How SingPost is reviving a piece of Singapore's postal history this National Day

Singapore Post (SingPost) is marking Singapore's 61st National Day by reimagining the country's first independence stamp issue, while introducing what it says is one of its rarest philatelic releases to date.

Launching on 7 August, the commemorative collection pays tribute to Singapore's first independence anniversary stamps, originally issued on 9 August 1966, with updated artwork reflecting the nation's transformation over the past six decades.

According to SingPost, the 1966 stamps remain the only Singapore stamps to carry the country's full formal name, "Republic of Singapore". Subsequent stamp issues have simply used "Singapore".

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The original series, issued in three denominations with the theme "Surviving in a challenging future in a multi-racial society", featured workers from Singapore's diverse communities alongside public housing and industrial infrastructure, reflecting the priorities of a newly independent nation.

The 2026 collection retains the visual language of the original while shifting its focus towards Singapore's evolution into a globally connected and sustainability-driven nation. Designed by local graphic designer Lim Wen Bin, it comprises three denominations – 1st Local, SG$1.55 and SG$2 – alongside a premium miniature sheet featuring silver rainbow foil hot stamping.

Alongside the standard release, SingPost is also introducing a limited-edition imperforated stamp sheet set aimed at collectors. Unlike conventional stamps, imperforated stamps are printed without the perforated edges used for separation, making them highly sought after within the philatelic community.

To commemorate Singapore's 61st anniversary, SingPost will release just 61 sets, each containing three full imperforated sheets covering all three denominations. The sets will be available via ballot through pre-orders opening on 15 July and are priced at SG$610 each, inclusive of GST.

For general collectors and postal use, standard perforated sheets of 100 stamps each will also be available at face value, alongside first day covers, pre-cancelled first day covers and presentation packs.

Lim Wen Bin said he chose to render the architectural backgrounds in a desaturated style, allowing the people in the foreground to stand out in vibrant colour.

"Following the original 1966 design, rendering the architectural backgrounds in a desaturated style allows the people in the foreground to pop in full, vibrant colour. This stark contrast is deeply intentional, as it is our people who built this nation," he said. 

He added, "The ultimate creative challenge was deciding what to leave out rather than what to include. With Singapore having achieved so much over the past 60 years, it was vital to distil that immense progress into a simple, clear narrative that can be understood at a single glance on a canvas this small." 

Echoing the significance of the release, Lim Chong Jin, former chairman of the Stamp Advisory Committee (SAC), said the collection reflects both Singapore's journey as a nation and the enduring relevance of the original design.

"The original 1966 stamp series was a purposeful declaration of our new statehood, capturing the sense of optimism, vision and progress for the nation. When the suggestion of remaking the iconic 1966 series was first mooted, the committee saw a historic milestone to celebrate exactly how far we have travelled as a nation," he said. 

Lim Chong Jin added that the redesign layers contemporary details onto the original 1960s pop-art aesthetic, creating what he described as a visual narrative of Singapore's six decades of transformation. Viewed alongside the 1966 stamps, he said, the new collection highlights how far the country has progressed as a sovereign nation.

The latest release comes a few months after SingPost partnered with Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC) to unveil what the organisations described as Singapore's "most scenic posting box" at Palawan Beach.

The initiative was designed to encourage visitors to rediscover the art of letter writing by offering curated postcard kits that allow locals and tourists to send personalised messages from one of Sentosa's most recognisable coastal landmarks overlooking the Southernmost Point of Continental Asia.

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