Malaysian stamp history - 02 a Straits Settlements

The Straits Settlements, in pluaral, is actually not one physical place, but several territories under the same, British post administration.

Originally there were 3 'settlements' : Malacca (Melacca), Penang (Pinang) and Singapore, which also the Christmas Islands, and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands. They were a crown colony from 1867 onwards.
Labuan, a tiny island in front of North Borneo and Brunei, was added to the crown colony in 1896, and became the 4th settlement in 1906.
There is a territory called Dinding, but apart from the Straits Settlements stamps, they never issued their own stamps.

The stamps of the Straits Settlements were in use till 1941 - and overprinted by the British Military Administration after the war.
They kept issuing their own stamps after 1949, this time under their own names.

Map of Malaysia with Straits Settlements

Signapore joined the Malaysian Federation between 1963 and 1965, but became indepentent again, and still is.
Malacca and Penang are part of West Malaysia, Labuan, which belonged to North Borneo (now Saba), is part of East Malaysia.

Although the first stamps with the name "Straits Settlements" were used already in 1867, at first a set of Indian stamps, with overprints in cents, was used at first.
Some Indian stamps with cancels B109 (Malacca), B147 - (Penang) and B172 (Singapore) indicate their use in the Straits Settlements too.

The first series of Queen Victoria come with two different watermarks. The oldest one is the 'crown CC', the later one, the 'crown CA'.

Crown CC and Crown CA

The CC-watermarks are harder to find and thus more expensive too.

Some Victorian stamps with CA watermark

In 1892, the design of the stamps is renewed, and a stamp used in the Seychelles becomes the new base for this set. Therefore the series are called the 'Seycelles-type'.

Straits Settlements 'Seychelles types'

On the top row, we see the 'Singapore' cancel, where on the low below, a 'Penang' cancel was used.
With some luck, the set can be found with cancels of each settlement.

A closer look at two of the above stamps, reveils something extra:

Purple markings on the stamp

Parts of purple markings

These purple markings are placed by banks and companies, to prevent theft.
Also perforations, known as 'perfins' were used for the same purpose.

SS-stamps with perforation

The last set Victorian stamps were issued in 1894 - in diffent colours, and in 1899 with overprints.

last Victorian stamps of Straits Settlements

Mark the 1896 cancel on the 8 cents stamp.

to be continued...

Malaysian stamp history - 01 b How it started

The history of Malaysian stamps is complicated, but therefore very interesting:

Before 1900

Straits Settlements

British Straits Settlements issue their own stamps, some stamps of India are used too, and can be recognised by their cancellations:
Malacca (B109) - Penang (B147) and Singapore (B172).
For Labuan, stamps or North Borneo, with overprint 'Labuan' are used.

Each of the 9 Malaysian states, issue their own stamps.

Perak, Pahang, Selangor, Negri Sembilan (including the few stamps issued with Sungei Ujong overprint), later known as the Federated states, 

Federated state stamps L to R:
Perak, Pahang, Selangor, Negri Sembilan

... and Kedah, Kelatan, Johor, Perlis andd Tregganu, or the unfederated states. In those unfederated states, before 1900, Thai stamps were used too.

L tot R : Kedah, Kelatan, Johor(e), Perlis and Tregganu

from 1900 till 1935

Perak, Pahang, Selangor and Negri Sembilan still use local stamps with their specific names on, but also issue stamps under the Federated Malay States.

Federated Malay States

from 1935 till 1941

Each state issues its own stamps again

from 1941 till World War II

A Malayan (Postal) union is formed by the formerly Straits Settlements and the 4 federated states.
Only Postage Due stamps were issued mutually.

Malayan Postal Union

During the WWII till 1948

Each of the states has overprints on their stamps, due to the Japanese (and/or Thai) occupation, sometimes
Japanese/Thai stamps are used too.

Japanese Occupation

By the end of the war, stamps overprinted with BMA (British Military Administration) are used.

BMA overprint

From 1948 (1957) till 1963

The country is united (1948) and issues stamps (1957) under the name of (federation of) MALAYA, but occasionally and for local use only, each state issues serveral sets of stamps (joint issues with same design, different state names).

After 1963

Saba (North Borneo), Sarawak, Singapore (for two years only) join in and the country changes its name to Malaysia. Also here, serveral joint issues with different state names are issued now and then.

Joint issue for all Malaysian states

to be continued...

Malaysian stamp history - 01 a How it started

Malaysian stamps are great to collect.
Collectors of various topics, will find a wide range of stamps at reasonable prices.
Going from fauna and flora, over buildings, to oddly shaped stamps like circles, diamonds, triangles, trapezoids, pentagonal and even L-shaped stamps were issued.

Catalogue of Malaysia

Starting with the 'creation' of Malaysia on Sept. 16, 1963, all issues baring the name of Malaysia, were valid throughout the country - with one exception for a set issued in 1979, for Kuala Lumpur only (7 values).
But when you make up a chronological collection, before the formation of Malaysia, it becomes a labyrinth.

When the Federation of Malaysia was formed in 1963, it consisted of the Malayan Federation, Sabah (aka North Borneo), Sarawak and Singapore. This last one, left the Federation in 1965, and is independent since.

Map of Malaysia with Singapore

This Malayan Federation was formed in 1948, but only started issuing it's own stamps from 1957 on.
The second World War was mainly the reason for this Federation, as many territories were under occupation for some time in 1942 by Japanese forces, and some by Thai forces. And later in 1945-1948 under British Military Administration (BMA - overprints).

For a short time, (1936-1965), all states used the same Postage Due stamps. This was called the Malayan Postal Union.

Similar to the Federation of Malaysia, some Malayan territories were joined with former British (crown) colonies. All stamps in this era bare the name of (Federation of) MALAYA. Within this federation, Malacca and Penang (British), 4 already federated states and 5, until then unfederated states, were joined.

The 'federated states' were (Perak, Negri Sembilan (+Singei Ujong), Pahang and Selangor), the 'unferderated states'  (Kedah, Kelatan, Johor(e), Perlis and Trengganu).
These federated states issued stamps from 1900 on, under the name of 'Federated Malay States', till 1935, then they issued their own stamps again till the second World War.

The unfederated states, kept issuing stamps under their own name all the time, also till the second World War.

Finally the Malayan federation also had 4 British territories : Malacca, Penang.
These two territories, formed, with Signapore and Labuan (now part of Borneo), the so-called 'Straits Settlements'. They issued stamps under the name 'Straits Settlements' from 1867 till 1941.

Now to make it all even more complicated, each of the states (whether federated or unfederated) and the formerly British territories Malacca and Penang (later called Pulau Pinang) kept issuing their own stamps.
Mostly for lower denomination, to be used within the state itself (local post).

to be continued ...

Currency Today : Azerbaijan 9

On this final post on Azerbaijani banknotes, I would like to point at some similarities with the euro currencey.

First of all is the symbol for the manat currency:
₼ is the symbol, derived from the Azerbaijan 'm'. The designer of the banknotes of Azerbaijan, happens to be mr. Robert Kalina, who also designed the euro banknotes...
₼ and € do have a similar appearance, in my -humble- opinion.

100 manat detail sidewise

Secondly, all euro note from the second series, have lines (slashes) in their margins.
So do the manat notes (new design) have...
The difference is that manat notes have 'slashes' and euro notes have 'back slashes'

Azerbaijan manat notes vs euro notes

Another 'coincidence' is the European map on all 'old style' notes of Azerbaijan.
Of course, the map is supposed to be the same in all countries, but the map simply does not appear on other countries' notes...

Euro note vs Azerbaijan note

That is all about the Azarbaijani banknotes.

Currency Today : Azerbaijan 8

The last notes of the Azerbaijan banknote series, are a 200 manat note (in circulation), and the high value 500 manat note (commemorative note).
500 manat represents nearly $300 / €265, and is rarely seen.

the 200 manat note:

This note, is in design similar to the in between type of the 10 manat note.
We see left and right in the border the hook-style markings. Here we see 7 hooks.
Presuming that 1 manat should have had one hook, 5 manat 2 hooks, 10 has 3 hooks, 20 manat would mean 4 hooks, 50 manat 5 hooks, 100 manat 6 hooks, and so we end with 7 hooks on this note.

200 manat (not in my collection)

the 500 manat note:

On the 500 manat note, the second Nagorno-Karabakh war (ended in 2020) is commemorated.
Although the area is still highly disputed, it is recognized as Azerbaijani territory. (3 countries however recognize the area as an independent state).

500 manat commemorative note - not in my collection

In the margins, we find the lines as in the new style notes.
As the one manat note has 1 line, the 5 has 3 lines, 10 (5), the 20 manat note have 7 lines, there arer 9 lines on the 50 manat note, 100 was supposed to have 11 lines and 200 manat 13 lines...
So we end up with 15 lines (/) on this 500 manat note.

500 manat reverse

On the reverse side, we see the mausoleum of the poet and diplomat Molla Panah (named Vaqif), the 'learned one'. His mausoleum was destroyed in the first Nagorno-Karabakh war, when the city of Shusha was devastated.

Molla Panah Vaqif on stamp

to be continued...

Currency Today : Azerbaijan 7

100 manat :

The sixth banknote in use in Azerbaijan, is a 100 manat note.
Although there are two versions of the note in circulation, both belong to the 'old' style notes.
These are the ones with the white gap in left and right margin. The difference between the two notes is the date of issue, i.e. 2005 and 2013.

100 manat front

The main image on the banknote is a modern building, typically for the new part of the capital, Baku.
The smallest image is a medieval building, called the 'Gosha Gala Gapi' - the Paired Fortress Gate, or double gate. 

Gosah Gala Gapi or double gate in Baku.

This gate is the entrance to the old, historical city of Baku. Until the 19th century, it was also the only entrance.
Between the image of the double gate, and the image of the hyper modern building, we see other buildings, symbolizing the architectural progress.

As a security mark, a holograpich image of the map of Azerbaijan is printed in the lower right corner.

hologram of the map

On the left, we see the word 'MANAT' written in half. Holding the banknote against the light, the word is completed.
Since M, A and T are the same in mirror writing, we nearly see the word MANAT also appear when we hold the back side of the note against the light. Only the 'N' becomes a Russian 'И' in mirror writing.

The sixth coin, a 50 qəpik coin, is not following the line of the other coins/banknotes.
It is dedicated to the oil industry, Azerbaijan's most important export product.

50 qəpik

to be continued ...

Currency Today : Azerbaijan 6

50 manat note:

The fifth note in the current series of banknotes of Azerbaijan, is the 50 manat-note.
This note is dedicated to science and education. Again, two versions are in circulation.

50 manat - old style

In the 'old style' note, we see again the gap in the left and right border frame. Again this gap is larger than in the lower denomination.
We see two students and a teacher left of the staircase on the 1st version.

50 manat - new style

The renewed version has lines in the gap, meanwhile 9 (/).
Now we see 3 students and the teacher, (or is it a 'manat'-work?) and in the security thread, another student/teacher.
When you tilt the banknote, the golden security mark of the man becomes a moving object.
We see the man walking forward.

security thread 50 manat

security thread - walking man

Also the 5th coin shows a similar design.

20 qəpik

The 20 qəpik coin shows a spiral staircase, and mathematical symbols.
There is also a part of a pentagon, and an inscribed circle. This symbol only returns on the old style note.

detail of the 'old' 50 manat  note

to be continued ...

Currency Today : Azerbaijan 5

The fourth banknote in the current series of Azerbaijan is 20 manat.
On both, old and new design, we see a helmet, a sword and a shield. These are 3 symbols of the Nagorno-Karabakh army/region.
Under Russian influence (till 1991), the Nagorno-Karabakh region was more or less an autonomous region. The name of this area is actually the Russian name, meaning 'upper Karabakh'. In the area, people speak of Artsakh, wich is the Armenian (and historical) name.

Flag of Artsakh / Nagorno-Karabakh

Nagorno-Karabakh is an enclave of Armenian people, within the country of Azerbaijan.
After several wars and incidents in 1994 and 2020, the area was internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan.

Map of Nagorno-Karabakh (source: Wikipedia)

Within the enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh, there are also 4 micro enclaves of by Azerbaijan governed places. The fact that the (former) republic of Artsakh is completely surrounded by Azerbaijan, made it hard to survive their own culture and language. Schooling, television, art and language was suppressed by the Azerbaijan rulers. The peace treaty of 2020 made it possible to have a protected corridor from Nagorno-Karabakh, to the Armenian border. The road between Lachin (AZ) and Tegh (AM) is the only 'life line' between Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia.

Nagorno-Karabakh uses the internet code .am. They even have their own Nagorno-Karabakh money, but more commenly used is the Amenian money.

Nagorno-Karabakh note front

Nagorno-Karabakh note back

Now back to the 20 manat note from Azerbaijan:
The old style note has the gap in the boder frame - mind the gap becoming wider with each note.
The new style note, now has 7 lines (/).

20 manat - old style

20 manat - new style

In accordance with the logic of the previous notes, the fourth coin depics the same image as the 4th note:

10 qəpik coin, with helmet

to be continued...

Currency Today : Azerbaijan 4

10 manat:

The 3rd note (and coin) in the current Azerbaijani banknote series has 3 designs.

The first and thrid desing are similar to the 'old and new' design in the other notes.
There is however a second design, that holds the middle between the old and the new note.

design 1 : 2005

design 1:
security features, is the (extending) gap in the borders (comare to 1 and 5 manat old style)

design 3:
here we find the security features of the 'new' desing, the extending number of lines in the margins: now 5, compared to 1 (1 manat) and 3 (5 manat).

design 3 : 2021

design 2 is the 'in between design':
the gap in the margin is similar to design 1, but there are some lines (hooks) that are similar to design 3.
The yellow and blue markings from design 1 are gone, and remain gone in design 3.

design 2 (in between) 2018

On all designs, the theme image is history. We see a stylized representation of Old Baku, the Palace of the Shirvanshahs and the Maiden’s Tower all depicted on a background of brics, of the Icheri Sheher wall.

stylized map of old Baku

The old city of Baku, still has the Palace of the Shirvanshahs, a 15th century palace, built by the Shirvanshahs. It is Unesco world heritage, and considerend as one of  the pearls of Azerbaijans architecture.
In the right corner at the bottom, near the stylized river, we also see the Maiden tower. This tower is depicted on the 1st series of banknotes too.
The Maiden tower is older than the palace, and dates back to the 12th century.
Fire was made on the top of the tower, to serve as light house, and to frighten enemies.
However, the legend speaks of a red haired virgin, living in the tower, protecting the citizens of Baku.
The conqueror, who didn't know she was a girl in the beginning, was defeated, and asked to spare his life.
Like in all good stories, they fell in love, and the city was saved from foreign occupation.

the Palace of the Shirvanshahs

Baku's Maiden Tower

100 old manat (AZM) with Maiden Tower

Finally, the 3rd coin (5 qəpik) follows the design, and depicts as well the Maiden Tower:

Maiden Tower on 5 qəpik

to be continued...