Although stamps are only a few centimeters in size, for stamp collectors they represent a vibrant world of nature, people, culture, and history of many countries.
In 1927, the Indochina postal service issued the Fondation de Saigon (Establishment of Saigon) stamp set to commemorate the 60th anniversary of April 4, 1867, when the French government established the "Saigon City Committee".
PHOTO: PHUC MINH
In Ho Chi Minh City, stamp enthusiasts often gather at the headquarters of the Vietnam Stamp Company on Dinh Tien Hoang Street, Saigon Ward. Sometimes, they meet at a cafe on the grounds of the Ho Chi Minh City History Museum. They even meet in schools to share experiences and discuss the benefits of stamp collecting.
OLD AND YOUNG SHARE THE SAME PASSION
One of the long-standing figures involved with stamps is Mr. Nguyen Dai Hung Loc, Vice President of the Ho Chi Minh City Philatelic Association. Mr. Loc recounts that he started collecting stamps at the age of 9, encouraged by friends in his neighborhood. Later, while attending Petrus Truong Vinh Ky School, he noticed many teachers and classmates collecting stamps. Back then, the rare stamps he collected included a Soviet stamp with the image and signature of Yuri Gagarin – the world's first cosmonaut; followed by a stamp from Sri Lanka that was withdrawn in 1967 for religious reasons.
These stamps date back to the Indochina era but bear the seal of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam in September 1945 to serve postal needs before new stamps could be printed. The two stamps on the left depict Dr. Yersin. The two stamps on the right depict Empress Nam Phuong and King Bao Dai.
PHOTO: PHUC MINH
"Stamps are not simply pieces of paper showing postage fees, but also works of art containing a wealth of information about different countries. Among them, stamps that are rare, issued on very special occasions, or have printing errors, but are still preserved intact, become a kind of 'antique' worth many times more than their original selling price," Mr. Loc said. He gave the example that in Vietnam, envelopes affixed with military stamps from the resistance war are now worth tens of millions of dong because of their historical significance and rarity.
Mr. Pham Manh Hung, over 80 years old, has been involved in stamp collecting since his school days and rarely misses stamp exhibitions and gatherings in Ho Chi Minh City. Initially, he only collected stamps featuring famous people in Vietnam, but later expanded to include landscapes, women, ethnic minorities, businesspeople, and sports . He said: "Each stamp on the same theme, designed and printed by different countries, has its own meaning, but when placed together, they create a perfect picture. Knowing how to combine them, they bring a new and very rich value."
Young "enthusiasts" who are just starting to collect stamps share the same feelings as Mr. Loc and Mr. Hung. Viewing stamps as "witnesses" preserving history, Ms. Duong Anh Kieu My shared: "Learning about stamps helps me broaden my knowledge and connect with friends who share the same interests. Before, I only knew how to befriend books, but thanks to collecting stamps and participating in stamp club activities, I have stepped out of my comfort zone."
Stamp collectors met and socialized at the Vietnam Stamp Company headquarters in Ho Chi Minh City.
PHOTO: PHUC MINH
Student Nguyen Gia Hung, who has been collecting stamps for 12 years since he was 10 years old, said: "I'm most fascinated by stamp sets featuring generals and marshals, because they give me more understanding of the history of the wars of national defense." Student To Nguyen Tuan Anh said: "I started collecting stamps after I accidentally watched a video about the history and value of postage stamps. From then on, I began collecting stamps about the history of the country and the heroes and soldiers who sacrificed their lives, to remember and appreciate the efforts of our ancestors."
Nguyen Cao Thieu Khanh (30 years old), who has only been collecting stamps for 8 months, is particularly fond of Indochina stamps (pre-1945), especially those related to Queen Nam Phuong and King Bao Dai. When meeting professional stamp collectors, Khanh enjoys chatting and learning more about the historical stories associated with these stamps.
SPREADING THE HOBBY OF COLLECTING STAMPS
Currently, countries around the world continue to produce stamps and take turns organizing stamp exhibitions, judging, and awarding prizes to unique stamp collections. According to Nguyen Dai Hung Loc, Vice President of the Ho Chi Minh City Philatelic Association, there are now hundreds of millions of stamp collectors worldwide. The Vietnam Philatelic Association was established on December 30, 1960, and is an official member of the International Philatelic Federation (FIP, founded in 1926) and the Federation of Asia-Pacific Philatelics (FIAP, founded in 1974).
Recently, the Ho Chi Minh City Philatelic Association, in collaboration with the postal service, began several activities to guide students in learning about the history of postage and the hobby of stamp collecting. "The Ho Chi Minh City Philatelic Associations are proactively using social media to inform and promote stamp collecting among the public, especially young people. We hope that more organizations and individuals will join hands to spread the stamp collecting movement through various effective methods," said Mr. Nguyen Dai Hung Loc.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/thu-choi-tem-thoi-40-185250903221216361.htm
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