As I looked for possible places to visit in Singapore, numbers of museums come up as I search and one of it really catch my attention and I am so interested to have it listed on my places to see, since I am collecting postcards and stamps I am talking about Singapores’ Philatelic Museum and I did went to really see it, yipee, luckily, Posh accompanied me there after we had lunch and a trip to Samsonite store at Plaza Singapura to fixed my luggage bag—thanks God it was repaired!
Philatelic Museum showcases one of the most wide-ranging collection of Singapore stamps and philatelic items. Stamps are miniature pieces of art featuring significant events, history and heritage of one country. The museum has colorful and interactive exhibitions, lots of different galleries! It is in the heart of the civic district, and resting by the foothill of the tranquil Fort Canning, its the first in Southeast Asia that is dedicated to the exciting world of philately. Housed in the century-old, double-storey, colonial building that once served as a boy’s school and bookstore.
There are many rooms, there’s the Room of Rarities which is a must-see! It is dedicated to Singapore’s rich postal history, the gallery displays some of the largest, finest and most comprehensive collections of philatelic items. A highlight is the much sought-after cover that bears all four values of the first set of stamps to be introduced in Singapore in 1854.
There are Orange, Purple and Green Room…fascinating windows to the world open. Colorful and unusual stamps of the world—from the world’s first stamp, Great Britain’s 1840 Penny Black, to vinyl records stamps from the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan that produce music when spun on a turn-table; stamps that are impregnated with fragrances; hologram and gold and silver-foiled stamps and those that glow in the dark; to stamps made of wood, plus stamps made of swarovski crystals…:)
There’s also a Thematic Exhibitions wherein theme galleries offer a host of changing philatelic and contemporary exhibitions throughout the year…the time we went there its all about F1 Race and Ferrari cars…:) Also there was the exhibit of “The Originals of G. R. Lambert” which features the rare collection of GR Lambert 19th century photographs and historical pictures postcards in the late 19th to early 20th century
Another room is the Heritage Room that transports us back in time to the 19th century where the different migrant races struggled to build their lives and future and to make Singapore a place that they could truly call home. Seeing their traditional trades and different cultural festivals and traditional costumes plus their musical instruments.
My eyes went big with their museum shop, hehehe, they offers a lot of unique souvenirs relating to philately and latest stamp issues, also stock of accessories that a beginner would need to kick-start the hobby.
I also mailed a postcard at the Museum’s sub-post that have a stamped of their special cancellation, its a great heritage souvenir, I think! I will be posting the card when I received it for sure! Well, I missed the fun of having my own customized stamps made on-the-spot. tsk! tsk! tsk!
Lastly, their toilets caught my attention, so can’t helped not to take photos of it…lolz!
Anyway, Singapore Philatelic Museum is located at 23-B Coleman Street, the museum is a 5 to 10 minutes walk from City Hall and Clarke Quay MRT Stations….or at bus stops for services (2, 12, 32, 33, 51, 61, 63, 80, 147, 147A, 190 and 197) along Hill Street are just 5-minutes walk from the museum. They are open from Monday at 1pm to 7pm while from Tuesdays to Sundays, its from 9am to 7pm…admission will cost S$5 and a one-dollar less for children aged 3-12 years old and senior citizen!
At the end, I enjoyed my visit, my first stop in Singapores’ many attraction, it is worth-going for someone like me! Oppsss…I got the promo for museums thinking I can visit some, so I got a ticket for 8 museums at S$20 that’s valid for 3days but unfortunately, I wasted it because I wasn’t able to visit another museum after this one. Hope to get back someday and see their museums! *smile*
