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K-Stamp Focus

title,date
title Traveling through history at world stamp exhibit
date 2015.07.30




Many people in their 30s or older may have once had a childhood fascination with the hobby of collecting stamps, or philately. The colorfully designed stamps pasted on the long-awaited letters were attention grabbing icons during those times. Although local Korean stamps each had their own unique signature, exotic foreign stamp collections, held by a select few, were often the target of envy.


The PHILAKOREA 2014 World Stamp Exhibition, going on from August 7 to 12 at the COEX exhibition hall in southern Seoul, is attracting many people with exactly such memories.



This exhibition has some of the world's rarest stamps and special envelopes, musical performances, handwritten letters, one-of-a-kind personal stamps, diary entries from philately hobbyists worldwide, a memorial hall dedicated to the history of Korean postal services and even a display showing off the future of stamp technology.



A rare stamp, the Inverted Jenny, is a U.S. stamp of a Curtiss JN-4 airplane. It attracts the attention of many young people visiting the PHILAKOREA 2014 World Stamp Exhibition. (photo: Jeon Han)

A rare stamp, the Inverted Jenny, is a U.S. stamp of a Curtiss JN-4 airplane. It attracts the attention of many young people visiting the PHILAKOREA 2014 World Stamp Exhibition. (photo: Jeon Han)




The Inverted Jenny was the first dedicated stamp for airmail in the USA, printed on May 18, 1918. The plane image was mistakenly printed upside down and is today one of the world's rarest stamps. With a face value of only 24 cents, it now holds an estimated market value of about KRW 1.5 billion.



(From the top left, clockwise) The Inverted Jenny, with an airplane printed upside down; the String of Pearls envelope, with nine of China's first postal stamp, the Five Candarin Large Dragon; the Mauritius Proofs, misprinted with 'Post Paid;' and, a blue British Guiana stamp are all on display at the PHILAKOREA 2014 World Stamp Exhibition. (images courtesy of Korea Post)

(From the top left, clockwise) The Inverted Jenny, with an airplane printed upside down; the String of Pearls envelope, with nine of China's first postal stamp, the Five Candarin Large Dragon; the Mauritius Proofs, misprinted with 'Post Paid;' and, a blue British Guiana stamp are all on display at the PHILAKOREA 2014 World Stamp Exhibition. (images courtesy of Korea Post)




Rare specimens also include a two cent British Guiana stamped envelope printed in 1852. It was originally planned in rose, but blue was the result. This particular item is now priced at about KRW 1 billion. Other rarities are the String of Pearls envelope, with nine of China's first stamp, the Five Candarin Large Dragon, worth about KRW 2 billion, and the Mauritius Proof, a misprinted stamp proof from 1847 where "Post Office" was printed as "Post Paid." Only a single copy of this last exists, giving it a market value of about KRW 1.2 billion.



Korea first introduced a modern postal system in 1884, during the late Joseon era, and is this year celebrating 130 years of postal history. At the postal centennial in 1984, Korea hosted its first World Stamp Exhibition, backed by the Fédération Internationale de Philatélie. Since then, Korea Post has been hosting the exhibit once per decade. This year is its fourth exhibition so far.



Crowds gather at the PHILAKOREA 2014 World Stamp Exhibition, held at COEX in southern Seoul, from August 7 to 12. (photo: Jeon Han)

Crowds gather at the PHILAKOREA 2014 World Stamp Exhibition, held at COEX in southern Seoul, from August 7 to 12. (photo: Jeon Han)





The tape-cutting event at the opening of the PHILAKOREA 2014 World Stamp Exhibition, held at COEX in southern Seoul from August 7 to 12. (photo: Jeon Han)

The tape-cutting event at the opening of the PHILAKOREA 2014 World Stamp Exhibition, held at COEX in southern Seoul from August 7 to 12. (photo: Jeon Han)




Yoon Jong-lok, the 2nd vice-minister of science, ICT and future planning, gave the keynote speech at the opening ceremony for the PHILAKOREA 2014 World Stamp Exhibition, held at COEX in southern Seoul. (photo: Jeon Han)

Yoon Jong-lok, the 2nd vice-minister of science, ICT and future planning, gave the keynote speech at the opening ceremony for the PHILAKOREA 2014 World Stamp Exhibition, held at COEX in southern Seoul. (photo: Jeon Han)





Some 519 collections covering 200,000 stamps from 68 countries were submitted to the philately contest at this exhibition. This is despite the evolution and distribution of high speed internet networks worldwide and the fact that mobile devices are quickly replacing postage stamps and handwritten letters with emails, text messages and social networking services. It proves that the past's anticipation of mail and the yearning hearts and hands that dispatched hand-written letters to mailboxes worldwide, is a common memory of humanity, a lasting nostalgic gesture in an ever-speeding world.



Traditional motifs, including <i>minhwa</i> folk paintings, <i>hahoe</i> masks, Hanbok, Hangeul, <i>onggi</i> pottery, the <i>gayageum</i>, <i>baekja</i> porcelain and traditional eaves were all incorporated into a special series of commemorative stamps for the PHILAKOREA 2014 World Stamp Exhibition. (image courtesy of Korea Post)

Traditional motifs, including minhwa folk paintings, hahoe masks, Hanbok, Hangeul, onggi pottery, the gayageum, baekja porcelain and traditional eaves were all incorporated into a special series of commemorative stamps for the PHILAKOREA 2014 World Stamp Exhibition. (image courtesy of Korea Post)





The Philately Week series of special stamps features the winning designs of the 19th International Postage Stamp Design Contest, organized last year. They were printed in time for the PHILAKOREA 2014 World Stamp Exhibition. (image courtesy of Korea Post)

The Philately Week series of special stamps features the winning designs of the 19th International Postage Stamp Design Contest, organized last year. They were printed in time for the PHILAKOREA 2014 World Stamp Exhibition. (image courtesy of Korea Post)




Pictures inspired by the song "Arirang" are printed on Hanji, traditional Korean paper, part of a special commemorative series of stamps made for the PHILAKOREA 2014 World Stamp Exhibition. (image courtesy of Korea Post)

Pictures inspired by the song "Arirang" are printed on Hanji, traditional Korean paper, part of a special commemorative series of stamps made for the PHILAKOREA 2014 World Stamp Exhibition. (image courtesy of Korea Post)





Stamps based on famous artwork, animals, the World Cup and the Seoul Olympic Games await visitors at the PHILAKOREA 2014 World Stamp Exhibition. (photo: Jeon Han)

Stamps based on famous artwork, animals, the World Cup and the Seoul Olympic Games await visitors at the PHILAKOREA 2014 World Stamp Exhibition. (photo: Jeon Han)





Visitors to the PHILAKOREA 2014 World Stamp Exhibition look though the collections of stamps and postcards on sale at the exhibition. (photo: Jeon Han)

Visitors to the PHILAKOREA 2014 World Stamp Exhibition look though the collections of stamps and postcards on sale at the exhibition. (photo: Jeon Han)





A poster for the PHILAKOREA 2014 World Stamp Exhibition (image courtesy of Korea Post)

A poster for the PHILAKOREA 2014 World Stamp Exhibition (image courtesy of Korea Post)




Official emblem - Bright colors and the friendly images of a dove, an envelope and a date stamp represent the passion of philatelists and peace for humankind. Here they portray love, peace and harmony, the three themes of the PHILAKOREA 2014 World Stamp Exhibition.

Official emblem - Bright colors and the friendly images of a dove, an envelope and a date stamp represent the passion of philatelists and peace for humankind. Here they portray love, peace and harmony, the three themes of the PHILAKOREA 2014 World Stamp Exhibition.



Official Mascots - Phiko (philately + Korea) & Harmo (harmony) want to go on a journey in search of new stamps. Harmo, on the right, wants to find the most beautiful stamp in the world. They set off to experience stamps from around the world at the PHILAKOREA 2014 exhibit. The two will guide you to a festival that celebrates harmony among people of all nations.

Official Mascots - Phiko (philately + Korea) & Harmo (harmony) want to go on a journey in search of new stamps. Harmo, on the right, wants to find the most beautiful stamp in the world. They set off to experience stamps from around the world at the PHILAKOREA 2014 exhibit. The two will guide you to a festival that celebrates harmony among people of all nations.




By Paik Hyun

Korea.net Staff Writer



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