The Oldest Stamps Malaya India Abroad Used Straits Settlements (1854~1867)

A Rarity of B/109 Obliterator of Melaka (Malacca)

One of the most famous British Empire postage stamp is East India Postage was used abroad covering East Africa, Middle East, French Settlement & Portuguese Settlement in India, East Asia and Malaya Straits Settlements region. The first East India Postage was issued in 1854, depicting a portrait of Queen Victoria (QV).

Their used in the Malaya Straits Settlements can only be verified with the cancellation which were B/172 used in Singapore, B/147 used in Penang and B/109 used in Melaka (former name is so-called Malacca) from 1854 to 1867. On April 1867, the Malaya Straits Settlements were incorporated to the status of a Crown Colony and the first Malaya Straits Settlements stamps were issued, respectively.

Scott #1

Issued in 1867

The First Edition of Malaya Straits Settlements Stamps

Few types of East India cancellations were used in Malaya Straits Settlements region such as Madras Diamond of Dots (1854), Bengal Concentric Octagons (1856) and Duplex Bombay (1861).

Madras Diamond of Dots

*1854~1856

Bengal Octagonal

*1856~1868

* Type I - Top serif of "1" is downward (1856),rare & elusive.

* Type II - Top serif of "1" is almost upward (1858) 

Type I
1854, Malaya India Used Abroad Singapore, B/172 heavy postmark in Black, SG #Z64
CV £140

Type II

1856, Malaya India Used Abroad Singapore, B/172 light postmark in Black, SG #Z86

CV £80

Duplex Bombay

*1863~1870

*Prediction Year of used in Malaya Straits Settlements region basing on Myla Philatelic Studies.

Note:

The Penang and Singapore octagonal were replaced by Duplex in 1863 and 1865, respectively.

However, the octagonal B172 Obliterator of Singapore was occasionally used till 1889. Their used mainly as part of cancellation since Singapore was one of main collection centres for those mails sent to overseas used ships. Mails from Southern region of Malaya Straits Settlements such as Johore and Melaka (Malacca) to overseas were sent via or bearing Singapore. Very smart Post Office Master in handling the regional mails.

Same also for Ned Indie (Indonesia) mails frequently was sent via Singapore especially to Europe.

Malacca Octagonal B/109 Obliterator

1855 Queen Victoria East India, ½ Anna Pale Blue, SG Z7, Die I,
No Watermarks, Very Fine Used,
4 Margins, Scarce & Superb Gems
Melaka (Malacca) Cancelled B/109 Obliterator
CV £650

1854/55, Queen Victoria India,1 Anna Dull Red Die III, SG Z3

Fine Cancelled of Melaka (Malacca) B/109 Obliterator,

4 Margins, Die III is very limited printing and high value,
Rare & Superb Gems

CV £2,250

The above stamps are one of the best collection in the Myla Worldwide Classic Collection.

The East India stamps were officially being used from 1854 until 1867. 

Nevertheless, in comparison with Singapore and Penang cancellation, Melaka was rarest amongst the others, mainly due to smallest quantities of cancellation, hence each having very high catalogue values.

Please find below of the East India stamps collection from 1854 to 1876  obtained from Myla Collection – World Class Collection.

 Early Stamps of India/East India

The East India Postal was used abroad up to India’s attainment of Independence in 1947, extended far beyond the geographical limit including the Straits Settlements of Malaya. 

The Indian Postal Service was divided into several regions, each centred on a major city or state and each having it’s own distinctive cancellation types.