Myanmar Instrument Stamps

This article features a set of Myanmar instrument stamps from 1998. Instruments are a common motif on stamps from all over the world. The first stamp sets featuring instruments were from the 1950s. Check out some of my other articles featuring instrument sets from Gabon, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, and many more.

There are many reasons why instruments are popular on stamps. They are immediately recognizable cultural objects that rarely cause controversy.

The postage set from Myanmar is actually a little on the rare side (and a little more expensive) and it took me a while to get the entire set. The stamps each feature a single instrument set against a sold color background. The writing on the stamps is in both Burmese (the official language) and English. The definitive set of stamps became available over a period of two years.

Pattala (Xylophone)

The first stamp issue of this set, and the one with the lowest denomination, features a pattala or a wooden xylophone. Typically, it has twenty-four wood bars suspended on a string over a boat-shaped body. A player uses padded malets to hit the bars. The instrument has a number of uses including in chamber ensembles, in the hsaing waing orchestra, or accompanying dramas. The denomination of the stamp is the 5 Kyat (K). This stamp was first available on August 28, 1998. Check out my post about other xylophones on stamps.

The next stamp in the series became available on October 9, 1998. It is a beautiful stamp with a dark purple background and a gold instrument set against it. In Myanmar, as in other parts of southeast Asia, sets of pot gongs are very common. Each little pot has a knob, which a player strikes with a mallet to get a tone. Such sets can be found in Indonesia, the Philippines, and elsewhere in the region. What is unusual, is the stamp features a set of such pots on a very elaborate stand. Rather than sitting in a row, the gongs rise up on each side with the shape of the curvature of the stand. The value of the stamp if 10 Kyat.

Rakhine (Drum)

The next stamp in the set features the Rakhine drum. This instrument comes from the state of Rakhine, a region along the coast of Myanmar. The barrel-drum is worn on a strap to hang in front of a standing drummer. Traditionally, a banner covers the body of the instrument and hangs down in front (as seen on the stamp). Players use wooden mallets to beat the two heads of the drum in large drum groups. This stamp was first made available on February 12, 1999 and has the value of 20 Kyat.

Saùng-gauk (Harp)

Next in the set is the saùng-gauk, the national instrument of Myanmar. This harp is very important to the identity of the country and has long had an association with royalty and courtly life. Make sure to read my post about the saùng-gauk and other stamps that feature it. This stamp was released on May 17, 1999 and has a 30 Kyat value.

Shan Pot (Drum)

On November 15, 1999, the fifth stamp in the series became available. Once again, this stamp features a drum. This time it is the shan pot drum which comes from the Shan state. The drum has a body in the shape of a goblet and a single skin head. The instrument is rather large and usually tilts over at an angle (as is seen on the stamp) for the player to beat the head with both hands. Typically, the drum plays to accompany lively dance music. The stamp has a 50 Kyat value.

Kachin (Gong)

The final stamp in this set is also the most expensive with a value of 100 Kyat. The stamp was released on February 12, 2000. It features the large Kachin, a type of bossed gong. Gongs of various sizes are found throughout Myanmar with larger examples common in temples and monasteries. The instrument plays to differentiate the various activities of the day. It can also play in various types of musical ensembles.

Learn more about contemporary gongs in Myanmar: