Cambodian Stamps issued in 2011
 
June 29, 2011: 30th anniversary of the discovery of the HIV virus

The FDC for this issue is dated June 5, 2011, which corresponds with the date suggested by the Universal Postal Union (UPU) and UNAIDS, respectively. However, due to time constraints, the MPTC was unable to launch this set of stamps until June 29, 2011. Consequently, these stamps and FDC were not available between June 5 and June 28, 2011.

As noted in the UNAIDS, UPU, ILO and UNI Global Union guide for the Global HIV Prevention Campaign issued in July 2010, "In 2011, 30 years will have gone since acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, or AIDS, was first identified...As operators of the world's largest physical delivery network, Posts [postal services] have a unique opportunity to reach millions of people on a daily basis, including its own employees, to provide them with critical health information such as how to protect themselves from HIV."

  

  

Fig. 1: The set of 4 stamps released for use by the public on July 29, 2011.

A total of 80,000 stamps were printed for this issue as well as 5,000 maxicards depicting the two birds as shown on the 4,000 riel stamp. No Souvenir Sheet was issued.  A First Day Cover was also issued as shown in Figure 2, below.


Fig. 2: The FDC dated June 5 but actually only released on June 29, 2011.

 Fig. 3: A commemorative postmark was created for this issue and shows the launch date as 05-06-11 even though the stamps did not actually become available for use until 29-06-11.

Sheets of 25 stamps are how the issue has been printed in Vietnam, as seen below.


Fig. 4: A sheet of the 1,000 riel stamp.


Fig. 5: A sheet of the 1,500 riel stamp.


Fig. 6: A sheet of the 2,800 riel stamp.


Fig. 7: A sheet of the 4,000 riel stamp.

Fig. 8: One Maxicard was issued of the 4,000r stamp; a total of 5,000 copies of this Maxicard were printed and are available free-of-charge at the CPO in Phnom Penh.

Two A5 size stickers were also printed by the MPTC linked to this stamp issue. The first, below (Fig. 9) shows the 2,800r stamp together with Cambodian language text stating that you are at a higher risk of getting HIV if you inject illicit drugs.


Fig. 9: Protect yourself from HIV by not sharing used needles/syringes.

The other sticker issued shows the 4,000r stamp cancelled with the commemorative postmark dated June 5, 2011 (Fig. 10).  Both stickers are being widely distributed to post office vans, motorcycle taxi-drivers, cyclos and applied to MPTC buildings throughout Cambodia.

Fig. 10: Your post office cares about you - protect yourself from AIDS.

Originally, there were to be a total of five (5) stamps in this set, as shown below.  However, due to financial constraints, as well as concerns expressed by some officials of the NAA over the image depicted in the 500 riel stamp, only 4 stamps were finally issued.

Fig. 11: The original set of 5 designs, including the 500r stamp.

As a consequence of this decision, the 500 riel stamp showing a condom was never printed and thereby never released as part of the set.

Fig. 12: The design for the 500r stamp that was rejected and never printed / issued.

A FDC was also designed, but never printed, using the 5 original stamp designs, as shown below.  Note the different launch dates shown on this FDC: the postmark shows June 11, 2011 (11-06-2011) whereas below the red HIV/AIDS ribbon logo (bottom, left of the FDC), the date is shown as '00-06-11', i.e. June 00, 2011.

Fig. 13: The original FDC design of 5 stamps that was never printed / issued.

This, again, reflects the uncertainty within the MPTC at that time as to the exact launch date for this set of stamps and its FDC.  It was only after the World Health Organisation (WHO) in Cambodia contacted UNAIDS HQ in Geneva, that the global launch date was identified as June 5, 2011.

Fig. 14: The original design of the commemorative postmark showing the original launch date of June 11, 2011.

Fig. 15: The original FDC logo with an unspecified day in June 2011 for the official launch.

Links:
Universal Postal Union (UPU): http://www.upu.int
National AIDS Authority (NAA) of Cambodia: www.naa.org.kh
Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS): http://www.unaids.org
International Labour Organisation (ILO): http://www.ilo.org
UNI Global Union: www.uniglobalunion.org


November 14, 2011: 20th Anniversary of the return of His Majesty the King Father and Queen Mother

Two (2) stamps issued; no Souvenir Sheet and no First Day Cover (FDC) were issued.

  

Here is a digital photograph taken of the Cambodia Post information sheet related to this issue: