Languished for 20 Years inside Bhutan Customs' Warehouse!!

I can sense that not many Bhutanese are interested in our history. We should be – because history can reveal to us why we ARE where we are – including why we are NOT where we are not. History is simpler to understand and decipher – then the future, which is fraught with uncertainties and ambiguities.

Consider, for instance, that not many Bhutanese today are aware that Bhutan’s first baby steps onto the global platform was made possible through our postage stamps. That is right – Bhutan began to be unraveled to the outside world through our postage stamps. At one point in history, postage stamps accounted for the bulk of our foreign exchange earnings.

Bhutan’s history of postage stamps begins on the 10th of October, 1962 – the day on which Bhutan released our first postage stamps – a set of 7 stamps, including the establishment of our first Post Office in Phuentsholing. There is some confusion as to how it all began. One oft repeated version is that it was as a result of the World Bank refusing to grant us a loan. It is said that Bhutan started to issue stamps to sell to the international philatelic world, to earn some much-needed revenue. I do not believe this story – for the simple reason that Bhutan became a member of the World Bank only in 1981. Thus it is not possible that we went to the World Bank seeking for a loan.

Well, never mind the confusion of how it started – there are two other aspects to our postage stamps that are even more interesting. The first is that according to the accepted view/history – the terms Ngultrum (Nu.) and Chetrum (Ch.) were coined when we planned the issue of our first paper currencies, in 1974. This does not seem plausible since Burt Kurt Todd who was contracted to bring out our postage stamps in 1962 used the terms Nu. and Ch. on the first seven postage stamps released by Bhutan.

Bhutan's earliest postage stamps issued in 1962 denominated in Nu. and Ch.

Including this post, I have written 15 articles on the history of Bhutan’s postage stamps – please read them at:

https://yesheydorji.blogspot.com/search/label/History%20of%20Postage%20Stamps

The second interesting thing about our postage stamps is that while the country was still a relatively unknown entity, it appears that our postage stamps attracted a number of fakers and counterfeiters. I will get into that in my next post – for now please read the following – as recounted to me by a passionate long-time collector of Bhutanese stamps.

THE PECULIAR CASE OF THE READING AND WRITING STAMPS OF 1974

Since the very first issue of our postage stamps in 1962, their production and marketing to the international collectors were entrusted to our Bahamas based Marketing Agent called Bhutan Stamps Agency, Ltd., of which the majority shareholder was the trailblazer Burt Kerr Todd. For reasons that are shrouded in mystery and intrigue, the Bhutanese government abruptly terminated the arrangement with this Bahamas Company, as of 1st April, 1974. When the termination notice was served on the company, a new series of 15 postage stamps with the theme “Reading and Writing”– in Commemoration of the Centenary of the UPU (Universal Postal Union) was awaiting release – having missed its original date of release of 15th February, 1974. Upon termination of their Contract, the Bahamas Agent instructed the printers to dispatch the Bhutan Posts’ share of stamps directly to Bhutan Post.

The Reading and Writing stamps of 1974 to commemorate the Centenary of the UPU

When the consignment of these stamps arrived Phuentsholing, Bhutan Customs asked Bhutan Post to pay Customs Duty due on the stamps. Bhutan Posts was unwilling to pay on grounds that they were a government body and not subject to payment of duties or taxes. Bhutan Customs was adamant and refused to release the stamps. Thus the stock of these stamps remained locked up in the warehouse of the Bhutan Customs in Phuentsholing.

It would appear that over time the matter was forgotten by both the Bhutan Customs as well as the Bhutan Posts – but apparently not by someone who decided to help himself to few packets of the stamps denominated 80CH. These stolen stamps mysteriously appeared in Jaigaon across the border first, and ultimately in the international market. Full sheets of all 15 stamps and a souvenir sheet that made up the set, appeared in the open philatelic market in the USA, in both perforated and imperforate versions. In Europe, the set of stamps reached a market value of 1,000 German Marks - about US$ 600.00 at the time.  Upon official release of the stamps, the price dropped to US$13.00 since they could now be had at face value from Bhutan Posts.

Obviously Bhutan Customs and Bhutan Posts had reached some kind of understanding because the “Reading and Writing” set of stamps in Commemoration of the Centenary of the UPU was finally officially released by Bhutan Posts, on 2nd May, 1993 – after having remained locked up in the Customs warehouse for close to twenty years!

This can happen only in Bhutan.