STRAITS SETTLEMENTS 1868-1901

Return To Catalogue - Federated Malay States - Cancels on first issues - Firm chops on early stamps - Straits Settlements 1867 issue - 1902-1910 issues - 1911-1945 issues - Surcharged stamps - Postcards, Fiscals - Labuan - North Borneo - Sarawak - Singapore

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.

The Straits Settlements consisted of Malacca, Penang and Singapore (the first two nowadays situated in Malaysia).

BANGKOK: Stamps of Straits Settlements overprinted with a "B" were used in Bangkok.
Stamps of Sraits Settlements overprinted with "P.G.S." were used in Perak.
For Straits Settlements 1867 crown and value overprint on India, click here.

1868 Queen Victoria, various frames

  2 c red (1883)
  2 c brown
  4 c red
  4 c brown (1883)
  5 c brown (1882)
  5 c blue (1883)
  5 c lilac (1899)

24 c green

  6 c lilac
  8 c yellow
  8 c blue (1894)
  10 c blue (1882)
  12 c blue
  12 c lilac (1883)
  24 c green

  30 c lilac
  32 c red (orange)
  96 c grey

For surcharged stamps click here. For cancels click here. All these stamps have perforation 14 (unless otherwise stated).

Value of the stamps
vc = very common c = common * = not so common ** = uncommon		*** = very uncommon R = rare RR = very rare RRR = extremely rare
Value	Unused	Used	Remarks
Watermark 'CC Crown (1867)
2 c brown	*	*
4 c red	*	*
5 c brown	***	***	1882
6 c	***	**
8 c yellow	***	*
10 c	***	***	1882
12 c blue	***	**
24 c	***	**
30 c	***	*
32 c	R	***
96 c	***	***	In 1871 this stamp was issued with perforation 12 1/2: ***
Watermark 'CA Crown' (1882)
2 c brown	***	**
2 c red	c	c	1883
4 c red	*	c
4 c brown	*	*	1883
5 c blue	*	c	1883
5 c brown	*	*	1894
5 c lilac	*	*
6 c	*	*
8 c yellow	*	*	Also orange
8 c blue	*	c	1894
10 c	*	c
12 c lilac	***	**	1883, shades of colour exist
24 c	**	*
30 c	**	*
32 c	*	*
96 c	***	***

For cancels click here.

Forgeries:

Spiro forgeries:

The above stamp 96 c grey is a forgery, it has the border ornaments of the 32 c and can therefore easily be identified. It also has a cancel that has never been used in Straits Settlements and the perforation is quite bad. This stamp is a Spiro forgery. Other Spiro forgeries can be recognized by their cancels and the lack of watermark:

Forgery!

In the 4 c, 6 c, 8 c, 12 c and 24 c the corner ornaments are all the same as in the 2 c! However, in the genuine stamps, the corner ornaments differ for all values! These forgeries have guidelines outside the design, which the genuine stamps don't have. There are many other differences in lettering, the face of the Queen etc. Also the perforation is very badly done.

The 32 c stamp looks the same as the genuine stamp, however, the bottom of the "A" touches the "G" in the word "POSTAGE" in this forgery (in the genuine stamp these letters don't touch).

Oneglia forgeries:

Other forgeries possibly done by Oneglia; The 32 c even has an (impressed?) 'CA Crown' watermark. These forgeries are engraved. Note the slight differences in lettering and the 'white' eye. Oneglia seems to have mostly used a forged Singapore cancel. These forgeries are deceptive when compared to the Spiro products, but they are not often encountered. Surcharges and overprints were also forged, such as "PERAK", "PAHANG" and "B" (for Bangkok).

Other forgeries:

30 c blue forgery (reduced size)

Unlisted overprint "I.R. OFFICIAL"?:

I have seen the 2 c red and the 4 c brown with this overprint.

1892 Queen Victoria, smaller head

  1 c green
  3 c red (1895)
  3 c brown (1899)
  25 c purple and green
  50 c green and red
  5 Dollars orange and red (1898)

These stamps have watermark 'CA Crown' and perforation 14.

Value of the stamps
vc = very common c = common * = not so common ** = uncommon		*** = very uncommon R = rare RR = very rare RRR = extremely rare
Value	Unused	Used	Remarks
1 c	c	vc
3 c red	c	vc
3 c brown	c	c
25 c	**	*
50 c	**	*
5 $	R	R

For 1903-1910 issues click here