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| Source: SingPost. The new traditional board games stamp issue. |
Singapore Post (SingPost) will issue a stamp set of five square stamps, each featuring a freehand drawing of a traditional board game that was popular in Singapore during the 1970s and '80s. Available on 27th April, the board games are Chinese chess, the diamond game, aeroplane chess, snakes and ladders, and checkers.
Chinese chess (1st local) is a strategy board game for two players. The game represents a battle between two armies, with the objective of capturing the enemy's emperor.
The diamond game (2nd local) is for two to six players. The objective is to be the first to move all of one’s game pieces into the opposite corner of a hexagram-shaped board. Though strategy is involved, the rules are simple.
Aeroplane chess (50¢ denomination) is a classic Chinese board game played by two to four players, The game begins with each player placing his respective game pieces in “hangars” located at the four corners of the board. The objective is to be the first to reach the base of one’s respective colour at the centre of the board.
In snakes and ladders (70¢ denomination), players aim to move their tokens, according to dice rolls, from the start point to the finish, either helped by “ladders” or hindered by “snakes” along the way.
Checkers (S$1.30 stamp denomination) is a strategy board game for two players involving diagonal moves of game pieces and mandatory captures by jumping over opponent pieces. The objective of the game is to take all of the opponent's pieces, or to create a position such that the opponent is unable to move.
SingPost’s last traditional games stamp issue was in 1997. That stamp set featured popular games such as shuttlecock, marbles, spinning top and five stones.
The new stamp set, with each stamp measuring 40mm x 40mm, comes in five denominations – 1st local*, 2nd local, S$0.50, S$0.70 and S$1.30. There is also a precancelled first day cover at S$4.10 that comes affixed with the complete set of stamps.
Interested?
This stamp issue goes on sale from 27 April 2016, at all post offices and the Singapore Philatelic Museum. They may also be purchased online:
First day cover (without stamps): S$0.35
Precancelled first day cover affixed with stamps: S$4.10
Presentation pack: S$5.20
Postcards in five designs (without stamps) S$4.00
Maxicards in five designs affixed with stamps $8.80
All prices are inclusive of GST for purchases within Singapore.
*1st local stamps can be used to make up the postage for overseas mail.
First day cover (without stamps): S$0.35
Precancelled first day cover affixed with stamps: S$4.10
Presentation pack: S$5.20
Postcards in five designs (without stamps) S$4.00
Maxicards in five designs affixed with stamps $8.80
All prices are inclusive of GST for purchases within Singapore.
*1st local stamps can be used to make up the postage for overseas mail.
