Postage stamps and postal history of Bhutan
Encyclopedia
Bhutan has produced postage stamps for national use since 1962. Burt Todd, who may have been the first American to visit the Kingdom of Bhutan
, assisted in establishing a postage stamp program in Bhutan. Bhutan has become known for the unusual designs of its postage stamps which were originally chosen by Burt Todd specifically to attract publicity.
.
At first ignored by many collectors, some early Todd stamps have become cult items and the unusual materials the stamps were printed on have been copied by other post offices. Canada has issued stamps in 3D and Switzerland has issued one made of wood. In recent years, Bhutanese stamps have tended to be more conventional with just the occasional unusual format. Miniature sheets and highly topical subjects remain the staple of the program, however.
and Buddhist heritage and wildlife and sport. The sport stamps are of the Olympics and soccer World Cups. For instance, the Expo 2000
issue in 2000 depicted 6 different dzongs in Bhutan, Trashigang
, Lhuentse, Gasa
, Punakha
, Tashichhodzong and Paro
.
Bhutan Post
has issued many unique stamp issues. Coin like stamps were issued in 1966, 1968 and finally in 1975.
3D stamp issues were also released, with the first of the issues released in 1967 depicting Astronauts and lunar modules. In 1968 a butterflies 3d stamp issue and in 1969 a fish 3D, a birds 3D and insect 3D stamps issues were released. Other 3D issues are Paintings (1970), Animals (1970), Conquest of Space (1970), Antique automobiles (1971), Mushrooms (1973) and traditional masks (1976).
Unique moulded plastic 3D stamps were released of ancient artifacts in 1971 and of famous people in 1972. Other famous people that have appeared in Bhutan Stamps include Elvis Presley (2003), Princess Diana (1982, 2003), Gandhi (1969, 1972, 1998), John F. Kennedy (1972, 2002), Queen Elizabeth (2002), Mother Teresa (1998) and Albert Einstein (2000).
Ever since 1993, Bhutan has released annual Chinese New Year stamps. Animals and flowers appear often on Bhutanese stamps. Disney stamps have been issued in 1982, 1984 (2 issues), 1985 (2 issues), 1988, 1989 and finally in 1991.
In 2008, Bhutan Post released the first CD-Rom postage stamps in the world. The 2nd CD-Rom stamp issue was issued the following year in 2009.
s in about 1955, 1960 and 1970. The first series consisted of four stamps, as did the second. The third issue was of only one stamp of 10 Chetrum. Detailed information is lacking about these stamps but they are available on the philatelic market and are known used on documents.
Bhutan
Bhutan , officially the Kingdom of Bhutan, is a landlocked state in South Asia, located at the eastern end of the Himalayas and bordered to the south, east and west by the Republic of India and to the north by the People's Republic of China...
, assisted in establishing a postage stamp program in Bhutan. Bhutan has become known for the unusual designs of its postage stamps which were originally chosen by Burt Todd specifically to attract publicity.
Burt Todd
Burt Kerr Todd, an American businessman, was instrumental in setting up Bhutan's stamp issuing program. He learned of Bhutan while studying at Oxford University, visited the country in 1951, and became an adviser to the Bhutan government and royal family. He has been credited with being the first American to visit Bhutan although that claim cannot be proven for certain. The Bhutan stamp program was set up specifically to raise money for the improvement of Bhutan's infrastructure after the country was refused a loan from the World Bank. Todd set up the Bhutan Stamp Agency in Nassau, Bahamas. He had little grasp of how stamps were marketed through the philatelic trade and therefore relied on unusual designs such as 3D printing to attract publicity. In 1974 the contract was ended in favour of arrangements with the Inter-Governmental Philatelic CorporationInter-Governmental Philatelic Corporation
The Inter-Governmental Philatelic Corporation, or IGPC, is a philatelic agency that represents over 70 different countries in the design, production and marketing of postage stamps. It also assists postal administrations with the running of their postal services...
.
At first ignored by many collectors, some early Todd stamps have become cult items and the unusual materials the stamps were printed on have been copied by other post offices. Canada has issued stamps in 3D and Switzerland has issued one made of wood. In recent years, Bhutanese stamps have tended to be more conventional with just the occasional unusual format. Miniature sheets and highly topical subjects remain the staple of the program, however.
Stamp subjects
Many Bhutanese stamps depict the nation's Dzong architectureDzong architecture
Dzong architecture is a distinctive type of fortress architecture found in the present and former Buddhist kingdoms of the Himalayas: Bhutan and Tibet...
and Buddhist heritage and wildlife and sport. The sport stamps are of the Olympics and soccer World Cups. For instance, the Expo 2000
Expo 2000
Expo 2000 was a World's Fair held in Hanover, Germany from Thursday, June 1 to Tuesday, October 31, 2000. It was located on the Hanover fairground , which is famous for hosting CeBIT...
issue in 2000 depicted 6 different dzongs in Bhutan, Trashigang
Trashigang
Trashigang District is Bhutan's easternmost dzongkhag .-Culture:...
, Lhuentse, Gasa
Gasa
Gasa may refer to:* Gasa District, Bhutan and the district capital town of Gasa, Bhutan* Gasa Medina, Misamis Oriental, Philippines* Gasa Lakewood, Zamboanga del Sur, Philippines*Gasa , a form of Korean classical poetry...
, Punakha
Punakha
thumb|right|Punakha Dzong and the [[Mo Chhu]]Punakha is the administrative centre of Punakha dzongkhag, one of the 20 districts of Bhutan. Punakha was the capital of Bhutan and the seat of government until 1955, when the capital was moved to Thimphu. It is about 72 km away from Thimphu and it...
, Tashichhodzong and Paro
Paro, Bhutan
-History:Rinpung Dzong a fortress-monastery overlooking the Paro valley has a long history. A monastery was first built on the site by Padma Sambhava at the beginning of the tenth century, but it wasn't until 1646 that Ngawang Namgyal built a larger monastery on the old foundations, and for...
.
Bhutan Post
Bhutan Postal Corporation
Bhutan Postal Corporation Ltd., or Bhutan Post, is the company in Bhutan responsible for the operation of the postal system.- History :Until 1996 the post in Bhutan was run by the Department of Posts and Telegraphs, part of the Ministry of Communications, but in line with the Government of Bhutan's...
has issued many unique stamp issues. Coin like stamps were issued in 1966, 1968 and finally in 1975.
3D stamp issues were also released, with the first of the issues released in 1967 depicting Astronauts and lunar modules. In 1968 a butterflies 3d stamp issue and in 1969 a fish 3D, a birds 3D and insect 3D stamps issues were released. Other 3D issues are Paintings (1970), Animals (1970), Conquest of Space (1970), Antique automobiles (1971), Mushrooms (1973) and traditional masks (1976).
Unique moulded plastic 3D stamps were released of ancient artifacts in 1971 and of famous people in 1972. Other famous people that have appeared in Bhutan Stamps include Elvis Presley (2003), Princess Diana (1982, 2003), Gandhi (1969, 1972, 1998), John F. Kennedy (1972, 2002), Queen Elizabeth (2002), Mother Teresa (1998) and Albert Einstein (2000).
Ever since 1993, Bhutan has released annual Chinese New Year stamps. Animals and flowers appear often on Bhutanese stamps. Disney stamps have been issued in 1982, 1984 (2 issues), 1985 (2 issues), 1988, 1989 and finally in 1991.
In 2008, Bhutan Post released the first CD-Rom postage stamps in the world. The 2nd CD-Rom stamp issue was issued the following year in 2009.
Revenue stamps
Bhutan has issued revenue stampRevenue stamp
A revenue stamp, tax stamp or fiscal stamp is a adhesive label used to collect taxes or fees on documents, tobacco, alcoholic drinks, drugs and medicines, playing cards, hunting licenses, firearm registration, and many other things...
s in about 1955, 1960 and 1970. The first series consisted of four stamps, as did the second. The third issue was of only one stamp of 10 Chetrum. Detailed information is lacking about these stamps but they are available on the philatelic market and are known used on documents.
Stamp catalogues
A specific stamp catalogue for Bhutan does not exist at the moment. However, information on stamp issues can be found in the Scott, Stanley Gibbons and Michel stamp catalogues.See also
- Bhutan Postal CorporationBhutan Postal CorporationBhutan Postal Corporation Ltd., or Bhutan Post, is the company in Bhutan responsible for the operation of the postal system.- History :Until 1996 the post in Bhutan was run by the Department of Posts and Telegraphs, part of the Ministry of Communications, but in line with the Government of Bhutan's...
- List of birds on stamps of Bhutan
- List of people on stamps of Bhutan
External links
- Bhutan Post Philately section
- Bhutan Philatelic Society on Facebook.
- Bhutan stamps blog.
- http://bhutanesestamps.com
- Record stamps of Bhutan.