Personalised stamps (Setem Ku) have been popularised as a private method to promote events (both commemorative and contemporary) when official stamps are not released. The recent 1oth World Congress of Herpetology (WCH10) from 05 – 09 August 2024 in Kuching saw a nice way to promote philately to the delegates.
Each delegate received a single WCH10 Setem Ku Stamp. VIPs of the event received the covers and a maxicard. What really stands out is the use of the stamps to commemorate the opening with a set of 5 covers featuring… herpetology….ok you get it now… the reptiles and amphibians. There is even a maxicard!
Here is the Setem Ku Stamp Sheetlet:
I guess this is one of the few organisation that got the assignment right! The beautiful covers (yes you are meant to make covers with the stamps and not just mint folders!!!). There is even a maxicard in the pack.
It must have been a rush for the organisers as the covers were prepare for the VIPs on the first day of the congress. The covers have a concordant postmark from Kuching where the event was held on 05 August 2024 (the first day of the event). Kudos to the concordancy and beautiful covers!
Those interested in the philatelic items can contact secretariat@2024wch10.com
To cap it all, a WCH10 pin was also sold on site. The Rainbow Toad thought to be extinct and was rediscovered by Prof Dr Indraneil Das in 2011 seems to come to life under light!
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Prof. Dr. Indraneil Das, D.Phil. (Oxon),
Institute of Biodiversity and Environmental Conservation
Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS)
94300 Kota Samarahan Sarawak Malaysia
Notes:
World Congress of Herpetology (WCH)
The World Congress is a meeting of the world’s top herpetologists every 3-4 years. The mission of the World Congress of Herpetology (WCH) is to promote herpetological research, education and conservation, by facilitating communication between individuals, societies and other organisations engaged in the study of amphibians and reptiles.
For further information, please visit: https://www.worldcongressofherpetology.org/
Prof. Dr Indraneil Das is also the World Guiness Record holder for the World’s Largest Collection of Amphibian Stamps and author of the Unusual Stamps and MS (1 and 2) of Malaysia.
Future of Setem Ku and Setem Ku Covers
As we reach a new age of use of Personalised Stamps, it is increasingly moving to the mainstream with even Pos Malaysia issuing Setem Ku for festivals and their own events. The price is higher due to the lower quantities issued. More and more collectors are allocating space to collect Setem Ku and hopefully more Setem Ku Covers and Maxicards can be produced to commemorate the event! This will be more meaningful.
Here is an article I wrote back in 2018 when Setem Ku gained traction being made into commemorative covers with the Philatelic Society Malaysi starting the trend in 2007! https://myfdc.me/2018/10/04/the-rise-of-setemku-personalised-stamps-first-day-covers/
The hardest about Setem Ku covers is that the organisation making the Setem Ku are usually not cover collectors and this opportunity can only be realised by advance information from friends, contacts and Facebook connections.
If you have news of upcoming Setem Ku available for the public, just drop me a message.
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