'Stamps are in my blood': How this 81-year-old stamp dealer keeps the trade alive
Mr Tan Chun Lim, 81, owns and runs the last "pure stamp shop" in Singapore. With 70 years of stamp collecting and dealing under his belt, he shares with CNA TODAY his fondest memories of what used to be a wildly popular hobby – and what's next for his dwindling trade.
Mr Tan Chun Lim, an 81-year-old stamp dealer, owns the last pure stamp shop in Singapore. With over 70 years of stamp collecting and dealing experience, he discusses the changing popularity of the hobby and his business. The shop, located in the Peninsula Shopping Complex, features stamps from countries that no longer exist, such as East Germany, Yugoslavia, and the USSR.
On display are postcards from the 1970s and 80s, and first-day covers dating back to the 1950s. Tan, who runs the shop alone, spends his spare time sorting new acquisitions and identifying stamps for potential buyers. He began stamp collecting at the age of 11, during a time when the hobby was more popular and accessible. Tan's collection has grown over the years and he has developed a keen eye for valuable and rare stamps.
Despite the decline in interest for the hobby, Tan remains passionate about stamps and views them as a valuable asset for collectors.
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