Singapore create limited edition stamp series for IYC

Singapore marked the United Nations International Year of Co-operatives (IYC) 2012 with a series of day-long celebratory events on 9 June – starting with the launch of five Limited Edition stamps to mark 86 years of co-operatives in Singapore.

The first-of-its-kind stamp series was launched by President Tony Tan at the Marina Barrage where the IYC was celebrated by 15,000 members of the co-operative movement, their families and the public, at a large-scale event, ‘Co-opalicouz’.

Commissioned by the Singapore National Co-operative Federation (SNCF) and issued by SingPost, the stamps are legal tender, with each tracing the legacy of the co-operative movement, focusing on milestones in Singapore from the founding of the co-op principles in Rochdale, 1844, to the birth of the Singapore National Co-operative Federation in 1980.

The stamp issue is the result of the combined efforts of the SNCF, National Archives of Singapore, Singapore Post and Singapore Tourism Board.

Mr Chan Tee Seng, SNCF Chairman, said that the launch of the limited edition stamp series and First Day Covers is a pivotal step towards raising awareness for Singapore’s co-operatives.

“We are delighted to have partnered SingPost to produce Singapore’s first-ever set of legal tender stamp series, as this gives sterling recognition to the significance of the co-operative movement’s impact on society. In Singapore, more than 1 in 3 Singaporeans are members of co-operatives. The IYC is an opportunity to bring people together, raise public awareness for our cause, and demonstrate that by coming together as one, we can do much more for ourselves and for Singapore.”

The general public who purchase the Limited Edition co-operative stamps from SingPost booth at the Marina Barrage will get to also see two exhibitions being staged there as part of the Co-opaliciouz event of IYC 2012: the first is the co-operative stamps exhibition and the second is theSNCF’s Hot Shots photo exhibition, showcasing the winning entries of photographers from across the world who best captured the essence and spirit of co-operation on film.

Held over one and a half months, the competition had garnered 583 online entries, 613 print entries and more than 8,500 votes. Entries came in from as far away as Poland.

SingPost spokesperson Peggy Teo, Assistant Vice President (Philatelic & Stamps) said that the issuance of the commemorative co-operative stamps is timely to recognise the 1.4 million members of co-operatives in Singapore and to commemorate Singapore’s celebration of IYC 2012.

“Co-operatives in Singapore contribute significantly at both the economic and social levels. We hope that this stamp series will further raise public awareness of co-operatives and that stamp collectors and the general public will be inspired by the principles of the co-operative movement and its national contributions to Singapore,” she said.