Johore, the Most Advanced State in Malayan Postal History

The Glorious of Modern Johore Sultanate

Johore, the southern jewels of Malaysia, having their own stamps since in 1890, vignette depicting Sultan Sir Abu Bakar Ibni Al-Marhum Tun Temenggung Raja Daing Ibrahim, The Royal Highness Sultan of Johore (1886 ~1895), he was known also as “Father of Modern Johore” and the first Malay ruler visited England in 1866. Subsequently, the historic record of Queen Victoria's approval to the Sultanate of Maharaja Abu Bakar and the close relationship of Sultan Abu Bakar with the Royal Family of England.

Johore 1891~1894 Definitive, Sultan Abu Bakar,

1c (Scott#18), 2c (Scott #19) & 4c (Scott#21),

Lilac, Unwatermark, Mint

The glorious of Modern Johore Sultanate begun since 1855, the established point of the modernization of Johore. Numerous buildings i.e. police stations, courthouse and other government departments were established. On April 24, 1895, Sultan Abu Bakar promulgated the Johore State Constitution, makes Johore the first Malay state to have a formal and written set of laws.

Tracing the historical thumbprint of country from postage stamps is most interesting in Philatelic study. In this case, Johore was the first ever Malay States having their owned stamps depicting the Sultan before 1900, the most advanced state in Malayan postal history indeed.

The official stamp of Johore was issued in 1876 using Straits Settlements stamps over printed in Black inscribed star and crescent of JOHORE’s flag. Few rarest stamps belongs to state of Johore with high catalogue values in comparison to other states.

ICONIC STAMPS OF JOHORE
Prestigious Collection
# Setem Tertua Negeri Johor 1876



Front

Reverse

JOHORE 1876, Straits Settlements Stamp 2c overprints "CRESCENT & STAR", Crescent edge points pointing to East, Scott #1, Brown, Wmk. Crown CC, Perf. 14, Triple Cancellation, "CTO" cancels struck in RED , overleaping by B/172 Obliterator of Singapore & partial "JOHORE-ARSENAL" Proud D1 in BLACK , believe a genuine overprints postage used between Johore & Singapore which was occasionally used for overseas mail sent to or via Singapore, communication twice a day, Very Rare

EV $20,000(M)/$6,800(U) 

Note: " JOHORE's cancel struck in RED had been used for those mails sent to or via Singapore from 1876 until 1941" - Myla Philately.

Out of 4,500 stamps were issued for denomination of 2 cents overprints 'Crescent & Star", less than 1% are still survival. Crescent edge points pointing to East type was rarest, more less 20 still survive. One of the most valuable stamps of Johore, Malaysia

This issuance was ceased in 1878 due to slow postal service issues and had been resume on June, 1884 with different overprints.

Sample of Forgeries

Type I

Type II

The above Type I and II are fake overprints for study only.  The fake stamps, particularly the "Crescent & Star" were came later compare to postmarks and inner curve of Crescent was not smoothly & slightly dented, also Cresent edge not pointing to East (Type I) or North (Type II).

As a Beginner collector, we may ask ourselves which one is a genuine stamp of Johore, 1876 SG1. The postmark "Crescent and Star" of Johore used from 1884 to 1899 could be adopted as a reference to judge a genuine overprint of the five-pointed "Star". 

Basically, the five-pointed "Star" has unequal distance of the inner shoulder or wing, but outer distance was almost similar between each other due to smudged impression. Inner line was not so straight and slightly dented. 

Genunie overprints most probably positioning of Star in between sharp edge of Crescent was imbalance, where type I nearest to the bottom edge of Crescent and type II nearest to the right edge of Crescent.

Expertisation of the authentic is much difficult prior to determine a genuine overprints. We believe that the overprints struck by rubber stamp without stress crack or reprography technique will be a fake. Most likely, the overprints use plate that applied manually or so-called handstamp with stress crack will be a genuine. The above display of the Johore stamp 1876, it's clear shown stress crack of the white lines along black lines of the cresent and star, meaning the stamp was applied with genunie overprints. You may also refer to Johore's overprints 1884 to 1890 where stress cracks appeared around the overprints.

Based on philatelic info for Straits Settlements stamps,  Diamond of Dots cancellation may be a fake strike to Johore stamps since this cancellation was lost during transit to Malaya before 1856. This cancellation was replaced with Circle of Dots.

Genuine Postmark of Johore

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EARLY JOHORE STAMPS
1884 To 1891
Notable Collection

The basic setting overprints stamp of Johore inside vignette as the following exhibit:-

The horizontal diameter of centre oval is around 14 mm. For middle and centre setting, the "J" of "JOHORE" will not touch the left oval. Refer to the above illustration, this stamp can be classified as SG10/Scott #9 issued in 1884~1890. 

Type of Setting:

• Type I - middle
• Type II - lower 
• Type III - middle-lower
• Type IV - middle-upper
• Type V - upper

# Setting Type I, bottom serif of "JOHOR" is level or slightly higher than initial "S" of "STRAITS".

Johore 1884, Straits Settlements Stamp 2c overprints “JOHORE” Without Period 12 x 2 1/2 mm , SG2/Scott #1A, Rose, Wmk. Crown Agent (CA), All letters levels, Setting I, Postmark 8 JUNE 1884 (EKU), VFU, Early issue upon resume back Straits Settlements postal services in Johore on June 1884, Rare

EV $210.00 (M)/$225.00 (U)

Johore 1884, Straits Settlements Stamp 2c overprints “JOHOR” 15 x 2 3/4 mm, SG9/Scott #5, Rose, Wmk. Crown Agent (CA), All letters levels & 'H" defective, Setting III, MLH

EV £26/$18

Johore 1884, Straits Settlements Stamp 2c overprints “JOHOR” 12 x 2 3/4 mm, SG9/Scott #5, Rose, Wmk. Crown Agent (CA), "J" raised & "R" low, Setting III, Postmark Johor Bahru c/w Star & Crescent, VFU

EV $22.50

Johore 1884, Straits Settlements Stamp 2c overprints “JOHOR” 15 x 2 3/4 mm, SG9/Scott #5, Rose, Wmk. Crown Agent (CA), "JO" raised & "R" low,

Setting III, Postmark Johor Bahru c/w Star & Crescent, VFU
EV $22.50

Johore 1884, Straits Settlements Stamp 2c overprints “JOHOR” 9 x 2 1/2 mm,

SG12/Scott #7, Rose, Wmk. Crown Agent (CA),  serif of 'H' slanting down,

Setting I, Postmark Johor Bahru c/w Star & Crescent, VFU
EV £80/$60.00

Johore 1884, Straits Settlements Stamp 2c overprints “JOHOR” 9 x 2 1/2 mm,

SG12/Scott #7, Rose, Wmk. Crown Agent (CA),  serif of 'H' slanting up,

Setting I, Postmark Johor Bahru c/w Star & Crescent, VFU
EV £80/$60.00

Johore 1884, Straits Settlements Stamp 2c overprints “JOHOR” 9 x 3 mm,

SG13/Scott #8, Rose, Wmk. Crown Agent (CA), 

Setting I, MLH
EV £70/$57.50

Johore 1884, Straits Settlements Stamp 2c overprints “JOHOR” 9 x 3 mm,

SG13/Scott #8, Rose, Wmk. Crown Agent (CA), 'J' slightly raised, Setting III, Postmark Johor Bahru c/w Star & Crescent, MLH

EV £70/$57.50

Johore 1884, Straits Settlements Stamp 2c overprints “JOHOR” 14 1/2 x 3 mm, Scott #9/SG10, Wmk. Crown Agent (CA), Pale Rose, 'H' defective, Setting III, MLH,

EV £12/$16

Johore 1884, Straits Settlements Stamp 2c overprints “JOHOR” 14 3/4 x 3 mm, Scott #9/SG10, Wmk. Crown Agent (CA), Rose, Setting I, Postmark Johor Bahru c/w Star & Crescent, VFU,

EV $13

Johore 1884, Straits Settlements Stamp 2c overprints “JOHOR” 14 1/2 x 3 mm, Scott #9/SG10, Wmk. Crown Agent (CA), Rose, Setting I, Postmark double Star & Crescent Muar/Kota Tinggi, VFU,

EV $13

Johore 1884, Straits Settlements Stamp 2c overprints “JOHOR” 14 1/2 x 3 mm, SG10ca, Rose, Thin, narrow  ‘J’ variety more to left, Wmk. Crown Agent (CA), Setting III, Postmark Johor Bahru c/w Star & Crescent, VFU

Gorgeous 
EV $360

Note: SG10ca is Setting III, setting III bottom serif of "JOHOR" was lower than front "S" of "STRAITS". However, setting III was also appeared with thin and narrow "J" in the printing.

 Johore 1884, Straits Settlements Stamp 2c overprints “JOHOR” 14 1/2 mm long, Scott #10, Rose, Tall "J" 3 1/2 mm high, Wmk. Crown Agent (CA), Setting III, Twice overprints from applied manually overprinting, LMM

Elusive & Scarce
EV $225 (M)/$200 (U)

Profile

"J" height is equal to 19 rows of red line

Note: Scott #10 with Tall "J" occurs once in the Setting III only.

Johore 1884, Straits Settlements Stamp 2c overprints “JOHOR” 14 3/4 x 3 mm, SG10c/#9a, Wmk. Crown Agent (CA), Pale/Bright Rose, Narrow 'J'  more to left, Setting I, MLH

EV £16

Johore 1890, Straits Settlements Stamp 2c overprints “JOHOR” 14 1/2 x 3 mm, SG10a, Wmk. Crown Agent (CA), Bright Rose, Thin 'J', Setting IV, MLH

EV £300/$375

Johore 1890, Straits Settlements Stamp 2c overprints “JOHOR” 14 1/2 x 3 mm, SG10c, Wmk. Crown Agent (CA), Bright Rose, Setting V, Postmark Star & Crescent, VFU

EV £29

Johore 1888, Straits Settlements Stamp 2c overprints “JOHOR” 15 1/2 x 3 mm, SG14/Scott #11a, Wmk. Crown Agent (CA), Rose, Thin 'J', Setting IV, LMM, Rare
EV £225 (SG)/ $900 (Scott)

Johore 1890, Straits Settlements Stamp 2c overprints “JOHOR” 12 1/2 x 2 1/2 mm, SG15, Wmk. Crown Agent (CA), Rose, Setting IV, MLH,

EV $20

Note:

Type 15 Profile of "JOHOR"

Actual Profile is similar to Type 15, SG15

"J" height is equal to 14 rows of red line

Johore 1890/1891, Straits Settlements Stamp 2c overprints “JOHOR” 12 x 2 1/2 mm, SG#15, Wmk. Crown Agent (CA), Rose,  'J' goes to left & 'H' slanting down, Setting IV, MLH

Note:

Type 16 Profile of "JOHOR"

Actual Profile is similar to Type 16, SG16 but thinner & round 'O'. Thicker overprints could be happen when applied manually overprinting. Type 16 occurs once in setting of 6 x 10 pane.

Slanting & Tunic "J" height is equal to 15 rows of red line. Clearly smudged overprints from applied manually overprinting

Johore 1886/1891 Straits Settlements Stamp 2c overprints “JOHOR” 12 x 2 3/4 mm, SG#16, Wmk. Crown Agent (CA), Rose,  Setting IV, VFU
EV $2,000 (U)

Exhibit profile is similar to Type 16, "J" height is equal to 16 row, oval 'O'.  'JO' raise,'H' slanting & 'OR' low. Very rare overprints.

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Johore 1891, Straits Settlements Stamp 24c overprints “JOHOR”  TWO CENTS, #15, Wmk. Crown Agent (CA), Green, Setting V, MLH, Elusive

EV $150.00 (M)/ $160.00 (U)

Johore 1891, Straits Settlements Stamp 24c overprints “JOHOR”  TWO CENTS, #16, Wmk. Crown Agent (CA), Green, Setting V, MLH

EV $30.00 (M)/ $45.00 (U)

Despite that Johore was the only state in Malaya who have their owned postage and revenue stamp with face value of $500 depicting Sultan Ibrahim in 1926, Ultra & Orange Brown, Scott # 125, CV USD 23,000 (MNH) and USD 300 (Revenue Cancel), magnificent and rare.

Johore 1904, Sultan Ibrahim, $100 Green & Scarlet,

Scott #75, Wmk. Rosette, VFU

EV $450 (Mint)/$700 (Used)

Johore 1896, Sultan Ibrahim, 4c Green & Carmine Rose,

Scott #40, Wmk. Rosette, MNH

EV $1.25 (Mint)/$2.40 (Used)

Johore 1940, Sultan Ibrahim, 8c Ultramarine,

Scott #127, Wmk. Script CA, Perf. 13 _1/2, VFU

EV $17.00 (Mint)/$1.00 (Used)

Johore 1935, Sultan Ibrahim, 8c Green,

Scott #126, Wmk. Script CA, Perf. 12 _1/2, VFU

EV $8.00 (Mint)/$3.00 (Used) 

and

Johore 1955, Sultan Ibrahim, 10c Carmine Lake,

Scott #156, Wmk. Script CA, Perf. 14, VFU

EV $0.35 (Mint)/$0.35 (Used)

Johor Bahru is capital of the state of Johor, the southern city of Peninsular of Malaysia. Johor Bahru is connected to Singapore through Johor-Singapore causeway. Johor was an independent state since 1886, 70 years advanced than independent of the Federation of Malaya, where become part of the Federation of Malaya in 1957.

“Dirgahayu tanah airku, negeriku yang tercinta”, in Bahasa Malaysia, whereas in English “Long live my motherland, my beloved realm”, always regarded the “Bangsa Johor” or “Johoreans” as one nation, one language, one culture and rest my oath of fidelity. This is an image of Johorean that stand united as “Bangsa Johor”.

Johore 1943, Japanese Occupation Stamps,

 Johore Bahru & Straits of Johore, Scott #N40

50c Blue, MNH

EV $5.00 (Mint)/$5.00 (Used)