NORTH BORNEO 1911 onwards

Return To Catalogue - North Borneo 1883-1886 - North Borneo 1887-1894 - North Borneo 1893-1910

Note: on my website many of the pictures can not be seen! They are of course present in the cd's;
contact me if you want to purchase them: evert@klaseboer.com.

For stamps of North Borneo issued before 1911, click here.

1911 Large sized stamps, arms, center black

  25 c green and black
  50 c blue and black
  1 $ brown and black
  2 $ lilac and black
  5 $ red and black (different type)
  10 $ red and black (type as in 5 $)

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

Overprinted with a maltese cross (1916)
  25 c green and black

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

Overprinted 'RED CROSS' and surcharged (1918)

  'TWO CENTS' on 25 c green and black
  'TWO CENTS' on 50 c blue and black
  'TWO CENTS' on 1 $ brown and black
  'TWO CENTS' on 2 $ lilac and black
  'TWO CENTS' on 5 $ red and black
  'TWO CENTS' on 10 $ red and black

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

Overprinted with red cross and surcharged in red (1918)

  'FOUR CENTS' on 25 c green and black
  'FOUR CENTS' on 50 c blue and black
  'FOUR CENTS' on 1 $ brown and black
  'FOUR CENTS' on 2 $ lilac and black
  'FOUR CENTS' on 5 $ red and black
  'FOUR CENTS' on 10 $ red and black

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

Some of these stamps were overprinted 'MALAYA-BORNEO EXHIBITION 1922' in 1922. This overprint can be considered as a private overprint, example:

1931 50 years british reign in North Borneo '1881 1931'

  3 c green and black (Murut)
  6 c orange and black (orang-utan)
  10 c red and black (Dajak or Dyak warrior)
  12 c blue and black (mountain; Kinabalu)
  25 c violet and black (leopard in tree)
  1 $ green and black
  2 $ red and black
  5 $ lilac and black

1939 Various designs

  1 c brown and green (ploughing farmer)
  2 c blue and lilac (bird)
  3 c green and blue (local tribesman)
  4 c lilac and grey (monkey)
  6 c lilac and blue (men on horses)
  8 c red (map of Borneo)
  10 c green and violet (orang utan)
  12 c blue and green (local man hunting)
  15 c brown and green (local warrior)
  20 c grey and violet (landscape with palm trees)
  25 c brown and green (junk)
  50 c violet and brown (mountain view)
  1 $ red and brown (arms of Borneo)
  2 $ green and lilac
  5 $ blue and black (arms of Borneo, different type)

The values 1 c and 2 c exist with overprint 'WAR TAX' (1941)

Japanese occupation 4 c stamp overprinted with Japanese text in one line; all values were overprinted in 1942 (including the two 'WAR TAX' stamps).

Japanese overprint in three lines on 25 c

The values 1 c to 1 $ also exist with a Japanese overprint in three lines. The value 1 c also exists with two lines of small Japanese characters and two larger characters. The value 1 $ also exist with two small lines and two large characters. These were all issued in 1944-45. A fiscal overprint consisting of three vertically aligned Japanese characters in a box exists for the 1 c 'WAR TAX' stamp.

All these stamps exist with 'BMA' (British Military Administration), these stamps were issued in 1945.

In 1947 these stamps were issued with a royal 'GR' crown overprint (all values) and black or red bars across the words 'THE STATE OF' and 'BRITISH PROTECTORATE'.

1943 Japanese occupation stamps

Two values were issued: 4 c red and 8 c blue (different design).

1945 Japanese stamps overprinted with Japanese text (5 Japanese characters in one line)

14 values were overprinted. Sorry, no image available yet.

1949 Royal Silver wedding, identical to sets issued in many other British colonies, inscription '1923-1948', image of King and Queen

For stamps in a similar design, but for another British colony, click here

  8 c red (smaller size)
  10 $ lilac

1949 UPU issue (design similar to many other British colonies)

For stamps in a similar design, but for another British colony, click here

  8 c red
  10 c brown
  30 c light brown
  55 c blue

1950 King George VI in an oval with several scenes of North Borneo

  1 c brown (Mount Kinabalu)
  2 c blue (native musical instrument)
  3 c green (coconut grove)
  4 c lilac (hemp drying)
  5 c violet (cattle at Kota Beluo)
  8 c red (map)
  10 c brown (logging)
  15 c blue (native prahu at Sandakan)
  20 c brown (Bajau chief)
  30 c olive (Suluk craft Lahad Datu)
  50 c red (Clock Tower Jessleton, 
     two types 'JESSLETON' and 'JESSELTON' inscription)
  1 $ orange (Bajau horsemen)
  2 $ green (Murut with blowpipe)
  5 $ green (net fishing)
  10 $ blue

1953 Coronation of Queen Elizabeth, inscription 'CORONATION JUNE 1953', design identical to many other British colonies

For stamps in a similar design, but for other British colonies, click here

  10 c red and black 

1954 As 1950 issue, but now with Queen Elizabeth II in an oval with several scenes of North Borneo

1 c brown (Mount Kinabalu), 2 c blue, 3 c green (coconut grove), 4 c lilac, 5 c violet (cattle at Kota Beluo), 8 c red (map), 10 c brown (logging), 15 c blue (native prahu at Sandakan), 20 c brown (Bajau chief), 30 c olive (Suluk craft Lahad Datu), 50 c red (Clock Tower Jessleton), 1 $ orange (Bajau horsemen), 2 $ green, 5 $ green, 10 $ blue (arms).

1956 New designs with Queen Elizabeth II with scenes of North Borneo and arms (1 $) (large sized stamps)

10 c red and black, 15 c brown and black, 35 c green and black, 1 $ grey and black.

1961 Again new designs with Queen Elizabeth

  1 c red and green (payau deer)
  4 c orange and brown (honey bear)
  5 c violet and black (clouded leopard)
  6 c green and black (Dusun woman with gong)
  10 c red and green (map)
  12 c green and brown (tembadau cow)
  20 c blue and green (phalaenopsis orchid)
  25 c red and black (rhinoceros)
  30 c olive and black (Murut with blowpipe)
  35 c brown and black (Mount Kinabalu)
  50 c brown and green (Dusun and buffalo)
  75 c lilac and grey (Bajau horsemen)
  1 $ green and brown (orang-utan)
  2 $ grey and brown (hornbill)
  5 $ brown and green (crested jungle partridge)
  10 $ blue and lilac (coat of arms)

The whole set was overprinted with 'SABAH' in 1964.

1963 Freedom from hunger

12 c blue.

Borneo was renamed Sabah in 1963 when it became independent and joined Malaysia.

Postage Due stamps

1895 'POSTAGE DUE' on 1893 issue, various designs, inscription 'State of North Borneo'

  2 c red and black (vertical or horizontal overprint)
  3 c violet and green
  5 c red and black
  6 c olive and black
  8 c lilac and black 
  12 c blue and black
  18 c green and black 
  24 c red and blue

These stamps exist cancelled to order (value: c to *). The vertical overprint reads upwards (except for some misprints).

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

1897 'POSTAGE DUE' on 1897 issue Various designs as 1897 issue, inscription 'State of North Borneo' with Chinese and Malay text added

  2 c red and black (vertical or horizontal overprint)
  2 c green and black (1900)
  3 c lilac and green
  4 c red and black (1900)
  5 c red and black
  6 c olive and black
  8 c lilac and black (vertical or horizontal overprint)
  12 c blue and black
  18 c green and black 
  24 c red and blue

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

Overprinted 'BRITISH PROTECTORATE' (1903)

(Reduced size)

  2 c green and black (overprint red, vertical or horizontal)
  3 c lilac and green (overprint vertical or horizontal)
  4 c red and black (overprint green)
  5 c red and black (overprint green, vertical or horizontal)
  6 c olive and black (overprint red)
  8 c lilac and black (overprint blue, vertical or horizontal)
  10 c grey and brown (overprint red)
  12 c blue and black (overprint red)
  16 c brown and green
  18 c green and black (overprint red)
  24 c red and blue (overprint vertical or horizontal)

These stamps exist cancelled to order (value c to *). A 1 c was prepared but not issued.

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

1923 'POSTAGE DUE' on 1909 issue, various designs

  2 c green and black
  2 c red and black (1926)
  3 c green and black
  4 c red and black
  5 c brown and black
  6 c green and black
  8 c red and black
  10 c blue and black
  12 c blue and black
  16 c red and black

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

1939 Arms of North Borneo (two arms with flag) inscription 'POSTAGE DUE'

  2 c brown
  4 c red
  6 c violet
  8 c green
  10 c blue

All values were prepared with a Japanese overprint (one line consisting of 7 Japanese characters), but they were not issued.

These stamps (except the 10 c), also exist overprinted with three Japanese characters vertically, surrounded by two vertical lines at each side. These stamps were used for seal purposes.

Stamps of Hong Kong used in North Borneo

2 c brown Hong Kong Queen Victoria stamp with red 'KUDAT' cancel of North Borneo

War Propaganda Stamp

A 1/2 p Nazi-fake (resembling a genuine King George VI stamp of Great Britain) with additional red overprint 'LIQUIDATION OF EMPIRE BORNEO' in a rectangle; such overprints exist for many British colonies. Click here for mor information.

SABAH

1964 Stamps of North Borneo, overprinted 'SABAH'

16 values were overprinted.

1965 Orchids issue, inscription 'MALAYSIA SABAH'

7 values

1971 Butterfly set, inscription 'malaysia sabah'

7 values

The stamps of Malaysia are also valid in Sabah.

Copyright by Evert Klaseboer