Collecting stamps has long been my hobby. These Philatelic items are of much value and an avid collector will not get bored because he would be keen on the uniqueness of each stamp. I have a collection dated back to the 1940's and has been colleecting stamps, first day covers and other miscellaneous such as Miniature Sheets, Stamp Booklets and Special Edition stamps. To date, I have subscribed to the Philatelic Bureau of
Pos Malaysia Berhad and is currently receiving the latest First Day Covers produced by them.
Stamp History
A chronological listing of the history of Malaysian philately on the Straits Settlements and the other according to the various states. 1820 - 1821 . Penang is the only of the three Settlements to have postal markings prior to the 1830s. An oval 'Post/Office/P.W.j."handstruck stamp was used around these years. Before 1826 all three settlements were independent and were part of the domains of the East India Company. 1826 . All three settlements were incorporated as the Straits Settlements and came under the control of a Governor whose seat was in Penang. 1829 . The first recorded postmark appeared in 1829. It was in black rectangular with bevelled corners. 1830 . On May 1, 1830 the seat of Government was transferred to the Resident in Singapore. 1832 . The Chief Resident in Singapore became the Governor of the Straits Settlements. 1845 . The mail steamer, the Lady Mary Wood arrived in Singapore from London bringing mail for the Straits Settlements and China. 1854 .Postage stamps were introduced for the first time. These were Indian stamps depicting a portrait of Queen Victoria. Their use in the Straits Settlements can only be verified with the cancellations which were "Diamond of Dots". B/172 used in Singapore; B/147 used in Penang and B/109 used in Malacca. 1867 . On April 1, the Straits Settlements were incorporated to the status of a Crown Colony and the Post Office was put under the direct control of the British authorities in Singapore 1837-1867 The postal affairs of the Straits Settlements came under the aegis of the Indian Post Office. During the period Indian stamps were used and identified as mentioned earlier. The Indian Post Office Acts of 1837 and 1854 were applicable to the Straits Settlements and the postal rates of the period were those applicable of India . 1867 . September I saw the introduction of the first stamps for the Straits Settlements. They comprised of nine values of India stamps which were overprinted with a crown and surcharged in cents. These stamps come in the values of the 1 1/2c (overprinted "THREE HALF CENTS") , 2c, 3c,4c, 8c, 12c, 24c and 32c. The overprinting was done by DeLa Rue in London. 1867. On December 1, the first provisional stamps for the Straits Settlements were issued. They depicted a portrait of Queen Victoria and the values are -2a -4-c, 6c, 8c, 12c, 24c, 30C, 32c and 96c. 1877 . The Straits Settlements became a member of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) with its headquarters in Berne, Switzerland. 1879 . Postcards for international use with a postage rate of 3c was introduced. 1884 . On December 1, postcards for local use in the Straits Settlements and the Malay States were issued. The postage was 1c. 1890 . On January 1. Labuan was incorporated with North Borneo. 1891 . Official registration envelopes were put on sale. They were in five different sizes. 1891 . Postal insurance system was introduced for parcel exchange between the Straits Settlements and United Kingdom. The system was extended to parcels sent within the Settlements in 1892, to India in 1895 and for letters in 1900. 1907 . Labuan was transferred to the -Straits Settlements on January 1, although the transfer was authorised on October 30, 1906. 1907 . The Malayan Postal Union was established between the Straits Settlements,' the Federated Malay States,' Johore. Sarawak and Brunei whereby the rates of postage on letters, parcels and other articles transmitted between these administrations were standardised. 1908 . British Borneo joined the Malayan Union on January 1. 1916 . Stamp Booklets containing lc, 3c and 4c were put on sale in December. 1916 . Straits Settlements issued its first commemorative stamps. These were 3c and 4c overprinted "Red Cross 2cents", and were sold to raise funds f or the Red cross in aid of war victims. 1926 . Action taken to coordinate the post off ices of the Straits Settlements with those of the Federated Malay States. A joint headquarters was established in Kuala Lumpur and the title of Postmaster General, Straits Settlements and Director of Posts & Telegraph, F.M.S., merged as Secretary for Postal Affairs. 1941 . December 8 saw the beginning of the Japanese occupation. Initially, temporary handstamp overprints were used over existing stamps and later "Dai Nippon" and "Kanji" overprints were introduced. 1945 . The Japanese Occupation ended on August 15. 1945 . British Military Administration (BMA) commenced on September 5. There was initially free postage allowed between September 17 to October 18 pending the reprint of postage stamps. On October 19, 1945, pre-war Straits Settlements stamps were overprinted "BMA MALAYA" and used. 1946 . April 1 was the end of the BMA period. 1946 . On March 2 7 the Straits Settlements was dissolved. Penang and Malacca were absorbed into the Malayan Union and Singapore became a separate Crown Colony. 1946 . On July 15, Labuan was reverted to North Borneo.
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