The Initial function of a maximum card was to provide as a media to enhance the little image in a stamp with a blown up picture on the postcard - Melaka WHS 2007

The initial function of a maximum card was to enhance the small image in a stamp with a larger blown up picture on the postcard. Many a times, there are several different images depicted in a single stamp, and indeed they are too small to be seen. Maximum Cards had been playing the role by presenting to the collectors a larger picture of the subjects which are on the stamp. 

It was a great and bold step for Pos Malaysia Bhd to have included the Christ Church of Melaka in a Malaysian Stamp - This is the first stamp in Malaysia to depict a CHRISTIANITY worship place; although it was NOT shown as a key picture in the stamp depicting the 1 Malaysia worship places, however, I had extensively created many versions of the Christ Church on maximum cards. The little image of the Christ Church of Melaka hiding at the left hand corner of the stamp will pass unnoticed by most of the collectors, however, it was an impact as shown on a blown up picture presented on a maximum card. I think Maximum Card or rather maximaphily has served its function perfectly in the above example. Hooray, Maximaphily.

• A maximum card realised with the "2007 Tourism Year" stamp issued in 2007, FDI Pictorial Cancel @ Melaka

An innovative meter stamp maximum card . Does this qualify to be a 3 in 1 maximum card ?

Meter stamp is one form of postage stamp which incorporates a pictorial meter imprinted stamp (some may not have an imprinted stamp) with  a direct date cancel applied mechanically by a dispensing machine. The meter stamp is perfectly valid postally. When a meter stamp is used , it replaces the fiscal postage stamp. A maximum card needs a 3 in 1 combination i.e postage stamp, postcard and postmark, hence, can a card with a meter stamp  qualified to be a maximum card if  there exist a 3 in 1 concordance ? Some says it is only a 2 in 1 card since there is no fiscal postage stamp on it .What is your opinion on this ?

• A maximum card with meter cancellation dated 26.12.2007, Date Cancel @ Taipei.

Are you sure he is Zheng He on the card?

To commemorate the 600th anniversary of Zheng He's ( previously Cheng Ho) voyage to the world, several postal administrations issued stamps depicting the portrait of Zheng He. It was good opportunity to realise maximum cards for this omnibus stamp issue with the same postcard. I sent the Zheng He portrait postcards to friends in China, Macau, Hong Kong and Singapore for that purpose. Several replies came back with the same question : "Are you sure he is Zheng He on the card ?", I was stunned by the question and began to ponder who could verify on the accuracy of the portrait. Yes, no one had seen an actual image of Zheng Ho, was he fat, was he thin ? No one knows. I threw the question back to my friends abroad " Are you sure he is NOT Zheng He on the card? ", no reply !. Anyway, the inscription at the back of the postcard indicated it was Zheng He on the card . Who really knows he was the Real Zheng He  on the card? Anyway, I had these maximum cards realised in my collection and I had seen numerous Zheng He MCs showing different images of the portrait of Zheng He.

• Maximum card realised with "Zheng He" stamp issued in 2005, FDI pictorial Cancel @ Singapore

Vintage postcard - To use or NOT to use for maximum cards ? Dragon Boat MC

Will you use a genuine vintage postcard to realise a maximum card for the modern stamp issues ? A fraction of the maximaphily community is strongly against the use of vintage postcards to realise as MCs for the reason that these vintage cards are valuable collectibles and should be preserved in its original state of condition; to affix a modern stamp on the picture side of the card downgrades the quality of the vintage postcard. Of course there is no rule saying that one cannot have the combination of a modern stamp on a vintage postcard, it is up to one to decide whether to make such maximum card a reality. To me, I will NOT bother whether it is a modern or vintage postcard, as long as it is a postcard, I will try to make it a maximum card one day. What is your opinion on this ?

• A maximum card realised with a RPPC with Dragon Boat Race stamp issued on 3.8.2008, FDI Pictorial Cancel @ P.Pinang

Just because of its Shape, it is being excluded from the family of Maximaphily

The present FIP rule says ONLY rectangular or square shape postcards are permitted to realise as maximum cards. Odd and irregular shapes postcards are family of the postcard, BUT they are being excluded from the family of the Maximaphily just because of their shapes. Odd shape postcards had been existing for many years, and they are collectibles in their own right. There is no reason why they must be excluded from the Maximaphily. Maximum card realised with an odd shape postcard fulfills the 3 basic elements forming a maximum card, it is a maximum card by theory . Odd shape maximum cards add varieties to Maximaphily. I will like to see a collection on odd shape maximum cards. FIP rules do change, it is up to the fellow members attending the congress to have the rules amended by votes. Just before I see the change of the rule on  issue about Odd Shape maximum cards, I will NOT stop producing Odd Shape maximum card, if I have ONE relevant odd shape postcard in hand, I will turn it into a maximum card. Cheers and happy collecting.

• An odd shape Maximum card created with "Conservation of Environment" stamp issued on 10.5.2008, FDI pictorial cancel @ Seremban.

Inconsistent postal regulations giving rise to funny rules in Maximaphily

Some says imprinted stamps cut out from the postal stationeries ( e.g airletters, postal cards etc) are NOT admissible in a Maximum Card, Some says they are perfectly alright or creating maximum card. Which is which ?Maximaphily rules ( I mean FIP rules) says "a postage stamp used on the maximum card must be postally valid", hence, it is clear that if the "stamp" (whether it is an ordinary stamp or a cut out stamp from somewhere) is postally valid, then, it is recognised on a maximum card. The truth is some postal administrations restrict the use of cut out stamps from postal stationeries in lieu of postage stamps, however, they are postal administrations allow and recognise the use of cut out stamps as postage. Hence, some MCs with cut out stamps are valid MCs ( according to the FIP rules) and some MCs with cut out stamps are disqualified - Two similar MCs with cut out stamps, there exists a vast difference in the fate of the MC - What a funny regulation in the world of Maximaphily. Anyway, I had realised a Petronas Twin Tower MC with a cut out stamp from a postal cover which is appended as above. I will let you to find out whether this is a valid MC or NOT.

• Maximum card created with a cut out stamp from a postal cover commemorating the 35th anniversary of the diplomatic relationship between MALAYSIA-CHINA, FDI Cancel on 31st May, 2009 @ Kuala Lumpur

Maximaphily makes me young

I bumped into a Hello Kitty souvenir shop in Singapore enquiring for  Hello Kitty postcards which I was longing to realise a maximum card  on a Japanese Hello Kitty stamp. The shop attendant was surprise with my request, she asked " The cards for your daughter ? we do NOT have postcards on Hello Kitty. What do you want them for ?" I told her that I like postcards on Hello Kitty and the cards were for myself  to realise some maximum cards. Obviously, she did Not know what are maximum cards, and she was curious about my hobby, she then introduced me with several other postcards on "Bears, ballons, toys" etc., instead. After seeing my enthusiasm in going through all the cards one by one, she was convinced that I was really serious on acquiring such cutie cards which are normally meant for the youths. When I walked out of the shop, she said " Uncle, your hobby makes you young". Yes, maximaphily makes me feel young all the time. Welcome all to join in the chase of hunting for cutie cards and the fun to realise them as maximum cards.

• A cutie bear maximum card realised with a festive stamp issued on 11.2.2009, FDI pictorial cancel @ Singapore

A little deviation from Maximaphily just for the fun to spice up my collection - 09.09.09

It was the special date cancel on  09.09.09 that sparked me to create this card which is NON compliance to the traditional rules of Maximaphily, this is done merely for the fun to spice up and enrich my collection on Malaysia Maximum Cards. I could not find a better Malaysia postage stamp depicting the figure of a "09" , instead I had chosen a definitive stamp from the state of Negeri Sembilan - a state often known as the NINE STATES of Malaysia. The name "NINE STATES" is inscribed on the stamp in Malay i.e "Negeri Sembilan." It was difficult to find a postcard depicting "09" as well, the closest resemblance I had was an advertisement postcard as shown above. A Stamp from "9 States" + A card resembling "09" + A special cancel of "090909", I had finally captured 090909 on a Cinderella Maximum Card ( My term for a  Non Traditional MC).

•  A cinderella MC created with a definitive stamp from "9 states" , FDI pictorial cancel 090909 @ Seremban - the capital city of the "9 states"

I'm NOT always as lucky ! Look, What a bad cancellation I have got from the Post Office.

It is NOT always successful in the creation of a maximum card, many a times you will be disappointed by a Bad Cancellation of the postmark on the maximum card. Look ! What I have got back the "Medical excellence" MC returned from a post office. The postmark is illegible, imperfect and the MC is nullified. What a disappointment ! Although I had mentioned clearly in my letter of request to the Postmaster for a neat postmark cancel on the stamp, the instruction seemed to have been ignored. In the creation of maximum cards, one has no choice but to pray that the postal staff handling the cancellation of the postmark on your MC does a good job. The feeling is great when the MCs returned are perfectly cancelled with a vivid postmarking. I am hoping that  the postal staffs could be trained to handle proper cancellation on philatelic items. Until this message is carried to the postal authorities, at the mean time, we have no choice ! I hope all of you who are joining in the hobby of maximaphily will NOT be disappointed with such casualties in the creation of Maximum Cards. The joy of receiving back perfect MCs is definitely greater than the disappointment we receive at times. Happy Collecting !

• A RUINED maximum card created with "Medical Excellence" stamp issued on 26.04.2010, Postmark illegible.

You can expect another Lunar New Year Zodiac Animal stamp next year

We can't predict what are the new stamp issues coming up in the future, however, the Lunar New Year Zodiac Animal Series is a sure stamp issue for many postal administrations worldwide. To a maximaphilist, it is important to get the first hand information of the stamp issue to enable the hunt for the related postcards to realise the maximum cards. Zodiac Stamps seem to be a confirmed perpetual series for many postal administrations worldwide, hence, postcards depicting any of the 12 Zodiac Animals can be accumulated and be ready for the realisation of the maximum cards. Pos Malaysia although NOT following the policy of the issue of  annual Zodiac Animal series stamp, however, occassionally certain Zodiac Animals are depicted on the stamps during the Lunar New Year period, for example Pos Malaysia issued Tiger stamp to usher Lunar New Year in 2010 and you can expect RABBIT stamps to be issued in 2011, let us wait and see. Before that , be ready with your RABBIT postcards to create some Maximum Cards. You have ample time to begin hunting for the cards. Good Luck.

• Maximum Card created with the Malaysia-Korea Tiger joint issue realised on 23.2.10, FDI pictorial postmark cancel @ Jerantut.

Maximum Cards are NOT Cheap ! - Malaysia Fireflies 10.5.2010

Many are saying and quoting that Maximum Cards are cheap since the newly created MCs are modern stuffs. Many are claiming that maximum cards are worth  the face value of a postcard + a stamp . These are statements mostly given by the Non-maximum card collectors. They have neglected the hidden costs  one has to incur to acquire a postcard and the effort in the making of the maximum card, hence, I can tell all that a self-made maximum card can never be Cheap. I will like all to appreciate and respect the effort as put in by a maximaphilist in each and every maximum card. Can I just pose a question to all,  If self made maximum cards are cheap, can one easily acquire one MC in the open market ? and where ? Are there any willing sellers around ? I will like to sum up here with some hidden costs in the making of a maximum card :

a. The price paid for a postcard ( Many a times these postcards are NOT acquired from the immediate market. Higher prices may be paid for rare postcards. At times incurred with postage , travelling charges etc.)

b. The cost in travelling to get the postcard cancelled at the place of concordant. 

c. The casualties in cancelling postmark on maximum cards. A bad postmark is often Non-reversible, postage stamp and postcard are nullified.

d. The Non-return of MCs sent for cancellation at a distant post offices or Overseas post offices.

Well, in the realisation of the Malaysia Fireflies Maximum cards, I made my trip to Kuala Selangor to have them properly cancelled with a postmark of concordant. The trip from my hometown at Seremban to Kuala Selangor took me 1.5 hours covering a distance of more than 150 kms. Can someone compute for me , What is the average hidden cost attributed to a firefly maximum card I made ? I never like to do such a computation, as the figure always works out to be shocking ! I am just reflecting a scenario of a cost appraisal of a maximum card.  If you think Maximum card is cheap, I will never spare you One, as you are NOT appreciating the effort put in by any maximaphilist who has created the maximum card. 

Will like to share with you the route I took from Seremban to Kuala Selangor : 

• Maximum Card created with "Malaysia Fireflies" stamp issued on 10.5.2010, FDI pictorial Cancel @ Kuala Selangor.

To be precise, use the correct stamp on Maximum Card - Malaysia Fireflies Stamp 10.5.2010

I have used the high denomination RM5 stamp detached from the Malaysia Firefly Miniature Sheet to realise the Maximum Cards. Many were curious to know why I did NOT use the lower denomination stamps instead. There were 4 other fireflies stamps with lower denominations of 30sen and 50sen, it is definitely cheaper to use them on maximum cards. I had insisted to adopt the RM5 stamp for the  reason that the ONLY species of fireflies found at Kuala Selangor is the Pteroptye tener which is depicted on the RM5 stamp, and the postcards I had in hand are of the same species of firefly. Try to go for perfection as far as realisation of a maximum card is concerned - it is so called a maximum card, hence, we have to go for the maximum concordance in all angles.

• Maximum card realised with the Malaysia fireflies stamp issued on 10.5.2010, FDI pictorial cancel @ Kuala Selangor

The eye of a maximum card

Postmark on a maximum card tying the postage stamp to the postcard is often described as the eye of a maximum card. This reflects the importance of the postmark as one of the 3 key elements of a maximum card. In maximaphily, the requirement of a concordance in place of the  postmark has to be fulfilled. The postmark is NOT simply a mark for cancelling a stamp BUT a message linking the stamp to the postcard. A maximum card with an obvious postmark of  incorrect place of concordance, somehow, gives a maximaphilist an unpleasant feeling. The incorrect postmark is like a pair of eyes looking at you at all times, you feel like removing it from the maximum card and redoing the postmark again.  Imagine for yourself, a card bearing a Twin Tower stamp, cancelled with a Johor Baru postmark, will you feel comfortable to name it  an MC when the place of cancellation is NON-concordant at all . Hence, bear in mind to stick to the principle of creation of a maximum card - the eye is forever looking at you!

• A maximum card created with "medical excellence" stamp issued on 26.04.2010, FDI pictorial cancellation @ Kuala Lumpur

Looking for the BEST place of concordance (Maximaphily) - Malaysia Firefly stamp issue 10.5.2010

I will always try my very best to look for the place of concordance to have my cancellation of the postmark on maximum cards - it is a great challenge in Maximaphily. Of course there are several postmarks can be considered for the realisation of maximum cards for each new stamp issue, however, there is always a BEST postmark available. It is the greatest satisfaction to have the BEST concordant postmark on a maximum card. I will like to quote the Malaysia firefly stamp issue as an example, as Kuala Selangor is welknown as a paradise of the fireflies, hence, there is no doubt that the BEST postmark to tie the firefly stamp to the postcard is " Kuala Selangor ". Without hesitation, I  made my trip to  Kuala Selangor post office to have my mission done.

• A maximum card realised with the "Malaysia Firefly" stamp issued on 10.5.2010, FDI pictorial postmark @ Kuala Selangor

 

Go sightseeing whilst creating maximum cards - Malaysia Firefly Maximum Card 10.5.2010

Have you been to Kuala Selangor ? I have NOT been there, BUT it was the urge to create a few maximum cards for the recently issued "Fireflies" stamp that brought me to the town of Kuala Selangor. Kuala Selangor is noted as the home of fireflies, hence, I had decided to make a trip to the local post office to have my maximum cards cancelled @ the particular post office. In the past, Maximaphily had made me to travel to several remote post offices in towns which I had never thought of paying a visit at all.  Since, I was at Kuala Selangor, I made a trip to the nearby Pasir Penambang fishing village to enjoy  a good meal of crab porridge. I further proceeded to Tanjong Karang and Sekinchan to enjoy a pleasant sunset view at the vast paddy fields. Overall, it was a fruitful trip - I have made my maximum cards, I have enjoyed a delicious meal, I have been to a vast paddy field. The next time , you can plan a sightseeing trip with the creation of maximum cards. - killing several birds with one stone, why NOT ?  Happy traveling & sightseeing, at the same time  enjoy creating your MCs.

• Maximum card realised with the "Malaysian Firefly" stamp issued on 10.5.2010, FDI pictorial cancel @ Kuala Selangor

Twinkle, twinkle little star - the Fireflies of Malaysia

Kuala Selangor is known to be the home of the fireflies in Malaysia as there are thousands and millions of firefly colonies harbouring on the berembang mangrove trees along the river sanctuary which lights up the surroundings with these little insects' blinking tails. Tourists will be able to witness this spectacular sight of the Nature wonders by taking a leisure boat ride along the river sanctuary. Before you take a trip to the wonderland of the fireflies of Malayisa, I will like to share with you a Maximum Card of the Blinking Fireflies.

• Maximum Card realised with the "Fireflies" stamp issued on 10.5.2010, FDI pictorial cancel @ Kuala Selangor.

What you have, I have -What I have, you may NOT have

Most of the stamp collectors are going after stamps and FDCs, all of them are chasing after the similar items, you have the stamps and FDCs and I have the similar stamps and FDCs too! Maximaphily has a different scenario, you create your own MCs, I create my own MCs , We have the different MCs, All of us have the different MCs . You show your MCs, I display my MCs - what a colorful  world in Maximaphily !

For stamps - What You have, I have

For MCs -What I have, you may NOT have.

• A maximum card created with the "Medical excellence" stamp issued on 26.04.2010, FDI pictorial cancel @ Kuala Lumpur

Where is the right place to fix the missing zig-saw puzzle piece ?

I am  mixing in a large philatelic group. Throughout these years of collecting maximum cards I find it difficult to penetrate to the stronghold of the Traditional Philately by promoting Maximaphily. I am interacting with another deltiologist group, and I find that maximaphily is easy to spark an interactive long discussion with any postcard collector. I begin to ponder, does maximaphily belong to philately ? If it does, why are traditional philatelists acting passively and against this special class of philately ? I will like to mention again LONDON 2010 which is ruling out the entire class of Maximaphily in the competition, is it doing the right thing ? I have noted deltiologists are becoming maximaphilists ( at least a few of them I know are formerly postcard collectors). I am holding the missing puzzle piece, I am wondering whether to fix the missing piece in Philately OR Deltiology . What do you think ?

• A Maximum card created with "Medical Excellence" stamp issued on 26.04.2010, FDI pictorial cancel @ Kuala Lumpur.

Evolution from ONE to MANY - the power of maximaphily

It is the power of Maximaphily that one can create as many maximum cards out of a single stamp design - that is the true fun in Maximaphily. The design of a single stamp can be monotonous, however, I can manipulate with various postcards to transform the stamp into different maximum cards of colors and varieties. Maximum Card add spices to monotonous looking mini stamp and enhances it aesthetically. I have elected maximaphily  as my key hobby in philately as I have the FREEDOM in creating maximum cards with each new stamp issue. I have shared with all of you a series of "EYES" maximum cards in my blog, that is what I mean by the Power of maximaphily . As I have said earlier many collectors were complaining on the poor design of the "eye" stamp, however, as a maximaphilist, I am always please with any design for I can "sexify" the stamp by presenting it in various maximum cards.

• Maximum card realised with the "Medical Exellence" stamp issued on 26.04.2010, FDI pictorial postmark @ Kuala Lumpur

"You" light up my life

Somehow, in life one needs to have a hobby to keep time occupied, and I really find Maximaphily  a fascinating hobby to keep me busy. It is not a monotonous hobby, it keeps my heart beats with every new issue of postage stamps, in a way, it keeps me young . It keeps me busy for the whole year round - hunting for postcards, researching on subjects related to the stamp issue, locating the post office which I am going to visit to have the maximum card done, well, the process repeats for every new stamp issue. Really, by viewing these Maximum Cards I have done, I feel rewarding and satisfying. Maximaphily, "You" light up my life!

• Maximum Card created with "Firefly" stamp issued on 10.5.2010, FDI pictorial cancel @ Kuala Selangor

Maximaphily makes a difference

You can't create a postage stamp, you have to purchase the  postage stamp from the post office counter or from the stamp dealer, however, I can tell  you that you are able to create a maximum card. In organised philately, Maximaphily is a class recognised by the FIP ( Federation of the  international Philately ) and its rules permit the collectors to FREELY create their own maximum cards where the collectibles need NOT be sent through the postal system.  Maximaphily really makes the world of philately a difference, Maximum cards are aesthetically appealing, the hobby generates excitement , the researches in the process of creating an MC improves the general knowledge of a collector. I am NOT surprise to see a little "boom" in pursuit of the hobby of Maximaphily globally. Are you taking a ride on the Boom ? Enjoy Collecting ! Cheers.

• Maximum card realised with " Medical Excellence" stamp issued 26.4.2010, FDI Pictorial Cancel @ Kuala Lumpur

Maximaphily surges a new demand for postcards

To create a maximum card, one needs a postcard of matching view with the postage stamp. I did NOT realise the demand for postcards had dwindled in the recent years until I began to create maximum cards. The post card racks outside the shops were  gradually removed from the streets. Postcards are almost disappearing from the sight. In fact, I tried to enquire for postcards from book shops, souvenir shops, some of the shopkeepers did NOT even know what are postcards ? Local postcard producers wound up their businesses , most of them were pessimistic of the postcard business in this country. The rise of Maximaphily generates a little surge in the demand for postcard. Perhaps, we may see the production of  postcards gradually flows back into the market in the next few years. I love postcards and I love maximaphily !

• Maximum card realised with the "Medical Excellence" postage stamps issued 26.04.2010, FDI pictorial Cancel @ Kuala Lumpur

MC has a wider meaning ranging between a Maximum Card and a Mininum Card

As long as an MC conforms to the 3 in 1 basic rule ( a Real Post card + stamp + postmark , 3 elements in concordance) I will name the card an MC - it is just a matter of whether it is a Maximum Card or a Mininum Card. A Maximum Card will have the best concordance of the 3 elements, on the other hand , A Mininum Card has the least concordance of the 3 elements. There is no harm in creating a minimum card, after all, it is still an MC (minimum card). I do create minimum cards by using the lowest denomination stamps, it is heartache to use a high denomination stamp for just achieving a minimum card in return. It is difficult to achieve a 100% perfect maximum card in reality, unless the postcard is self designed to suit to the postage stamp. Maximaphily gives one the pleasure and excitement to hunt from the arrays of cards available in the market to look for the BEST to realise a MAXIMUM Card.  It is a consolation to have a MININUM Card if there is no other better cards available but please bear in mind to stick to the 3 in 1 basic rule when you are creating the MC.

• A MINIMUM Card created with the "medical excellence" stamp issued on 26.04.2010, FDI pictorial Cancel @ Kuala Lumpur

Bright Eyes - one of my favourite songs by Simon & Art Garfunkel 一颗明亮的眼睛

BRIGHT EYES

Lyric and song by : Simon & Art Garfunkel

Is it a kind of dream,
Floating out on the tide,
Following the river of death downstream?
Oh, is it a dream?

There's a fog along the horizon,
A strange glow in the sky,
And nobody seems to know where you go,
And what does it mean?
Oh, is it a dream?

Bright eyes,
Burning like fire.
Bright eyes,
How can you close and fail
How can the light that burned so brightly
Suddenly burn so pale?
Bright eyes.

Is it a kind of shadow,
Reaching into the night,
Wandering over the hills unseen,
Or is it a dream?

There's a high wind in the trees,
A cold sound in the air,
And nobody ever knows when you go,
And where do you start,
Oh, into the dark.

Bright eyes,
burning like fire.
Bright eyes,
how can you close and fail
How can the light that burned so brightly
Suddenly burn so pale?
Bright eyes.

• Maximum Card created with "Medical Excellence" stamp issued on 26.04.2010, FDI pictorial postmark Cancel @Kuala Lumpur

Don't turn a blind eye to cervical cancer

Greatly regret that LONDON 2010 opening on 8th May, 2010 at LONDON, UK is NOT giving respect to Maximaphily. Of all classes of philately recognised by FIP, Maximaphily is the ONLY class kept out of the door of LONDON 2010. It deprives global maximaphilists the opportunity to display at the world event, and  visitors the chance to view the beautiful maximum card exhibits owned by the renowned maximaphilists. One of the reasons given by the organiser of LONDON 2010 is that there is ONLY a handful of collectors/ exhibitors of MCs worldwide, hence, it is NOT advisable to have the class displayed at the show. Some of the traditional/postal history collectors are even condemning on Maximaphily as a class  of philately with no future. The organiser can be BLIND by claiming that there would NOT be sufficient exhibitors ,however,  collectors should NOT equate the hobby as a NON curable Cancer Cell. It is Not the end of the world for Maximaphily, isn't it ? With the strength of the maximaphilist grows globally,  I believe one day I will  see a World Exhibition organised solely on Maximaphily ,  Let's make it an event exclusively for Worldwide Maximum Card lovers Only!

• Maximum Card created with "Medical Execellence" stamp issued on 26.04.2010 , FDI pictorial cancel @ Kuala Lumpur

Blurry .. Don't let criticisms blur your expectation and interest in Maximaphily

I am sharing herewith a Maximum Card with a blurry image of a SHE with many small multiview images superimposed on it and it is an IRREGULAR shape postcard. I was lured to realise the postcard as a  Maximum Card knowing fully well that it does NOT conform to the present FIP rules. I just couldn't sentence this beautiful post card for a Death Penalty and store it forever in the box. I love the card and will like to present it as a "maximum card" although it may NOT be known as an "MC" by the present definition, it does conform to the basic 3 in 1 rule in Maximaphily.  Perhaps, I will name all cards non-compliant with FIP rules as Cinderella MCs just to differentiate them from the actual maximum cards. It is common for collectors to argue and debate over a set of rules BUT please don't let criticisms blur your expectation and interest in maximaphily .

• Maximum card realised with "Medical Excellence" stamp released on 26.04.2010 , FDI pictorial Cancel at Kuala Lumpur

Does GENDER really matter in the realisation of a Maximum Card?

Some Maximaphilists are going to the extreme in insisting there must be a concordance on the Gender as depicted on the stamp and the postcard i.e if the stamp depicts a male, the corresponding postcard must show a male and vice versa. Sometimes, these maximaphily extremists can really drive you crazy. I do wonder, does it really matter to conform to such stringent rules? Ask yourself, are you going to be tied by such invisible strings and landing youself in a helpless position ? Well, of course, one can realise a "perfect" MC to go in par with the postcard , even to the extreme by taking in the GENDER as consideration, I totally agree with that, however, there should NOT be any strings applied on others if GENDER is NOT being taken into consideration in the realisation of a Maximum Card. I will like to take the above MC as an example, I deem to recognise the gender on the stamp is a SHE, hence, I will realise MCs adopting postcards with SHE in mind, that however does NOT deter me from using any HE postcards to realise the above MCs.

I will leave the entire decision to the individual maximaphilist .

My motto in maximaphily - There is No Right or Wrong , There is Only Good and Bad.

• Maximum Card created on 26.4.2010 ( Medical Excellence stamp ), FDI Pictorial Cancel @ Kuala Lumpur

Keep food on hand for a rainy day 未雨稠缪

I do NOT wait for the annoucement of the new stamp schedule to begin hunting for postcards. It is too short a time to look for any postcard of match on the theme of the new stamp, hence, I decided to build up a postcard bank on common subjects to be ever ready for the creation of maximum cards at any juncture. Whenever there is an annoucement on a stamp release, I have my postcards to browse through for suitable ones to realise as maximum cards. As the Chinese Idiom says 未雨稠缪 i.e keep food on hand for a rainy day .. it is quite right that a maximaphilist has to get himself ready with postcards so as to avoid shortage when there is a need to do a Maximum Card. I was keeping the above postcard ( an advertisement card ) for ages, never thought one day it could be used to realise a Maximum Card, and it did well !

• MC realised with "Medical Excellence" stamp issued on 26.4.2010, FDI pictorial cancel @ Kuala Lumpur.

How about a change of the taste in realising a maximum card ?

I will use any postcard which is close resemblance to the stamp subject to realise a maximum card,  no matter it is a photographic postcard or an artistic postcard. Some collectors are strongly objecting to the use of artistic postcard . I see no reason why an artistic postcard cannot be used to realise a maximum card ?  Since the acceptance of the maximaphily as a philately class of its own by FIP ( Federation of International Philately ), there existed and attracted many arguments on the rules. I believe the basic rule of maximaphily i.e  The concordance of Stamp + postcard + postmark has to be saluted. Whether the other fine details on the rules  are to be respected and followed is up to the individuals. Of course, I will try wherever possible to follow the "strict" guidelines as far as possible in the realisation of a Maximum Card, however, many a times, I am creating Maximum Cards just to satisfy to the basic 3 in 1 rule. 

• The above Maximum Card was created with a "Medical Excellence" stamp duly cancelled on 26.4.10 with a FDI pictorial postmarking at Kuala Lumpur

I love the one I can choose

I can decide what I want in maximaphily, it gives me the authority to "create" what I want in philately - Yes, I love the one I can Choose. There is Only one design for the stamp, however, I can manipulate with the combination of the stamp and postcard to become many different maximum cards I love. I am FREE to do with the combinations and make the stamp stands out in the maximum cards. Many stamp collectors are complaining about the design of the "Medical Excellence" stamps issued on the 26.04.2010 and  someone was saying to boycott the issue, however, when comes to the making of Maximum Cards, the design seems to give a maximaphilist the rooms to play with the combinations, many creative and colorful MCs can be realised - that is what I mean by Maximaphily - fun, exciting and rewarding !

• Another Promotional Postcard depicting Taiwanese Artiste Ms. Rainie Yang (杨丞琳) was used to realise the above maximum card with the "Medical Excellence" stamp released on 26.4.2010, FDI pictorial cancel @ Kuala Lumpur

You could smile if you have done a correct Maximum Card

You could smile if you have done a correct Maximum Card . You feel sad and moody when a proper MC is messed up by a poor cancellation of the postmark , especially so, when the postcard is a Real Hard find . No matter how "professional" you are in canceling of the postmark on a maximum card, at times, miss handling does occur, this cannot be avoided.  If the MCs are given to the postal department for cancellation, the chances of getting back good postmark cancels on the MCs are even lower ( speaking  in the case of Malaysia postal departments) . Worst of all, the cards sent for postmarking were NOT returned to you at all. No choice, as a maximaphilist, you will have to faced with these mishaps. I hope all of you will be smiling with the MCs you have created.

• The above Maximum Card was realised on 26.4.2010 with stamps themed " Medical Excellence " bearing FDI pictorial cancel at Kuala Lumpur.

Keep your eyes open while hunting postcards for creation of MCs

Keep your eyes open even if you are ONLY doing a window shopping, at times you do find advertisement postcards available at the shops around you, pick up these FREE advertisement cards and they can be of use for your creation of Maximum Cards. I have the above Ad Card picked up at one of the Optical Shops somewhere ( forgotten where was it, since I picked up cards wherever I saw them). Bingo, and this Ad card I picked years ago was able to allow me to realise a nice MC for the stamps on "Medical Excellence" issued on the 26th April, 2010. The card features the popular taiwanese artise RAINIE YANG (杨丞琳) whom was a promotion ambassador for an optical lens company. Well, a nice maximum card is done with a card picked up from an optical shop .. hence, do remember to keep your eyes open whilst shopping, there are cards lying around for you to bring home.