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Gardens by the Bay, one tower, night
Mailed in 2016 with stamp and postmark. Grade: 1
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Beach Road
Not postally used, but with a message from 1933, in French, covering the reverse. Grade: 4
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Changi Airport, night view (Maximum Card)
This and the next few cards in this series are in Maximum Card style, but with Philatelic postmark, and the cards are not official Government issue. In this case, S.W. Singapore #S8214. Postmark dates this card as 1985. Unused, some aging. Grade: 1
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Changi International Airport – car parks around the controlling tower
This and the next few cards in this series are in Maximum Card style, but with Philatelic postmark, and the cards are not official Government issue. In this case, S.W. Singapore #S8131. Postmark dates this card as 1982. Unused, some aging. Grade: 1
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Night Scene of Changi Airport (Maximum Card)
We’re not certain how this series of cards came to be, but this one looks official — at least it also has pre-printed postage on the reverse, and no attribution of publisher. The card is in Maximum Card style, otherwise unused, and the faint postmark on the front reads “82” (as in 1982). Aging. Grade: 2
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Control Tower, Changi International Airport (Maximum Card)
Another from this unusual series in Maximum Card style, an unofficial S.W. Singapore card S8119 with 1982 Philatelic postmark. Unused. Grade: 1
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Changi Airport, panorama of the air traffic control tower (Maximum Card)
Another from this unusual series in Maximum Card style, an unofficial Associated Marketing Agency card A69 with 1985 Philatelic postmark. Unused, serrated edges. Grade: 1
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Changi International Airport Building (Maximum Card)
Another from this unusual series in Maximum Card style, an unofficial S.W. Singapore card with 1982 Philatelic postmark. Unused, aging somewhat. Grade: 1
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Singapore Changi Airport (Maximum Card)
Concluding this unusual series in Maximum Card style, an unofficial A&T International card (ATS 17) with 1982 Philatelic postmark. Unused, serrated edges, aging somewhat. Grade: 1
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Vanda Miss Joaquim
Unused S W Singapore card S 8841. This became the national flower in 1981, with the postcard soon after. Grade: 1
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Greetings from Singapore
Unused card showing “beautiful and exotic orchid hybrids” and The Merlion, Singapore’s national symbol. Grade: 1
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Map of Singapore Museums
This 5-1/2″ x 7-3/4″ card began life in Singapore from the National Heritage Board, made its way unused to Canada, and was mailed from there to Hong Kong with three different uncancelled stamps in 2022. All those museums are identified in the caption, and as for the stamps — you can do the math. Grade: 3
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Raffles Hotel
Arguably Singapore’s most famous heritage hotel property, depicted on this card mailed in 1985 with stamp and postmark. Grade: 1
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Hotel Malaysia
Mailed in 1982, with stamp and postmark, this would be a good “hotel postcard” were it not for the thumbtack hole at the top. Grade: 4
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Unloading River Junks
Unused old card with rounded corners. Grade: 1
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Van Kleef Aquarium
Van Kleef Aquarium was an oceanarium located along River Valley Road and had 6,500 animals when it opened in 1955. The decision to develop it was made in 1935 by the Municipal Commission, and while the site and name of the aquarium were chosen by 1936, the aquarium was only approved in 1939. Construction began in 1940, but work was halted after piling was completed due to rising material costs, only resuming in 1952 on a new site. One might guess the World War was also a factor in the delay. The aquarium opened in September 1955, and remained popular through the 1970s, but by 1991, despite having been renovated between 1986 and 1987, it was viewed as out of date and closed in May 1991. Subsequently reopened as World of Aquarium in October 1991, which closed less than two years later due to poor business, and again as Fort Canning Aquarium in 1993, it eventually closed for good in 1996 and was demolished two years later. Yet here it is, on an unused older card. Grade: 1
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Chinese Junk
Unused, slightly smaller old postcard. Grade: 1
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Chinese Junk 5185B
The number refers to the card’s own printed index number, and the photo is the same as on our own entry 20323236T. This is also an old, unused card. Grade: 1
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Thaipusam
Thaipusam photos can be quite graphic, as this one also is. Having attended several of these annual celebrations in Malaysia, we can attest to the vividness of it all — as does the caption on the back of this unused old card. Grade: 1
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An Indian Temple
The caption writers were a bit lazy about giving a name, but this is the famous Sri Mariamman Temple on South Bridge Road. Its an old, unused postcard but heavily crumpled on the left side. Grade: 4-
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Indian Snake Charmers
One is unlikely to run across this scene in Singapore nowadays, and the caption writer for this unused old card seemed indirectly to be anticipating that. Grade: 1
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Haw Par Villa
Also known as Tiger Balm Gardens, here’s an edited excerpt from their official website: “Built in 1937, Haw Par Villa, Singapore’s largest outdoor art gallery, is the brainchild of Aw Boon Haw, the philanthropist who gifted the world Tiger Balm. The eclectic park is a trove of Asian culture, history, philosophy and religion – quirky yet enlightening at the same time. Since 2015, it has been managed by Journeys Pte Ltd.” This is unused old A.S.M.K. & Co. card 32592-B. Grade: 1
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Town Hall
The unused A.S.M.K. & Co.’s card 34508-B’s caption says: “Well known landmark as the Victoria Memorial Hall, this imposing building is situated in Empress Place.” Grade: 1
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Cavanagh (sic) & Anderson Bridges
Both are still in use across the Singapore River, though this unused A.S.M.K. & Co. card 16917-B’s caption says “only the Anderson bridge is used by all sorts of vehicles,” while Anderson’s Wikipedia entry says: “when Anderson Bridge was completed in 1910, Cavenagh Bridge was spared from demolition and was converted to a pedestrian bridge, with all vehicles being diverted to Anderson … During the Japanese Occupation of Singapore (1942–1945), severed heads of criminals were hung on Anderson Bridge as a warning to discourage citizens from breaking the law. … On 5 November 2021, authorities announced the conversion of Anderson Bridge to full pedestrianization from December 2021, to increase the Civic District’s walkability, with all vehicles diverted to Esplanade Bridge” (built in the 1990s). Who said bridges were boring? Grade: 1
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Fruit Vendor
Old, unused card with significant age-related foxing on the reverse. Otherwise clean. See also our entry 20323249. Grade: 2
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McRitchie (sic) Reservoir
Correctly spelled as “MacRitchie”, it’s Singapore’s oldest reservoir, completed in 1868 by impounding water with an earth embankment, and then known as the Impounding Reservoir or Thomson Reservoir. The Wikipedia entry for this facility is really interesting — it’s not just “a reservoir” — and we encourage you to read it. Unused old card. Grade: 1
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Raffles Hotel
Still there, still famous, still great, still expensive, and now franchising itself around the world. Unused mid-century card. Grade: 1
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Market Garden
Mid-century card, unused, rounded corners. It’s not a view you would associate with Singapore now, but things change. Grade: 1
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Attap Village
Attap is not the name of the village. Attap is a variety of palm tree … used as you may see on this unused old postcard. Grade: 1
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Fruit Vendor
Unused, unattributed old card with rounded corners. See also our entry 20323244T. Grade: 1
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Cenotaph
The Cenotaph was built in memory of 124 British soldiers born or resident in Singapore who gave their lives in World War I, with a second dedication (but no names) added for World War II. The foundation stone was laid by Sir Lawrence Nunns Guillemard, Governor of the Straits Settlements, on 15 November 1920 in the company of visiting French Premier, Georges Clemenceau. The memorial was completed in 1922, and was unveiled on 31 March that year by Prince Edward of Wales, later King Edward VIII then Duke of Windsor. It remains, and is here also on this unused mid-century postcard. Grade: 1
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National Theatre & Water Fountain
Mailed from Singapore many years ago, with stamp, and bilingual airmail sticker that obscures the postmark. There are multiple thumbtack holes at the top centre. Grade: 5
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Thaipusam Hindu Festival Scene
Iconic and richly captioned scene on this unused Malayan Color Views card S-326. Grade: 1
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Hotel Grand Central
First opened in 1968 and then closed for re-development in 2012, Hotel Grand Central reopened on 21st October 2015, so what you see on this card was the original version. Mailed in 1981, the card has its stamp and postmark. As for the hotel, it is in fact still there but should you be considering checking in, you might want to see the reviews first. Grade: 1
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Evening street scene in Chinatown
Pre-printed postage on this card mailed in 1978 but it has multiple thumbtack holes. Grade: 5
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Sentosa, Rare Stone Museum
We did much of your homework for you on this one. First, it wasn’t the only “Rare Stone Museum” in Asia — check Thailand too. Next, it seems not to be there any more, but we didn’t dig further to learn when it closed. Sentosa from the start has perfectly captured Singapore’s split personality, the strengths being its weaknesses at the same time. So, this card? From Sentosa, showing “Waterfall of Guilin, China” in what was that museum. The card was mailed in 1986 with two stamps, postmark, and messy message. Grade: 1
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Queen Elizabeth Walk
The Queen Elizabeth Walk is a promenade located at Esplanade Park within the Downtown Core district of the central area of Singapore. And these “Malayan” folks wee having a picnic. The card, though, was mailed from Brunei (not Singapore!) decades ago, maybe 1980s?, with two different Brunei stamps, partial postmark … Grade: 3
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Cable Cars Linking Mt. Faber to Sentosa
Mailed in 1988 with two stamps and postmark. Grade: 1
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Raffles – Bring Home the Legacy
It’s that the card wants you to buy this scale model miniature of the hotel. Your call! Mailed in 1988, with stamp and postmark. Actually two postmarks, one from Singapore and another from Hong Kong. Grade: 1
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Singapore River and Shenton Way
Mailed in the 1990s with stamp and postmark, and a bit of postmark ink transfer on the front. Grade: 2