Myanmar (formerly Burma) is a country in Southeast Asia. Myanmar is the largest of the Mainland Southeast Asian states by area. Its capital city is Naypyidaw, and its largest city is Yangon (Rangoon). Myanmar has been a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) since 1997.
There was no postal system and no records of using stamps in Burma during the rule of Burmese Kings. Burmese used local messengers and volunteer carriers to send letters.
Burma had been an autonomous country for hundreds of years before being defeated in three wars with the British. When Burma was incorporated into the British Empire, it was not as an independent new colony, but as a division of the province of India. Under British occupancy, British authorities set up an official postal system in Burma.
Following the first of three Anglo-Burmese Wars, the British controlled much Burmese territory by 1826. The first stamps to be used in Burma were those of British India.
Burma became a self-governing unit of the British Commonwealth and received a constitution on April 1, 1937. Therefore, the first stamps of Burma appeared on April 1, 1937. These were stamps of India used between 1926 to 1936, with the overprint of the word "BURMA" in black. The face values were in the Indian Monetary System of Pies (Ps), Annas (As) and Rupees (Rs).
The First Provisional Stamp Designs
The first provisional stamps of Burma were sold on April 1, 1937, which was the day of political and administratively separation of Burma from India.
The First Definitive Postage Stamps
After King George V died in 1936, a definitive set of George VI stamps was issued in 1938. Between 1938-40, four designs of George VI stamps were printed in 12 colours and face values.
Japanese occupation stamps
When the Japanese came into Burma in 1942, postal stamps were issued not only by the Japanese military administrative authority but also by the Burmese Independence Army (BIA) who authorized regional administrative organizations.
Documents showed that Japanese occupation forces authorized to the postmasters of several delta post office to use the stamps of the British issues they had in stock, provided that the head of the King was adequately obliterated with some Burmese insignia, and the Peacock was suggested.
The Japanese Military administrative authorities, during the occupation of Rangoon, appointed Mr Yano Shizuo as the Postmaster General of the Burma Postal Department, with the local rank of an army general.
Yano found a shortage of printing supplies to print stamps in Burma and therefore obtained from the Japanese postal authorities stamps of ten face values (1 to 30 Sen). These stamps were known as the "Showa series".
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| The Showa series |
Burmese State Government Crest Stamp
On the verge of Burma's independence from Japan in 1943, the Burma State Government issued its first postage stamp of a very simple design in carmine. It showed a rising sun with radiating rays and displayed a Burmese helmet belonging to a warrior with a pair of crossed Burmese swords. In Burmese lettering "Burmese State Government" appears on the stamp.
Independence Commemorative Issue Stamps
On August 1, 1943, the Burmese Government issued a set of stamps to commemorate the independence granted from Japan on that date. The designs for these stamps were obtained by open competition with 26 entries.
British Military Administration stamps
In 1945, the British military recaptured Burma (taking over Rangoon on May 6, 1945) and British civilian authorities took over the administration from the British Military on January 1, 1946.
With the British reoccupation, the 1938-40 series of the first definitive stamps set was overprinted with the word "MILY ADMN" in black. These stamps were printed by the Security Printing Press, Nasik, India.
Victory Commemoration Stamps
The British Burma authorities issued a new design set of four stamps on May 2, 1946, to commemorate their victory of the Allied Nations in WW II.
The background of all four designs was an outline map of Burma (showing that Andaman Island as part of Burma). These four-valued stamps were not called the victory issue until June 28, 1946. These stamps were printed by the Nasik Security Printing Press of India. These were the last stamp designs of British colonial rule in Burma.
Burmese Interim Government Stamps
When there was a likelihood of gaining Burma Independence, most of the offices were run by the Burmese interim government. The British authority could no longer issue new stamps. A King George VI set of 15 face values on fifteen different colours, issued on January 1, 1946, were overprinted in black or red with "interim government" in the Burmese language.
Independent Burma stamps
The Independence Commemoration Issue Stamps symbolized the transfer of sovereignty to the Union of Burma which gained its national independence on January 4, 1948. According to Chapter 1, Section 1 of the Constitution of 1947, Burma is the sovereign Independent Republic to be known as “The Union of Burma.” However, the first stamp of independent Burma was shown as “BURMA” incorrectly.
Martyrs' Memorial Issue Stamps
This issue was designed to commemorate the mournful memory and anniversary of the political martyrdom of Burma's late leaders, Aung San and his cabinet colleagues who were assassinated on July 19, 1947. This set used the same design in 12 different colours.
The name of the country for this issue correctly appeared as UNION OF BURMA. The memorial building for fallen heroes was depicted at the centre of the design. Unfortunately, after the military took power over the country in 1988, the memorial building was destroyed and the bodies of the fallen heroes were removed.
Source: http://burmaphilatelic.blogspot.com/
