Catalogue Burma

Note: on my website many of the pictures can not be seen! They are of course present in the catalogue;
contact me if you want to purchase it.

Burma issued its own stamps from 1937 on. Before 1937 the stamps of India were used. Some examples of stamps of India with a "B5" numeral cancel of Akyab.

I have also seen a 2 a 1854 stamp of India with this "B/5" numeral cancel of Akyab. Also a "B/156" cancel for Rangoon. Click here for more information on these cancels.

1937 Stamps of India (India King George V issue), with overprint "BURMA"

With overprint "SERVICE": 3 p grey, 1/2 a green, 9 p green, 1 a brown, 2 a red, 2 a 6 p orange, 4 a green, 6 a light brown, 8 a lilac, 12 a red, 1 R green and brown ("SERVICE" larger), 2 R orange and red, 5 R lilac and blue, 10 R red and green.

Overprinted with a Peacock during the Japanese occupation, images obtained from a Sandafayre auction

I have also seen postal stationary with King George V (1 a brown, king in an ellipse) with "BURMA" overprint.

1938 King George VI, inscription "BURMA POSTAGE"

Small sized stamps (dragons or lions at the sides): 1 p red (1940), 3 p violet, 3 p brown (1946), 6 p blue, 6 p violet (1946), 9 p green (1946), 1 a brown, 1 a blue (1946), 1 1/2 a green, 1 1/2 a orange (1946), 2 a red, 2 a lilac (1946), 4 a blue, 4 a lilac (1946).

Larger sized stamps with various designs: 2 a 6 p red (Royal barge), 2 a 6 p blue (Royal barge, 1946), 3 a violet (elephant moving teak), 3 a blue (1946), 3 a 6 p blue and light blue (Burma rice), 3 a 6 p blue and black (Burma rice, 1946), 8 a green (the Irrawaddy), 8 a lilac (the Irrawaddy, 1946).

Large standing size: 1 R blue and lilac (peacock), 1 R lilac and blue (peacock, 1946), 2 R violet and brown (design as 1 R), 2 R orange and brown (design as 1 R, 1946), 5 R red and blue (statues at sides), 5 R brown and green (statues at sides, 1946), 10 R green and brown (design as 5 R), 10 R violet and lilac (design as 5 R, 1946).

With overprint "MILY ADMN" (1945): 1 p red, 3 p violet, 6 p blue, 9 p green, 1 a brown, 1 1/2 a blue, 2 a red, 2 a 6 p red, 3 a lilac, 3 a 6 p blue (now in one colour only!), 4 a blue, 8 a green, 1 R blue and grey, 2 R lilac and brown, 5 R red and blue, 10 R green and brown.

With overprint 'SERVICE' (1939): 3 p violet, 3 p brown (1946), 6 p blue, 6 p violet (1946), 9 p green (dark or light green), 1 a brown, 1 a blue (1946), 1 1/2 a green, 1 1/2 a orange (1946), 2 a red, 2 a lilac (1946), 2 a 6 p red, 2 a 6 p red (1946), 4 a grey, 4 a lilac (1946), 8 a green, 8 a lilac (1946), 1 R blue and violet, 1 R lilac and blue (1946), 2 R violet and brown, 2 R orange and brown (1946), 5 R red and blue, 5 R brown and green (1946), 10 R green and brown, 10 R violet and lilac (1946), the word 'SERVICE' is larger on the larger sized stamps.

With overprint "COMMEMORATION POSTAGE STAMP 6th MAY 1840" (1940): "ONE ANNA 1 A" and bars on 2 a 6 p brown.

These stamps also exist with a Burmese overprint (1947): 3 p brown, 6 p violet, 9 p green, 1 a blue, 1 1/2 a orange, 2 a lilac, 2 a 6 p blue, 2 a 6 p blue, 3 a blue, 3 a 6 p blue and black, 4 a lilac, 8 a lilac, 1 R lilac and blue, 2 R orange and brown, 5 R brown and green, 10 R violet and lilac.

With Burmese overprint and "SERVICE" (1947): 3 p brown, 6 p violet, 9 p green, 1 a blue, 1 1/2 a orange, 2 a lilac, 2 a 6 p blue, 4 a lilac, 8 a lilac, 1 R lilac and blue, 2 R orange and brown, 5 R brown and green, 10 R violet and lilac.

A nice website on forged overprints can be found at: http://www.bilston73.freeserve.co.uk/idiot/idiot.htm. It states that all envelopes with "JAPANESE SPECIAL SERVICE POST" are forged. The stamps with "MILY ADM" were not overprinted (some forgers use these stamps and cover the text with their peacock forged overprint).

I've seen many of these envelopes addressed to: "THA. HAN. PHAUNG. ADMISSION COMMANDER NO 5834518. CLERK, OFFICE OF S D.O.M. JAP. MILY. CAMP. MOULMEIN RANGOON. BURMA."

1942 Japanese occupation of Burma

The 30 c is probably genuine. Genuine stamps have the value impressed in the paper.

Farmer design:
  1 c orange
  2 c green
  3 c blue
  5 c red (small 'C' or large 'C')
  10 c brown
  15 c lilac
  20 c violet
  30 c green 
  1 F red

There exist many forgeries of stamps similar to above stamp (farmer issue); for a review of the forgeries see: http://www.bilston73.freeserve.co.uk/farmers/farmers.htm

A nice site on the forgeries of the 'Yano seal stamps' (second image above) can be found at: http://www.bilston73.freeserve.co.uk/Yano/Yano.htm. The Yano seal stamp was the first stamp to be issued under the Japanese occupation.

1943 issue Japanese occupation of Burma, tower, woman and elephant carrying wood

In the above designs exist:
Elephant carrying wood: 5 c red, 10 c blue, 15 c orange, 20 c green, 30 c olive
Woman: 1 c orange, 2 c green, 3 c violet,
Tower: 1 R orange, 2 R violet.

Forgeries exist of at least the woman design (see Focus on Forgeries by Varro Tyler).

1943 Shan States issue (Japanese occupation)

Cart with oxes (similar in design to the 1943 elephant issue)
  1 c brown
  2 c green
  3 c violet
  5 c blue

Local woman
  10 c blue
  20 c red
  30 c olive

1946 King George VI, Victory issue

  9 p blue (map with Birmese man)
  1 1/2 a violet (map with Birmese woman)
  2 a red (map and statue)
  3 a 6 p blue (map with elephant)

INDEPENDENT BURMA

1948 As 1946 issues, but with face of king changed to local leader

  1/2 a green
  1 a lilac
  2 a red
  3 1/2 a blue
  8 a brown

BURMA