Singapore/1819 Notebook

The year is 1819. Overachiever Sir Stamford Raffles, an official of the East India Company scouting for a place to challenge the monopoly of the spice trade under the Dutch, stumbles upon a swampy village where islanders eke out an idyllic living fishing in the pristine waters. Raffles establishes a duty-free trading post that, under successive waves of immigrants, grows into a bastion of the British Empire, and eventually becoming the shining metropolis it is today. The design on this product pays homage to the humble beginning of the island state, often referred to as a fishing village, but now a vibrant playground of the rich and famous. A great conversation starter. See their jaws drop when you open with “Singapore was a swampy fishing village…” Suitable for any product with a light coloured background. © 2025 Tan Choon Hong. All rights reserved.