Sunday, December 21, 2008

A Rare Find - For Stamp Collectors!

While at the Taman Tun Dr Ismail's wet market yesterday, I spotted an elderly gentleman opening his booth and soon later, arranging his wares. Normally, I would not give much notice to such scene as he is like many there, selling his wares. Ironically, it was his wares which attracted me as it does not seem to blend with the other traders there. From afar, I notice his wares were documents and some books, and decided to inspect the booth closely. And I am glad I did.

Its been ages since I last met or heard anything or anyone who is into Stamp Collection. In fact, the last I dare say, was whilst I was in school but I was never into it. The only stamp lines that really intrigued me then was the Magyar Posta, but only because the name sounded so strange, so exotic. Emi and Din though, did give it a try during their primary days but that was all. About a year back while spring cleaning the house, I found one of Din's album and kept it aside should any of his children find interest in it later. Somehow, from the way they are now, I don't think they will ever be. But the future, well, none can tell.

Anyway, the gentleman at the booth introduced himself as Encik Mubarak Ali Rajak, a Council Member of the Philatelic Society of Malaysia. He said he was trying to reintroduce this hobby of his to the younger generations and I was delighted when he began in earnest showing some of his collection, one of which, he puts the value at RM5,000,000, and making it perhaps the most expensive stamp in the world!

I've always had the notion that collectors stamps are valued according to their beautiful design and print. Well, yes and no, as Mubarak explained it to me. Some of the most expensive stamps came to be due to printing fault either by the printers, or the post office themselves. Off course there are perhaps other ways to value stamps, and another, according to him, is the total amount of gate-money collected when a particular stamp is exhibited. But the stamp he holds now, is more due to the misprint on it. For someone who has been involved in the printing industry, that, piqued my interest even more.


As can be seen from the picture above, the stamp is still affixed to the envelope used for postage. Printed in 1967, it seems no one paid attention to it until Mubarak found it (the envelope was posted to his father in Kuantan by the then The Chartered Bank - click here to my Pictures-Only blog for more pictures and related document-image).

Before the digital printing age, documents are printed in layers according to the colour specs, and this include separate layers for some texts as well. Evidently, while printing this particular stamp line, the printers missed out one layer - the stamp postage price! I am uncertain as to how many in the line survived now, but according to the research made by Mubarak, his is the only one. And that, makes them stamp rare and expensive.

Anyone interested, do click on the image-document on Pictures-Only for Mubarak's contact details.

19 comments:

~~ casper~~ said...

wow...is it 4 real, d rm 5,000,000 thingy bang? ada ke org nak beli... hmmmmmm

Ydiana said...

Salam Shah

Stamp collecting? Was once intrigued by it, but never ever did try starting one.

Hey, I love the kitten who just overeaten his meal!

cakapaje said...

Salam Sue,

Lama tak menyinggah ye :)

RM5 juta tu? Betul. Untuk peminat setem yang berduit, harga tu ada masanya tidak menjadi masalah.

cakapaje said...

Wa'alaikumusalam ydiana,

Only the kitten ar? No fair-lah! How about the owner of the blog? :)

Unknown said...

salam,

collecting stamps was first introduced to me by a teacher in primary school. but i lost interest as i spent my pocket money to buy the overseas stamp at the supermarket (stem olok2 pulak tuh. cheh!).

so, i started new hobby i.e. collecting aluminum cans and made some money. smart huh!

short term business planning though. haha.

hegira said...

wah.

dulu kecil kecil ada juga kumpul setem.

sekarang ini anak saudara terjumpa buku setem yang lama itu.

dia pun berangan nak kumpul setem. juga.

Apa Kau Nak said...

wah kumpul setem. ini hobi masa sekolah rendah yang terhenti kerana saya masuk sekolah asrama. ada 2 album tebal. :) setem dari zaman Malaya pun ada.

Unknown said...

Stamp collecting? Never been someone who has any fascination for stamps but then looks like those who don't are missing out on the millions la. Do Pony Express of yesteryears have stamps?

cakapaje said...

Wa'alaikumusalam Akmar,

Huh? Aluminum cans can also make money? If for recycling, I can buy that, but...? Hmm...now, I must consider this properly :)

cakapaje said...

Salam Intan,

Jangan dibuang album setem tu...manalah tahu satu hari nanti, rezeki datang bergolek disebabkan satu je setem dalam album tu. But then kan, kalau taknak, kasi I ye :)

cakapaje said...

Salam hegira,

Berikan galakan kepada anak saudara itu. Manalah tahu satu hari nanti, dia leh jadi millionaire. Hehe, leh le I tumpang sekaki atau sekoleh teh :)

cakapaje said...

Salam Cikgu,

Pony Express? Got! But, they put the stamp on their horses :)

arsaili said...

salam...apa kabar? cam mana perjumpaan hari tu?

Kerp (Ph.D) said...

shah,

have you been to amcorp mall on sunday? the flea market there is excellent. you couldnt get any rarer items anywhere than at the mall. one booth even offers the rarest of stamps you could get your hands on. ok, maybe i was exaggerating but still, for the enthusiasts, its compulsory to check it out.

cakapaje said...

Wa'alaikumusalam arsaili,

Alhamdulillah, perjumpaan hari tu sungguh seronok. Dah dirakamkan kat entri pertama bulan Disember ini. Semoga pertemuan lain nanti, arsaili dapat bersama ye :)

cakapaje said...

Salam kerpie,

Yo bro, been there and don't think I want to go there unless I have a chauffeur as I hate to have to search for a parking bay. Anyway, I'm no longer into stamp collection already :)

CelloTape said...

Stamp Collecting??

Aku x tergolong dalam situ...aku suka collect tazz saja...

Errr...i mean the cartoon bukan yang real...

ha ha...

cakapaje said...

Salam Cello,

Collect tazz? Wow! Itu pun boleh menguntungkan satu hari nanti, insyAllah :)

CelloTape said...

Errr...aku collect bukan tujuan mo untung sebenarnya...

aku memang suka tazz...or should i say "Fanatic Tazz"?? hehe