Stamp, Camera Collector Hopes Family Will Preserve His Prized Collections

 At 83, Wang Foong Seek hopes that the stamp and camera collections he has carefully built since his teenage years will one day be inherited by his children or grandchildren.

“If not, I will donate the collections to a museum or a community club so that others can appreciate them,” he said.

Speaking to Bernama at his home in Pangsapuri Kampung Tiong here, the senior citizen was visibly excited as he talked about his hobby, which he believes has become increasingly rare in the age of rapid technological advancement.

Since its inception in 1958, the collection now has over 1,000 pieces, including various types of stamps, including the country's Independence Day stamp issued in 1957.

Admitting that stamp collecting has become more difficult today, Wang said he would not be surprised if younger generations eventually grow up not being able to recognise stamps.

“People rarely send letters anymore. In the past, during festive seasons or birthdays, everyone would send greeting cards through the mail. I truly miss the atmosphere of those days. Fortunately, my daughter (who lives in Kuala Lumpur) still sends me a birthday card every year, complete with a stamp,” he said with a smile, adding that he keeps those stamps as part of his collection.

HISTORICAL VALUE OF STAMPS

Wang began collecting stamps at the age of 15 and now owns more than 1,000 pieces.

“The one I treasure most is the Malayan independence stamp issued in 1957. I bought it at the post office that same year and have taken great care of it ever since,” he said.

The stamp, which is over 60 years old, still exists today and remains in its original condition.

As a teenager, he spent many afternoons walking from one office building to another around Kuala Terengganu town, searching through rubbish bins for discarded envelopes bearing stamps.

“I would cut the stamps out and keep them in an album. I also exchanged stamps with friends from other states, such as Kuala Lumpur and Sarawak, who shared the same interest. I would give them Terengganu stamps and they would give me stamps from their states,” he said.

For Wang, stamps are more than proof of postage. They carry historical value and should be preserved even as the world moves towards digital systems.

“For example, the stamp commemorating the country’s independence – I treasure it because it is among the earliest stamps issued by our nation.

“Every time I look at it, it brings back memories of my teenage years and also fills me with pride because I have a small piece of the nation’s history in my collection.

“I also have personal stamps featuring portraits of my wife and me. Those days (in 1980), the post office had a programme that allowed people to print stamps with their own photographs, so I took the opportunity to produce several personalised stamps, including ones with pictures of my wife and me, as keepsakes,” said Wang, whose wife Aw Siew Wong passed away about 12 years ago.

Besides local stamps, he also collects stamps from overseas, including China, which he bought during a visit to the country about 20 years ago.

CAMERA COLLECTION

Wang, meanwhile, is also a photography enthusiast, hence his collection of cameras. The father of three used to own a photo studio here and although he is now retired, he remains active in photography.

It is therefore not surprising that he owns more than 150 cameras of various types and brands, including the iconic German-made Rolleiflex film camera.

Not just stamps, Wang also collected more than 150 cameras of various types and brands, including film cameras that existed before the independence era, such as German-made Rolleiflex cameras.

“I collect cameras produced from the 1950s until today, including film and Polaroid cameras. Most of them I bought myself,” he said.

“I once owned an antique camera from Braunschweig, Germany, that was more than 100 years old, but I eventually sold it after receiving a very high offer.”

According to Wang, most of the cameras in his collection are still in working condition, although some are no longer functional due to the difficulty of finding spare parts.

He admitted that he had also sold several other cameras over the years to cover living expenses. The highest offer he ever received was for a Leica camera, which he sold for RM10,000.

Even so, Wang said there is one camera he would never sell – a Yashica film camera he bought in 1960.

He had used the camera to earn extra money by photographing scenery and tourists around Kuala Terengganu town, making it a deeply sentimental possession.

“This Yashica camera accompanied me as I earned my livelihood and captured many important moments in life. Its value cannot be replaced with money, and I will never sell it even if someone offers a high price.

“To me, the camera is priceless. If my children do not wish to keep my camera collection, then let this Yashica camera be buried with me when I pass away,” said Wang, who has five grandchildren.

LOYAL TO FILM CAMERAS

Reflecting on the difference between film and digital photography, Wang, who has spent more than 66 years in the field, believes older cameras possess a soul and value that modern technology cannot replicate.

“When we develop the photographs ourselves and watch the image slowly appear on paper, there is a special satisfaction. The process teaches patience and attention to detail, and it makes us appreciate the memories we capture even more.

Apart from collecting used stamps, he also acquired his collection through exchanges with friends from several states including Kuala Lumpur and Sarawak.

“In the past, a photograph could be kept for decades and become part of history. Today, many pictures are stored only briefly on mobile phones,” he said.

Film photography also requires photographers to understand lighting, composition and timing because each shot must be taken carefully to avoid wasting film.

“So no matter how advanced digital cameras are today, nothing can match the satisfaction of taking photographs with a film camera and printing them yourself,” he added.