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...