Orchids 1995 (Singapore Exhibition) (view technical specs)

5 stamps depicting different Orchids issued for the Singapore International Stamp Exhibition in 1995. Featured are the Bee Orchid, the Brown Bee Orchid, the Pyramidal Orchid, the Mirror Orchid and the Sawfly Orchid.

Philatelic Exhibition is an exhibition of stamps and postal history where stamp collectors compete for medals. The displays are shown in glass frames, and the exhibition is normally accompanied by stamp dealer and post office stands where stamps may be purchased.

Many philatelic exhibitions are regular events, held annually or at some other frequency and they are important events in the philatelic calendar. The Singapore Exhibtion was a world expo and a major event in the philatelic calendar.

On average there are two world expos a year and countries of all over the world attend with a stand to showcase their new stamp issues.

Orchids

Orchidaceae, commonly referred to as the Orchid family, is a morphologically diverse and widespread family of monocots. It is currently believed to be the second largest family of flowering plants (only the Asteraceae is larger), with between 21,950 and 26,049 currently accepted species, found in 880 genera. The number of orchid species equals more than twice the number of bird species, and about four times the number of mammal species. It also encompasses about 6–11% of all seed plants. The largest genera are Bulbophyllum (2,000 species), Epidendrum (1,500 species), Dendrobium (1,400 species) and Pleurothallis (1,000 species).

The family also includes Vanilla (the genus of the vanilla plant), Orchis (type genus) and many commonly cultivated plants like some Phalaenopsis or Cattleya. Moreover, since the introduction of tropical species in the 19th century, horticulturists have produced more than 100,000 hybrids and cultivars.

The complex mechanisms which orchids evolve to achieve cross-pollination were investigated by Charles Darwin and described in his 1862 book Fertilisation of Orchids.

Technical Specs

Design:	GPB Ltd
Illustration / Photography:	Roger Gorringe
Printer:	BDT Security Printer (Ireland)
Process:	Offset Lithography
Colours:	Multicoloured
Stamp size:	Strip of 5 (30 x 40mm)
Issue date:	1995-09-01
Stamp Values:	22p, 23p, 24p, 25p, 26p