CAMBODIA PHILATELY

Special Delivery?

2009-08-13T12:21:00.000-07:00

This not-in-my-collection cover is interesting as it has a red label which no one would miss. The label says "special delivery". It makes people wonder how special it could be.

As a matter of fact, there was no such service, even if there were, the label would not had been in English: the Cambodian postal authority used French as their working language till late 1990s.

Phnom Penh Machine Cancels (II)

2009-11-28T03:30:00.001-08:00

(Continue from Part 1)

Generation III

In early 1999 a new cancel was in use when generation II seemed to retire. This new generation III cancel looks similar to generation II, only contents in the die would tell the difference.

In the long rectangular die, the English names "PHNOM PENH" and "CAMBODIA" are now separated by hyphen and the Khmer writings are in comparatively narrow font with no sloped typeface. Inscriptionwise, a very notable difference is the Khmer acronym for "postal centre" is omitted, only city name remains.

The date dial arrangement is the same as generation II. However since 2000 the order of date & month abbreivation and time has swapped:

Philatelist Mr Graham Shaw, in his article "Phnom Penh Postmarks Part 4: 1993-2008" published in the September 2009 issue of journal "Indo-China Philatelist", pointed out that for this generation III cancel "...there appears to have been only one time of the day for the formal collection of mail at the central post office, i.e. 9AM". Indeed almost all of the cancels were time-stamped 9AM, yet I have the luck to catch an exception of 4AM on a 29th June 1999 letter to Germany:

Samples of generation III can be seen as late as mid 2008. It may be still in use at present, but personally I see no sample of it.

Generation IV

Round dial was back on generation IV cancel which started to service in early 2005. Next to the dial are five wavey killer bars that curve in an upside down way of generation I. Another distinct feature differs from generation I is the new dial bears a single circular edge.

The dial inscribes the city name Phnom Penh in Khmer inside the upper edge and in French "PHNOM PENH. CAMBODGE" on the lower. There is a little mystery right under the date, it is the French acronym "C.A." (for Cabine Arrivée). Its appearance does not make sense as only incoming registered airmail would have cancelled "C.A.".

My wild guess is that generation IV was not intended to cancel outgoing airmail, somehow it joined the service to help out the busy generation III cancel machine, or there was a new location to process mail and so instead of making an additional cancel, it was used with a "no waste" spirit.

In 2007 an error in time indication happened. For quite an extensive period, the time "25h" was shown on the dial. It is not hard to find samples of it.

Generation V

This cancel is the least common. It appears to be in service only in or after 2006 for a brief period. The cancel composes of a round dial which is obviously larger than generations I and IV, and on the right five wavey killer bars, just the same as generation I.

The dial is again bilingual in Khmer and French. This time there is something new, it includes "COD" between the city and country names in French. "COD" is the acronym of "Courrier Ordinaire Depart", it explains the mail is an unregistered outgoing item.

This ends a brief guide to post-1979 machine cancels of Phnom Penh. Information will be updated if I come up with some new discovery.

Gloria in excelsis Deo

2009-12-19T19:32:00.000-08:00

I have prepared a few entries but have no time to refine them because of my tight schedule. I will do it after the new year, and will revise some of my previous entries because inaccuracy is found. Apologise that some of my findings or simply some entries may be withdrawn for personal reasons.

This time here features the cover of a new year greeting card prepared by the Cambodian Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications. With a lovely rose I wish you a peaceful Christmas and a prosperous new decade.

All the best.

Ready for 2009 SEA Games

2009-12-02T03:19:00.000-08:00

This is a 1991 cover postmarked 11th March in Kampong Cham and arrived in Phnom Penh on 18th March. This was a bit long to travel in dry season. Kampong Cham (spelt k"O"mpong cham on postmark) is the capital of Kampong Cham Province, it is the third largest city of Cambodia located just 124km northeast from Phnom Penh.

Three 1992 Bacelona Olympics stamps issued in 1989 were neatly franked, one on the front and two on the back. In the 1980s and 1990s, Cambodia issued quite a lot of collectors targeted stamps sets on the topic of summer and winter Olympics.

The first international standard multi-sport event Cambodia joined after order retored in 1980 was the 1983 Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games). More than a decade later, in 1996 Cambodia played at the Olympics once again.

Sports are developing with hope in the rebuilding Cambodia. Although the country has not won any medals at the Olympics or the Asian Games yet, she has gradually gained success at the SEA Games. At the last 2007 SEA Games, Cambodian althetes surprised everyone by bringing home a total of 18 medals, including 2 golds.

This December Cambodia is sending a high morale delegation who will contest in 19 sports at the 25th SEA Games held in Vientiane, the captial of neighbouring Laos. The team is expected to do better than ever and win pétanque, athletics, tennis, wrestling, boxing, taekwondo and beach volleyball medals.

Cambodia has never celebrated the SEA Games philatelically. The kingdom is scheduled to host the 2021 games, perhaps by then she would have her first SEA Games stamps to publicize the event. Here is the 25th SEA Games commemorative set by Laos:

Please cick on logo to visit the 2009 SEA Games official website:

2001 80th Birth Anniversary of HM King Sihanouk

2009-06-04T22:02:00.000-07:00

My very first blog entry is on the 80th Birth Anniversary of King Norodom Sihanouk set.

The lavish stamp set was issued on 31st October 2001 as the last issue of the year, and as the first issue after the contract between Cambodia and COPREFIL, the Cuban state owned stamp printer ended. With a total of 13 values, by far it is the largest set since Cambodia re-established her postal system in 1980.

HRH Norodom Sihanouk was reinstated as the king of Cambodia in 1993, he abdicted in October 2004 because of ill health. The set features images taken in different stages of the King's life.

Print run is unknown. There is no official FDC made for this issue, but it has a commemorative cachet showing the king's portrait above the inscription "1921-2001" for stamping. The cachet colour can be red, blue or black, all depends on the ink pad used by the postal clerk. Below is a private cover cancelled by this cachet. A cachet is not a postmark, so this CANNOT be regarded as a FDC.

The FDC shown at the very top of this page is private made. The eye catching postmarks on this FDC are not the conventional "CAMBODGE" metallic in French used at that time. This is a rubber postmark in English with a 3cm diameter.

During the UNTAC era (1992-1993), many UN officers requested for philatelic souvenirs at Phnom Penh Central Post Office (CPO). Unfortunately all those metallic postmarks at the desk were too worn for philatelic cancellation, therefore a rubber postmark was made and put into service at the CPO philatelic counter. So far I can find only very few samples of this rubber postmark on authentic non-philatelic commerical mail.

More than one rubber postmark existed at Phnom Penh CPO. The one on this FDC has 1mm space between the English letters and the big circular edge. To my observation so far, since 2003 the CPO has used another one with that spacing less than 1mm, letter and number fonts have boosted as well. There may have earlier samples of it, further research is needed.

This rubber postmark resembles the English postmark "PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA" with postcode 12000 which came into daily use in late 2006. The most significant difference between the two is, the Khmer letters on rubber postmark are more distant while those on metallic postmark are more compact, and metallic postmark bears postcode 12000 but the rubber one never.

Interesting enough, Phnom Penh CPO is not the only post office with postmarks in such format. In my collection there is a cover from Poipet (a town at the Khmer-Thai border) to Germany with an English postmark of the same type. The postmark measures 2.6cm in diameter, the date font is exactly the same as the Phnom Penh CPO large font rubber postmark.

Pure Philatelic Items and Fakes

2009-07-08T00:23:00.000-07:00

In my previous blog entries I mentioned that there are people who make fakes. Today I give some more examples.

Above is the written side of a postcard. The stamp was issued on 13th April 1994, so the postmark makes it look like a first day cancellation. The truth is, this RP2 postmark did not exist back in 1994. Many similar "first day" postcard fakes exist, collectors are adviced to watch out.

This postal cover is not fake, it is just amusing. It did go through the postal system, but purely philatelic. It was mailed at the Central Post Office (the postmark tells), and the destination is the Central Post Office (PO Box). Not to mention a local letter would have the "Par Avion" (by airmail) ink stamp.

Did Darwin tell you that practice makes evolution? Another goodie from the same creator. This time the cover was mailed at Boeng Pralit branch office to CPO, not sent and received at the same spot. However it cannot hide the fact that the cover is purely philatelic.

The first clue is the postage. Usually it costs 500r or 800r for domestic mail, this cover is unreasonably overpaid. If the content were such heavy, the cover condition would have given a hint. The second clue is, Phnom Penh dwellers don't really send letters to reach each other, they use telephones and fax since mail is too unreliable and too slow. Important documents are always sent by private express delivery companies such as Fedex, TNT, DHL, UPS.

Intracity commercial covers are rare, as there is no proper reason for them to come into existence. Certainly it does not harm to include some of the philatelic covers in your collection, but you should always remind yourself that they are artificial.

Festival Angkor 2000

2009-09-06T08:36:00.000-07:00

For most people, Cambodia is Angkor Wat and Khmer Rouge. The country is much more than that, nevertheless one cannot deny the fact that Angkor attracts world's attention most.

Since 1993 tourism has been Cambodia's second greatest source of hard currency, and Angkor is the biggest tourist magnet. To further immortalize these ancient Khmer monuments, the Ministry of Tourism held "Festival Angkor 2000" when the old country moved into the new millenium.

The three day festival, from 30th December 1999 to 1st January 2000, was basically a parade of performing arts with Angkor Wat as a backdrop. It was estimated that 100,000 tourists have flocked to Angkor for the Festival. (click here for the rundown)

The Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications joined to advertise the grand event by stamping a special cachet on outgoing mail. The illustrated cover to China postmarked 8th December 1999 bears this "Festival Angkor 2000" cachet.

Since it is to promote the event internationally, the cachet is all in English with only "Cambodia Posts" in Khmer. So far only red cachet is observed, no other colours found. A neat copy of the cachet is below:

This is not the first time for Angkor to star on a cachet. Back in the mid 1950s when Cambodia just gained her independence, a "Visit Angkor" cachet in French was in use with the meter stamp to promote the nation:

1992 Meter Stamps

2009-07-26T11:26:00.000-07:00

Dr Gale J Raymond, in his article ""UNTAC Cambodia: Namibia Peacekeeping Forces" published in ICP #128 (The Indo-china Philatlist, journal of Society of Indo-china Philatelists), gave the information that two French meter postage stamp machines were brought to Phnom Penh in early 1992. They were supposed to solve the problem of high denomination postage stamp shortage. Below serves as a quick glance over their 1992-1999 service period.

This outoging cover from Phnom Penh dated 29th February 1992 has an early use of French meter stamp. Meter stamp usage can be generalized in four categories.

As inflation was making most stamps inadequate for international postage, postal clerks simply franked an obsolete low face value stamp on mail, then cancelled it by meter stamp which paid the actual postage. The cover shown above falls into this category, 950r meter on a 5r stamp.

Sometimes no stamps were used, only the meter stamp was applied. Maybe the postal clerks finally realized that mail could go without a postage stamp, or they were too lazy to find one. Here is a fine example of meter with no postage stamps, another cover from Phnom Penh to Washington DC.

Meter stamp was used in a supplementary way when "practically usable" postage stamps were handy. In 1993 it was quite common that partial postage was paid by postage stamps, and the rest filled up by meter. This UNTAC cover features a 50r stamp with 480r supplementary meter postage.

The fourth usage was, when high denomination postage stamps were in sufficient supply again in 1994, the meter machine then used for cancellation only, or for parcel postage. The 1995 cover below was franked with a 1500r stamp which paid all the postage, meter machine was for cancellation.

To my observation, all meter postage machines ceased service in late 1999. Starting from 1998 Cambodia had some new machine cancellations, but they were merely killers without bearing postage.

Meter machines were available not only in Phnom Penh. There are examples of meter stamps from other cities and places. The UNTAC cover shown before bears a meter stamp of Chbar Ampeou, a commune in southeast of Phnom Penh. Below is a meter stamp from Kampong Cham, the capital of Kampong Cham Province.

If the CPO had 2 meter machines or more, there is no sign on the franking to distinguish them. Interesting enough, there is a variation with a little cross in each side of the spacing between the French and Khmer words on the round datemark. It is not known if this variation is from the CPO or some sub offices in Phnom Penh.

Phnom Penh Machine Cancels (I)

2009-11-02T02:28:00.000-08:00

Postal cancellation machine was invented in the late 19th century yet the technology was not introduced to Cambodia until mid 20th century by les Français. Then in 1975 Khmer Rouge made a heavy blow and everything was smashed.

The French introduced meter stamps to the country again in 1992, however it had to wait till 1998 when non-postage machine cancels made their premiere appearance. This "Machine Cancels" series is only on non-postage cancels, for meter stamps please see "1992 Meter Stamps".

All illustrations are digitally colour enhanced.

Generation I

The first machine cancel appeared in 1998 on outgoing mail. It consists of a round postmark dial and five wavey killer bars to its right.

Two concentric circular lines form the edge ring of the dial, the city name Phnom Penh in Khmer and "PHNOMPENH CD CAMBODGE" in French is inside the ring. "CD" is the French acronym of "Cabine Départ", it is unclear why this acronym, which should be for outgoing registered mail only, would appear on the cancel. My guess is that unconventionally here refers to "Courrier Départ", so it only indicates the mail is outgoing.

This cancel was in service from the first half of 1998 to the end of 2004. Here is a sample of early usage:

For unknown reasons, the dial has never been in perfect round shape, and it was poorly engraved in such a way that the inner ring edge had already broken on the left when first put in use (see the above sample). The cancel worn out quickly after a few months, by August the broken edge extented from the letter "P" of Phnom Penh up to the first Khmer letter "bho". See below a sample from September:

The following is a very late use which shows the broken edge ring did not get much worse since August 1998:

Generation II

In late 1998 saw the use of a new machine cancel.

The cancel consists of a slightly rectangular dial and a long rectangular die. All inscriptions are now in English rather than French.

The sloped Khmer words in the die are "Phnom Penh" and the acronym of "Postal Centre". Underneath are "PHNOM PENH" and the country name "CAMBODIA" in English.

The date dial shows the following information in big letters, in top to bottom order: the city name "Phnom Penh", date & month abbreivation, time, year, and lastly the country name "Cambodia".

Below gives a clear sample of the die:

No variation of this cancel is found, however cancellation shift sometimes gives interesting samples. A position shift when cancelling has made the cover below bear only the dial, then a second print of the cancel left only the die with sufficient ink, resulted in a cancellation of the die and dial position swapped as seen:

This generation II cancel seems to have a short term usage, probably only a few months.

(to be continued)

45th Anniv of Sino-Cambodian Diplomatic Ties (II)

2009-09-16T01:36:00.000-07:00

(Continue from Part 1)

The 2003 "45th Anniversary of Sino-Cambodian Diplomatic Ties" issue is not only about 2 stamps and a commemorative cover. There is some fun with the postmark too.

The following shows the standard commemorative postmark of Cambodia:

Surprising enough, not all the 50,000 covers produced are with this standard postmark. There is a variation found:

This postmark type II has an edge ring formed by two concentric circular lines. Both CNPC and Cambodia did not explain why an alternative postmark exists, but from the previous similar cases in the diplomatic series, it may be a sudden and hurry alteration during production which causes such variety.

It is unclear how many covers bear this postmark type II, to my observation the number is very small. It is scarce and rare.

Just as the standard postmark, postmark type II features on 3 different franking covers, the Angkor Wat stamp cover, the Great Wall stamp cover, and the full stamp set cover.

The rarest of all is the full stamp set with type II cancellation. I have only come across it twice.

Postmark Type II covers are included in the 50,000 production, they all have print run serial number. Those 6,000 (or 4,000, please see part 1 of this article series) sent to Cambodia are only cancelled by the standard postmark.

All "45th Anniv of Sino-Cambodian Diplomatic Ties" commemorative covers are ready made. There was no hand-back datestamping service in China and Cambodia for this.

Appendix

Philatelist Graham Shaw has a well written article titled "45th Anniversary of Cambodia-China Diplomatic ties: Joint Commemorative Issue, July 19, 2003", please click here to read.

Private FDCs

2009-06-12T09:25:00.000-07:00

Two first day covers (FDC) of 1984 Flowers 7v set.

Some Victorian era philatelists would tell you, such kind of pictorials and FDCs are worthless. Well, the first official FDC is quite common, but not the second, it is a private FDC. The stamp set is tied by an authentic Phnom Penh Central Post Office (CPO) regular postmark, you can compare this with the fake private FDC I posted on 11th June, titled "Fake First Day Collectables".

In 1980s, Cambodians were still suffering from the after shock of Khmer Rouge terror. The country was closed off, the people were penniless. Basically no locals had spare time and dough for hobbies like stamp collecting. Only a very small number of foreigners, mostly aiders from the Soviet Bloc, would care about stamps as souvenirs.

I have tried to trace the premier owner of this private FDC, but failed. I acquired from a Singaporean private collector who bought from an Australian dealer. The clue stopped there.

Fleurs with Ailes

2009-11-15T05:54:00.000-08:00

This 7v bird issue of 28th June 1983 is one of the many COPREFIL pictorial sets disparaged by traditional collectors as wallpaper:

I know these bird FDCs are not particularly handsome, I feature them here simply because of the cachet.

In French the cachet at the bottom left corner says "Fleurs Native". Oops, just now did I mistake these native flowers as birds?

2006 Dolphins: Fishy Errors

2009-09-21T00:07:00.000-07:00

This is a knowledge test. Look at the FDC scans, please spot three mistakes on this issue.

Answer:

The cachet says FISH, posters at all post offices say FISH, the commemorative postmark says FISH too. Dolphins are not fish, they are mammals. This is the first mistake.

Dolphins found in Cambodian waters become stars on stamps in 2006, the species are:

500r Sousa Chinensis (Chinese white dolphin)
900r Neophocaena Phocaenoides (finless porpoise)
1400r Delphinus Capensis Tropicalis (Arabian long-beaked common dolphin)
2100r Stenella Longirostris Roseinventris (dwarf spinner dolphin )
3500r Tursiops Aduncus (Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin)

This is where you find the second mistake, on the 1400r stamp "Dolphinus" should be "Delphinus".

It makes everyone wonder why the close to extinct Mekong Irrawaddy dolphins (less than 90 now) living in Kratié and Stung Treng provinces are not featured. Here comes the third mistake.

On the 5400r souvenir sheet (s/s), inscription indicates that the featured dolphins are finless porpoise (Neophocaena Phocaenoides). Check carefully, finless porpoise have no back fins, those in the drawing have back fins, they are in fact Irrawaddy dolphins! Finless porpoise and Irrawaddy dolphins look similar except the fin thing.

The illustrator ambitiously promotes ecotourism and Irrawaddy dolphin sightseeing, the inscripter spoils it.

Probably this is the first time in Cambodian philately for having three uncorrelated mistakes in one stamp issue .

Wallpaper or Treasure?

2009-06-05T02:49:00.000-07:00

After the four year Khmer Rouge break, in 1980 Cambodia once again issued postage stamps. For the next two decades, most Cambodian stamps were designed, printed and marketed by the Cuban stamp producing company - COPREFIL.

COPREFIL has been the official stamp producer of Benin, Cambodia, Congo, Cuba, Guinea, Laos and some other third world countries. COPREFIL pictorials share the problem of what all those agency-produced stamps encountered, they are widely considered "wallpaper" by serious collectors. Complaints include sales oriented themes, considerable printing quantity and rare postal use.

Well, wallpaper can be something. Tannu Touva (Tuva) is a classic example, Tuvan pictorials were cereal box freebies in the 1930s, now they are much sought after!

It is undeniable that themes like dogs and cars and chess flood, sadly they make you overlook those Cambodian related issues. Below is the "Khmer Culture" series 1996 set. It features Khmer dance masks, very cultural, very delightful.

I hope you didn't miss out épreuves de luxe, errors and proofs. Some stamp sets and souvenir sheets have imperforates. Never made available by Cambodia Post, they are likely to be proofs sneaked from COPREFIL. It is a challenge to collect them all. Below is a block of 4 uncut proof of the 1994 "80th Anniversary of the 1st Fly Performed by a Multimotor Plane" souvenir sheet. Print run of the souvenir sheet is only 39,150.

From time to time there are non-COPREFIL sets. Without sales agencies, generally they are not available to overseas collectors in mint and consequently scarcity turns them into high priced sets. In 1989 there came a Vietnamese printed 4v set showing 3 stone carved Asparas. The garish set has high face value for international mail, it is very easy to come by on covers, but not often seen in MNH.

In 1993, a 3v set was scheduled to mark the 40th anniversary of national independence. As COPREFIL shipped some of the stock to Cambodia for domestic use, suspiciously it was reported stolen during transit which forced Cambodia to declare the set illegal. Russia made a quick move of producing a new 3v set and presented to Cambodia as a gift. The new stamps share a same design of Angkor Wat, the proud national symbol. This set was only available in Cambodia, while the stolen set was only available outside Cambodia.

Inflation and shortage of stamps has forced Cambodia surcharge some of her old stock. The first surcharges appeared in 1986, more were made in 1991. Now they are gems.

Last of all, quantity sometimes suprises you in a nice way. Print run fuctuates. Usually it is below 200,000 while sometimes drops as low as the 1997 Heinrich Von Stephan set of 10,350.

Cambodian stamps give endless pleasure if you know how to appreciate them. In my future blog entries, you will be showed the unjustly neglected post 1979 Cambodian philately is much much more than a pile of pretty pictorials.

Laotian Olympic Team Flight

2009-06-05T22:29:00.000-07:00

Back in the 4th century BC, the book "Analects of Confucius" recorded that Confucius praised a deceased scholar named Kung-yu.

Kung-yu was honoured with the posthumous title "Wen Gong" (means "honourable master of broad knowledge"). Confucius' doubting students and some other people argued that there were many scholars more senior and more knowledgable than Kung-yu, it was not appropriate to pay such high respect to Kung-yu.

The Great Master then explained that Kung-yu had truly lived up to the honour, because he was "very willing to learn humbly, not ashamed to consult those who supposed to be less knowledgable, and not ashamed to learn from his subordinates".

Now back to the modern world. The Indo-China Philatelist (ICP) is the official journal of the Society of Indo-China Philatelists (SICP). In ICP #187, which published in March 2009, there shows an interesting cover. Nothing Cambodia, it is a beautiful aerogramme from Laos.

In the journal, it reads:

"Richard Aspnes, SICP President and specialist in commemorative markings from Laos, had not previously seen this marking, but he has some knowledge of classical Chinese writing. Even if the name of the addressee is written in simplified Chinese, Richard can say that the aerogramme is addressed to the Olympic village."

I almost smell the knowledge and wisdom.

It is actually a plain and simple residential address - the addessee Mr Huang's own home in Changping, a northwest suburb of Beijing. Mr Huang is a Chinese philatelist who is keen on Beijing Olympic items. It has nothing to do with the Olympic Village, the address does not bear the word "Olympic" at all.

There are Chinese members in SICP, why not ask? Why "you think you know", Mr President ?

Once the journal was out, I contacted ICP's editor, Ron Bentley. No response given, all silent.

Postmark in Wrong Use

2009-06-30T09:53:00.000-07:00

This is a cover which I believe most casual observers would simply throw away. Only one stamp on it, it is a definitive - boring and most of all, damaged.

Look closer before you send it to landfill. For this cover, the postmark has made it unusual.

It is a "PHNOM PENH RP CAMBODGE" postmark, all in French. "RP" is the acronym of "Recette Principale", the main post office of a city or an area, in here refers to the Phnom Penh Central Post Office. "COA" is "Courrier Ordinaire Arrivée". This "COA" postmark is meant for incoming ordinary mail, it is an arrival postmark.

Now you are enlightened. This cover is an outgoing mail, "COA" should not have been on it. "COD", "Courrier Ordinaire Depart" is the right postmark for outgoing ordinary mail.

The reason for this mistake is unknown. So far I have only seen one more sample of such mistake, it is a stampless official cover from the Department of Posts.

45th Anniv of Sino-Cambodian Diplomatic Ties (I)

2009-09-10T11:01:00.000-07:00

Some knowledge on Chinese diplomatic covers is needed to understand the 2003 45th anniversary of Sino-Cambodian diplomatic ties issue.

China National Philatelic Corporation (CNPC) is the national philatelic agency of China, it produces and wholesales Chinese postage stamps, covers and other philatelic products.

In 1999, CNPC and the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Philatelic Association started a series of commemorative covers called "wei jiao feng", literally means diplomatic covers, for celebrating Chinese diplomatic ties anniversaries and other diplomatic events. More than 180 issues are in the series now, each with 50,000 serial numbered print run.

Other than releasing diplomatic covers, in some cases China also print commemorative stamps as a gift to countries which she celebrates diplomatic ties annviersary with. Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Laos, Morocco and many more have been the beneficiaries.

In 2003, the 133rd cover in the series was dedicated to the 45th anniversary of Sino-Cambodian diplomatic ties (WJ-133). In addition 300,000 two stamp sets were printed in Beijing for Cambodia, they show the two countries' national monuments in a se-tenant way: Angkor Wat and the Great Wall.

A stamp from the set is on this commercial cover to Hongkong :

The standard format of diplomatic covers is one standard stamp and a commemorative postmark from each country. The Cambodian stamp used on the standard version is the Angkor Wat one.

Nevertheless, an unknown amount of covers has the Great Wall stamp instead. Both versions were distributed by the CNPC.

On top of the 50,000 regular production, some thousand extra covers (it is either 4000 or 6000, I cannnot remember the exact amount, reference lost when my old hard disk crashed last year) were made for Cambodia to distribute in Phnom Penh. They are almost the same as those sold in China, except the full set of Cambodia stamps is used and on the back no print run serial numbers added.

See the print run serial number (bottom left corner) is absent on the Cambodia sold cover (lower one):

(to be continued)

Unlisted Stamps (I)

2009-08-13T23:29:00.000-07:00

Catalogue unlisted stamps always thrill collectors. They may not be scarce or rare, yet they are like secrets, they stimulate everyone's curiosity. Cambodia's unlisted stamps give no exception, they have posted big challenges to serious collectors as much as postal history specialists.

In my previous blog entries, I have told the story of 1993 "40th Anniversary of National Independence" 3v set (click here to read), the authentic stamps are unlisted. In Michel, it states "Der Status von drei weiteren, motivleichen (Ansicht von Angkor Vat) Marken zu 400, 500 und 600 R ist ungeklat", Stanley Gibbons and Scott give no reference at all.

In the following year, Cambodia quietly sold a single stamp set without much public attention. Officially issued on 3rd December 1994, the 2000r stamp celebrates "Inauguration Station Terrienne Standard a Cambodge - Australie", the completion of a satellite antenna which was part of Cambodia's US$700,000 joint venture with the Australian telecommunication company OTC (Telstra). Denomination is indicated in Khmer numerals only.

The stamp was nearly unknown outside Cambodia, it had no international sales agencies, and it was rarely used on mail because of high face value.

Above is the stamp in block of four. The issue is recorded in the 1997 official stamp catalogue published by the Cambodian Department of Posts.

(to be continued)

Wonderful 25

2009-10-01T00:53:00.001-07:00

If you wonder what Cambodia, the Kingdom of Wonder can offer you, simply look at the machine postmark on this cover to Germany.

It is dated 23rd October 2007 at time 25hr. Cambodia offers you 25 hours (or more!) a day, this is the wonder.

Coming up is a series on Phnom Penh's postmarks. Stay tuned.
(I hate the scanning work !!!)

Vann Molyvann, Built Cambodia in Style

2009-09-28T11:36:00.000-07:00

On this 1000r stamp from the 1993 National Day set is a building which used to stand boldly at the Tonlé Bassac (a river name) riverbank - the Grand Théâtre Preah Bat Norodom Suramarit, or commonly called the Bassac Theatre.

Graced with frangipani gardens, stylish pyramid glass roof, indoor fish pond and triangular motifs, the unforgettable national theatre was inaugurated in 1968. It survived Khmer Rouge's vandalism but ruined by fire during renovation in 1994.

In 2008 this performing arts headquarters and another landmark of Phnom Penh, the Council of Ministers Building, were razed to the ground in the name of city development. Coincidentlly both buildings are the work of the country's most famous and influential architect, S.E. Vann Molyvann.

A recent photo of Molyvann in front of his old work, the library of now
the Institute of Foreign Languages, Royal University of Phnom Penh.
(Photo by the Cambodia Daily)

Born in Kampot province in 1926, Molyvann furthered his studies in Paris and returned to his motherland in 1956 as the first fully qualified Cambodian architect. During the Sangkum era from mid 1950s to 1970, the talented man became the foremost figure of New Khmer Architecture.

New Khmer Architecture was an architectural movement in the 1950s and 1960s Cambodia. This distinguish architectural style blended European modernist ideas with Khmer vernacular architecture, so brought a renaissance in Cambodian traditional ornamentation and planning strategies, like the use of loggias, ponds and moats, and column and wall panels. The movement was also characterized with the idea of what we now called sustainable architecture.

Masterpieces are numerous. Molyvann's Vimean Ekareach, also known as the Independence Monument, is no stranger to tourists and stamp collectors. Built in 1958, with a five story lotus shaped stupa design reaching 20m high, the stately monument has been one of the most popular tourist attractions in Phnom Penh and the subject of many post 1979 Cambodian stamps:

Other than the Independence Monument, many of Molyvann's work are Phnom Penh's most iconic structures, to name a few, the National Sports Complex (the "new" Olympic Stadium), Chaktomuk Conference Hall, State Palace, and the Teacher Training College (now Institute of Foreign Languages of Royal University of Phnom Penh). Before 1970 the architect was commissioned for more than a hundred projects throughout the country.

Chaktomuk Conference Hall, Phnom Penh.
It resembles the leaves of sugar palm, the national tree of Cambodia.
(Photo: National Museum of Cambodia)

Molyvann left Cambodia after the 1970 coup d’état, stayed in Switzerland and worked for the United Nations Human Settlements Programme. He returned to Phnom Penh in 1991, his patriotic heart makes him call the now shabby and dusty capital home again.

In 2008 the shocking news of Council of Ministers Building and Tonlé Bassac Theatre demolished with Senate's approval yet without public consent has prompted a group of Cambodian and American architects and students to launch the Vann Molyvann Project. After the war no comprehensive record of Molyvann's work survived, the project aims at documenting his creation before they vanish forever in the chaotic postwar urban development.

Please click HERE to learn more about the Vann Molyvann Project.

You may also like to learn more about the New Khmer Architecture through the blog of a Vann Molyvann Project participant, Rémy Bertin. Please click HERE.

Appendix:
HERE is a photo gallery of Tonlé Bassac Theatre before and after the fire, by "fmka".

Handicap International

2009-06-14T08:11:00.001-07:00

While a standard airmail letter from Phnom Penh to Hongkong costs 2300r, this only takes 1000r to Paris. It has a story to tell.

The letter was sent under the umbrella of Handicap International.

Handicap International is a Europe based non-governmental organization (NGO) set up in 1982. Initially they provided help in refugee camps in Cambodia and Thailand, now they focus their work on Cambodian disabled people welfare, AIDS fight, landmine clearance and proverty elimination. Outside Cambodia, the organization has a supporting network for the disabled worldwide.

If such is not impressive to you, you may like to realize that Handicap International is one of the six founding members of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines. The Campaign gained hearty support from Diana, Princess of Wales, and in the same year when she perished the Campaign won the Nobel Peace Prize.

In 2007 Cambodia Post launched a 2v set to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Handicap International services. Long before this, the organization already worked close with different government ministries, including the Ministry of Posts & Telecommunications. To lower the organization's operational cost, an honourable agreement was made that mail under the organization's name enjoy bulk mail rate.

The postal used cover shown is franked with a 1000r from the Handicap International set. The back of the envelope is imprinted "Handicap International" in blue, this gives a coincident that a Handicap International mail franked with a Handicap International themed stamp.

Handicap International takes up the largest volume of bulk mail in Cambodia. Most Handicap International mail are to Europe, it is very easy to find covers from Phnom Penh to European distinations at minimal postage, they are Handicap International bulk mail despite they may not bear the name of organisation.

Theme for a Dream

2009-09-21T00:10:00.001-07:00

This is a sporty thematic cover, franked with Atlanta Olympics commemorative stamps, posted at the Olympic post office in Phnom Penh near the National Olympic Stadium, and postmarked on the first anniversary of the opening of 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Cambodia did not have the chance to join the Olympic Games after 1972. It was over two decades later in 1996 when To Rithya became the first Cambodian to play the Games again. The proud athlete took the Cambodian flag to Atlanta, and competed with all his might at men's marathon with top athletes in the world.

AP photographer Doug Mills captured the glorious moment when To Rithya finished the men's marathon at the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta, 4th August 1996.

Rithya struck once more at 2000 Sydney Olympics. Although he was one of the last ten finishers in both of his Olympic participation, he DID finish the marathon, he did not drop out. This is remarkable for an athlete who received no professional training because his country could not afford it, who lived on a government allowance enough for buying less than half a pair of running shoes, and enjoyed no generous sponsorship from big companies.

Rithya battled alone and finally accomplished his dream on the track. He is now director of the Centre for Education and Sport.

Athletes trained by the marathon hero flew high at the 5th ASEAN ParaGames in Malaysia this August, courage and persistence has made the weak team bring as many as 15 medals home including a gold at 400m. Let's look forward to the 25th Southeast Asian Games in Laos this December. Cambodia has a theme to dream for.

PS Click below to learn more about Cambodia's latest Marathon hope, Hem Bunting, at:

Phnom Penh Post
BBC News

Bogus Princess Diana

2009-06-23T23:17:00.000-07:00

On 15th December 1997 Cambodia issued a sheetlet of 8 stamps plus 1 label in remembrance of the deceased Princess Diana, and highlighted her influential role in supporting the International Campaign to Ban Landmines.

Cambodia suffers one of the worst landmine problems in the world. Every year hundreds, if not thousands, of civilians are injured or killed by landmines, many of them are just innocent young people. Landmines do not only bring casualties, they occupy habitable land, farms and water resources, which ultimately hinder the country's social development and economic recovery.

Side product of this issue is a set of 3 official FDC of the 8 stamps.

Bogus printers never miss a chance to make filthy lucre. Bogus Diana stamps emerge soon when the world mourned.

In Europe there are dealers carrying a set of 8 épreuves de luxe (deluxe sheets), and a stamp in sheetlet of 9. The épreuves de luxe have the same design as the authentic Diana stamps, while the individual stamp has a "new" design. To make the sheetlet look sophisticated, logo of CMAC (Cambodian Mine Action Centre) is on the selvedge of the sheetlet.

Filthy labels.

Cambodia, Tuva, or Bust !

2009-08-07T10:49:00.000-07:00

Two airmail stamps from two different airmail sets are franked on this 1986 cover to Australia.

Since 1980 Cambodia has only issued two airmail sets, the first one in 1984 and the second 1986. Both share the same illustration but have different inscription, I guess the Cambodian authority was very proud of the unchanged design: how legendary to have a boeing over Angkor Wat (despite the fact that no boeing ever flew over Angkor) !

It resembles Tuva (Tannu Touva). Tuva in the 1930s and Cambodia in the 1980s were isolated and no common holiday destination. Philatelically in 1936 Tuva issued a few big sets which fully captivated young children with beautiful colour and exotic design, there included one stamp with a camel racing train, and another with a horseman watching zeppelin.

Stamps don't always give facts. There were no railway and zeppelin in Tuva, no boeing over Angkor. Illusion of advancement is always beautiful, isn't it?

Diplomatic Mail of Kampuchean Embassy

2009-07-09T11:51:00.000-07:00

Again nothing to do with Cambodian philately. Just that I think this item is scarce and interesting.

Dated 27th October 1979, this is a letter sent by the Embassy of Democratic Kampuchea in Beijing to the Embassy of Republic of Zaire by ordinary mail as printed matter. It informed the Zairean ambassador that the Kampuchean ambassador was away.

The letter is franked with a 1.5 fen Chinese definitive for basic postage. An eye catching red rectangular ink stamp indicates "printed matter". The blue rectangular ink stamp on the top left corner says "Telecommunication Receive & Dispatch Seal of Embassy of Democratic Kampuchea in China". Quite a surprise that diplomatic documents were sent cheap like newspaper, is this a common practice? Shrug.

Victories of the invading Vietnamese has made Khmer Rouge abandon the capital city Phnom Penh in early January 1979. The nutty Maoist group retreated to the northwest dense jungles near the Thai border for guerilla and stayed there for the next two decades. Once Khmer Rouge had fled, Vietnamese promptly installed "People's Republic of Kampuchea" but failed to secure international endorsement , Khmer Rouge remained on the seat of Cambodia at the United Nations until 1993.