the malayan philatelist · 88 the malayan philatelist vol. 59 “my dear brother bradley, i...

TheMalayan

Philatelist

61st National Day – Can You name the states?

Volume 59 No.4 November 2018 No. 281

86 The Malayan Philatelist Vol. 59

The Malayan PhilatelistJOURNAL OF THE MALAYA STUDY GROUP

Editor: L. C. Stanway.

Vol. 59 No. 4 November 2018 No. 281

CONTENTS

Editorial 86Singapore To Bangkok - An Early Letter 1846 to Rev. D.B. Bradley MD from Rev. Charles

Robinson by Michael Waugh. 87Unrecorded and Nuggets From The Tat Mine by Terry Russell 89F.M.S. Railway Sorting Carriage Mark by Susan McEwen 92BMA – Earliest Dates? by Gerald Brown 93Letters To The Editor

The Receiving Authorities Of Malayan Specimens: Country Overprints by Iain Dyce 94New Catalogue Entries by Hugh Jefferies 95Sir Hugh Cortazzi by Dominic Morris 95

Johore SG 7 - A Follow Up by Susan McEwen 96Selangor and Perak Telegrams by Martin Roper 96Selangor Overprint In Thin San-Serif Capitals 3mm High by Martin Roper 96The Postal History Of Sabah On Becoming Part Of Malaysia by Fah Onn Liau 97FMS 25c. Plate Flaw On Scarce Airmail Cover by Lee Teong Keong 102New Issues Column 105 103Newsletter No. 246 109

_______________________________________

EDITORIAL:A reminder that the next issue is a special one to mark the Group’s Diamond Jubilee, so the Editor would

welcome, not only the usual articles (without which we will not have TMP at all), but also reminiscences ofthe early days of the group, reports of Group activity in our far-flung outposts, etc. If you have anything,large or small, that you have always meant to write, now is the time to get it into the Editor’s in-tray.

_______________________________________

Vol. 59 The Malayan Philatelist 87

SINGAPORE TO BANGKOK - AN EARLY LETTER 1846TO REV. D.B. BRADLEY MD FROM REV. CHARLES ROBINSON.

by Michael Waugh.

In August 2017 at auction in Edinburgh I acquired this pre-stamp letter (India paper) which is described herein an abridged version from original 4 pages. It is a letter of 20 April 1846 from Rev. Charles Robinson, anAmerican Baptist missionary (1834-1846) at Singapore, formerly in Bangkok, to Rev D.B. Bradley MD atBangkok, via forwarding agent Spottiswoode & Connolly per barque “Lion” under Capt. Royse. It wasreceived 16 May 1846.


“My dear Brother Bradley,I received your long and kind letter fro you by bro` (Asa) Hemenway for which I am very thankful.

I feel more and more attached to the dear brothers and sisters in Siam” ... “We were quite surprisedto see bro` Hemenway come in upon us one morning early as he did without us having any previousnotice of his arrival. We were nevertheless glad to see him and family - they put up with us one week,but as our house cannot accommodate two families bro` Kingsbury invited them to stop with him.” …“The expense of living here is high. I found we were obliged to purchase some furniture, & apalanquin & horse which we hope to sell again when we leave at a small discount from cash. It costs$20 per month to hire a horse & palanquin thought it easier in the end to buy one & did so (cost$116). Before I leave here I hope to be able to make out my expenses here & send you an account ofthem by bro` Hemenway.

Respecting my own health. For about 4 months after my arrival it gradually improved & Dr. Oxley(physician and surgeon Singapore) felt encouraged tho` occasionally I had a relapse. When I firstcame he wished me to make a fair trial of a course of treatment which he felt might restore me here,and I was glad to try it and not be obliged to go farther. But about two weeks since I had a moresevere return of the disease than ever, and the remedies which had been somewhat effectual beforeseem to loose most of their power. Last Thursday I sent for Dr. Oxley and when he saw me, he saidthere is no hope of your recovery here, you must go to a cool climate as soon as possible. When Iasked him that an American vessel was expected here in two months to return to Boston & asked if itwould be safe for me to wait here two months, He implied,“No, you must not wait but if you cannot geta vessel here here, you must go to China and take a vessel there to America”. He then prescribed forme to take a wine glass full of fluid Magnesia three times a day & to eat or drink nothing but oat mealgruel 3 times a day. * (in the margin 2nd. page) I have stopped chewing tobacco for some time.Indeed for a year past I have but only chewed very little, & that the weakest kind leaf tobacco, about25 cents worth for the past year.

For three days I have somewhat improved on this regimen & hope I may not be obliged to go bythe way of China - vessels are daily expected, that will go by the Cape & St Helena, & we are nowlooking for such an opportunity.

I thank you, dear brother, for sending my account corrected. In the hurry of getting away I made amistake in not carrying one, which made 100 ticals difference. There is however one little item whichyou added to my account which I think is incorrect - viz. $5 for the trunk. Mrs. R says she paid youfor that out of ticals which we had rec` for things sold & of course need not go in the account, or themoney should be credited as paid to the mission.

There is another item which it is doubtless my duty to mention that it may be connected - viz .In the“copy of Messrs, Spottiswoode & Connolly’s Bill”, which you forwarded to Mr. Hill which I took theliberty to look at there is a charge of $100 to me - for Nov.26 in these words “ Nov26 Cash for twoorders of Mr. Robinson”. I know that I have not received any cash from Connolly in Nov. because Ihad cash which I brought from Siam more than sufficient for that month. I went immediately to Mr.Connolly & told him the case & he showed me his books which made it plain - The account there was“Nov 26 cash pd. For two orders to Mr. Johnson” - Probably the clerk in the account sent you, madethe mistake in writing my name instead of Mr. Johnsons`. Will you please correct this when you writeto Mr. Hill. In your account with the Bible Society I noticed you gave them credit for only $2000,granted in 1835-6. Now it is my impression that the Bible Soc. has made our mission another grant of$10,000 since, I think in 1840 or41.

When I commenced this letter I did not expect to write only a few lines - my strength is very little -& writing injures me much - but I know not where to stop there are many things I should like to say.Perhaps we shall see you in America before long - we think as we are obliged to go to a cool climatewe had better go to America at once - particularly as we shall soon at the furthest be obliged to sendour 2 oldest children there, & it will be expensive living at the Cape or St .Helena than at home. Trulyyours Chs Robinson.

April 21. I have this morning heard of an arrival of an English ship which will leave here in about2 weeks, & the Capt. says he can take us to St. Helena. Thus the Lord provides. The name of the shipis Isabella - & has good accommodations. Have not yet agreed for the passage price not yet stated.”

Notes on this letter:


1. American Baptist missionaries were prominent in the early nineteenth century in their work in Asia, withlimited success in China, but very little in Siam. In 1834, Charles Robinson and Stephen Johnson, withtheir wives, were assigned to South East Asia. There was another letter noted from Charles Robinson,from Macao 10 July 1840, where he took refuge after riots in Canton during the Opium Wars (SchuylerRamsey Philatelic Auction 26-29 April 2012 Sale 47 Westpax lot 2971, (not sold at auction).

2. Baptist missionary work outside USA was well recorded and publicised to enable continued funding.Baptist Missionary Magazine 1842.22.39 mentions both Charles Robinson and Asa Hemenway.

3. Rev Dan Beach Bradley MD 1804-1873, the son of a pastor, studied at Harvard and later in New York,gaining MD in April 1833, and then, from 1838 until his death, working in Bangkok. The Americanmission introduced the first Thai-script printing press into Thailand, printing parts of the New Testamentand the first Thai newspaper, “Bangkok Recorder”. Dr. Bradley also introduced smallpox vaccinationinto Siam and was successful in treating Prince Mongkut, thus gaining confidence of the Royal court.

Philatelic References:The Prakaipet Indhusophon Collection of Siam, Bangkok 1989, reproduces five pre stamp letters from

Bangkok until 1847.Thailand: Classic Siam Development of the Postal System 1833-1899. by Surajit Gongvatana FRPSL.

David Feldman , Geneva 2016, reproduces eight pre-stamp letters, mostly concerned with the missionaries,two being inward mail 1843, Macao via Hong Kong to Bangkok and 1850 Maui, Hawaii via Hong Kong andSingapore (forwarded by Wm Spottiswood & Co.) to Bangkok.

UNRECORDED AND NUGGETS FROM THE TAT MINEby Terry Russell

1. A violet 'ASAHAN', to go with the black:

2. A 'SUNGEI ????'. I would appreciate any help you can give with this. It doesn't match with anything inProud. A partial 'P' is clearly visible so it's not a 'Stamp Office' cancel. The 5c. is Single Crown whichsuggests 1908 or before. The spacing of 'SUNGEI' would suggest no more than 5 characters for the name,which leaves:- SUNGEI BESI, well established by 1908 & unlikely to require recourse to a TRD;- SUNGEI GADUT, already employing a TRD (D1), would it need another (different) one?;- SUNGEI SIPUT, as with SUNGEI BESI;- SUNGEI WAY, Ted's dates, if accurate, would seem to preclude this & anyway the symmetry seems off;which leaves:- SUNGEI BULOH - a variant of D1? or,- SUNGEI CHOH which might be favourite since Proud starts with a D2.But I might be barking up entirely the wrong hevea brasiliensis!

Andrew Norris comments: I agree your logic and Sungei CHOH seems the most likely. Whether anyonewill believe us until a more complete strike turns up is another matter.


3. A faint unrecorded (in Proud) strike of “CHEMOR POST OFFICE - 20 OC 1924”

Andrew Norris comments: I have a full strike on a loose stamp of this Chemor Post office dated 2 AU 1917.So with yours of 1924 it was knocking around long enough but shows it was little used.

4. KUALA GRIS D1 is recorded, but whether or not a violet strike is of any significance I know not. I havetwo copies of PASIR PUTEH D3 and both are violet, so perhaps this was standard practice?. Regardless, itwas a hell of a find!

Andrew Norris comments: Ted only had one date so this is arguably the best thing here – though so manyof them are nice. I viewed his stuff and with others I have seen – odd ones here and there only – the earlystrikes of a number of these offices were struck in violet – offices that opened late teens and early twentiesdates -, but then changed to black ink.

I have also included one or two other nuggets from the 'Tat Mine'

5. The 'PALEKBANG' is very much a partial but must be rare and is probably as close as I'm ever going toget to the real thing.

Andrew Norris comments: Richard Hale has the only known full strike on a postal stationery postcard. Heshowed it to us in London a few years back. I note yours appears to have a stop after the G, which is not inTed’s illustration. Richard’s example also has a stop.

6. The SS 4c with a partial “Alor Star” is a bit of a curio. The stamp is 'Script CA and the cancellation isprobably D11. I doubt if it's the forged cancellation mentioned in Rob Holley's book (why would anyonebother?). I guess it's a receiver/transit mark.


7/8. The GRIK TRD and the FMS BATU MENKEBANG are just me showing off!I've never been a seeker after E/LRDs but these examples are perhaps of sufficient disparity to be of interestto the dedicated Postal Historian

9/10. GRIT D2 - 11 MY 1914 & 16 AP 1915 Post Date Proud (1.6.13) by 11 months & 22 monthsrespectively

11. GRIK R2 - 14 JY 1915 Pre Dates Proud (9.3.20) by nearly 5 years

12. KROH R2 - 30 JY 1913 Pre Dates Proud (20.9.16) by nearly 3 years

13. PARIT BUNTAR - 15 NO 1924 Pre Dates Proud (27.5.25) by 6 months


F.M.S. RAILWAY SORTING CARRIAGE MARK.by Susan McEwen

The story behind a postcard. Posted at Putney, West London 22 October 1924, to Kuala Lumpur thisacquired a “F.M.S. Railway Sorting Carriage” mark (Proud type D5) on 14 November. Underfranked at 1d,it should have been 1½d. It was given a “Kuala Lumpur 8 cts to pay” boxed mark (Proud type UP17). Thetax calculation is shown in blue manuscript as ‘T 10’ for 10 centimes, which became 8 cents.

The message says “Bill and I bought this postcard at Wembley” almost certainly meaning the BritishEmpire Exhibition at Wembley which was held from 23 April 1924 to 31 October 1925. Special stampswere printed for the Exhibition, at 1d and 1½d but sadly “Auntie Gladys” didn’t buy one of them for thiscard. That would have added a little extra to the card, although it is doing quite well with a Sorting Carriageand a postage due mark. Postage due stamps were not issued until 1 December 1924, so this card missedbeing a first day cover by 16 days.

The picture side of the card shows a Great Western Railway Express engine, Caerphilly Castle of theG.W.R 4073 class. Built in 1923, it was exhibited at the Wembley Exhibition. It was withdrawn fromservice in 1960 and is now at the Swindon Steam Railway museum.


The addressee, Norman Kesteven, was born in 1921, probably in Malaya, and sailed to (or back to)Malaya in March 1924 with his parents, Leofric and Amy Kesteven. Leofric. Amy Kesteven (neé Leach)had married at Ipoh in May 1915.

It is possible that “Bill” was Norman’s brother, William Leofric Kesteven (1916-2003), but finding“Aunty Gladys” is beyond my family history searching. Suffice to say that neither Leofric nor AmyKesteven had a sister Gladys.

Leofric Kesteven (1882-1974) was an Architect. He had arrived in the FMS in 1912 as a Draftsman andretired in 1933 as Senior Assistant Architect, at the Public Works Department, Kuala Lumpur. He was theArchitect who designed the Sultan Sulaiman Mosque, Selangor’s Royal Mosque at Klang. It wasconstructed in 1932, while he was still in KL, and officially opened in 1934 by the Sultan. This is themosque of Selangor’s Mosque and Sultan issue 1935 – 1941, providing a philatelic link.

Family history from www.findmypast.co.ukOther information from:www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2017/11/298853/selangor-sultan-reopens-sultan-sulaiman-royal-mosquehttp://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapershttp://www.nrm.org.uk/ourcollection/locomotivesandrollingstock

BMA – EARLIEST DATES?by Gerald Brown

Recently sold on eBay was this 4c. BMA postcard with four values on the reverse postmarked Singapore4 December 1945. This is the earliest date that I have noted so far for the 15c., 25c. and $1 value stamps.The 10c. value may be the chalk-surfaced paper brown gum variety, so could also be an earliest date.

The earliest use date that I have noted elsewhere for the $2 is also 4 December.Unfortunately, the card is not addressed, although it is postmarked with the same canceller, so “by

favour” cancelling cannot be ruled out, but I would suggest that this is rather less likely to be a confectionthan a similar, but non-plate number, recent offering with an up country 19 October first day of issuepostmark “set” which included the 5c!

Other members may be able to advise earlier dates for these values.


LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Iain Dyce writes:THE RECEIVING AUTHORITIES OF MALAYAN SPECIMENS: COUNTRY OVERPRINTS.

Dominic’s article in the last issue of TMP raised some questions on strange items that appear in ourcollections from time to time. One he mentioned was Queen Victoria Straits Settlements with the overprint“SPECIMEN” applied at the Tunisian Post Office. He said that he had not seen it - so for the record, here isthe sheet. I had bought it in an English provincial auction in 2014 and gave the illustration to James Bendonto use in his book.


It is a page of reasonably stout paper, cut from an album on which the stamps have been mounted in noparticular chronological order, but in general ascending value from one cent at the top left to $5 at the bottomleft. A few later stamps complete the bottom row. There is only one example of each stamp and no signhere of the remainder of the multiples from the UPU distribution. The sheet is headed “Straits Settlements”which has been amended in red ink to “Malacca”. This is the generic name used in Francophone-speakingareas for Malaya. The back of the sheet is blank. The collection starts with issues from 1891 and continuesuntil the Edward VII eight cent of 1904. There are some values missing, including the first Edward VII set.

What is quite noticeable is the variety of Specimen overprints. The Tunisian overprints (eleven) arestruck at an angle on to blank stamps that have been stuck to the page. Although this has been carefullydone, on the 10c. on row three it overlaps and has the stamp tied to the page. The other horizontalSPECIMENS are all from the UPU stock and are Marcus Samuel D12. It is probable that, Tunisia being alate entrant to the UPU, it found there was a shortage of SPECIMEN stamps in their distribution and had touse mint copies from the Crown Agents or Singapore. These Tunisia overprinted, though there was nonecessity to do so.

Hugh Jefferies writes:NEW CATALOGUE ENTRIES

As always, the latest TMP is full of interest, particularly from the catalogue point of view, with the reportingof two new watermark varieties on Straits and Johore. Unfortunately, the journal arrived the very day thatthe 2019 “Part 1” was 'put to bed', so they will now have to wait for the 2020 edition.

Your comment that the Johore inverted watermark, “discovered' in 2012”, is still not in the catalogueraises a point which I think is worth making - that the expert committees do not report to Stanley Gibbonswhen they certify an item not in the catalogue; that can only be done by the owner.

Many collectors prefer that their discoveries do not make it into the catalogue, I assume for fear ofalerting others to their existence, but if members do find something which they feel should be listed, anemailed scan of the item to me at [email protected] will get the ball rolling. I will be able tolet them know whether it needs to be inspected or if a certificate would be required.

One key piece of information often missed is whether the “discovery” is used or unused. As we can onlyprice what we know to exist, we cannot put a price on something unless we know its status.

Oddly, there still seems to be a perception in certain quarters that the SG catalogue editor knowseverything - sadly it's far from the truth!

Dominic Morris writes:SIR HUGH CORTAZZI

I read in 18 August's Telegraph obituary of Sir Hugh Cortazzi (Our Man in Tokyo in the early 1980s) that, asa young man in 1944-1945, he went to University of London, School of Oriental & African Studies (my oldAlma Mater) then joined the RAF, where he became interpreter for the interrogation of senior JapanesePoWs. He acted as interpreter for Gen Dempsey of our 14th Army in Singapore at the sessions which(finally) persuaded the local Japanese commanders in Syonan-To to surrender in September 1945, a good 3-4weeks after Emperor Hirohito had said 'Enough!'). Hugh returned to Singapore from 1949-51, in the earlyyears of The Emergency, when he worked for Malcolm MacDonald (Ramsay MacDonald's son) who had a'mixed' reputation for political interference in operational matters. Hugh subsequently went to Tokyo as aForeign Office official where he sorted out the black market between Aussie Occupation troops and Japanesecivilians (and stopped it!). I met Hugh when I worked for The Lady (He was then, I think, leading theAnglo-Japanese Trade Group). He struck me as a kindly and very civilised cove.

This is not directly philatelic but is (given the period) interesting social history.


JOHORE SG 7 - A FOLLOW UPby Susan McEwen

In an article “Johore SG 7 a puzzle re-examined” published in TMP58/35 in 2017, I explained why I believethat the stamp known as Johore SG 7 is bogus.

The new 2019 edition of SG’s “Commonwealth & British Empire stamps 1840 – 1970”, sometimesknown as “Part 1”, has deleted Johore SG 7 and put a footnote which says:

“The stamp formerly listed as no. 7 with ‘JOHORE’ opt in large serifed capitals (illustrated as T7)is now considered to be bogus.”

My thanks to everyone who helped with the research which led to the article and to Hugh Jefferies andStanly Gibbons for delisting it.

SELANGOR AND PERAK TELEGRAMSby Martin Roper

Whilst following up search engine references to “Selangor”, I found this report in the “Morley’s PhilatelicJournal” dated 1900:

“The MJ learns that in Selangor the stamps on telegrams are cancelled, as in India, by placing themalong a certain line on the form, and cutting them in half, so that the sender obtains a receipt bearinghalves of the stamps he has used. In Perak there is a form of receipt at the bottom of this telegraphform, and if the sender wants it signed he has to affix a 1c stamp to it.”

Was this reporting correct, and are there any known examples?

SELANGOR OVERPRINT IN THIN SAN-SERIF CAPITALS 3mm HIGHby Martin Roper

Fig 1 Fig 2

Dr Wood wrote:“The setting was in triplet form, the three units being much alike, except that the second has the ”R”raised and the third the “NGO” raised. These minor varieties appear to be constant in a large block Ihave, but there may have been another setting without them as the overprint was in use for well over ayear.”

The pair of stamps illustrated in Fig.1 are elements 2 and 3 of the triplet described by Dr Wood (andillustrated in his book). The pair illustrated in Fig 2 are elements 3 and 1 of a triplet, judging from theiralignments. Both have all letters level and, I believe, is evidence of the second setting hinted at by Dr Wood.

I have also seen pairs of stamps where the overprint alignment indicates they are from the same triple andall the letters are level. I suggest that this shows there is, indeed, a second setting of all letters level.

Are there any extant strips of three or more that can confirm the second triplet?

Ref: “The Postage Stamps of the Native Protected States of Malaya” by F.E. Wood FRPSL, p.68


THE POSTAL HISTORY OF SABAH ON BECOMING PART OF MALAYSIAby Fah Onn Liau

The name Sabah was already in use before Europeans arrived in this part of Borneo. The ruling BritishNorth Borneo Chartered Company in their earliest official documents often referred to this territory asSabah. There are many theories as to the meaning and origin of this name. The most plausible is that it wasderived from an old Brunei Malay word meaning "upstream” or "in a northerly direction". This mostcertainly applied to the western part of the state and we have no idea how the Suluks referred to the easternpart of North Borneo which had been under the control of the Sulu Sultanate since the middle of the 17th

century.It has been written that when North Borneo became part of the Federation of Malaysia on 16 September

1963, its name was changed to Sabah, but the state legislative annual report for 1963 stated that the namewas changed on [unilateral. Ed.] independence from Britain on 31 August 1963.

Fig.1

Fig.1 is an early Malaysia commercial cover dated October 1963 with a Tawau North Borneo Australian-type cancellation, which was in use despite the name change, and it was almost a year later, in June 1964,when the name Sabah was used officially on formerly North Borneo mail, but there was some delay with thearrival of new cancellers as well as the stamps of the 1961 issue overprinted with Sabah. For the month ofJune 1964 only, a temporary cachet was in use. This was a triple ring with "Sabah Malaysia" within andnormally in violet. These covers are uncommon especially for the smaller post offices.

Fig.2 Fig.3

Fig.2-3 were from Jesselton and Tawau respectively. It is unclear whether the handstamp for this cachet wasissued separately to all the different post offices. The cachet for Kudat, said to be slightly different withsmall lugs on either side of the inner ring, would support this, but I think the likelihood was this cachet wasapplied as mail passed through the GPO in Jesselton during June 1964. These two covers would suggest theairmail rate within Sabah was 12c., and 20c. to mainland Malaysia and, probably, Sarawak as well.


On 1 July 1964, the Sabah cancellers, as well as the stamps overprinted Sabah, were in use at the mainpost offices with, probably, a slight delay at the smaller outlying post offices. However, the previous 1961North Borneo stamp issue was still valid for another 10 years. We now have a situation where North Borneostamps were used and cancelled with a Sabah Malaysia type cds.

Fig.4 Fig.5

Fig.4-5 from Labuan and Jesselton were evidently used early during this period in July 1964, the month ofthe changeover. These items are very hard to come by.

Fig.6

Fig.6 was purchased from a dealer during the Singapore 2015 World Stamp Exhibition. It has a much laterdate of 10 May 1967.

Fig.7


Fig.7 is an attractive combination using Sabah, North Borneo and Malaysia stamps. The postmark is notclear but it has a Bondi Beach backstamp for 26 May 1966.

Fig.8

The pair of North Borneo 1961 6c. stamps in Fig.8, remarkably, has the cancellation of “JESSELTON / -1JUL 64-330PM / SABAH MALAYSIA” which was the very first day of use of the Sabah Malaysia typecancellers. The letters in these Sabah Malaysia postmarks have a tall narrow font.

Figs.9-13

Figs. 9-13 are some examples of North Borneo stamps with cancels from the lesser post offices of Beaufort,Lahad Datu, Railway TPO and Tawau. The $10 North Borneo adhesive with a Sabah cancellation should bea rarity, but a seamless change in the postal services was not in the offing, due to a lack of preparation. Thisresulted in much discussion in the Straits Times during 1964. The senior president of the Borneo StampDealers Association with a membership of 250 (the hobby was definitely huge in those days) in a letter inApril 1964, raised 3 important points:1) the non-interchangeability of stamps of Malaya and Singapore on one side and that of Sabah and Sarawak

on the other for postal purposes;2) the plea that postage stamps from all the states were available for sale at the respective GPOs (to fulfil a

philatelic need);3) the difference in the postal rates for national mail with items going across the South China Sea and vice

versa. The local rate was 10c for Malaysia but 12c for surface mail between mainland Malaysia and theBorneo states.

The state of Singapore was the first to respond. By a simple amendment to the Post Office Ordinance, Sabahand Sarawak postage stamps had become legal in early May 1964 and this was soon followed by the postalauthorities in the Malayan states on 15 May. A stamp bureau was set up in the GPO in Jesselton a monthlater with the purpose of putting on sale the various stamp issues from all the states of Malaysia.

On 10 November 1964, the rate for ordinary mail was raised to 15c. for all mail throughout Malaysia, ajump of 5c. for people in Malaya and Singapore and an extra 3c. for Sabah and Sarawak. Rising costs wasone reason quoted. As a bonus, the separate airmail postage charges between the mainland and the Borneostates was also abolished and all first class mail were to be conveyed by air.


Fig.14 Fig.15

The situation in the early days of the federation was also confusing for the post office authorities. We havein Fig.14, contrary to what was said earlier, a cover with a 10c. stamp for the local rate issued by Perak usedon a FDC on 26 October 1963, the month after the formation of Malaysia. It bears a Jesselton starcancellation with a later date of usage than that listed by Proud. The cover, Fig.15, with the Airport POJesselton 11 July 1966 cancellation shows the prevailing universal country rate of 15c. after the postalcharges were unified. Jesselton became Kota Kinabalu on 22 December 1967.

The convergence of the various postal regulations also led to a Pandora’s box of possible philateliccombinations, as well as unconventional use of other states' stamp issues at local post offices. The mostsought after would be Sabah/North Borneo and Sarawak stamps used alone or in combination in Singaporeand the Malayan States. Commercial examples with North Borneo stamps are especially uncommon.

Fig.16

Fig.16 is remarkably a commercial registered cover containing a long four-page letter written in French. Ithas a combination of North Borneo and Sarawak stamps and posted on 27 July 1964 at Maran in Pahang toBelgium. The sender was attached to the Aborigines Department at Chini Lake in Pahang. Also locallyknown as Tasik Chini, the lakeshores are inhabited by the Jakun branch of Orang Asli, the local name for theaborigines of Malaya.

Fig.17 could plausibly be commercial mail if the post offices were encouraging these sort ofcombinations. It has a mixture of Sabah, Sarawak and Selangor stamps with non-philatelic sounding senderand addressee sent on 5 August 1964.


Fig.17

Fig.18 is undoubtedly a philatelic item franked by Sabah stamps and sent from Singapore Airport dated5 April 1965. It was also marked Retour.

Fig.18

Fig. 19-21

The first stamp, Fig.19, has an early date of usage in Singapore, 16 March 1964. It was probably one that"got away" before the change in postal regulations, rather than a transit or arrival cancel. Fig.20 has a faint15 July 1964 Singapore Airport postmark. Mainland stamps used in Sabah are rather rare. This is acombination of Singapore and Trengganu stamps used on piece at Jesselton with a clear date of 12 May1966. Even though Singapore left the federation on 9 August 1965, its stamps and their counterparts inMalaysia were still valid for use for another 18 months. In the Straits Times on 30 January 1967:

"The Deputy Prime Minister's office announced today that it had been mutually agreed between theGovernments of Malaysia and Singapore that the interchangeability and sale of Malaysian andSingapore stamps will not be valid for postal purposes throughout the Republic. Such stamps will alsocease to be sale in Singapore."


Fig. 22-24The frequent use of high values of Sabah stamps for parcel post in Singapore is an interesting peculiarity.The prevailing 1962 Singapore issue had $5 as its highest denomination. There was obviously a need for a$10 stamp. The three Sabah $10 stamps were used at the Killiney Road, Singapore 9, post office. Thisreplaced the Orchard Road post office in 1963. The 35c stamp was used at Serangoon Road, Singapore 12,post office.

This concludes a narrative of this very interesting aspect of Malaysian postal history driven by a chain ofpolitical changes and events. It is not by any means a fully comprehensive account.

References:Proud, Edward B (2003). The Postal History of British BorneoEdward B (2000). The Postal History of Malaya Vol. 1National Library of Singapore, Straits Times Archives, various. http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/

FMS 25c. PLATE FLAW ON SCARCE AIRMAIL COVERby Lee Teong Keong

Illustrated below is a cover with 33c airmail rate from Jeram, dated 10 March 1933 (Fig.1). The 33cImperial airmail rate has been recorded from 15 June 1932 to 3 November 1933 and can be considered to beparticularly scarce. 1

On closer scrutiny, a plate flaw can be seen clearly and unmistakably on the FMS 25c adhesive. Itextends from the bottom end of number “2”, a well-defined white line that looks like a cat holding its tailupright (Fig.2). FMS series of stamps are not well known for having any note of varieties 2, it should makethe 25c ‘cat’s tail’ error extraordinarily rare, if not a unique find. [If it is a constant plate flaw, it will, ofcourse, appear at least once in each sheet of stamps. Can anyone identify the plate position please? Ed.]

Fig 1. 1933 Cover from Jeram (10.3) with the uncommon 33cImperial air rate

Fig 2. Enlarged FMS 25c

References:1. ‘Imperial Airways: the 31c and 33c letter rates’, Keith Elliot, TMP41/42.


2. ‘FMS series of stamps were printed by first-class printers who allowed no varieties of any note to slipthrough, apart from watermark varieties.’ The Postage Stamps of Federated Malay States, p.8, W.A.Reeves.

NEW ISSUES COLUMN - 105by Len Stanway

Introduction

It is confirmed that Malaysian GST was no longer being charged on postal products, so stamps were, onceagain, sold at face value. However, on 1 September 2018, a new Sales and Service Tax (SST) wasintroduced at 10% on sales and 6% on services. Unlike the earlier tax, it was to be applied on the final billand not on individual items.

This column covers new issues from June to August 2018.

5 June 2018 Tourist Destinations – Sabah.

This issue, the latest in this current tourism series, publicisedtourist sites in Sabah. Designed by Reign Associates, this issuecomprised two counter sheets, a miniature sheet and a processsheet. The 60mm x 30mm counter sheet stamps showed: 60s.:Sabah Tourist Board Heritage Building (formerly Kota KinabaluPost Office from 16 March 1918 to 1987), KK City Mosque(“Floating Mosque”, 1992), Tun Mustapha Tower (1977), NorthBorneo Railway Vulcan Foundry 2-8-2 of 1955; 80s.: Mount Kinabalu, Sepilok Orangutan ConservationCentre, Bornean Bristlehead (Pityriasis gymnocephala), Pulau Sipadan and coral reef. They were printed insheets of 10 (2 x 5 with central gutter of illustrated labels) by Thai British Security Printing using standardfour-colour offset lithography. Sheet markings were the issue title and Pos emblem in top margin, colourdots (x4) to left of R1/1, and right of R5/2, pane numbers (x4, 1A seen) to right of R1/2 and left of R5/1,“Visit Malaysia 2020” in English and Bahasa in left, right and bottom margins. The unwatermarked 102gsmPVA Gummed OBA-free stamp paper gave no reaction under UV, so the stamps and labels were overprintedwith all-over yellow-green fluorescent phosphor. The comb perforations measured 13.3 x 13.4. To make-up pre-serviced first day covers, a se-tenant process sheet was used, containing pairs of stamps (60s-80s).The 100mm x 80mm miniature sheet, containing a 50mm square RM3 stamp was sold at RM3.20 includingGST. It showed a map of Sabah with Bukit Trig (Keningau), Trus Madi Pitcher Plant (Nepenthes xtrusmadiensis), Sabah Handicraft Centre (Keningau), Cinnamon stick, Keningau Oath Monument (marksformation of Malaysia), a turtle and diver. The paper and phosphor were as for the counter sheets. Theperforation measured 12.0. There was no presentation pack. The first day cover, sold at 55s., featured anOrangutan and young. The special first day postmark included a pitcher plant. The folder was sold atRM6.35.

28 June 2018. Unique Structures.

Malaysia has a large heritage of impressive bridge designs and modernbridges seek to blend modern and heritage design aspects. Designed byWorld Communications Network Resources, this issue comprised fourcounter sheets and one or two process sheets.. The 50mm x 25mmcounter sheet stamps showed: 60s.(A): Sultan Abdul Jalil Bridge, KualaKangsar, Perak (arch, 2002); 60s.(B): Tamparuli Bridge, Sabah

(suspension, 1933); 80s.(A): Seri Wawasan Bridge, Putrajaya (cable-stayed, 2003); 80s.(B): Darul HanaBridge, Kuching Sarawak (cable-stayed, 2017). They were printed in sheets of 20 (5 x 4) by Southern ColourPrint using standard four-colour offset lithography. Sheet markings were issue title in top margin, colourdots to left of R1/1, right of R4/5, and below R4/1, pane numbers (1A seen for all) to right of R1/5, left ofR5/1 and below R4/5, Pos emblem below R4/3. The unwatermarked Tullis Russell High ReadingYellow/Green Phosphor Gummed Stamp Paper gave a greenish-white fluorescent reaction and a yellow-


green after-glow under ultra-violet light. The comb perforations measured 14.1 x 14.4. To make-up pre-serviced first day covers, one or two se-tenant process sheets were used, containing pairs of stamps (60A-60B and 80A-80B). There was no presentation pack. The first day cover, sold at 50s., featured Langkawi Skybridge (cable-stayed, 2005) on the front and Pulau Bunting Bridge, Yan, Kedah (arch suspension, 2005) on theback. The special first day postmark included a bridge detail. The folder was sold at RM6.

16 July 2018. Telegraph Museum, Taiping.

The Telegraph Museum occupies the former Taiping Post and Telegraph Officeof 1883, built by the Public Works Department under the supervision of S.Caulfield. Designed by World Communication Network Resources, this issuecomprised three counter sheets, a process sheet and a miniature sheet. The40mm x 30mm counter sheet stamps showed: 60s.(A): Morse transmitting key;60s.(B): Morse receiver; 60s.(C): Gutta Percha (Nyatoh Taban Merah or GetahPercha, Palaquium Gutta) plant, grinding stone and submarine cable. Theywere printed in sheets of 20 (4 x 5) by Enschedé using standard four-colouroffset lithography. Sheet markings were issue title in top margin, colour dots (x4) to left of R1/1, right ofR5/4 and below R5/1, pane numbers (1A seen for all values) to right of R1/4, left of R5/1 and below R5/4,Pos emblem below R5/2 and TM emblem below R5/3. The unwatermarked paper (not Tullis Russell HighReading Yellow/Green Phosphor Gummed Stamp Paper as stated officially) gave no ultra-violet reactionand all stamps were overprinted with a yellow-green fluorescent phosphor band at the left. The combperforations measured 13.1 x 13.4. To make-up pre-serviced first day covers, a se-tenant process sheet wasused, containing strips of stamps (A-B-C). The 100mm x 70mm miniature sheet contained a 80mm x 42mmRM3 stamp and showed the museum as it would have been in 1885. Paper and phosphor were as for thecounter sheets. The stamp was perforated 14.1 x 14.3. There was no presentation pack. The first day cover,sold at 50s., featured the top of a telegraph pole. The special first day postmark included a Morse key andMorse print-out. The folder was sold at RM6.

23 July 2018 Historical Museums in Malaysia.

The first museum in Malaysia was the Perak Museum, instigated by Sir HughLow, 3rd British Resident in Perak. The Sarawak Museum of 1891 closed on23 October 2017 for conservation work on the structure and is expected toreopen in 2020. The Malacca History & Ethnography Museum opened on 19March 1954 at the suggestion of Sir Gerald Templer and moved in 1982 to theStadthuys, the former residence of a Dutch officer. The National Museumopened in 1953 but quickly outgrew its premises and the present, larger

building on the site of the Selangor Museum (opened 1904) opened on 31 August 1963. Designed by WorldCommunications Network Resources, this issue comprised three counter sheets, a process sheet and aminiature sheet. The 40mm x 30mm counter sheet stamps showed: 60s.(A): Perak Museum, Taiping (built1883) and Perak State Railway four-wheeled coach; 60s.(B): Sarawak Museum, Kuching (1891); 60s.(C):National Museum, Kuala Lumpur (1963). They were printed in sheets of 20 by Southern Colour Print usingstandard four-colour offset lithography. Sheet markings included pane numbers (x4 – 1A seen for all values)to left of bottom row, colour dots (x4) below left stamp in bottom row, artefacts in the side margins. Theunwatermarked Tullis Russell High Reading Yellow/Green Phosphor Gummed Stamp Paper gave agreenish-white fluorescent reaction and a yellow-green after-glow under ultra-violet light. The combperforations measured 13.6 x 13.4. To make-up pre-serviced first day covers, a se-tenant process sheet wasused, containing strips of stamps (C-A-B). The 100mm x 70mm miniature sheet showed the MalaccaHistory & Ethnography Museum (1954), Admiral Cheng Ho statue and Queen Victoria Fountain. Itcontained a 70mm x 40mm RM6.50 stamp with attached 20mm x 40mm label. The statue had a varnishcoating and was perforated 13.4. Three 148mm x 105mm unstamped postcards featured an artist’s elevationview of (A) Perak Museum, (B) Sarawak Museum and (C) National Museum. The set of three was sold atRM3 mint or RM7.80 serviced with the appropriate 60s stamp. There was no presentation pack. The firstday cover, sold at 50s., featured the Kelantan Royal Museum, Sabah State Museum and Trengganu StateMuseum. The special first day postmark included a building. The folder was sold at RM6.


24 July 2018. Mahathir’s 93rd Birthday.

Having been re-elected Prime Minister at the age of 92, Dr Mahathir Mohammed’s birthday was celebratedwith a pack containing three sheetlets, sold at RM93. Further details are awaited, as they were not sent toaccount holders.

14 August 2018 Blowpipes.

Blowpipes are used for hunting and can be used in combat. It can be used accuratelyup to 200 metres. The Borneo blowpipes that were illustrated incorporated a spear atthe end for close combat. Originally planned for 21 November 2017, this issue showsthe various types of blowpipe used in Malaya and Borneo. Designed by WorldCommunications Network Resources (M) Sdn. Bhd., this issue comprised threecounter sheets, a process sheet and a miniature sheet. The 30mm x 50mm countersheet stamps showed: 60s.(A): Orang Asli Blowpipe; 60s.(B): Dayak Blowpipe;60s.(C): Murut Blowpipe. They were printed in sheets of 20 (two panes 5 x 2 withcentral gutter) by Enschedé using standard four-colour offset lithography. Sheetmarkings were Pos emblem above R1/3, pane number (x4, 1A seen for all values) toleft of R1/1 and right of R4/5, colour dotes (x4) to right of R1/5 and left of R4/1, issuetitle and illustration in centre gutter, blowpipe details to left and right of R2 and R3.The unwatermarked paper (not 103gsm Tullis Russell High Reading Yellow/Green Phosphor GummedStamp Paper as stated officially) gave no ultra-violet reaction and all stamps were overprinted with a yellow-green fluorescent phosphor band at the left. The comb perforations measured 13.3 x 14.1 (not 14.286 x14.47 as officially stated!). To make-up pre-serviced first day covers, a se-tenant process sheet was used,containing strips of stamps (C-B-A). The 10mm x 70mm miniature sheet contained an 80mm x 42mm RM3stamp, showing a Dayak hunting a monkey. The paper and phosphor were as for the counter sheet. Thesheet was perforated 14.0 x 14.3. There was no presentation pack. The first day cover, sold at 50s., featuredDayak blowpipe, darts, quiver, etc. The special first day postmark included a Dayak blowpipe and dart. Thefolder was sold at RM6.

31 August 2018 National Day.

This issue marked the 61st anniversary of Merdeka with the slogan “I love myMalaysia”. Designed by Reign Associates, this issue comprised two counter sheetsand a miniature sheet. The 30mm x 40mm counter sheet stamps showed a compositedesign: 60s.(A): Celebrating people and the flag; 60s.(B): Celebrating people andKuala Lumpur buildings. They were printed in sheets of 20 by Cartor using standardfour-colour offset lithography. Sheet markings included colour dots (x4) to the rightof the bottom right stamp and flags(A) or coats of arms (B) of the states around themargins. The unwatermarked Phosphor-Coated Security Stamp Paper gave agreenish-white fluorescent reaction and a yellow-green after-glow under ultra-violetlight. The comb perforations measured 13.4 x 13.0. To make-up pre-serviced first

day covers, a se-tenant process sheet was used, containing pairs of stamps (A-B). The 80mm squareminiature sheet contained a 53mm x 50mm RM5 stamp showing the flag and event emblem and perforatedin a heart shape, surrounded by the coats of arms of the states. The event emblem and flag are highlightedwith clear varnish. The paper is as for the counter sheets. The perforation is approximately 13. There wasno presentation pack. The first day cover, sold at 50s., featured a map of South East Asia. The special firstday postmark included the event emblem. The folder was sold at RM6.


2. NEW ISSUES - SINGAPORE

1 June 2018. Singapore-Russia Joint Stamp Issue.

This issue marks 50 years of diplomatic relations and shows moderngarden architecture from the two countries. Designed by Ivory Seahfor Singapore and RusMarka for Russia, this issue comprised twocounter sheets and a miniature sheet. The 56mm x 35mm designsportrayed: $1.30(A): Gardens By The Bay, Singapore (opened 2012);$1.30(B): Zaryadye Park, Moscow (2017). They were printed insheets of 10 (2 x 5) by Secura Singapore using standard four-colouroffset lithography. Sheet markings included colour dots (x4) aboveand below both columns, pane numbers (1A seen for both) to left andright of R1 and R5, “Design (Singapore) Ivory Seah” to left of R2/1, Singpost emblem to right of R2/2. Theunwatermarked, low-OBA paper gave no UV reaction, so received as all-over yellow-green fluorescentphosphor coating. The comb perforations measured 12.2. The 140mm x 75mm $2.60 miniature sheetincorporated the two stamps on a background of Supertrees by night. The paper, phosphor and perforationswere as for the counter sheets. The plastic presentation pack was sold at $5.10 with barcode 8 888993 808061.The first day cover, printed by Besley & Pike with barcode 8 888993 818060 and sold at 50c., featured ageodesic network (triangles). The special first day postmark included overlapping hexagons.

22 June 2018. 125th Anniversary of Vanda Miss Joaquim.

It is 125 years since the National Flower was first bred. The Vanda MissJoaquim has been a national symbol since 15 April 1981, and as a hybrid,was selected to reflect Singapore’s multicultural heritage. It was named forits creator, Miss Agnes Joaquim, a second-generation Singapore-bornArmenian horticulturalist who was the first woman in the world to breed anorchid hybrid. This issue was originally scheduled for 15 June. Designedby Adeline Tan, this issue comprised four counter sheets and a miniature

sheet. The designs portrayed different forms of the flower: 1st Local: The parent plants (50mm x 30mm);70c.: Intermediate hybrid (40mm x 30mm); 90c.: Intermediate hybrid (40mm x 30mm); $1.30: Vanda MissJoaquim (50mm x 30mm). They were printed in sheets of 10 (2 x 5) by Southern Colour Print using standardfour-colour offset lithography with hot-pressed metallic pink foil. Sheet markings included colour fots (x4)below R5/2, pane number (x4 – 1A seen for all) to left and right of R1 and R5, barcode below R5/1 (8 888993958018 (1st Local), 958025 (70c.), 958032 (90c.), 958049 ($1.30)). The unwatermarked, phosphor-coatedpaper gave a greenish-white fluorescent reaction and a yellow-green after-glow under ultra-violet light. Thecomb perforations measured 14.5 x 14.1 (1st Local, $1.30) or 14.1 (70c., 90c.). The $1.30 has been reportedwith the lion’s head (foil) missing. The miniature sheet contained a $5 stamp showing the orchid. The bordercontained an embossed portrait of Agnes Joaquim with a hot-pressed gold foil border. Otherwise, the sheet wasprinted using standard offset lithography. Perforated 14.5 x 14.0, it was sold for $7.50 in a card folder withbarcode 8 888993 958063. The plastic presentation pack with barcode 8 888993 808207 was sold at $5.75.The first day cover, printed by Besley & Pike with barcode 8 888993 818206 and sold at 50c., featured a floralpatter with “Agnes Joaquim” in the middle, designed to form a composite design when the stamps wereattached in the shape of a cross. The special first day postmark included the orchid.

20 July 2018. USA-North Korea Summit.

The leaders of the USA and North Korea (President Donald J. Trump and Chairman Kim Jong Un) met onSentosa on 12 June 2018, to discuss diplomatic relations. This unscheduled issue, sponsored by Straits Times,marks that occasion. Designed by Wong Wui Kong from a photograph by Kevin Lim (Straits Times), thisissue comprised a single miniature sheet. The 113mm x 80mm miniature sheet contained a 45mm square $10stamp and was sold at all offices at face value plus GST ($10.70) in a card folder. It portrayed the handshakebetween the two leaders. They were printed by Secura Singapore using offset lithography. Theunwatermarked, phosphor-coated paper gave a yellow-green fluorescent reaction and negligible after-glow


under ultra-violet light. The combperforations measured 13.1.There was no presentation pack,official first day cover or specialfirst day postmark.

24 July 2018.Singapore Native Gingers.

Originally announced for 23 July,there are 26 species of Gingernative to Singapore and theBotanical Gardens and NationalParks Board have been activelyconserving them. They have beenused for urban greening, togetherwith other species. The Gingerorder includes spices (including

ginger, turmeric, cardamom), Bananas, Heliconias, Cannas, Prayer Plants and Bird-of-Paradise. Designed byIvory Seah from paintings by Waiwai Hove, this issue comprised four counter sheets and four postcards. The45mm square designs portrayed: 1st Local: Zingiber singapurense; 70c.: Cheilocostus globosus; 90c.:Phrynium hirtum; $1.30: Conamomum xanthoplebium. They were printed in sheets of 10 (5 x 2) by SecuraSingapore using five-colour (standard plus gold) offset lithography. Sheetmarkings included pane numbers (x5 – 1A seen) to left and right of bothrows, colour dots (x5) above and below columns 1 and 5, SingPost emblemabove R1/2, “Printer: / Secura Singapore Pte Ltd” below R2/2. Theunwatermarked, phosphor-coated paper gave a yellow-green fluorescentreaction and negligible after-glow under ultra-violet light. The combperforations measured 13.0. A set of four postcards based on the stampdesigns was sold at $1.60 per card or $5 per set (details awaited). The plasticpresentation pack was sold at $5.75 with barcode 8 888993 808214. The firstday cover, printed by Besley & Pike with barcode 8 888993 818213 and soldat 50c, featured the issue title and plants. The special first day postmarkincluded a ginger seedling.

3 August 2018. National Day – Evening in Singapore.

This continues the series started by “Morning” last year. Designed by DNA LifePte Ltd, this issue comprised six counter sheets and a miniature sheet. The 41mmx 30mm designs portrayed; 1st Local: Family at evening meal; 2nd Local:Exercise class; 60c.: Fishing; 70c.: Jogging; 90c.: Hawker Centre; $1.30:Dining. They were printed in sheets of 10 (2 x 5) by Secura Singapore usingstandard four-colour offset lithography with clear foil stamping (Vanda MissJoaquim over the bottom right of the design). Sheet markings included Colour

dotes (x4) above and below both columns, pane numbers (x4, 1A seen) to left and right of both rows,“Designed by: / DNA Life Pte Ltd” to left of R2/1, SingPost emblem to right of R2/2. The unwatermarked,phosphor-coated paper gave a yellow-green fluorescent reaction and negligible after-glow under ultra-violetlight. The comb perforations measured 12.8. The 113mm x 80mm miniature sheet showed an open-air marketand contained a 45mm square $2 stamp. It was printed by offset lithography with die-cutting (the word“SINGAPORE”). Paper was as for counter sheets. The sheet was perforated 13.0. The plastic presentationpack was sold at $8.95 and included the miniature sheet. It bore barcode 8 888993 808238. The first daycover, printed by Besley & Pike with barcode 8 888993 818237 and sold at 50c., featured sunset. The specialfirst day postmark included Gardens by the Bay and Marina Bay skyline viewed from the sea.


4 August 2018. ASEAN.

Singapore took on Chairmanship of ASEAN for 2018. The stamps show the threepriorities for this year. Designed by SNAP! Creative Pte Ltd, this issue comprised threecounter sheets. The 28mm x 45mm designs portrayed: $1.30 (A): Defence; $1.30 (B):Trade; $1.30 (C): Culture. They were printed in sheets of 10 (5 x 2) by Secura Singaporeusing standard four-colour offset lithography. Sheet markings included colour dots (x4)above and below columns 1 and 5, pane numbers (x4, 1A seen) to left and right of bothrows, SingPost emblem above E1/2, “Printer: Secura Singapore Pte Ltd” below R2/2.The unwatermarked, phosphor-coated paper gave a yellow-green fluorescent reaction andnegligible after-glow under ultra-violet light. The comb perforations measured 12.2. Theplastic presentation pack was sold at $6.50 with barcode 8 888993 808269. The first daycover, printed by Besley & Pike with barcode 8 888993 818268 and sold at 50c., featuredelements of the stamp designs. The special first day postmark included the new ASEAN emblem (trianglesrepresenting the member states).

3. UPDATES ON PAST ISSUES - MALAYSIA20 March 2018 Electric Train Service (ETS).

It has been reported that just 5000 sets were issued of the three stamps incorporating the emblem for aninternational exhibition. Further details are awaited.

4. UPDATES ON PAST ISSUES - SINGAPORE2013 2013 Definitive Issue.

New releases on 20 July 2018 were 5c. 9RP 2018J (A and B plates) and 60c. 2RP 2018C (A-D plates).These contained no surprises.

6. POST OFFICES - SINGAPORE

Millennia Walk PA(A) closed after business 31 July 2018.

7. REGISTRATION LABELS – SINGAPORE

In June 2018, SingPost launched a new “Point-Of-Sales” terminal for use at post office counters, known as“iSAM”. Among other functions, it can now print registration labels. The label comes in four versions,depending whether the package is insured or uninsured, domestic or foreign.

[SingPost visual]

The official launch was at Orchard on 7 June 2018, but it was reported that Macpherson, City Square andBedok also had machines in use unannounced. Announced introductions into service have been Chinatown(14 June), Bukit Timah (20 June), Alexandra (26 June), Bras Basah (29 June), Bukit Batok Central (18 July),Bukit Panjang (20 July), Crawford (25 July), Ghim Moh Estate (27 July), HarbourFront Centre(1 August),Jurong East (3 August), Jurong Point (8 August), Jurong West (13 August), Katong (15 August), Pasir RisCentral (24 August), Clementi Central (29 August).


NEWSLETTER No.246

FORTHCOMING MEETINGS:Meetings are normally held at 1.15pm at Spink, 69 Southampton Row, London WC1B 4ET; nearest

underground stations Holborn or Russell Square. The forthcoming programme will be:2018 10 November London: Bourse, followed by “Labuan Straits Period” (Members’ displays, led by

Andrew Norris).8 December London: “The Letters of Christmas” (Members displays with refreshments).

2019 19 January London: Committee meeting, followed by “Northern States” (Members’ displays).23 February London: “Postcards & Ephemera” (Members’ displays, led by Gordon Peters).21 March London: MSG Display to the Royal Philatelic Society London, 41 Devonshire Place.6 April London: AGM, followed by Spring Auction (General call).11 or 18 May Leicester: Members’ displays.22 June London: “Selangor & The Development of Kuala Lumpur” (Members’ displays).

OTHER DIARY DATES:The Singapore Stamp Club Newsletter announced that Singpex 2019 36th Asian International Stamp

Exhibition will be held from Wednesday 31 July to Sunday 4 August 2019. This marks the 200th

Anniversary of Singapore.

MEMBERSHIP NEWS:Members are reminded to advise the Membership Secretary of any changes to address, telephone number

or e-mail address. Whilst these details will not be published in the newsletter unless specifically requestedby the Member concerned, it is essential that this is kept up-to-date to permit official communications withmembers, such as TMP mailings, notifications of late meeting changes, etc.

Membership Applications:The Group is pleased to report that it has received applications for membership from Peter Matthews(UK). If any member knows good reason why an applicant should not be a member of the Group, pleasecontact Martin Roper immediately.

Membership Confirmed:The Group is pleased to confirm the membership of Marcus Chen (Australia), Shiv Shankaran Nair (UK),Iulian Cherata (Romania), Miss Kay Shinyan (Malaysia). We are also pleased to welcome back AlanChong Siow Min (Singapore).

Albums Closed:We regret to have to announce the deaths of Chellapah Nagarajah (Malaysia).

ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTIONS:Members are reminded that renewal of your annual subscription became due on 1 April. If you have not

already done so, please send your £20 (or $US40) (£15 or $US30, if paid before 1 July) to the Treasurer, oras locally arranged in Australia, Malaysia, Singapore and the USA.

CONGRATULATIONSSeveral members have earned our congratulations recently. On 12 July, Peter Cockburn won the

Devonshire Plate as runner-up in the first-ever competition at the Royal Philatelic Society London.On Singapore’s National Day, Prof. Cheah Jin Seng was awarded The Public Service Medal 2018 on the

nomination of the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth in his capacity of Chairman, SingaporePhilatelic Museum Board.

Henry Ong won a Large Vermeil medal at the 35th Asian International Stamp Exhibition 2018.

THE “MALAYA POSTAL STATIONERY TO 1936” BOOK – FURTHER APPEAL FOR HELP byLen Stanway:

Many thanks to those that responded to the first request for help, which has filled many of the gaps. Iwould still welcome assistance with sourcing colour illustrations of the following items that have provedextremely elusive or, in some cases, may not exist (300dpi scan preferred, but good photocopy can be used):


Straits Settlements postcards: QV: 1880s onwards Official cards with user overprints (both sides), KG5:8c. reply (printed but probably does not exist); registration envelopes (both sides): KG5: 12c. H2 (ISCRE5c), G (ISC RE6 with back instructions);

Kedah Official postcard (both sides) (ISC OP1);Trengganu registration envelope: 15c. H2 (ISC RE2a), K (ISC RE2b).

GROUP AUCTIONSSpring 2019 Auction

The next General Auction will take place on 6 April 2019. The auction manager for the 'front end' of theauction will be Michael Waugh: e mail [email protected] or by post Dr. Michael Waugh, 151 RokerLane, Pudsey, Leeds LS28 9ND, UK. The auction limit will be circa 325 lots. Vendors are invited to sendtheir offerings in to Michael. First come, first served. John Hawes has kindly agreed to run the back end ofthe auction (i.e. from post-bids onwards).

MEETING REPORTS based on reports by Mike Padmore (unless otherwise stated):WORTHING – 22 September 2018:Present: Mike Kingsland, Susan McEwen, Dominic Morris, Andrew Norris, John Newnham, Mike Padmore,Martin Roper, Len Stanway. Guest: Anne Stanway.

The first round was begun by Andrew Norris, showing BMA and post BMA material that he described as“not yet fully written up” and opening with three frames of BMA airmails including a 6 November 1948example with mixed BMA/Singapore franking. These were followed by two frames of Kedah(predominantly Alor Star), including variations in registration labels from Alor Star, one in script, plus aSungei Patani newspaper cancel. Finally, Andrew displayed three frames of Kelantan showing postmarks,several of which were ERDs.

Peter Cockburn presented two frames, opening with BMA free period material, including two items fromimmediately after the Japanese surrender, one with a Jap Occ postmark still dated 3.9 2605 (two days laterthan recorded in Proud). A handmade cover featured the Kanji characters “For Public Use” crossed out and“OGS” written in by hand. His final frame included a philatelic cover franked with both local and Londonoverprinted stamps, a 1946 cover with pre-war stamps, and a Padang Serai cover of 5 November 1945 fromthe Kedah free post period.

Round Two began with Susan McEwen showing nine frames of Selangor Mosque and Sultan issues,covering both postal history and stamps. Two frames displayed essays including Survey Department essays,with two half-plate size examples. A frame featured the 3c. green on different papers, plus some flaws, anduprated postal stationery envelopes. A frame devoted to 1941 issues; the 2c. and 3c. issues, includingSpecimens, plus the 15c. Susan mused that this latter stamp came out so late that it is hard to find one oncover, with many used examples having questionable postmarks. She included examples of the 15.c onshiny paper, which is only know mint and not at all with a Jap Occ overprint. Susan’s final frame showed adie proof for the $5 (inscribed 5$) and concluded with two Johore newspaper wrappers from 1959-60 (theMalayan Emergency) with different cachets.

Martin Roper finished the round with a single frame of Selangor errors and malformed overprints fromthe 1885-90 period. He raised two issues with prompted discussion. The first regarded a reference he haddiscovered in Morley’s Philatelic Journal of 1900 regarding Selangor stamps cancelled by placing (i.e.sticking) along a document line then being cut in two along that line. After discussion about this practice inrelation to telegraph usage in other countries, the absence of any Malayan example on a document led thosepresent to feel that the practice was doubtful under Malayan jurisdiction. The second matter was a pair of1885 SELANGOR 14.25 x 3 mm overprints on the Straits 2c, in his possession. Wood proposed that thisoverprint was done as a triplet, but Martin’s example showed the first and then third stamp from the Woodtriplet. He suggested that a second triplet could have been in operation, and members present ponderedwhether the first triplet (whichever it was) could have become unstable or damaged, resulting in its beingreformed in a different sequence.

After lunch, Dominic Morris opened round three with six frames, comprising of the remains of materialnot shown at Amersham in May. He opened with plate blocks of four of Malacca and Negri Sembilan smallheads, many ex Rob Holley. A Penang 2c. postcard (Tan PC2) showed an extreme shift of the 2c. imprintwas followed by Pahang essays, including enlarged designs signed by the Chief Photographic Lithographer,W.D. Mavor, and Selangor essays, including one initialled by H.C. A(brahams), Superintendent of theSurvey Dept.


Mike Kingsland showed three frames of mint and postally used Malaysian material from March 2016 toMarch 2018. He noted that there was an increasing number of issues, and pondered the impact on thosestamp issues bearing GST after the latter’s abolition of in May this year. His final frame displayed alldefinitives currently on sale with their original date of introduction. It was interesting to note that five ofthose designs originated from 1986 – a lifespan of over thirty years.

Len Stanway continued the afternoon with two rounds composed from his 1936-45 box, selected at shortnotice before travelling to Worthing. The first round opened with full panes of MPU Postage Dues (“Fitsbeautifully on an album page,” Len noted), including both settings of the 1964 8 cents on 10 cents overprint.Some 1937 Coronation covers prompted the observation that the Singapore GPO had to put all hands to thepump to cope with demand. A sheet of 2c. orange on striated paper prompted a discussion regarding whatstriated paper issues made it to Malaya before the outbreak of war and which might have been diverted toAustralia. After a discussion of Requisition and invoice quantities, it was agreed that the test would seem tobe which examples of Japanese Occupation overprints subsequently appeared on this paper, prompting acouple of attendees to resolve to re-examine their material for an answer.

Further material included Selangor perforations varieties on 5c., etc., and a $1.30 booklet, plus anEmperor’s birthday Japanese Occupation postmark, a 26 January 1939 Sultan Alam Shah Coronation cover,a 29 June 1940 meter mark on a Klang to Surrey cover, censored at Penang, and a number of postalstationery postcards and registered envelope specimens.

A final frame of large Perak Japanese Occupation postmarks led to Len’s next round which opened withJapanese issues in panes (usually four making up a sheet) and a frame of studies of the Japanese issue 4 cpostcard, many with extra franking, including an Express rate at 34c. Len concluded with two GB postcardsfor Japanese POW correspondence and 3c. Perak rouletted revenue stamps in a sheet of 25, with twoexamples on receipts, plus the Trengganu revenue issue.

John Newnham finished off the day with a short round of three frames of postcards originally put togetherfor his local society, opening with a Victoria 3c. Straits Settlements postal stationery postcard, sent fromPenang to Berlin in 1905 and featuring a more recent Pangkor Island postcard that John said, had had aparticular fascination for Doug Binder, who repeatedly asked to buy it off him. That concluded a lively dayof discussion and debate among those attending.

MEMBER ACTIVITIES:“Outreach” is a very popular concept in modern life and is a vital part of promoting the society to

potential new members. Many members help publicise the group by displaying their collections around theircountries or abroad to other societies or in competition. If you are displaying or have recently displayed, orknow of someone who has, please let us know the details so that such efforts can be recognised.

On 13 May, an MSG team of Mike Padmore (an Amersham member), Martin Roper and Dominic Morrisdisplayed at Amersham society, greeted by a turn-out of 30+.

Len Stanway displayed “Aspects of Malaya” to West Malling society on 11 September 2018, Ipswich on19 September and Ely on 4 October.

MSG WEBSITEHave you looked at the MSG website lately? There’s a lot for you to see! As well as expanded reports of

recent meetings and notice of forthcoming events of interest, there are up-to-date indices for TMP and fullcolour versions of the same, provisional supplements to the Malaysia book for you to view and input to ifyou find errors or have additional information, and much more. There is also the Forum, an opportunity foryou to raise issues or queries and to comment on other people’s posts. Several members watch these pagesregularly to ensure that nothing goes unheeded. The more members use it, the better it will become.

SOCIETY SHIRTIf members wish to further publicise the Group by wearing a white polo shirt with the leaping tiger and

MSG title, these may be ordered from Len Stanway at £14 plus postage and packing (£3 in UK). Sizes S, M,L, XL are available.

PUBLICATIONS:POSTCARD BOOKS: Malcolm Wade retained a small stock of the Perak Postcard book, which he co-

authored. The MSG is helping to dispose of these at the special reduced price of £15 each. Please contactour Publications Manager, Peter Cockburn for details, postage etc.


MALAYA STUDY GROUPFounded 1959 by the late Howard J. Selzer.

Executive Committee (as at 2018 AGM)

Chairman: Dominic [email protected]

Secretary: Mike Padmore8 St Marys Square, Aylesbury HP20 2JJ, UK

[email protected]

Treasurer: Carl Stott12 Martingale Road, Billericay, CM11 1SG, UK

[email protected]

Membership Secretary: Martin Roper25 King Edward Avenue, Aylesbury

HP21 7JD, [email protected]

Packet Secretary: Michael EllisonSt Crispin’s, 9 South Street, Forres, Moray, Scotland

IV36 1DE, [email protected]

Publications Officer &Production Manager: Peter Cockburn

[email protected]

Publicity Officer: Mac [email protected]

Webmaster: Nicholas [email protected]

http://www.malayastudygroup.com/

Editor, The Malayan Philatelist: Len Stanway25 Clay Hill Road, Basildon, SS16 5DD, UK

[email protected]

Contributing Editor Pre-1948: Richard [email protected]

Auction Manager: (Vacancy)

Committee Members:Andrew Norris

[email protected] McEwen

[email protected]

Examiner: John [email protected]

Overseas Representatives:Australia:

Dr William Wells, PO Box 6004, East Brighton,Victoria 3187. [email protected]

Malaysia:Dr Gong Ngie Hee, 19 Jalan 21/1, SEA Park, 46300Petaling Jaya, Selangor. [email protected]

Singapore:Bernard Chung, 1 Harbourfront Place, #04-01Harbourfront Tower One, Singapore 098633.

[email protected]:

Steve Schumann, 2417 Cabrillo Drive, Hayward,California 94545. [email protected]

Annual Subscription:The annual, worldwide subscription to the Malaya Study Group is £20 or US $34.00, running from

1 April to 31 March. Any existing member paying before 30 June in any year receives an early paymentdiscount of £5.00 or US $8.50. For new members joining after the 1 October in any year, the initialsubscription will be £22.50 or US $46.75, being a half subscription for the current year and a fullsubscription for the following year, including early payment discounts. Enquiries regarding membershipshould be sent to the Membership Secretary.

All items in this publication are copyright. Unless otherwise stated, the copyright rests with the author of theitem concerned or, failing that, with the Malaya Study Group. Any person or organisation seeking to usesuch copyright items should initially approach the Editor of “The Malayan Philatelist”. Unless specificallyrequested by a contributor, contributors’ contact details will not be provided to third parties.

Opinions expressed in this journal are those of the contributor and should not be taken to reflect anypolicy of the Malaya Study Group.

The Editor welcomes submissions of any length in any form, but digital copy in Microsoft Word withJPEG images scanned at 300dpi (minimum) would be particularly helpful to minimise processing.

the malayan philatelist · 88 the malayan philatelist vol. 59 “my dear brother bradley, i...

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