3D - Holographic Stamps - Update

Category - Sight
Subcategory - 3D Hologram   

Hungary 2015  Hungarian Saints and Blesseds III - St Astrik Special Edition SS  

Issue date 07 August 2015

The design of the stamp was based on Saint Stephen Offering the Holy Crown of Hungary by Vilmos Aba-Novák, painted between 1938 and 1941, which adorns the dome of the Millennium Chapel in Pannonhalma Abbey.

Saint Astrik stands next to Queen Gisela, on the left of King Saint Stephen, who is offering the crown and is depicted in a dark robe. In the background of the stamp, buildings of ecclesiastical locations
which played an important role in the life of Astrik are shown. 

Saint Astrik (ca 1034) was a Benedictine monk, the abbot of several monasteries, ambassador, bishop and archbishop. He became the abbot of the Benedictine monastery in Pannonhalma. In 998 or 999 he founded a monastery in honour of Saint Benedict in Pécsvárad, whence he was summoned by King Stephen in 1000 to accomplish his most important diplomatic mission, to bring a crown and, legend has it, permission to establish an ecclesiastical organisation in Hungary from Pope Sylvester II in Rome. In the summer of 1001 he probably acted as a papal nuncio in Hungary and became the bishop of Kalocsa sometime after the autumn of 1002. During the illness of the archbishop of Esztergom, for three years Astrik took temporary control of the archbishopric of Esztergom. After this, he returned to Kalocsa, and the first Hungarian king, Saint Stephen, appointed him archbishop. Astrik’s activity was invaluable in establishing Christianity in Hungary and he constantly strove for the salvation of souls by leading an exemplary holy life.

The offset printed special edition has a shiny surface which was supplemented with so-called diffraction film printing. 

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3D - Holographic Stamps


Disclaimer - Information about the stamp issues on this page has been taken from the net and are for informational purposes only. No copyright claim is made for the above mentioned information/pictures. The pictures have been scanned from my collection.

Embossed Gold Stamps - Update

Category - Touch
Subcategory - Embossed Gold Stamps

New Zealand 2016 One Ring - Journey through Middle Earth Embossed Gold Stamp

Issue date 19 October 2016 

New Zealand Post has issued a special "One Ring" embossed stamp with 22K gold foil printing which is the heart of the 2 iconic movies set in New Zealand - The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings trilogy The round $10 stamp sits within a miniature sheet featuring the iconic map of middle earth.

This miniature sheet is featured as a numbered sheet in the special edition 37 miniature sheet booklet on the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings Trilogy series

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Embossed Gold Stamps

Disclaimer - Information about the stamp issues on this page has been taken from the net and are for informational purposes only. No copyright claim is made for the above mentioned information/pictures. The pictures have been scanned from my collection. 

Postcard Fold Souvenir Sheets

Category - Sight
Subcategory - Postcard Fold Souvenir Sheets

Liechtenstein 2016 Without us - Postcard fold souvenir sheets

Issue date - 14 November 2016

Liechtenstein Post has issued a special 3 set souvenir sheet in the postcard fold style featuring Swiss illustrator Angelo Boog hypothetical question to himself - What would happen to Liechtenstein if there were no more people?

The collages depict buildings, monuments, everyday objects and sections of landscape from the Principality in an imagined future devoid of human beings in twenty, one hundred and five hundred years from now. The disintegration of buildings, objects and cultivated landscape is tangible, nature spreads its tentacles and reclaims its space, numerous new animal species establish habitats. The artist was inspired by American author Alan Weisman who tackled this subject head-on in his book “The World Without Us” published in 2007.

Sheet 1

Sheet 2

Sheet3

Disclaimer - Information about the stamp issues on this page has been taken from the net and are for informational purposes only. No copyright claim is made for the above mentioned information/pictures. The pictures have been scanned from my collection. 

Stamps Flip Book - Update

Category Sight
Subcategory - Stamps Flip Book

Grenada 1997 Minnie Mouse in Hawaiian Holiday Animated Flip Book Stamps

Issue date 7 August 1997

Grenada Post for the Pacific 97, World Philatelic Exhibition held at San Francisco, California, has issued 2 special miniature sheets featuring stamps in Flip Book sequence showing Minnie Mouse doing the Hula Dance celebrating 100 years of Cinema..

The animated sequence is shown below. 

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Stamps Flip Book

Disclaimer - Information about the stamp issues on this page has been taken from the net and are for informational purposes only. No copyright claim is made for the above mentioned information/pictures/video.  The pictures have been scanned from my collection. 

Cloth Stamps - Update

Category - Touch
Subcategory - Cloth Stamps

Bhutan 1969 Religious Thanka Paintings Silk Stamps Folder Set

For clearer view click on picture

For clearer view click on picture

Issue date 30 September 1969

Religious Thankas or Banners are paintings of sacred and ceremonial subjects which are hung on Buddhist Temples. Bhutan Post has issued a set of 5 rayon silk stamps honouring his Holiness Jamyang Yeshey Singhay Rimpoche, late Head Lama of Bhutan, who attained Nirvana on 12 March 1969.

15 CH Stamp - Je Tsongkhapa (or Lobsangtrakpa). Religious Scholar of the 14th century who had visions of Lord Manjusri. He is addressed as Gyalwa (Lord) Tsongkhapa. On the stamp painting he is depicted in Dharmachakra Mudra seated on a white elephant. In Mahayana mythology, the white elephant stands for steadiness and balance of mind.

75 CH Stamp - Chana Dorji (Vajrapani) is a divine Bodhisattva emanating from the Dhyani Buddha Aksobhya. On the stamp painting he is depicted in a wrathful manifestation wearing the skull head dress of a Heruka with a vajra in this right hand and his left hand in karana mudra. He wears a chain of devil heads with a snake coiled around the chain. He symbolises the might of the Buddhas and is worshipped by those who seek cure from serpent spirits afflictions.

2 NU Stamp - Sangay Marmey-dzey considered the Sixth Buddha the enlightener and illuminator. In the stamp painting the Buddha is depicted as seated in vyakhyana (preaching) mudra

5 NU Stamp - Three great teachers - In Mahayana scriptures the noblest Bodhisattvas, out of compassion, refuse Nirvana so that they might benefit the afflicted humanity. They periodically descend to earth in human form to preach and illuminate the lives of mankind. The painting depict 3 great teachers.

6 NU Stamp - Chenresik, Jampeyang and Tashithagye - On the stamp painting, on the left side is Chenresik (Avalokiteswara), in the centre Tashi-thagye (Eight Auspicious Signs) in the form of a pot and on the right side is Jampeyang (Manjusri).

Chenresik in the painting is depicted in white color with four arms, one pair of which holds a rosary and the other pair a lotus flower. He is the supreme embodiment of compassion whose essence is expressed in the famous 6 syllable chant "Om Manipadme hum" He is believed to to perpetually incarnated in successive Dalai Lama of Tibet.

Tashi-thagye (Eight Auspicious Signs) spell sanctity and happiness

Jampeyang in the painting is depicted in red and is the symbol of saving knowledge. He holds a book and a sword for knowledge. The sword and book represents severing the fetters (chains) of ignorance.

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Cloth Stamps

Disclaimer - Information about the stamp issues on this page has been taken from the net and are for informational purposes only. No copyright claim is made for the above mentioned information/pictures.  The pictures have been scanned from my collection. 

Unusual Postal Souvenirs - Update

Category - Sight
Subcategory - Unusual Postal Souvenirs

Faroe Island 2016 Stamp with Fish Leather on a Fish Leather PostCard

Issue date 26 September 2016

Issued by a private company dealing with Philatelic Products, Hermann E.Sieger GmbH, Germany on the Fish Leather with the Faroe Island Stamp with fish leather. The postcard is an unofficial issue by a private company but the stamps and cancellation are official.

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Unusual Postal Souvenirs

Disclaimer - Information about the stamp issues on this page has been taken from the net and are for informational purposes only. No copyright claim is made for the above mentioned information/pictures. The pictures have been scanned from my collection.

Stamps with Holes/Design Perforations/Cut Outs - Update

Category - Touch
Subcategory - Stamps with Holes/Design Perforations/Odd Shaped Miniature Sheet / Glow in dark under UV / Odd shaped Miniature Sheet

Rearranging an old post

Malaysia 2008 Butterflies of Malaysia - Five-bar swordtail butterfly – Odd shaped Miniature Sheet with Glow in dark under UV and Holes/perforations on the miniature sheet



Issue date 24 April 2008

Malaysia Post issued a beautiful Butterfly shaped Miniature sheet containing one Five Malaysian Ringgit Stamp on a butterfly called Five – bar Swordtail. The miniature sheet contains six perforation which can be removed to give the effect of a perforated wing.

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Odd Shaped Miniature Sheet 
Stamps with Holes/Design Perforations/Cut Outs
Glow in dark under UV

Disclaimer - Information about the stamp issues on this page has been taken from the net and are for informational purposes only. No copyright claim is made for the above mentioned information/pictures. The pictures have been scanned from my collection. 

Stamps with Holes/Design Perforations/Cut Outs - Update

Category - Touch 
Subcategory - Stamps with Holes/Design Perforations/Cut Outs  / Odd shaped Miniature Sheet

Liechtenstein 2016 Lunar Chinese New Year 2017 Year of the Rooster 

Issue date 14 November 2016

To commemorate the Chinese Lunar New Year which falls on 28 January 2017, Liechtenstein Post has issued 4 laser cut Stamps (like in the previous years) in an odd shaped die cut miniature sheet in the form of a Rooster. 

The Chinese Zodiac sign for the year 2017 is a Rooster. The Rooster is the 10th sign in the Chinese Zodiac Calendar. People born in the year of the Rooster are dedicated, noble, honest, caring and colorful, has a lot of artistic talent but are hot-tempered, superficial, vain and tactless.

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Stamps with Holes
Odd Shaped Miniature Sheet

Disclaimer - Information about the stamp issues on this page has been taken from the net and are for informational purposes only. No copyright claim is made for the above mentioned information/pictures. The pictures have been scanned from my collection. 

Stamps with Moving Parts - Update

Category - Touch
Subcategory - Stamps with moving parts

New Zealand 2016 Christmas Advent Calendar Stamps

Due to large size of the Calendar..This image is taken from the Net for illustration purpose

Issue date 02 November 2016

NZ Post has issued a special advent calendar for Christmas 2016 featuring key characters of the nativity story - Joseph, Mary, Baby Jesus, a shepherd and a wise man complete with stable and animals.

Behind 5 of the pockets/windows, there are five christmas self adhesive stamps featuring the key characters of Christmas. This advent calendar can be used to count down to Christmas.

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Stamps with moving parts


Disclaimer - Information about the stamp issues on this page has been taken from the net and are for informational purposes only. No copyright claim is made for the above mentioned information/pictures. The pictures have been scanned from my collection.

3D Anaglyph Stamps - Update

Category - Sight
Subcategory - 3D Anaglyph Stamps

Maldives 2016 Sports Events - Towards Russia 2018 Football Anaglyph Stamps

Issue date 04 July 2016

Maldivian Post to commemorate the FIFA football championship event to be held in Russia 2018 has issued a Miniature sheet (with one stamp) and a Souvenir sheet (with 3 stamps) printed in 3D Anaglyph printing featuring footballer Vasili Berezutski, Dmitri Kombarov with the Spartak Stadium, Moscow in the background, Roman Eremenko with the Mordovia Arena, Saransk in the background and also featuring the FIFA Cup . 

The 3D Anaglyph Stamp sheets can be viewed with a special 3D glasses with Red and Blue lenses.

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3D - Anaglyph Stamps


Disclaimer - Information about the stamp issues on this page has been taken from the net and are for informational purposes only. No copyright claim is made for the above mentioned information/pictures/video.  The pictures have been scanned from my collection. 

Multi-Sensory Stamps Sets - Update

Category - Sight / Touch
Subcategory - Multi-Sensory Stamps Sets/ Stamps with Interactive (QR/Bar/Augmented Reality/C) codes  / Glow in the Dark Stamp Under UV Stamps   / Stamps with Thermochromic ink printing / Stamps with Micro text Printing

UK 2016 Agatha Christie Stamp Set

Issue date 15 September 2016

To commemorate 100 years of the Writer Agatha Christie's first Novel (The Mysterious Affair At Styles), Royal Mail has issued a special stamp set of 6 stamps featuring scenes from her six iconic novels Murder on the Orient Express, And then there were none, The Mysterious Affair at Styles, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, The Body in the Library and A Murder is announced.

Agatha Christie was known as the Queen of Crime Novels with her creation of Hercule Poirot, a fictional Belgian detective.

Hercule Poirot featured in 53 novels, one play and more than 50 short stories, making him one of the most famous fictional characters of all time. The Belgian detective was due to retire from the Belgium Police when war started. He apparently had an international reputation for crime solving and when he was injured (possibly on active service) he moved to England as a refugee. We first meet him living in Essex, and he appears to be in late middle -age (maybe late 50s). A native French speaker, he is also fluent in German, Italian and (haltingly) in English. He is fond of his moustache (‘very stiff and military’), and in the early novels consults his large pocket watch. Hastings described him as a ‘quaint, dandified little man’ with a height of ‘hardly five feet, four inches’. His eyes are green, his eyebrows expressive when in deep thought. His detective method is to use pure reason and his knowledge of human psychology. His triumph over ‘The Mysterious Affair at Styles’ leads him to develop his career as a private detective. 

When Christie finally killed off Poirot the character received an obituary in the New York Times, the only fictional character to have been so honoured.

The six stamps contain hidden secrets and also feature 'visual' clues some of which are more obvious than others (the skull on 'Styles', and the apparent dagger on 'Roger Ackroyd'.  Others are in microtext, or in thermochromic ink, or only visible under an ultra-violet light.  No details of these can be published at this stage.

Spoiler Alert - Secrets on the Stamps

1st Class: Murder on the Orient Express, 1934
Returning from Syria, Poirot travels on the Orient Express bound for Calais in the company of shady fellow passengers. Mr Ratchett approaches Poirot saying he had been threatened and offers a large fee for him to take the case. Poirot declines saying, ‘I do not like your face’. That night Ratchett is murdered. The train is caught in a snowdrift and Poirot is persuaded to take on the case. The novel was shortlisted by the Crime Writers Association poll for the greatest crime novel of all time.

Hints
- the smoke from the train combined with the crescent moon creates a silhouette of Hercule Poirot.
- there is thermochromic ink over the second window, so when a thumb is placed over the window a half-hidden person is revealed wielding a knife.

- the names of the suspects whom Hercule Poirot interviews during the course of the investigation are presented in microtext along the bottom of the stamp.

1st Class: And Then There Were None, 1940
Christie wrote several novels and many short stories and plays (under her own name) that do not feature her most famous creations, including And Then There Were None in which eight people are invited to an island, attended by a butler and his wife. An old fashioned gramophone plays a recording accusing each of murder, and then each is murdered in a way outlined in the rhyme Ten Little Soldier Boys. Eventually all die – the police are baffled, but a chance discovery explains all.

Hints
- A silhouette of a person’s head forms the outline of the island.
- The moon’s reflection in the water features the “Ten Little Soldier Boys” poem in microtext.

- The reflection of the house light in the water features the word “U.N. Owen” in microtext, the name of the mystery person who invited the guests to their doom

£1.33: The Mysterious Affair at Styles, written 1916, published 1920 (US)/1921 (UK)
In the first introduction to Poirot, the story is told by Captain Arthur Hastings, on sick leave in Essex after being invalided while serving in the First World War. He encounters Poirot in the village, having already made his acquaintance from working on a police case with him before the War. That same night a Mrs Inglethorp (of the house where Hastings is staying) dies of Strychnine poisoning. Her husband is arrested and Poirot is enlisted to investigate. Afterwards Hastings becomes a kind of Watson to Poirot’s Holmes in numerous stories.

Hint
- The skull-like middle image created by Poirot and Hastings sitting around the table with the lamp is reproduced in miniature on the poison bottle.

£1.33: The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, 1926
The classic whodunit is narrated by Dr Sheppard, friend of Roger Ackroyd. Ackroyd is found murdered with an ornate knife in his neck, in a room locked from the inside, with many suspects who have motives for murder. Sheppard’s next door neighbour is none other than Poirot who rules out suspects one by one. He is assisted by Sheppard’s sister, Caroline (thought to be the prototype for Miss Marple). The twist in the final chapter has divided critics and readers ever since it was published and is a cornerstone in the modern crime novel and a prime example of the ‘locked room’ style of mystery. The book was voted the ‘Greatest Crime Novel of All Time’ by the 600 members of the Crime Writers Association.

Hint
- An outline of Hercule Poirot’s head appears in the flames in the fire.
- The blood-stained letter hanging from the dead man’s hand features some words from the letter that Roger Ackroyd read aloud before his death.

- A silhouette of the murderer holding a knife created by the shadow of the chair.

£1.52: The Body in the Library, 1942 (biggest selling Marple book)
Mrs Dolly Bantry awakes to find a dead woman in the library. She calls her good friend Miss Marple to investigate and the aged sleuth pits her wits against Inspector Slack. After a second murder Marple sets a trap for the killer. Since its first publication in 1942 it has gone on to become the biggest selling Marple book 


Hint
- The body outline is printed in UV ink to be seen with a UV light.
- The arrangement of the hat, glasses and book ribbon is intended to represent an outline of Miss Marple.

- Book titles of all Agatha Christie’s books and short-story collections (not featuring Hercule Poirot) that were published before The Body in the Library appear in microtext on the spines of the books on the shelf.

£1.52: A Murder is Announced, 1950 (in top list of Christie novels)
In the personal columns of the local paper, an ad announcing a murder and a time and place is published. Assuming it is a party of some sort, half the village turns up. The lights go out and shots ring out. Leticia Blacklock (owner of the location of the shooting) lies injured next to a dead man. Chief Inspector Rydesdale thinks it is an accident or suicide, but encounters Miss Marple at lunch at the local hotel who examines the evidence and draws her own conclusions. She goes to the village to investigate the murders that ensue.

Hint
- The spotlight is meant to represent a clock, and the clock numbers are printed in UV ink.
- the word “Switzerland” appears in microtext on the little clock face that is set at 6.30p.m. (both the word and the time are significant to the story)

- The small ads page from the newspaper that feature the “A Murder is Announced” is reproduced in microtext in the paper held by the woman in black.

Each stamp also has a hidden letter, which combine across the set to spell ‘Agatha’. 

A – On Orient
G – On Styles
A – On Library
T – And Then There Were None
H – On Ackroyd
A – On Announced

Royal Mail have also developed an augmented reality feature for the The Mysterious Affair at Styles stamp which triggers a 3D animation and users who download the Aurasma app, can explore the scene being played out on the stamp and interact with the scene lighting.

To view other stamps in this category click on the following link - 

Stamps with Thermochromic Ink Printing

Stamps with Micro text Printing

Glow in the Dark Stamp Under UV 

Disclaimer - Information about the stamp issues on this page has been taken from the net and are for informational purposes only. No copyright claim is made for the above mentioned information/pictures/video.  The pictures have been scanned from my collection. 

Stamps with Rock Dust - Update

Category - Touch
Subcategory - Stamps with matter affixed - Rock dust

Hong Kong 2002 Rocks of Hong Kong Stamps with rock dust

Issue date 15 September 2002

Hong Kong Post has issued special stamps printed with Rock dust using the Thermographic printing technology featuring rock dust from different types of rock found in the outlying islands of Hong Kong.

$1.40 : Ping Chau - Siltstone
Ping Chau is made up of finely layered siltstone and mudstone. These are the youngest rocks in Hong Kong and the rocks contain many fossils including insect and plant remains. 

$2.40 : Port Island - Conglomerate
The Port Island conglomerate has a very distinctive reddish-brown colour. The rocks were formed from sediments. The desert conditions made most of the rocks red. 

$3.00 : Po Pin Chau - Tuff
Thick volcanic rock layers (tuff) occurred along the coast and on offshore islands of eastern Hong Kong. As shown in the close- up, these rock layers are characterised by six-sided, columnar joints, from North Ninepin Island. 

$5.00 : Lamma Island - Granite

South Lamma Island is mainly made up of granite and as shown in the close-up, the rock mainly comprises three major minerals: white feldspar, transparent quartz and black biotite.

The Thermographic printing process involves putting a layer of transparent thermographic powder to the stamp sheet before the ink dries. This is the first time thermographic printing of a Hong Kong stamp.

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Stamps with Rock Dust


Disclaimer - Information about the stamp issues on this page has been taken from the net and are for informational purposes only. No copyright claim is made for the above mentioned information/pictures. The pictures have been scanned from my collection. The pictures have been scanned from my collection.

Stamps with Scratch Off Printing - Update

Category - Touch
Subcategory - Stamps with Scratch off coatings

Hong Kong 1999 Lunar Chinese New Year of Rabbit Greetings Stamps with Scratch off coatings

Issue date 31 January 1999

On the occasion of the Chinese New Year of the Rabbit, Hong Kong Post has issued 4 Special Stamps with Scratch off coatings to reveal the Lunar New Year Greetings.

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Stamps with Scratch Off Printing 

Disclaimer - Information about the stamp issues on this page has been taken from the net and are for informational purposes only. No copyright claim is made for the above mentioned information/pictures. The pictures have been scanned from my collection.

Odd Shaped Stamps - Update

Category - Sight / Touch
Subcategory - Odd Shaped Stamps / Embossed Stamps

Tonga 1964 Pan-Pacific Southeast Asia Women's Association Meeting, Nuku'alofa Odd Shaped Stamps 

Issue date 19 October 1964

Tonga Post to commemorate the 1964 Pan-Pacific Southeast Asia Women's Association Meeting at Nuku'alofa has issued 4 heart shaped embossed stamps for regular local mail and 4 map shaped embossed airmail stamps.

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Odd Shaped Stamps
Embossed Stamps

Disclaimer - Information about the stamp issues on this page has been taken from the net and are for informational purposes only. No copyright claim is made for the above mentioned information/pictures.  The pictures have been scanned from my collection. 

3D - Holographic Stamps - Update

Category - Sight
Subcategory - 3D Holographic foil / Glow in the Dark Stamp Under UV Stamps

China 2013 Mothers Day with 3D holographic foil and glow in the dark under UV 

Date of issue 11 May 2013

On the occasion of Mothers day, China Post has issued a special stamp with holographic printing with special ink which glows in the dark under uv light.

The stamp features a heart shape and carnation, with four types of wishes after scratching off the coating on the holographic foil printing area.

To view other stamps in this category click on the following link - 
3D - Holographic Stamps
Glow in the Dark Stamp Under UV Stamps
Stamps with Scratch Off Coatings

Disclaimer - Information about the stamp issues on this page has been taken from the net and are for informational purposes only. No copyright claim is made for the above mentioned information/pictures. The pictures have been scanned from my collection.

Stamps with Holes/Design Perforations/Cut Outs - Update

Category - Touch 
Subcategory - Stamps with Holes/Design Perforations/Cut Outs  

Sweden 2004 Swedish Rock Stars from 1954 to 2004 booklet

Issue date 02 October 2004

Swedish Post has issued a special commemorative booklet with 8 Stamps featuring special perforations "Rock 54-04" on the sheet. The stamps featured Rock Great Elvis Presley who inspired a list of swedish Rock artists/bands from 1954 to 2004 which included Jerry Williams,  Eva Dahlgren, Ulf Lundell, Tomas Ledin, Pugh Rogefeldt, Sahara Hotnights and Lousie Hoffsten

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Stamps with Holes

Disclaimer - Information about the stamp issues on this page has been taken from the net and are for informational purposes only. No copyright claim is made for the above mentioned information/pictures. The pictures have been scanned from my collection. 

Cloth Stamps - Update

Category - Touch
Subcategory - Cloth Stamps

China 2016 G20 Summit at Hangzhou Silk Stamps sheet

Issue date 27 August 2016

China Post to commemorate the G20 Summit to be held at Hangzhou, capital of East China's Zhejiang province, has issued a special silk stamp sheet having 6 silk stamps on the souvenir sheet.

To view other stamps in this category click on the following link - 

Cloth Stamps

Disclaimer - Information about the stamp issues on this page has been taken from the net and are for informational purposes only. No copyright claim is made for the above mentioned information/pictures.  The pictures have been scanned from my collection.