SINGAPORE - The public can trace Singapore's progress through stamps at a new exhibition by the Singapore Philatelic Museum to celebrate the nation's Golden Jubilee.

Called The Singapore Journey: 50 Years Through Stamps, the exhibition will be held at the museum in Coleman Street from July 21 to July 31 next year. It was launched on Monday by Mr Sam Tan, Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth.

Over 240 philatelic items including stamps and postcards and 66 original artwork featuring the designs of stamps will be on display. It is the largest showcase of Singapore stamps and other philatelic artefacts, and the museum took over a year to put it together.

Items on display include an original artwork of the first stamp to be issued by the Republic in 1966 and a printing plate of the 1999 stamp that features Singapore's first president Yusof Ishak.

Ms Tresnawati Prihadi, general manager of the Singapore Philatelic Museum, said: "Our stamps showcase what the country has gone through and what we have - our multi-racial society, the food, the architecture and so on.

"We hope it will bring back fond memories for those who have gone through the years, and for our younger generation, to look at how far we have (come)."

Artist Don Low, 45, whose 2012 series of stamps titled Reservoirs of Singapore will be put on display, said: "I'm very happy and excited to be part of a 50-year collection. It's quite overwhelming."

For stamp collector Alan Chong, 46, the exhibition reminds him of his childhood. Mr Chong, a lecturer, said: "I've been collecting stamps since I was in Primary 2. I used to go office to office during the weekends to ask for unwanted envelopes so I could collect the stamps. I hope the museum can also produce a book featuring this collection to tell the Singapore story."

Admission is free for Singaporeans and permanent residents.

In conjunction with the exhibition, Singapore Post also launched a limited edition commemorative folder of stamps in celebration of SG50. They are priced at $50, excluding GST. They are available from July 21 at all post offices and at www.stampdelight.com.