Avid philatelist has over 1,500 Ox and cow stamps, 8,000 pieces on all 12 zodiac animals

Lowis with some of his ox and cow stamps which he has been collecting since 1997. Photos: Johnny Lowis

With a love affair that spans over five decades, Johnny Lowis’ flaming passion for philately is one that continues to burn bright.

It all started when his father gave him an album of stamps when he was 15. “Those were classic stamps mainly from the 1860-1900 period, which mostly featured heads of rulers (normally in single colours), and which were expensive too.