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Collectors scramble to buy dragon stamps
Stamp of approval: Two women display stamps depicting the Chinese zodiac Water Dragon released by state-owned postal firm PT Pos Indonesia in Jakarta on Tuesday
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span class="caption" style="width: 398px;">Stamp of approval: Two women display stamps depicting the Chinese zodiac Water Dragon released by state-owned postal firm PT Pos Indonesia in Jakarta on Tuesday. The stamps were released to mark Chinese New Year, which falls on Jan. 23. JP/NurhayatiThe long-awaited Water Dragon mint stamps have only been in circulation for two days but already post offices have started to run out of stock.
“The new stamps and souvenirs have received positive responses from collectors,” said R. Mohammad Rizal, head of the Philately Office at state postal firm PT Pos Indonesia.
Rizal said on Thursday that his office had earned Rp 500 million (US$55,500) from the purchases of Water Dragon stamps and limited special packages.
“The special packages sell for Rp 100,000 each and have sold quickly.”
Philatelists in the city have embraced the sixth edition of Chinese zodiac stamps and accessories, saying that the Water Dragon collection is not only a good addition to their Chinese-themed collection, but, according to Chinese belief, they could also bring good fortune.
On Tuesday, Pos Indonesia issued the mints to commemorate this year’s Chinese New Year that would fall on Jan. 23. The firm had prepared 300,000 stamps, 50,000 souvenirs and 5,000 special packages for the philatelists.
Ida, a member of the Indonesian Philatelists Association, said that Chinese zodiac stamps had been the philatelists’ new favorite of recent years.
“The philatelists have maintained their enthusiasm for Chinese-themed stamps since the first edition in 2007,” she said. “Somehow, we think the stamps reflect the mixture of Indonesian and Chinese cultures.”
Ida said that the Water Dragon edition might attract more attention from the philatelists. “The Year of the Dragon is associated with luck. People are recommended to collect as many as possible,” she said.
Another philatelist, Miranti, said that Chinese zodiac stamps were valuable.
“Indonesia’s precious cultures deserve to be well documented in stamps. It is good that the Chinese culture has become part of them,” Miranti, a 21-year-old Bandung-born student, said.
Rizal said that most of the stamps and souvenirs had been purchased in Greater Jakarta.
“We have received several requests from other regions, but those are far less than the requests in the capital and its surroundings,” he said. (lfr)
