Burma Stamps Profile

Burma is the largest country in Indochina. The area is bordered by China to the North, Laos to the East, Thailand on the South-East, Bangladesh on the West, India on the North-West, Bay of Bengal to the South-West and Andaman Sea to the South. Roughly one-third of its perimeter to the South forms an uninterrupted coastline. The early history of Burma dates back to around 1000 BC when the Mon people migrated to the area, as evidenced by cave paintings & other archeological findings. The colonial era started following a protracted series of three wars with British India between 1824 and 1886. Burma was administered as a province of British India between 1887 and 1937. It became a separate self-governing colony in 1937. During World War II, the Southeast Asian Theater campaign by the Japanese occurred in present day Burmese territories – Japan occupied most of Burma until the British retook the country in 1945. Burmese people fought on both sides of the war although initially a lot of them joined Japanese forces – there was discontent mainly due to disrespect of Burmese culture by the British. Burma was a democratic republic during the period from 1948 to 1962. Since then, it is ruled by the military junta – pro-democracy efforts continue to be suppressed. Burma has a land area of over 260,000 square miles with a population of just over 50 million making it one of the most sparcely populated country in South East Asia at around 190 per square mile – the current population is an estimate as no census has ever been done since a partial one done by the junta in 1983. Most of Burma lies between the Tropic of Cancer and Equator, in the monsoon region of Asia – its coastal areas receive upwards of 5000 mm of rain annually. Almost half the country is tropical forest land and much of it is well preserved, as economic growth is shunted. Mismanagement and isolation has resulted in Burma being classified as the poorest country in the region with a per capita GDP of just around $1200. It is a sad fact to note that it was the richest country in South-East Asia during British administration. Mining, Farming, and Timber form the main industry and all of it is controlled by the ruling junta.

The first stamps of Burma are overprints on India KGV stamps of from the 1926-36 period with the ‘BURMA’ overprint. They were released in a set of eighteen (Scott #1 to #18) on April 1, 1937. The stamps catalog for around $1000 MNH and around $650 for Used. Lower denominations in the set can be had in the dollar price range while the highest two denominations (15r & 25r) fetch over $270 and $520 respectively for MNH. The first original issues were a set of sixteen stamps (Scott #18A to #33) released between 1938 and 1940. The designs show KGVI and local scenes – Royal Barge, Elephant Moving Teak Log, Farmer Plowing a Rice Field, and Sailboat on Irawaddy River. The 1r and 2r denominations in the set feature a beautiful peacock depiction in the background with the KGVI head in the middle. The set catalogs for around $250 MNH and around $100 for Used.


Below are other relevant stamp issues of Burma over the years:

1. A set of four stamps released on May 2, 1946 to mark the Victory of the Allied Nations in WWII. The set (Scott #66 to #69) catalogs for around a dollar MNH or Used. The designs show the KGVI head on the right-top inset with the main theme in the middle. They show Burmese Man, Burmese Woman, Mythological Chinze (Burmese Lion), and Elephant Hauling Teak.
2. A set of fourteen stamps (Scott #102 to #115) released on January 4, 1949 showing Burmese local scenes. The set catalogs for around $25 MNH and around $5 Used. The designs show Ball Game (Chinlone – non-competitive traditional sport of Burma), Dancer, Musician, Rice Planting, Bell, Mythical Bird, Spinning, Royal Palace, Cutting Teak, Plowing Rice Field, and Throne.
3. A set of six stamps (Scott #153 to #158) released in 1954 to mark the sixth Buddhist Council in Rangoon. The set catalogs for around $8 MNH and $3 Used. The designs show Sangha (community of Buddhist Monks) of Cambodia, Council Meeting, Peace Pagoda; Monks’ Hostels and Meeting-cave, Sangha of Thailand, Sangha of Ceylon, and Sangha of Laos. A sister set of four stamps (Scott #159 to #162) was also released on May 24, 1956 to commemorate the 2500th anniversary of the Buddhist Era. The set catalogs for around $5 MNH and $2 Used. The designs show Marble Markers of the fifth Buddhist Council, Thatbyinnyu Pagoda, Shwedagon Pagoda of Rangoon, and Aerial View of the sixth Buddhist Council.
4. A set of twelve stamps (Scott #176 to #187) released on April 16, 1964 in the Birds theme. The set catalogs for around $45 MNH and around $10 Used. The designs show Red-Whiskered bulbul, crested serpent eagle, Sarus crane, Malabar pied hornbill, Lineated Kalij Pheasant, and Green Peafowl. The same set for reissued in changed sizes (Scott #197 to #208) on July 1, 1968. That set is more valuable at around $60 MNH and $10 Used.
5. A set of three stamps (Scott #227 to #229) released on February 12, 1972 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Union. The set is very affordable at around $3 MNH and about a dollar for Used. The designs show Aung San Independence Monument of Pinlon, Bogyoke Aung San & people in front of Independence Monument, and Map of Burma with flag pointing to Pinlon,
6. A set of nine stamps (Scott #244 to #251) released between 1974 and 1978 in the ‘People of Burma’ theme. The designs show Children, Girl, Man and Woman, Woman with fan, Seated woman, and Drummer. The set catalogs for around $15 MNH and $5 Used.
7. A set of five stamps (Scott #261 to #265) released on May 1, 1977 to commemorate the centenary of the Burmese Railroad. The designs show Steam Locomotive, Early train and oxcart, Old and new trains approaching station, Railroad bridge, and Diesel train emerging from tunnel. The set catalogs for around $25 MNH and $5 Used.
8. A set of three stamps (Scott #328 to #330) released on March 1 1996 to mark the ‘Visit Myanmar Year’. The set catalogs for around $12 MNH and $8 Used. The designs show Couple in boat on Inlay Lake with food for Buddha, Decorated royal barge on Lake (Kandawgyi - Yangoon), and Royal Moat.
9. A set of two stamps released on December 9, 2004 to mark the World Buddhist Summit. The designs show Emblem & temples and the same theme in a different design. 

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Last Updated: 07/2011.