Unattractive Postcard Can be Excellent material for Maximum Cards

I would say this is an unattractive postcard , in fact I had discarded it aside thinking that it would NOT have a chance of becoming a Maximum Card. It was when I was flipping through the junk box that I discovered that it could be utilised to realise an excellent Maximum card. Yes, you never know, an unattractive postcard can be an excellent material for a maximum card. Keep all your cards, they can be useful one day.

• A maximum card realised with the "necklace" stamp issued in 2009, FDI Cancel @ Taiwan

Maximum Card records the change in Postal Tariff rate

Singapore Local postal rate 23cent last day usage 17.12.2006

Singapore New Local postal rate 25cent first day usage 18.12.2006

A maximum card can be made to record a significant change of a postal tariff rate. Old and New postal tariff rate can be reflected by having 2 MCs created on the last day and the first day of the old and new postal tariff usage. Singpost announced an increase of the Local postal rate from 23cent to 25cent effectively from 18.12.2006, Two MCs were created to reflect the change. 17.12.2006 was a Sunday, hence, the MC was cancelled at the Killiney PostOffice which is opened 365 days in a year.

• Maximum Cards created with the "Merlion" ATM label , CDS cancel @ Singapore

The story of the HEAD and TAIL

When I first created this Maximum Card, I had received numerous comments on the HEAD and TAIL of the Peafowl. One said : The stamp has to be removed from the miniature sheet to realise an MC, the other said : The MS is occupying too much a space on the overall MC, some said : the selvage of the MS cannot form part of the stamp, bla...bla.. bla . 

If I were to remove the stamp from the MS, the phesant is left with the HEAD without the tail, will the bird look like a peafowl anymore ? I feel the most beautiful part of the pheasant is the tail, without the tail, it is no longer a peafowl.

Is the MS really occupying too much space on the MC ? This is so far the smallest MS issued in Malaysia, it is comparable to a large format stamp, what's wrong of having the full MS on the MC, really?

I feel a maximaphilist has to posses an artistic thinking, I feel I have every judgement to support my own creation.

• A maximum card created with "Malaysian Peafowl" stamp issued in 2004, FDI Pictorial Cancel

Blending the stamp with the overall picture of a maximum card

For a quick glance of the maximum card, one may overlook the existence of a stamp within the card for the stamp had been placed  to fit into the overall picture as though it is part of the picture. At times, it is FUN to juggle with the placing of the stamp  so as to achieve a harmonious look of a maximum card. Try it on your next creation of a maximum card.

• A maximum card realised with the "Chinese SEAL" stamp issued in 2005, FDI pictorial Cancel @ Melaka

Dad told me why Train is known as HuoChe 火车? .... The Classic 56 Class locomotive

When we were young, we learnt from our parents that the vehicle running on track with smokes puffing from its locomotive is known as a HuoChe (train) 火车 i.e a "Fire Vehicle", it was easy to relate a HuoChe to a train . A long trail of black smoke was left behind whenever a train passed by and passengers' clothing were often left with specks of smoke dust, that is a typical scenario of the days of the 56 class train. Today's kids will wonder why is train named HuoChe 火车 ?

• A maximum card realised with a "56 class train" stamp issued on 22.06.2010, FDI pictorial Cancel @ Seremban.

I could ONLY find a tiny BLUE TIGER rolling out from the railway station

Blue Tiger is another popular series of the Malayan Train. I can ONLY find this postcard with a BLUE TIGER rolling out from the railway station .. Although a little small of the image, however, I am satisfied with the maximum card. The thrill in maximaphily is the hunting of a relevant postcard and this is always the most difficult part of the hobby. I have introduced the hobby to many friends, the major problem faced by ALL is still the availability of postcards. For an easy way out, one can always use any kind of cards or pictures, however  I do NOT encourage the use of any other form of cards besides postcards for I know by doing so, it is going to kill the specialised hobby. I have to use the word "specialised hobby", as indeed it is a specialised hobby which does NOT permit the use of any other kind of cards in place of postcards. Hobby can be anything, there is no boundary, no rule, no limitation, however, a specialised hobby has to be bound by certain rules. There is a Will, there is a Way ! Enjoy collecting.

• A maximum card realised with a "BLUE TIGER train" stamp issued 22.6.2010, FDI pictorial cancel @ Seremban

They are all trains, however, we do differentiate them by classes - Here it is the Classic 20101 Locomotive

They are trains, they do NOT look alike, they can be differentiated by their classes. In Maximaphily, I am always gearing towards the maximum concordance achievable in realising a maximum card, for trains too, I will try my very best to source for the best match of the class for each of the train for my maximum card. Class 20 Train is a classic Malayan Train , reddish brown finish look with a Head spotlight, had been a popular train series running on the track in the 60s - 80s.

• A maximum card realised with a "Class 20 Locomotive" issued on 22.06.2010, FDI cancel @ Seremban.

I was frequent on the Class20 Locomotive train in the 70s

In the 70s, there was no other better public transport for me living in a remote area in central Johor. KTM (Keretapi Tanah Melayu) was my main mode of transport to get out of my kampong (village) town. I could recall the class 20 locomotive painted in reddish brown was a great sight to see when it approached the railway station. Class 20 locomotive took me for the ride to meet my first love at a distant town, our years of romance was relying on the train service, hours and hours of patient waiting at the railway station at both ends had been wasted for the scheduled meet-ups. Yes, I married my first love - and KTM train  service was really a great memory in my life.

• A maximum card realised with a KTM locomotive Cl.20 stamp issued on 22.6.2010, FDI Cancel @ Seremban

A maximum card with double faces

This is a unique Advertisement Postcard which posseses 2 faces with relevant pictures to realise a maximum card. I can flip-flop the maximum card, no matter which face shows up, it is still a maximum card. What a fun in Maximaphily !

• A maximum card realised with "Year of the Rat" stamp issued in 2008, FDI pictorial Cancel @ Singapore.

The greatest blunder made by a foreign Philatelic Bureau

I wrote in 2005 requesting SINGPOST philatelic bureau for a new stamp affixed on the picture side and had it cancelled with a FDI pictorial cachet for the "Mermaid" stamp issue, however ,the bureau failed with my instruction and had the card nicely done with the stamp affixed on the addresse side and returned to me promptly. I did spell out clearly with an enclosed photocopy of the exact location of the stamp to be pasted on the card, somehow, the blunder still happened. I wrote back to the philatelic bureau to express my great disappointment. I was asked to return the cards back to the department to have the Maximum Cards done correctly to my request. This is the ONLY set of Maximum Cards I have with the same stamps pasted both on the front and back of the card. SINGPOST was learning from the mistakes it made. There are yet many postal administrations around the world which do NOT know what are maximum cards ? There is still a long long way for maximaphily to go.

• A maximum card created with "Mermaid" stamps issued in 2005, FDI pictorial Cancel @ Singapore.

It is a genuine 100 years old Postcard for the "Clover" maximum card

I posted a "greeting" maximum card depicting clover leaves the day before, http://mccraze.blogspot.com/2010/06/used-postcards-are-equally-good-for.html some collectors saw the words "birthday greetings" on the postcard guessing that it is a cut-out card , a greeting card etc., I think I should put a scan of the back of the postcard to show to all that it is a genuine embossed postcard and it is a used postcard mailed 100 years ago i.e 1910. I must say, when I am indulging in Maximaphily, I will observe the minimum 3 in 1 requirement, and I will insist that the card is a POSTCARD.  If I am detouring from the 3 in 1 requirement, I will NOT name it a maximum card, it is simply a cinderella MC to me .. at times I do make it just for FUN.

• Rear view of a maximum card created with "greeting" stamp issued in 2009, CDS cancel @ Taiwan

Today is Duan Wu Jie 端午节, I miss Mum's ZongZi 粽子

Today is the 5th day of the 5th Month of the Lunar Calendar, which is an important Chinese Festival Day known as the "Duan Wu Jie 端午节". On this day, for those chinese families who still observe the traditional custom, Dumplings or ZongZi 粽子 will be prepared at home to celebrate the festival. I particularly like Mum's special ZongZi prepared at home, I am unable to find any commercially sold ZongZis which are comparable to the taste of those ZongZis prepared by Mum. Previous years I would be back home during this festival, and Mum would always let me take with me dozens of the ZongZis on my return trip. Well, the ZongZis prepared by my Mum remain a great memory in my life. I miss those ZongZis really, especially on this festival day.

• The ONLY ZongZi Maximum Card available, CDS postmark cancel , China

Used postcards are equally good for maximum cards

Some collectors insist on using only Mint postcards for realisation of maximum cards. That is purely individual's preference. I am using both Mint and Used postcards for my maximum cards as long as they are concordant in pictures. In fact, there are old subjects featured on stamps that I find difficulty in looking for mint postcards to realise a good maximum card, the only solution is to look for the Used postcards. I would say, used postcards are equally good as mint postcards for the realisation of maximum cards.

• A maximum card realised with the "greetings" stamps issued in 2009, CDS postmark, Taiwan

It is relatively easier to realise a maximum card in a small nation

It is relatively easier to realise a maximum card in small nations like Singapore, Macau, Vantican etc., I am talking about the seeking for a cancellation on the maximum card, a maximaphilist needs not to travel for a long distance to have his concordant postmark placed on the maximum card. I always envy those who are originally residing in a small nation, they are gifted with such a convenience of easy accessible postmark request, these places are really wonderlands for maximaphilists. With such a great advantage, however, I do NOT see maximaphily booming in such nations. 

• A maximum card realised with "Sentosa Merlion" stamp issued in 2009, FDI pictorial cancel @ Harbour Front City, Singapore.

A tale of two pandas

When this Maximum Card was realised with the Panda Stamp "tuan-tuan and yuan-yuan 团团圆圆"of Taiwan - some was asking , the stamp depicted precisely "tuan-tuan and yuan-yuan 团团圆圆" , how about the 2 pandas in the postcard, are they tuan-tuan & yuan-yuan ? Immediately, some would comment on the snow scene in the picture postcard, Taiwan rarely has snow, hence, the 2 pandas on the card are NOT "tuan-tuan and yuan-yuan" (团团圆圆) ! Another group however would defend by saying "tuan-tuan and yuan-yuan" (团团圆圆) originally came from Szechuan, China, hence, the snow scene could be taken on a picture before they left China. Maximaphilists are very imaginative indeed, arguments can be debated for hours on a maximum card. Will you be able to tell, are they "tuan-tuan and yuan-yuan" (团团圆圆) ?

• A maximum card created with "tuan-tuan and yuan-yuan" (团团圆圆) panda stamp issued in 2008, FDI pictorial Cancel @ Taiwan

Realising a maximum card at a remote Post Office

A New Zealand Friend will like to know how to go about getting an ordinary date cancel on  the postcard from a remote post office. Normally, I will write to the postmaster of the post office :

1. requesting and insisting of  a vivid Ordinary Date Cancel on the stamp affixed on the picture side of the postcard.
2. indicating with an attached photocopy or print of the MC showing the position I will like to have the firm Date Cancel on the stamp . (photo as above)
3. enclosed with a self addressed envelope with proper postage for the PO to return the completed MC to me.

4. I will send the MC with registered post and use a registered reply mail for the return of the MC if I feel that the card is rare and important to me.

Good Luck my friend in NZ for a successful realisation of the above Maximum Card.

World Best Maximum Card Competition

This is an annual competition organised by the FIP Maximaphily Commisssion. No participation fee. Each country is entitled to an entry. The FIP commission nominates a representative in each member country who is responsible to promote, to select a best maximum card to represent the country in the above competition. The maximum cards will be judged by casting of votes by delegates from countries represented at the FIP Maximaphily Congress ( normally at one of the World Exhibitions). Only 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes will be awarded. 2010 is the 8th consectutive year for the FIP Maximaphily commission to organise such a competition, the number of participating countries is on the increase and it now stands at 65 countries. Well, send in your entry to the representative in your country and hopefully you have the honour to have your maximum card  represented in the above competition. Good Luck !

• A maximum card realised with "marine life" stamps issued 2007, FDI pictorial Cancel @ Singapore

My awarding BULLOCK CART Maximum Card was with the FIP Maximaphily Commission Archive

I made a BOLD decision by sending a maximum card I treasured so much to enroll for the 2nd World Best Maximum Card competition organised by the FIP Maximaphily Commission in 2005. I did NOT know all entries would be retained by the commission as archives. I was glad this elegant card of the "Traditional Bullock Cart" was awarded with a 3rd prize. It was really an encouragement for me to pursue further creation of my own maximum cards.

• A maximum card created with "traditional bullock cart" stamp issued in 2004, FDI Pictorial Cancel @ Melaka

Be recognised and awarded - The 8th World Best Maximum Card competition to be held @ Portugal 2010 in October

This year the World Best Maximum Card competition will be held in Portugal, 2010 in October. This competition had been successful organised consecutively for the 8th year - a toast to FIP maximphily for the effort in pulling member countries to participate in the above competition, the number of countries participating in the competion increases each year. In the past, the organiser will keep the MC entries as archieves, this has resulted many collectors refraining from enrolling with their best unique MCs for the competition. This time, FIP Maximaphily has indicated MCs will be returned to the owners if requested. This is a good news to all collectors, and I hope to see better MCs are sent for competition this time at Portugal 2010. Get yourself recognised with the award of the Best MC of the World - send in your best MC now to FIP Maximaphily - the Best from your country. Good Luck!

• A maximum card created with the "Greeting" Stamps issued on 2008, Ordinary date stamp cancelled at Hong Kong

I love U - Maximaphily

Among all the philately classes, Maximaphily is the most fun thrillled displine . It is difficult to spell out the excitement derived from this hobby. It is ONLY when you get into the hobby, you will really enjoy the FUN of collecting them. All I have to say, Maximaphily - I love U.

• A maximum card created with the "Let's celebrate" booklet stamp issued on 14.2.2009, FDI Pictorial Cancel.

The best concordant postmark May NOT be the First Day of Issue cancel impression

At times I do find better cancellation is available to match a particular stamp instead of the First Day of issue postmark impression. The stamp depicting the Mascot (Orang Utan) of the 1998 commonwealth games held in Malaysia was first issued in 1995 having a corresponding FDI postmark cancellation which did NOT have a matching impression of the Mascot. I was waiting one day to see a postmark cancel depicting the Mascot of the games, and it was until 1997 a commemorative cachet depicting the orang utan Mascot was  made available at the National Philatelic Exhibition. I took the opportunity to have a maximum card created with the matching postmark cancellation with the stamp, the postcard and the postmark , all depicting the image of the Mascot of the commonwealth games - the Orang Utan.

Kick off now .. and strike your GOAL in Maximaphily

Be ready and kick off now to begin your journey in the creation of maximum cards, the game of maximaphily is freely available to all. I played the game for years, striking many goals, thrilling and satisfying . The game is NOT limited to ages, play it and enjoy yourselves. Have a pleasant journey into the world of Maximaphily !

• A maximum card realised with "Youth World Cup" stamp issued on 16.6.97, FDI pictorial cancel @ Seremban

Introducing Maximaphily to the BLINDs

Introducing maximaphily to the blinds ? It must be killing ! It is NOT impossible with the present printing technology that a postcard and stamp can be embossed to have brailles on them, hence, to the BLINDs, they can get a feel of the postcard and stamp to access the information. It is however to produce an embossed postmarking to accomplish the 3rd element tying the stamp to the postcard to form a true Braille Maximum Card, is a great challege. I am thinking the Company Seal which is normally applied on documents in emboss condition can be an ideal canceling system on the stamps if at all a Braille MC is materialised one day in the future. If this is going to happen, then the BLINDs will be able to feel a true maximum card.

• A maximum card of Louis Braille stamp on a true Braille postcard , FDI pictorial postmark @ Macau, 2009

A wonderful cancellation on the maximum card

There are good and bad cancellations of postmark on maximum cards. I like this one particularly, the pictorial cancel is so nicely placed which blends perfectly with the overall picture as if the man on the card is moving/ carrying a gift box . This is one of the typical cards sent back from the Post Office where I had requested for cancels on maximum cards. I did NOT specifically asked for a cancel at the particular location, it all happened coincidentally. Such perfect cancellation makes me happy and this is part of the fun for collecting maximum cards.

• A maximum card realised with "snow man" stamp issued 11.10.2007, FDI pictorial cancel, Hong Kong

Malaysia hosted World Cup in 1997 ...........

2010 World Cup is about to kick off at South Africa. That reminds me Malaysia hosted a World Cup event in 1997.  A set of stamps was issued to commemorate the event BUT Hold it, it was a YOUTH world cup football competition and NOT the Grand World Cup that makes the world roars spontaneously. Do enjoy watching World Cup soccer matches and at the same time enjoy creating your World Cup football maximum cards too.

• A maximum card realised with "9th world cup Youth football championship" stamp issued on 16.61997, FDI pictorial cancel @ Seremban

Maximum Card keeps record of events - the mysterious missing statue of Zheng He

3 mini statues depicting Zheng He and his followers were missing from the altar of a popular temple  in Melaka many years ago, the status of these 3 mini statues remained unknown  until today. There existed a postcard of the 3 mini statues of which I was inclined to realise a typical Malaysian Maximum Card on Zheng He , however, Pos Malaysia had failed to issue a suitable stamp for me to materialise. The card was finally used with China and Hong Kong stamps to realise as maximum cards. These Zheng He maximum cards keep record of an event - the mysterious missing statue of Zheng He ... Has anyone come across these statues ? They are properties of a temple in Melaka . There was an appeal to reinstate these statues back into position on the empty altar of the temple.

• A maximum card realised with "Zheng He" stamp issued in 2005, FDI pictorial Cancel @ Hong Kong

Zheng He missed the boat on Malaysia Stamp for the 600th Anniversary of the 1st Voyage omnibus issue

 Unissued Zheng He Miniature Sheet 
A Serious Design Error on the portrait of Zheng He

 Zheng He Miniature Sheet

I thought Pos Malaysia would issue a stamp to commemorate the 600th Anniversary of Zheng He's 1st Voyage along with the other Zheng He stamps issued by postal administrations e.g China, Hong Kong, Macau and Singapore. Zheng He and his fleet set foot in Melaka and it was an important historial  event  in the history of Malaysia to remember. I had my postcards ready to create maximum cards on Zheng He, however, never materialised.  Instead Pos Malaysia issued a set of stamps to commemorate the diplomatic relationship between China-Malaysia in the following year. A miniature sheet was designed to depict Admiral Zheng He had been approved and printed ( image as above), it was withdrawn on the eve of the launch of the stamps, nothing had been SOLD over the post office counter. The miniature sheet with Zheng He's image was said to posses a major error - Can you spot the error ? The  new miniature sheet issued  has a different design with a Ming Dynasty merchant trader replacing the portrait  of Zheng He. I missed the opportunity to realise a Malaysia Zheng He maximum card which I had been longing for and I think I will never ever have the chance of realising one anymore.