Malaysian stamp history - 03 d Federated Malay States - Selangor

The last of the Federated Malay States, is Selangor.
This is the state that surrounds the capital area of Kuala Lumpur.

State of Selangor

The history of the stamps of Selangor, start also with the ones from the Straits Settlements, overprinted with 'Selangor'.
In 1935, other than the surrounding states, Selangor issues a series of stamps, depicting a mosque and the sultan on the higher values.

1935 Selangor stamps

When in 1938, sultan Sultan Alaeddin Sulaiman Shah Ibni Al-Marhum Raja Musa dies, he is succeeded by sultan Sir Hisamuddin Alam Shah Al-Haj Ibni Almarhum sultan Alaeddin Sulaiman Shah...

Sultan Hisamuddin of Selangor (1898-1960)

In 1941, just before the Japanese occupation, two stamps of the new sultan are issued.
Then first in 1949, a complete set of stamps with sultan Hisamuddin Alam Shah is issued.
The name of 'Selangor' is again written in Javi on this set.

The pictural set of 1957-1961 was issued with 2 different sultans. As sultan Hisamuddin died in 1960, the set of 1957 was partly re-issued, now with the new sultan, Salahuddin.

1957 (left) - 1961 right

For both sets, but also for the series of Negri Sembila, Pahang and Perak, the green 8 ct is the one to search for.

1957 and 1961 set of Selangor

After the formation of Malaysia, only few joint issues with the other states are issued.

1965 Orchid issue of Selangor

to be continued...

Malaysian stamp history - 03 c Federated Malay States - Pahang

The third state part of the Federate Malay States, is Pahang.

Pahang state in Malaysia

Pahang is located east of Kuala Lumpur, and is the largest state on the western half of Malaysia.
Similar to Perak, the state is a agnatic seniority, with a sultan as head of state.

Pahang has issued two series of stamps, depicting sultan Sultan Abu Bakar Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mu’azzam Shah Ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Abdullah Al-Mu’tassim Billah Shah.

the sultan in 1945

The first set in 1935, with Pahang written in English, the second set in 1950, now with the state's name in Jawi. In the first set, the sultan is depicted frontal, where in the second set we see the sultan looking to the right.

Pahang sultan Abu Bakar 1935

Pahang sultan Abu Bakar 1950

Between 1957 and 1962 the set with landscapes is the last set before the formation of Malaysia.

Also here, the 10 cent stamp comes in two colour shades (dark brown in 1957 and reddish brown in 1961).

In 1971, similar to the other states, a set with butterflies was issued.
Since the sultan died in 1974, a new set was issued, with the new sultan Ahmad Shah.
(The 1c and 6c were not re-issued).

left, sultan Abu Bakar,
right, sultan Ahmad Shah

Now and then Pahang issues new sets together with the other states. On the 1986 stamps, we see some agricultural products. Here the sultan is in full colour.

Pahang agriculture 1986

to be continued..

Malaysian stamp history - 03 b Federated Malay States - Perak

The second state that was part of the Federated Malaysian States, is Perak.
Perak is the state above Kuala Lumpur.

Perak state in Malaysia

Perak has issued stamps since 1878, these issues were Straits Settlements stamps, overprinted with the name of Perak.

Tigers are the first pictoral stamps of most of the federated states, so also on Perak.

Perak 1892

Perak stamps of 1895

Perak is a sultanat, and power goes from the previous sultan to the eldest male of the bloodline.
This does not always is the son of the sultan, it can be a brother or a nephew, as long as it is the eldest in line. This is called an agnatic seniority.

The first sultan on the stamps of Perak, is Sultan Iskander. He is portrayed on two sets of stamps, one in 1935 and a second one in 1938.
On the first set the sultan is depicted in profile, the second set shows the sultan from the front.

Sultan Iskander 1935 set

Sultan Iskander 1938 stamps

It takes until 1950 before a new set of sultan stamps are issued. This time, sultan Yussuf Izzudin Shah decorates the set of stamps. Now, the name of Perak is written in Jawi. The headwear of the sultan is very remarkable and makes it easy to distinguish from other states.

Perak 1950

some of the 1950 stamps

Between 1957 and 1961 the same set of pictoral stamps as Negeri Sembilan is issued. Here we see an older image of sultan Yussuf Izzudin Shah.

Perak set of 1957-1961
two shades of colour brown and reddish brown

In the years after, similar stamps are issued in all Malaysian states, each time with the name Perak.

to be continued ...

Malaysian stamp history - 03 a Federated Malay States - Negri Sembilan

From 1896 on, Neg(e)ri Sembilan,  Pahang, Perak and Selangor, organised themselfs on a federal base, known as the 'Federated Malay States'.
Only between 1900 and 1935, the issued stamps for all Federated Malay States, bare this common name. Before 1900, and after 1935, each state issued own stamps.
The 'federated' - stamps will be a tpic later on.

First start with Negri Sembilan,

Negri Sembilan in Malaysia

In the western part of Malaysia, under Kuala Lumpur, we find the state of Negri Sembilan.
The state has an elected monarch, chosen by 4 of the Undangs, or local chieftains, entitled to vote.
The undangs (probably derived from the Malay word 'undang-undang' (law)) from Sungei Ujong, Jelebu, Johol and Rembau, can not elect themselves, but choose a male (muslim) descendant of Raja Radin ibni Raja Lenggang, to be the state's leader.
Sungei Ujong, was independent till 1895 and issued stamps on its own. Most of them stamps from the Straits Settlements, with 'Sungei Ujong' overprints...
Since 1895, Sungei Ujong was absorbed by Negri Sembilan.

 Negri Sembilan 1935

As the stamps from 1949 only have the name of the state written in Jawi (an extended form of Arabic script), the stamps can be recongnised by the coat of arms, present on all stamps after 1935.

Negri Sembilan 1949

Negri Sembilan 1957 (brown) and 1961 (reddish brown)

After the formation of Malaysia, in 1963, each of the 9 states kept on issuing their own stamps occasionally. These stamps are similar to all states, but with different state names.
They can be considered as joint issues.

1965 'Orchid' set Negeri Sembilan

to be continued...

Malaysian stamp history - 02 b Straits Settlements

Between 1902 and 1911, roughly speaking, 3 sets of stamps were issued under the reign of King Edward VII (1841-1910).

King Edward VII succeeded his mother, Queen Victoria in 1901.
On stamps of Britain and the colonies, he appears as the 'bald' king. Since the stamps of the later King George V, are similar, it is an easy way to sort them out fastly.

King Eduard VII as prince of Wales

Some similarities with the current prince of Wales are significant:

Prince William of Wales

The first set was issued in 1902, and is similar to the previous Queen Victoria set, 'Seychelles'-style.
The watermark Crown CA is on this set, as one single 'crown'.

Watermark Crown CA

Again it is worth looking for cancellations from each of the Staits Settlements. On the 3p and the 4p above, we see 'Singapore', where on the 8p, the cancel is Penang. 

From 1904 to 1906, a new set of stamps is issued, now with the multiple crown CA.
Some of the stamps in both sets are printed on coloured paper, and the watermark is not always visible.

1904 set

In 1906, the same set is issued, with new colours, extending the set to an astonishing $500.
This high value was only exceptionally postally used, but can be found with fiscal (red) cancels.

1906-11 set

After the death of King Eduard VII, the set was reissued with the portrait of the new king.

To be continued...

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 ...