Saturday, June 4, 2011

Otterly fine stamps by Edmund Chen

MY PAPER THURSDAY JUNE 2, 2011, PAGE 14, HOME
From http://epaper.mypaper.sg/cnd/fvxen/fvxp/fvxpress.php?param=2011-06-02

Source Website:
http://news.asiaone.com/News/Latest%2BNews/Showbiz/Story/A1Story20110602-281970.html
https://www.vpost.com.sg/vpost/index1.jsp
https://shop.vpost.com.sg/
By Eunice Ang, aeunice@sph.com.sg, my paper, Thu, Jun 02, 2011



PHOTO: SET OF FOUR: The Endanger Animal-Oriental Small Clawed Otter issue, which costs $3.20, will go on sale on Friday, 3 June 2011.
First Day Cover.jpg


HE IS better known as an actor who has starred in many Chinese drama serials and even in Hollywood movie Street Fighter: The Legend Of Chun Li.

Now, Edmund Chen Zhicai can add "stamp designer" to his credentials.



PHOTO: Endangered Animal - Oriental Small-Clawed Otter.jpg


Chen, who has a flair for art, was approached by SingPost more than a year ago to design a stamp series featuring the Oriental Small-Clawed Otter, which is native to Singapore. The endangered mammal has been spotted at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, and on Pulau Ubin and Pulau Tekong.



PHOTO: Endangered Animal - Oriental Small-Clawed Otter - 1.jpg


In a SingPost event held at the Singapore Philatelic Museum yesterday, the actor told my paper that he spent about three months researching the mammal's habitats and behaviour before starting on the initial sketches.

He spent a month sketching the otter, using pictures he found on the Internet as references. Those sketches were then vetted by experts.



PHOTO: SET OF FOUR: The Endanger Animal-Oriental Small Clawed Otter issue
http://news.asiaone.com/A1MEDIA/news/06Jun11/images/20110602.094011_02062011_edmundchenstamp.jpg
http://news.asiaone.com/News/Latest%2BNews/Showbiz/Story/A1Story20110602-281970.html


Chen, who was appointed SingPost's first Official Stamp Ambassador, said he had to redo his sketches many times to get the details right and that left him "depressed".


PHOTO: Endanger Animal-Oriental Small Clawed Otter - Stamps
Oriental Small Clawed Otter
Copyright© 2011 Singapore Post Limited. All Rights Reserved.
Date Of Issue : 03 Jun, 2011
Local Price : S$ 3.20
Overseas Price : S$ 3.20
https://shop.vpost.com.sg/vPOSTMall/images/philatelic/CSG11ASTb.jpg
https://shop.vpost.com.sg/vPOSTMall/execute/viewDetail?itemSku=CSG11@^CSG11AST


Ms Patsie Tan, SingPost's assistant vice-president of corporate communications, said that the actor was commissioned to do the job because he "can help in the outreach to the young generation on the appreciation of the arts".

Chen said he started drawing when he was in primary school and contributed his works to a student magazine. He received more than one "prize" of $5 for his submissions and that helped him realise the "joy of drawing".



PHOTO: Endanger Animal-Oriental Small Clawed Otter - Presentation Pack
Oriental Small Clawed Otter
Copyright© 2011 Singapore Post Limited. All Rights Reserved.
Date Of Issue : 03 Jun, 2011
Local Price : S$ 5.00 Overseas
Price : S$ 4.70
https://shop.vpost.com.sg/vPOSTMall/images/philatelic/CSG11PRb.jpg
https://shop.vpost.com.sg/vPOSTMall/execute/viewDetail?itemSku=CSG11@^CSG11PR


The Endangered Animal - Oriental Small-Clawed Otter stamp issue, which comes in a set of four stamps, will go on sale for $3.20 on Friday, 3rd June 2011.


PHOTO: SET OF FOUR: The Endanger Animal-Oriental Small Clawed Otter issue


In conjunction with the issue, a unique imperforated Collector's Sheet, which comes with a folder, will be released. The sketchings of the otters on the folder cover were done by Chen's 20-year-old son, Yixi. Of the 1,000 to be issued, 30 come with golden serialised numbers and will be sold for $168. The other 970 serialised sheets - which sell for $88 - are sold out, due to overwhelming response during the pre-order period.



PHOTO: Unique imperforated Collector's Sheet, which comes with a folder, done by Chen's 20-year-old son, Yixi


All proceeds from the sale of the gold-numbered imperforated Collector's Sheet will go to SingPost's adopted charity, Food from the Heart.

The first-day cover will come stamped with a special Oriental Otter postmark designed by Chen's 11-year-old daughter, Yixin. All products in this stamp issue will go on sale on Friday, 3rd June 2011 at all post offices and at the Singapore Philatelic Museum. Orders can also be made at SingPost's online portal, vPost.
By Eunice Ang, aeunice@sph.com.sg, my paper, Thu, Jun 02, 2011



PHOTO: Special Oriental Otter postmark designed by Chen's 11-year-old daughter, Yixin
First Day Cover - Stamps.jpg


HELPDESK
我的字典: Wǒ de zì diǎn

Flair: 天赋 - tiān fù
Otter: 水獭 - shuǐ tǎ

Imperforated: 无齿孔 - wú chǐ kǒng
(Not separated by rows of perforations)

First-day cover: 首日封 - shǒu rì fēng


Reference
at