Senthinathan pointing out some of the fair exhibits.
Melaka teen among mainly older collectors at PJ philatelic show
A RARE interest in stamp collecting attracted teenager Low Zhao Hong from Melaka to attend a stamp fair by the Philatelic Society of Malaysia (PSM) all the way in Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
“It all started when my father shared some of his stamp collections with me.
“I became fascinated with the graphics and historical figures on the stamps.
“This increased my liking of history taught in school,” said the 15-year-old.
Zhao Hong realised that the value of stamps depended on their scarcity and he saw the chance to resell stamps online.
“My parents supported my trip here today,” he said.
Zhao Hong with his collection of prized stamps.
The fair, held at the Petaling Jaya Community Library Hall, was the third one he attended this year.
Spread over two days, the fair marked the PSM’s 77th anniversary.
PSM member Subramaniam Aravandya Pillai, 79, has helped organised the stamp fair for 24 years.
“I will continue to organise this fair to keep the hobby of stamp collecting alive, as stamps are still in demand among collectors who know and appreciate their value,” he said.
A stamp dealer, who only wanted to be known as Wong, described the fair as an opportunity to reconnect with collectors and friends who share the same excitement upon seeing stamps.
Visitors to the fair saw displays of amazing collections of stamps, postcards and envelopes that collectors and dealers had treasured for decades.
“I want to educate the public on the richness of history, through my collections,” said V. Senthinathan, 75, a longtime stamp collector.
Pos Malaysia’s stamp issue commemorating 100 years of Maha.
Many enthusiasts at the fair acknowledged that stamp collecting had declined in popularity with the advent of modern technology that enticed younger generations onto online hobbies.
“Back then, collecting stamps was the cheapest hobby and anyone could do it easily,” said Penang stamp dealer Gary Wan, 77, who started collecting stamps from the age of six.
A highlight at the fair was the release of a special stamp issue commemorating 100 years of the Malaysia Agriculture, Horticulture and Agrotourism (Maha) exhibition.
Pos Malaysia state retail sales manager Roslinda Muhammad Radzi said, “The commemorative stamps are designed to represent Maha’s long-standing presence in Malaysia.”
The set, priced at RM35.10 includes an envelope, a sheet of 20 stamps portraying Maha’s history, a flyer and a storage folder for the items.
The PSM stamp fair has been running for the past 20 years.
The fair was put on hold during the Covid-19 pandemic but resumed in 2022.
