Bhutan: Philatelists’ Paradise
Learning about a country through stamps sounds odd but it is true for Bhutan. From a variety of thematic stamps issued by Bhutan Post one can piece together the history of Bhutan. Perhaps this is the only country in the world about which we can learn from its postal stamps.
Stamps in Bhutan are not just payment for mail services. They are exotic and collector’s pride. They also showcase the country’s unique products and help to create social awareness. There are stamps depicting pitiable condition of a girl child, disabled persons and women. In collaboration with UNESCO and UNICEF, the Philatelic Bureau of Bhutan Post has released a number of stamps with a meaningful message. One such stamp is on the theme Education for every girl and boy known as Meena stamp.
With the establishment of a modern postal service in the country, the first postal stamps valid for domestic and international postage were issued in October 1962. These stamps depicted an archer, a postal runner, a map of Bhutan, an illustration of Paro Dzong and a portrait of the first king of Bhutan – Gongsar Ugyen Wangchuck. Since then, Bhutan Post has released stamps depicting the country’s rich heritage, as well as interesting aspects of Bhutanese life-style, scenic beauty, and its wide variety of flora and fauna considered richest in the Himalayas.
From 1970, Bhutan Post started issuing unique stamps. Some of these are made of silk and metal. Some extraordinary stamps, rarely found in other countries, are three dimensional and mini phonogram records that play the national anthem and folk songs on the record player. Artistic and beautifully executed, these stamps catapulted Bhutan into the international philately limelight.
There is hardly any major national or international event, be it the coronation of the king, space flights or the football world cup and any such event that has not been commemorated by the Bhutanese postal stamps. Besides these, there are commemorative stamps on modern icons, viz, Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, John F. Kennedy, Princess Diana, Elvis Presley, Einstein, Pope John II, Mother Teresa, to name a few. There are stamps too on 100 years of Olympics.
Reflecting Bhutan’s global outlook are the thematic stamps – My dram for peace one day. These were released on September 21, 2005 in response to United Nations’ direction to observe the day as the International Day of Peace – a day of global ceasefire and non-violence. To commemorate the 50th anniversary of UNESCO, the Bhutan Post issued two sheetlets containing 18 postal stamps depicting World Heritage Sites. The aim was to bring international attention to specific sites that have been deemed heritage sites of importance and which have to be preserved for posterity.
Postal stamps were issued in 2004 to commemorate two decades of Japanese assistance in increasing food products. Other themes represented by Bhutanese stamps are Snow Leopards in Bhutan, International Year of Mountains, Orchids – Jewels of the Dragon Kingdom, Rhododendrons – Our Nation’s Wealth, Medicinal Plants, Year of Eco Tourism, Fifa World Cup, Flowers of Bhutan, Butterflies of Bhutan, Birds of Bhutan, dzongs, bridges, the list is endless. There is always a new stamp issued for a Bhutanese New Year. These stamps reveal to the world that Bhutan is a country quite different from others with its own culture, religion and life-styles.
“The Philately Bureau does not have nay printing machine and hence the printing work is outsourced. But that does not discourage the bureau to come out with beautiful stamps which captivate visitors particularly from Europe, America and Asia. For instance, Japanese and Chinese mostly prefer the lunar stamps which are issued annually. Similarly, stamps issued on international themes are preferred by the Europeans and Americans,” said Deki Wangmo, Manager, Philatelic Bureau, Bhutan Post. The bureau releases six to eight issues per year depicting the important aspect of Bhutanese culture and tradition as well as themes popular in foreign countries. The increasing number of stamps portraying health, education, peace, etc underlines Bhutan’s focus on socially relevant themes.
Normally, Bhutan issues stamps under five categories: international popular events; the kingdom’s culture; international and national commemorative issues; flora and fauna and definitive issues, the last involving simple, low-cost printing process with limited colours.
The Philately Bureau does not only showcase the country but generate the revenue also from sale of stamps which has significantly contributed to the nation’s economic development. “The total sale of stamps and other philately products is about Nu 7 million in 2005, and it was once one of the biggest foreign exchange earners back in 1960s pulling 300 – 500 thousand dollars,” said Wangmo.
The stamps are sold at face value. The Philatelic Bureau has no other branches besides Thimphu but it has sales counters in many post offices in different parts of the country. The bureau is also represented by few local agents in some parts of the country. For sale and promotion of Bhutanese stamps in the international market, Bhutan Post has appointed philatelic agents on commission around the world.
By: Sahadev Sethi