Creative Products International, acting as the agent for special issues for Bhutan Postal Corp. Ltd., has awarded a printing contract to Thai British Security Printing PLC. The company will print Bhutan’s first-ever commemorative postage stamp issue depicting the country’s five kings from 1907 until the present day.

The stamp printing will take place in December. The commemorative stamp sheets will consist of five square stamps, one for each king, and will include the first photo of His Majesty Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck wearing the Ravens Crown, which he will formally receive in 2008. The stamp sheet also will have a “100 Years of Monarchy” logo.

The background colors of the stamps represent the five aspects of Bhutanese Buddhist belief: yellow for earth, red for fire, green for wood, blue for water and white for metal. The colorful and vibrant stamps also depict a stylized version of the lotus flower, reflecting the purity and wisdom of Lord Buddha.

The stamp set celebrates Bhutan’s commitment to tradition and gratitude toward their Kings. The five stamps are valued at 5NU, 10NU, 15NU, 20NU and 25NU.

“I am pleased that these important stamps commemorating Bhutan’s five kings and the 100 years of Monarchy, are being printed by Thailand’s leading security printer, Thai British Security Printing Public Company Ltd. Bhutan and Thailand’s people and leaders have enjoyed a long friendship and union in their beliefs and values, ” said Frances Todd Stewart, president of Creative Products International.

The paper stamp issue printed by Thai British Security Printing will be released in 2008 along with an extraordinary innovation in the philatelic world: the first documentary CD-ROM video postage stamp with web portal. These stamps will consist of an 8 cm CD-ROM enclosed in a self-adhesive envelope, also depicting Bhutan’s five kings, that will serve as postage when placed on a larger envelope. Each mini CD-ROM will hold a video story about Bhutan, and the face value of the CD-ROM postage stamp will be 225NU.

The stamps will be offered for sale in Thailand through the International House of Stamps Co. Ltd. and can also be found on the Creative Products International website www.bhutanpostagestamps.com.

More information also is available at www.BhutanToday.net.