Up to the early 20th century, the terms "Baba", "Straits Chinese", "Straits-born Chinese" and "Peranakan" or "Peranakan Chinese" all referred to the same people. The women are known as "Nyonyas". Older ladies are also known as "Bibiks".

However, what is more colorful to this wonderful culture apart from the distinctive art of nonya cooking, nonya beadwork and embroidery are the only categories of Peranakan decorative arts which may truly be described as indigenous to the culture. Their fondness for bright and variegated colours, richness of texture, ornateness of decorative designs, refinement of workmanship and objects of virtu, are all expressed in this set of 8 stamps - 1st Local, 2nd Local, 65c and $1.10 (each value having 2 designs), taken from artifacts in courtesy of the Peranakan Museum Collection.

In addition, a special collectors' sheet, in the shape of a pouch where the stamp is beaded - a first World premiere and the "caviar beads" are stuck manually, also reflect the aesthetic qualities of the culture.

The world's first beaded stamp on the Collector's Sheet

Mr Bruno Delmer, Sales Manager of Cartor Security Printing in France which printed the stamps, shared with us on the meticulous process of making the beaded stamps: "The beads are made by hand in Europe with a special technique, which took a lot of research and tests. They are specially used in this stamp for the first time in the world, to create the effect of the Peranakan beadwork."

According to him, the bead sheets had to be pasted carefully onto each stamp with a hot iron press. This was done quickly at the right temperature and with the right amount of time, for the glue to fuse the beads properly onto the stamp and yet avoid ruining the beads and stamp paper. Equally challenging was the placement of the bead sheets onto the stamps which had to be exact, and the stamps could only be handled one at a time.

These dazzling and colourful beaded stamps are sure to make a treasured collectible for all fans of the Peranakan culture as well as stamp enthusiasts!