SHAH ALAM, Oct 29 — The last time the image of Sultan Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah Alhaj appeared on a postage stamp was during His Royal Highness' coronation as the ninth Sultan of Selangor in 2003.
To commemorate the silver jubilee of His Royal Highness' reign, Pos Malaysia Berhad has once again issued a special collection featuring the Sultan's portrait, comprising 800,000 limited-edition stamps, 14,000 first-day covers and 2,600 folders.
The stamps come in three colours — red, blue and yellow — and feature royal symbols reflecting the identity and distinctive heritage of the Selangor Sultanate.
These include the Balairung Seri (royal audience hall), Tengkolok Balung Raja (royal headdress), Keris Terapang Gabus (royal dagger) and nine-petalled Bunga Tanjung, alongside the official silver jubilee celebration logo and the Selangor state crest.
The collection also stands out for its use of silver printing ink and spot UV techniques on images of the royal couple, creating a glossy finish on selected areas.
The minimalist yet elegant designs underwent several rounds of refinement before being finalised through a collaboration between Pos Malaysia, the Selangor State Secretary's Office and Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM).
According to Pos Malaysia's head of stamps and philately, Haidan Abdul Rahman, preparations took between eight and 12 months, covering discussions and the selection of designs.
He expressed confidence that stamp enthusiasts had been eagerly awaiting the new release, particularly collectors who specialise in stamps from specific states or those featuring royal institutions.
Pos Malaysia typically varies its production quantities according to product type and collectors' demand, but releases associated with royal institutions generally attract considerable interest.
First-day covers are also a perennial favourite among collectors as they come complete with stamps and special cancellation postmarks, giving each collection its own documentary value.
For collectors, the value of a collection lies not merely in its appearance or selling price, but also in the stories behind its issuance and the uniqueness of its designs, which can be appreciated by future generations.
Tribute to the royal town of Klang
Interestingly, the stamps are not the only items expected to be highly sought after in this silver jubilee collection. A special cancellation postmark bearing the name Klang is also likely to attract considerable attention from collectors.
A special cancellation postmark refers to an official postal marking issued by Pos Malaysia specifically for significant events or commemorative stamp launches.
Unlike ordinary date stamps used in daily postal operations, these special postmarks feature distinctive graphic designs symbolising the theme or occasion being celebrated.
To some, a postmark on an envelope may seem like nothing more than a small mark indicating that a stamp has been used. For philatelists, however, a special cancellation postmark holds significance as a historical record documenting when and where a stamp was issued.
Haidan said Pos Malaysia had prepared special cancellation postmarks featuring the silver jubilee celebration logo and the names of various locations to mark the launch of the Sultan Selangor Silver Jubilee Stamps.
"For collectors, these postmarks have their own value because they allow us to identify the date and location associated with the stamp's issuance.
"What makes this silver jubilee release particularly special is the cancellation postmark bearing the name Klang, as the town holds a special place as Selangor's royal town," he said.
Pos Malaysia has prepared more than 60 cancellation postmarks bearing different location names nationwide, including locations in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Kelantan.
Notably, the postmark bearing the name Klang is available only at post offices in the Klang area.
"If collectors specifically want a collection with a special cancellation postmark bearing the word Klang, they will make the trip to Klang. They will not buy it elsewhere," he added.
The stamps were launched on October 19 at the Raja Tun Uda Library in Shah Alam and officially went on sale on October 20 at selected post offices and through Pos Malaysia's sales channels.
A special silver coin produced by the Selangor State Treasury was also unveiled at the ceremony as a tribute to His Royal Highness' 25-year reign.
These commemorative releases not only celebrate the silver jubilee of the Sultan's reign but also serve as treasured keepsakes that can be preserved and passed down to future generations.
Also gracing the launch were Tengku Permaisuri of Selangor Tengku Permaisuri Hajah Norashikin and Raja Muda of Selangor Tengku Amir Shah.
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari was also present.
