is my experience that collectors are active in many fields simultaneously and having them all in one place makes NumisMaster the handiest reference source on the Web.”

In addition to the U.S. paper money price listings, NumisMaster offers more than 1 million price listings for U.S. and world coins. Other features include a show calendar, blogs, news, articles about collecting and expert advice.

For more information visit www.numismaster.com.

About Krause Publications
Krause Publications, based in Iola, Wis., is the world’s largest publisher of leisure-time periodicals and books on collectibles, sewing and quilting, hunting, and fishing. Chet Krause, a long-time collector of coins, published the first issue of Numismatic News on Oct. 13, 1952, with nearly 1,000 readers. Today, Krause Publications, owned by F+W Publications, offers over 40 periodicals, 10 hobby shows, 750 reference and how-to books, and web properties such as NumisMaster.com, the online coin price database. F+W Publications, and ARBY Partners, LLC Company, also operates book clubs, conferences, trade shows, interactive media and education programs.

Contact
Lisa Bellavin
Associate Editor, NumisMaster
Lisa.bellavin@fwpubs.com
715-445-4612 ext. 279

Brunei Joint ASEAN 2007

2007-11-24T06:27:00.000+08:00

Finally! The Brunei issue of the Joint ASEAN 2007 was finally launched in Brunei Darussalam, a few months late. Brunei is the last country to issue the Joint ASEAN 2007 stamps. The other 8 did it, I think, last August. Myanmar was the 9th and Brunei is the last.

Nothing much to talk about. The stamps are the same as the other stamps issued by the other ASEAN countries which I have talked about in the past. The Brunei's stamps are printed by Security Printers of Malaysia using unwatermarked paper of 102gsm. The perforation is 14 per 2 cm. The stamps are all 20 cents denomination, so it will be used quite widely.

Antartica $1 2007

2007-11-23T06:37:00.000+08:00

I stumbled upon this Antartica $1 note of 2007. When it arrived I thought it was one of the most beautiful paper money I have ever seen. I wanted to get more of the series and also to learn more about who is using money in Antartica. All I could get from the note was that it was exchangeable at par with the US dollar. I was under the impression that it was a US government agency's note. But I was wrong. The money was issued by the Antartica Exchange Office which is a private organisation who claimed to use the proceeds from the sale of the money to fund projects in Antartica. I sure hope so. But the money is indeed nice. I reproduced the Antartica Exchange Office introduction:-

We produce high quality collector's items in the appearance of a national money for Antarctica. Our bills are not legal tender money of Antarctica or anywhere else, but we do honor them for their face value throughout their validity period.

We designate a substantial portion of our revenues to be awarded to groups seeking funding for projects in Antarctica. We have donated money to the Students on Ice Program to send high school students to Antarctica via Argentina and will probably continue to make grants to this program. We makes grants as far as tax deductions allow us and are working on expanding our revenue base with other similar items to increase revenues further and attain our goals faster.

We are always interested in applying the newest technologies to produce colorful, well made and technologically advanced collector's items that will grace the finest collections. We hope you will consider a purchase of our products.

Our collector bills have been sent to Antarctica several times for orders and they are known of there. We have shipped to many countries and US states. We have received many mentions in national and international collector publications.