I have always loved stamp collecting in my younger years. Actually I still do now, but with the influx of modern advanced technology, it is getting harder and harder to find stamps since most people just send emails and use franked mails. Hence when my friend proposed a trip to the Singapore Philatelic Museum, I jumped at the opportunity.
The Philatelic Museum is at Coleman Street, along the same stretch as the Masonic Club, behind the Fire Station and just down the street from Registry of Marriages and Fort Canning. The entrance of the Philatelic Museum is marked by an old post box. How appropriate!
The Philatelic Museum is at Coleman Street, along the same stretch as the Masonic Club, behind the Fire Station and just down the street from Registry of Marriages and Fort Canning. The entrance of the Philatelic Museum is marked by an old post box. How appropriate!
The entrance to the Philatelic Museum
Mini postboxes on displayWhen we stepped into the museum, it was the shop area where lots and lots of stamp collections of the same series were displayed. It was practically stamp heaven! I even found unique stamps like the Hans Christian Anderson Fairytale collection, as well as chocolate-scented stamps, Walt Disney collections and Simpsons Collection!
The various stamps on display from all over the world
Fairytale Collection
These stamps were the definitive series in the 1980s
These were the definitive series in the 1990s
Mickey Mouse stamps
As stated, chocolate-scented stamps
Simpson Collection
Garfield collection
Mini postbox at the counterApparently we could use this mini postbox to send letters too. Letters sent at the Philatelic Museum will be specially franked with the words "Philatelic Museum" on it. They just require a donation of fifty cents per letter.
After looking at all the display of stamps, we decided to get the entrance ticket. It is S$5.00 per adult. Even the ticket looks like a postcard!
After looking at all the display of stamps, we decided to get the entrance ticket. It is S$5.00 per adult. Even the ticket looks like a postcard!
The entrance ticketWe then stepped into the first room, where there were displays on the first stamps used in this country.
The postman scooter
We then went on to the Iron Man 2 exhibition, where there was the display of collectible art, figurines and comics.
Next, we went into a room filled with limited edition stamp collection, like the Harry Potter stamps.
We even went to play around with this display to "Be A Stamp" for S$1.00!
The museum is a small two-storey colonial style building. After we were done with the first floor, we went on to the second floor, where we stepped into a room full of old stamps from the Straits Settlement times.
Just for information, Singapore was part of the Straits Settlements in the 1800s, together with Malacca and Penang. These three "villages" were part of the British colony, hence the stamps issued would be rare collections with Queen Victoria's profile.
Just for information, Singapore was part of the Straits Settlements in the 1800s, together with Malacca and Penang. These three "villages" were part of the British colony, hence the stamps issued would be rare collections with Queen Victoria's profile.
Sorting boxes for letters
Mailbags
An old-fashioned postman
An old postman's uniformSame as police officers, postmen wore shorts in the past.
The old post office at FullertonThe building lasted for more than a hundred years, before it was converted into where Fullerton Hotel now stands.
The new, modern post office at Paya LebarThere was also a nostalgia room where remnants of the past were displayed.
Display of a shop in the 1960s selling magazines, cigarettes, stamps, candy and stationery
Display of an old-fashioned barber
An old-fashioned kitchen cabinet display
Anyone remember these clogs?
Display of melon seeds - my favourite are the black melon seeds!
Next to the nostalgia room is a room displaying Indonesian traditional things like wayang kulit, masks, gamelan, and of course stamps!
There is also a Victorian room, displaying the first kind of camera, photos taken from the first kind of camera, postcards and stamps.
Along the corridor, there were displays of mini postboxes from countries like Singapore, Hong Kong, Britain, United States, China, Japan and Thailand to name a few.
Back downstairs, when we wanted to go to the washroom, I realise that there are even stamps in the washrooms!
This stamp was displayed on the wall when we stepped into the Ladies
These were all wall displays in the Ladies
This is the door of the toilet cubicle of the Ladies
The two stamps above are behind the cubicle door of the LadiesI was curious about the Gents, so I got the dear to go into the men's room to take photos of the stamps on display.
This was on display when one stepped into the Men's Room
These were all displayed on the wall of the Men's room
This is the door of the cubicle in the Men's room
These are behind the cubicle doors of the Men's roomAt a corner of the museum, there is also a display of the wedding collection stamps of Prince Charles and the then-Princess Elizabeth.
There is even a display of postcards of cinemas of yesteryears!
And my favourite - quill pen! I have always wanted a quill pen, I wanted to know what it feels like to write with a feather! Unfortunately, the quill pen set on display are too costly, hence I decided not to get any for now.
There is even a religious stamp collection!
All in all, it was a pretty good trip. Definitely this is one place I want to bring my children to, if it still exist by then! A pity not many people I know like to collect stamps or like to go museums, otherwise I can recommend them to go to this place!
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