Collectors will see the release of the fourth issue of the Singapore ’95 Orchids Series both in Singapore and in Hongkong. The Singapore Philatelic Bureau will be tying the release of this issue with the Hongkong ’94 Stamp Exhibition which it will be participating in. Hongkong ’94 is a four-day exhibition to be held in the British colony from 18 to 21 Feb 94.

This fourth issue Orchids Series will, as with the previous issues, comprise a gutter pair of orchids stamps and a colourful miniature sheet. This issue is released also in conjunction with Singapore ’95 - the first World Stamp Exhibition to be held in Singapore in 1995. Proceeds from the sales of this issue will be used to fund this prestigious event that will witness the largest gathering of collectors, printers, dealers and postal administrations from around the world that Singapore has ever seen.

The two beautiful orchids chosen for this issue are the Paphiopedilum victoriaregina and the Dendrobium smillieae. Paphiopedilum victoriaregina has showy flowers and creamy white petals with purple markings and pink apex. The pouch lip is pink but heavily spotted with light purple. Dendrobium smillieae is a native of New Guinea and tropical Australia but adapts well to the local conditions. All floral parts are white to pale green with darker green tips. The fleshy flower is lasting on the plant.

A mouth-watering range of delicious local fruits grace this year’s miniature sheet. Papayas, bananas, durians, water melons, pineapples, rambutans - they all have a place in this issue. The theme of this miniature sheet is exotic local fruits. The fruits are beautifully illustrated by Chua Ban Har. The marble table-top on which the fruits are placed is so beautifully drawn, it seems almost real.

The Singapore 95 and Hongkong ’94 exhibition logos are incorporated in the miniature sheet to commemorate the exhibition which Singapore will be hosting in 1995 and the one in Hongkong which Singapore will be attending in 1994.

For the first day cover, presentation pack and poster designs, Ban Har uses the same design floral theme. All three items carry the Hongkong ’94 logo and a Mandarin translation of the text.

So, if you have been collecting all the issues in the series, do not miss the release date for this one. If you have not collected any issues before, why not start now? And remember, the support you give to this issue will help us make Singapore ’95 a memorable event which we will not forget.