This set of stamps is as fascinating as the low value definitives. To those of us not fortunate enough to have experienced underwater life, the corals are certainly surprising sights for we would never have imagined that such wonders existed under the sea.

The four high value definitive stamps depict the hard corals which can be found on local reefs. The Knob coral on the $1 stamp are characterised by large polyps. There is a ring of translucent tentacles around each polyp which is extended only at night to trap plankton. The Mushroom coral on the $2 stamp is a single individual which lies free on the substrata. The Bubble Sul as depicted on the $5 stamp is easily distinguished by its large, fleshy, anchor-shaped tentacles. The Octopus coral on the $10 stamp have specialised, elongated “sweeper” tentacles which they use to kill off surrounding corals.

The designs are reproductions of slides but were imaginatively cropped by designer Sylvia Tan to make them suitable as stamp designs. As high value stamps, they incorporate the necessary security features to deter forgery. For a start, the stamps are printed by a combination of intaglio and offset printing processes. The word ‘Singapore’ and the postage value are printed in intaglio ink.

In addition, an image of the Singapore lionhead is printed in fluorescent ink at the centre of each stamp. The fluorescent ink cannot be seen by the naked eye and will only appear visible under ultra-violet light.

Most interesting of all, the stamps are the first in Singapore to have special elliptical perforations. Every stamp has two elliptical indentations, one on the upper edge of the stamp and the other on the lower edge, created through a specially designed perforating comb.

All the above features combine to give the high value stamps a distinctly different look while at the same time incorporating some very unique security features.

Together with the low value stamps, this definitive set is without doubt an issue which collectors will be proud to have and to give away.