Burma Seebeck Issue, Chinthe

Burma · 1894 · 1 Anna

This official service stamp features a Chinthe, a mythical lion-like creature commonly seen guarding the entrances of pagodas and temples in Burma (now Myanmar). The design is simple, with the central figure framed by ornate patterns and the denomination 'ONE ANNA' inscribed below. These stamps were printed by the Hamilton Bank Note Company of New York.

This stamp is part of the controversial 'Seebeck Issues,' where Nicholas F. Seebeck's company provided stamps to several countries, including Burma for its Shan States, for free. In return, he retained the printing plates and the right to reprint and sell stamps to collectors after they were demonetized, which flooded the market.