The First Stamps Issued in Malaya Straits Settlements (1867)

Overview

In 1867, the Malaya Straits Settlements became a crown colony. Subsequently, they began issuing their own stamps on September 1, 1867, depicting a portrait of Queen Victoria of East India stamps.  The East India stamps were overprinted with a crown and various denominations in cents of postage. There were nine denominations consisted of  1½c, 2c, 3c, 4c, 6c, 8c, 12c, 24c and 32c, respectively.

1867 Malaya Straits Settlements Postage

The First Stamps

 

The stamps were printed by De La Rue, using currency of (Silver) Dollar and had been used in Penang, Malacca and Singapore as trade centres. These first stamps were also being used at the Cocos or Keeling Islands and Christmas Island and Dinding, Perak.

Meanwhile, other states on the Malay Peninsular began to issue their owned stamps. Johore firstly overprinted Straits Settlements stamps beginning in 1876 and followed as well as by other Malayan states.

Nowadays, the 12 cents stamp is one of the highest catalogue value in comparison with other denominations. The 12 cents stamp was overprinted on 4 annas of East India Postage (1864) was lowest quantity been produced around 24,000 pieces, whereas  1½c on ½ anna (1856) - 40,000, 2c/3c/4c on 1 anna (1856) - 96,000/96,000/32,000, 6c/8c/32c on 2 annas (1856) - 24,000/144,000/64,000 and 24c on 8 annas (1856) -80,000 (Extracted from "Philatelic Magazine" (UK), September 29, 1967).

 Myla Collection

1867 Malaya Straits Settlements Definitive Stamps

includes Revenue Stamps

Used/Mint
Type 1

Various postmarks include numerical postmarks were found being used on the early stage such as Circle of dots, Bengal Octagonal, Duplex and CDS. However, Diamond of dots were not used due to lost in transit, hence a circle of dots was used as temporary replacement. After 1856, the numerical postmarks were used. The numbers allotted to Singapore is B/172, Penang (B/147) and Melaka/Malacca (B/109), respectively.