Changi International Airport Miniature Sheet 1981

On 29 December 1981, 6 months after the first scheduled services had begun using Changi International Airport, Mr Howe Yoon Chong (principal proponent of the original decision to build a new airport at Changi) the then Minister of Defence officiated at the opening ceremony of the Airport.

A set of 5 commemorative stamps on a Miniature Sheet was issued depicting the 1,350 tonne control tower in the forefront and the Passenger Terminal Building.

Before the stamp issue was out, there was much speculation as to the design of the stamps. Then the local press reported an interview with the designer Mr James B. L. Heng. He was reported to have spent days trying to capture the airport at different hours of the day i.e. morning dawn, noon and twilight.

5 organisations played a major role in the successful completion of this project. As such, the logos of the Parks & Recreation Department, Public Works Department, Telecoms, Port of Singapore Authority and the Department of Civil Aviation were featured in the background of the 5 stamps of 10cts, 35cts, 50cts, 75cts and $1/- values respectively.

On the morning of 29th December, long queues of stamp collectors were already at the gates of Post Offices throughout Singapore before opening time. When the doors were opened, the crowd rushed in to take positions infront of the counters. As there was great demand for this long awaited Miniature Sheet, the 1st lucky few collectors in the queue were able to get their orders. Those who were far behind the queue left the office quite disappointed and had to be contented with only the stamps.

It was such a brisk sale that the Miniature Sheet was snatched up within ½ hour. A few collectors had rushed from one post office to another trying to buy more but the situation at the other offices were the same.

The scene at the Killiney Road Post Office was no different. At 9.00pm there was still a long queue and to prevent more collectors from joining in the queue, the Postal Officer closed the doors near closing time. In this way, only those who were inside the premises would be allowed to get their stamps.

It was almost 10.00pm when the last customer was served. But every collector was seen smiling as each was able to purchase a few Miniature Sheets. This was made possible by the limitation on the numbers of sheets each customer was allowed to buy.

In the late morning, I dropped in at the General Post Office, to collect my parcel which included First Day Cover, stamps and the Miniature Sheet. The whole building was swarmed with people of all ages wanting to get this Changi Airport Stamps.

For the convenience of pasting on the First Day Cover with the set of 5 stamps, many collectors were seen tearing off the set from the Miniature Sheet. Whether this was a wise move, I leave it to the opinion of the more experienced philatelist.

T.T. Cher

(Reproduced from KASS Journal 1982 No. 4)

This piece of miniature sheet sold like hotcakes on it's first day of issue.