Odd stamps : 06 q Stamps on cotton / silk

In 2017, Hong Kong emitted a set of 6 stamps, dedicated to fashion of the 1920's to the 1970's.
The stamps came as single stamps, but also as a sheet, with 3 of each.

set of 6 fashion stamps Hong Kong 2017

Hong Kong fashion 2017 sheet of 18

For this post however, I need to show the two addional values of this set.

The first one, a $10 stamp was issued on an another miniature sheet, holding only that one stamp.

Here we see a lady, and the stamp is in the shape of a dress.

$10 stamp fashion week

Finally, also a $20 stamp was issued, again in a souvenir sheet, but this time, the issue is emitted on silk. The shape and design are identical to the $10 stamp, but with a silver, glowing image.

$20 souvenir sheet

odd shape, odd texture

Theme : Zodiac signs 17

Hong Kong has a long tradition of zodiac sign stamps.
Most series exists of one specific stamp each year (each series having 12 stamps), but - for commercial reasons - often stamps are also printed in sheetlets.
Hong Kong often issues more then just the single stamp.

In 2012, a set of 12 small stamps were issued, on the western zodiac signs.
Not that common, as mostly Chinese astrology is depicted.
Maybe that is the reason why the set is quite modest.

The design is kept simple and the stamps have no excessive gold or silver overprints, nor is the emission printed on silk.
All stamps have the same value of 1,40 HK$ (16 eurocent or 17 dollarcent).

When we take a closer look at the individual stamp, we see clockwise, from NW corner :
the Chinese name of the sign, the Latin name (here Gemini), the stellar constellation, the year of printing, and finally on the bottom line, Honk Kong, China (in English and Chinese) and the value in Hong Kong Dollars.

This simple set comes in stripes of 6 stamps each.
A nice and inexpensive addition to my collection.

Odd stamps : 06 m Stamps on cotton / silk

Some time ago, I posted a stamp on silk, that was issued in 2012 :
https://rainbowstampsandcoins.blogspot.com/2013/02/odd-stamps-06-g-stamps-on-cotton.html

It is part of a 12 year project on chinese zodiac signs.
This week, I had the opportunity to buy another sheetlet from this series. The sheetlets are issued by the Hong Kong postal authorities, and are similar in style and colours.

The sheetlet, printed on silk was issued in 2014 to celebrate the year of the Horse.

2014 sheetlet on silk

detail 2014 - year of the Horse

It is part of a 12 year program and each stamp comes with a certificate of authenitcy.

certificate of authenticy

Looking forward on finding more of the set.

Theme : Alphabets - 01

Languages have always been my passion, and much starts with alphabets of course.
Since September is the perfect month to start school, I start my new topic on themed stamps now.
Alphabets and all that is related to that topic.

For the first item, I take you to Hong Kong, China.

In 2006 a sheet with 30 stamps was issued.
26 letters of the Latin alphabet, and 4 repeated letters A, E, I and O.
All stamp show one letter, and they can be combined to a word.

full sheet - gummed

Each stamp shows a partly printed letter and partly a tool in the shape of the non-shown part of the letter. There's no actual relation between the tool and the shown letter (except for the shape).

detail HK sheet 2006

The same sheet was also printed on auto-adhesive paper.
The stamps are identical to the gummed ones, except for the perforation.

full sheet - auto-adhesive

detail HK sheet 2006 auto-adhesive

... this is just the beginning ...

Odd stamps : 06 h Stamps on cotton / silk

The number of odd stamps that were issued in the last months, and those who are about to be emitted in the near future is enormous.

I'm trying to keep up with all new issues, and I also try to buy them, so that I can present it on this blog.
The item of today is again a very special issue.

This stamp was issued to celebrate the year of the Dragon (2012).
It is printed on 100% silk.

It is also printed on gummed paper, so it's not an auto-adhesive stamp.
It was issued by the Hong Kong, China authorities and is a truly beautiful stamp.

Along with the sheet, a certificate of authenticy was given to each buyer.
I got mine as well of course.

I'm looking forward on receiving such a stamp (sheet) on a postally used letter.
I do hope to get such a copy one day.

Odd stamps : 08 Stamps with special cuts - 06 g

Hexagonals will always be my favourite kind of stamps.
My friend from Hong Kong surprised me with this nice set of 4 hexagonal stamps.

These stamps on 'civil education' were issued as single stamps, and came also in a sheet, containing 4 of each stamps.
The full sheet is not in my collection (yet) but the single stamps I can present to you today.

4 single hexagonal stamps of Hong Kong (2007)

The 4 stamps were issued in 2007 and have the following values and topics :

1 $ 40 : Human rights
2 $ 40 : Rule of Law
3 $ : Social Participation
5 $ : Corporate Citizenship

hexagonal 5$ stamp of Hong Kong (2007)

The individual stamps and the full sheet come in flashy pink - purple colours
I hope I can add the full sheet later on.

Banknotes : Security marks 1d

After years and years of 'paper' banknotes, a new type of banknotes are gaining influence.
The paper isn't paper anymore, but polymer.
The correct name of the texture is Biaxially-oriented polypropylene (BOPP).
The use of this type of polymer allows other security printing features that were not possible with paper banknotes.
As this first set of articles is only dealing with the papertype, I will come to those other features later.

Polymere banknotes were used for the first time, in Australia in 1988.
The benefit is ofcourse the enhanced durability of the notes, and the difficulties of counterfeiting them.

Some of the countries that have issued polymer banknotes so far :

In Europe : Romania

first set of polymer banknotes Romania

second set of polymer banknotes Romania - after money reform

In Central America : Mexico

In Asia : Thailand

In Asia/Australia : Hong Kong, Australia and Singapore

To be continued...