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...