Bhutan released a notable series of postage stamps in 1973 — round, playable records. Not just gimmicks (though they certainly were that), these stamps were actually used postally, and both used and unused examples of these phonograph record stamps from Bhutan are beloved, if infamous, in the stamp collecting world today.
What was on the Bhutanese phonograph record stamps
The seven different records featured a variety of recordings related to Bhutan. The postal values of the stamps ranged from 10 chetrum to 9 ngultrum (1 ngultrum = 100 chetrum).
10 chetrum — yellow text on red record (69 mm)
Bhutan history
25 chetrum — gold on green (69 mm)
National anthem
1.25 ngultrum — silver on blue (69 mm)
Bhutan history (in English)
3 ngultrum — silver on purple (100 mm) Airmail stamp
Bhutan history (in Bhutanese) and folk song #1
7 ngultrum — silver on black (69 mm)
Folk song #1
8 ngultrum — red on white (69 mm)
Folk song #2
9 ngultrum — black on yellow (100 mm) Airmail stamp
Bhutan history (in English), folk song #1, and folk song #2
More: Bhutan Stamps: Quirky Collectibles of the Himalayas
There are often complete sets of these phonograph record stamps available in the complete Bhutan stamp set section; check that section for a set, or check this section for both sets and individual examples for sale. These listings are updated daily.
In 2008, Bhutan updated the idea behind these gramophone postage stamps to reflect the times, releasing a series of postage stamp CD-ROMs.
