The Singapore Philatelic Museum, also known as the stamp museum to people who find its name a tongue twister, is a family-friendly museum along Coleman Street, a historic street in Singapore’s Civic District.
It is housed in a former building of the Anglo-Chinese Primary School that was built in 1904. Before the building became the Singapore Philatelic Museum in 1995, it housed the Methodist Book Room, classrooms for Anglo-Chinese Primary School and the school library.
Today, instead of books and the din of boys trying to crowd into an air-conditioned bookshop, or squirreling Tin Tin books into hidden corners of the library so that others won’t find them, the building is home to a collection of stamps and philatelic items.
Philately refers to the study of stamp and other postal-related items. This may seem like a quaint idea in a world where email outstrips snail mail but what makes it fascinating is that stamps provide a mini-portraiture of the different places, people and events from around the world.
Year-end Holiday Camps: Discover Fun and Exciting Camps for Kids; Book Early
Dec Fun: Get the Best Ideas for the School Holidays
Singapore Philatelic Museum’s Permanent Exhibits
Singapore Philatelic Museum consists of various rooms. It has both a permanent collection as well as regularly changing exhibitions.
On the ground floor, the permanent exhibits can be found in the Orange Room and the Green Room. These introduce the world of philately to visitors.
One floor above are the Room of Rarities and the Heritage Room.
The Room of Rarities focuses on Singapore’s postal history. It includes artefacts dating as far back as the 1800s.
Next to the Room of Rarities is the Heritage Room which provides a condensed look into Singapore’s cultural background.
Related: 9 Fun Things to See and Do at Singapore Philatelic Museum
Singapore Philatelic Museum’s Changing Exhibitions
Past exhibitions at Singapore Philatelic Museum have included:
- 150th anniversary of First Postage Stamp Issued in Singapore
- Abode of Peace and the Lion City: A Brunei – Singapore Exhibition
- The Singapore Journey: 50 Years Through Stamps
- Collecting Magic: From Stamps to Wands aka Harry Potter Stamp Exhibition
- Chicken And Egg: A Fowl Tale
- Precious Eggs: Of Art, Beauty and Culture
- A Little Magic Exhibition
- Counting Sheep, Dreaming Goats
- More than Monkeys
- Shaking It With Shakespeare
- Horse for Courses
Visit the Singapore Philatelic Museum website for more information.
Singapore Philatelic Museum
Address: 23-B Coleman Street, Singapore 179807
Opening Hours: Daily, 10 am to 7 pm
Admission: Adults – $8, Child (3 to 12 years old) – $6, Free admission for Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents
