Scott numbers update for Singapore 2012 stamps issues (January - June)

Year of Dragon 3v 1522-1524
Year of Dragon World Stamp Championship 2012 Indonesia MS 1524a
Year of Dragon Beijing Stamp Expo 2012 MS 1524b
Year of Dragon Collector's Sheet 1525
Year of Dragon 1st local 1v self-adhesive 1526
Local Tea Time Snacks 4v 1527-1530
Local Tea Time Snacks 1st local 1v self-adhesive 1531
Local Tea Time Snacks 1st local booklet pane of 10 self-adhesive 1531a
Pond Life 2v 1532-1533
Pond Life (Yellow Burhead Flower) 1st local 1v self-adhesive 1534
Pond Life (Yellow Burhead Flower) 1st local booklet pane of 10 self-adhesive 1534a
Reservoirs - Serangoon Reservoir 1st local 1535
Reservoirs - Marina Reservoir 1st local 1536
Reservoirs - Lower Seletar Reservoir 1st local 1537
Reservoirs - Punggol Reservoir 1st local 1538
Reservoirs - Jurong Lake 1st local 1539
Reservoirs - Upper Seletar Reservoir 50c 1540
Reservoirs - Pandan Reservoir 50c 1541
Reservoirs - Bedok Reservoir 50c 1542
Reservoirs - McRitchie Reservoir 50c 1543
Reservoirs - Lower Peirce Reservoir 50c 1544
Wet Markets - Fruit Store 80c 1545
Wet Markets - Vegetable Store 80c 1546
Wet Markets - Poultry Store 80c 1547
Wet Markets - Fishmonger Store 80c 1548
International Year of Co-operatives 5v 1549-1553

Gardens by the Bay  - Conservatory $1.10 1554

Gardens by the Bay  - Kingfisher & Dragonfly $1.10 1555

Scott numbers update for Singapore 2011 stamps

Year of Rabbit 3v 1467-1469
Year of Rabbit Indipex 2011 MS 1469a
Year of Rabbit Philanippon 2011 MS 1469b
Year of Rabbit China Expo 2011 MS 1469c
Year of Rabbit Collector's Sheet 1470
Year of Rabbit 1st local 1v self-adhesive 1471
Spirit of Giving 2v 1472-1473
Pond Life 14v 1474-1487
Pond Life Collector's Sheet 1487a
Pond Life (Water Lily) 1st local 1v self-adhesive 1488
Centennial of First Flight in Singapore 5v 1489-1493
Hawker Centres 4v 1494-1497
Oriental Small-clawed Otter se-tenant strip of 4v 1498
Oriental Small-clawed Otter 2x50c 1498a-b
Oriental Small-clawed Otter 2x$1.10 1498c-d
Spices 5v 1499-1503
Economic Development Board 50th Anniversary 2v 1504-1505
Historic Areas of Singapore - Joo Chiat 50c 1506
Historic Areas of Singapore - Taman Jurong 50c 1507
Historic Areas of Singapore - Old Joo Chiat $1.10 1508
Historic Areas of Singapore - Old Taman Jurong $1.10 1509
Historic Areas of Singapore MS 1510
Visit Singapore sheet of 10v 1511
Visit Singapore booklet pane of 10v (self-adhesive) 1512
Singapore-Egypt Joint Issue - Rivers 2v 1513-1514
Singapore-Egypt Joint Issue - Rivers MS 1515
20th World Orchid Conference 5v 1516-1520
20th World Orchid Conference Collector's Sheet 1521

Lee Kuan Yew on Brunei 2011 Stamp

This stamp is one of the 6 in a se-tenant strip celebrating the 65th Birthday of His Majesty The Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei. And here you see Lee Kuan Yew shaking hands with the sultan. The same stamp is found in the miniature sheet issued at the same time. These stamps were issued on 15 July 2011.

Lee Hsien Loong appeared on a Micronesia souvenir sheet

A son of Singapore appeared on a foreign stamp issue - that of Micronesia, on the subject of President Barack Obama's visit to Seoul in the 2010 G20 Summit. The souvenir sheet, shown above, is just one of the two in the issue; this one has on the lower part of the sheet selvage a group photo of the world leaders at the summit, and standing right in the midst, circled in yellow, is Lee Hsien Loong.

Singapore 1986 25 Years of Industrial Progress

The 4 stamps were released 1 August 1986 to mark the 25th anniversary of the Economic Development Board of Singapore. From the themes shown by the illustration on the stamps, it seemed that the road to economic development was very clear - industrial progress - via automation, precision engineering, electronics and computer engineering, and horticultural research. Compared to the 2 stamps issued in 2011, exactly 25 years later, this set of stamps is much easier to appreciate and to understand.

Singapore 2011 50 Years of Economic Development

These 2 stamps released on 1 August 2011 mark 50 years of economic development in Singapore. The lower right corners of both stamps is printed with the current logo of EDB or Economic Development Board of Singapore, and the main panes in the stamps feature modern abstract art, which lends poorly to collectable themes. The only saving grace is the merlion hidden among the red whorls in the background of the 1st local stamp; but as a tableau, the solid green circle, the black triangle and the solid red rectangle enclosed by the 2 lower prongs of E in HOME make the piece looks like a half-hearted effort, or at best work that was hurried with a tight schedule. The futuristic tree in the $2-stamp remains in the future; it is definitely difficult to tie it with the stamps issued by other countries to celebrate the International Year of the Forest. Altogether, a very forgettable issue.

2011 Spices

Tamarind, cinnamon, turmeric, coriander, and star anise are the 5 spices featured on the stamps released on 15 July 2011. Each of the 5 stamps featuring spices are also illustrated with a local favourite dish or drink in which the spice is used, tamarind in assam prawn, cinnamon in masala tea, turmeric in fish head curry, coriander in satays and star anise in braised duck. So this set of stamps can be placed under the themes of flora, spices/herbs, and cuisine/food.
Tamarind comes from the elongated velvety pod of the tamarind tree (Tamarindus indicus).The pod contains shiny black seeds enclosed in a sticky pulp. The sweet and sour juice extracted from the pulp is widely used in local cuisine.
Cinnamon sticks are made of dried strips of the inner bark of the cinnamon tree (Cinnamomum verum), an tree that can grow up to 10 metres tall. It is principally used as a condiment in beverages and desserts locally, and also as flavouring for cookies and breads. It also has high antioxidant properties, hence considered to be of medicinal value.
Turmeric is derived from the rhizome of the turmeric plant (Curcuma longa). The rhizome is harvested, dried and ground into a fine yellow powder. In this form, it is a versatile substance, used as a fabric dye, in cosmetics, and to impart colour to mustard condiments; in cooking it is commonly used, together to salt, to lightly coat fish before frying. Much medical research are being conducted to study the property of the various compounds found in this substance, for their medicinal property.
The edible coriander plant (Coriandrum sativum) is a common herb used in local oooking, and in marinating satay.
The star anise is obtained from the star-shaped dried fruit of the tree (Illicium verum) native to southwest China. The star anise is widely used in Chinese cuisine, especially for braising meats.