Ongzi's Stamps: Straits Settlements 1867-1941 Permanent Issues

Friday, 1 December 2017

Straits Settlements 1867-1941 Permanent Issues

Brief History

1826-1867

The Straits Settlements were established as part of the territories controlled by the British East India Company, which was based in Calcutta, India.

1867-1941

The Straits Settlements became a British Crown colony, making the Settlements answerable directly to the Colonial Office in London.

1942-1945

The Straits Settlements, along with much of the rest of Asia, fall into Japan Occupation.

1945

Following surrender by Japan, the Straits Settlement with the rest of British Malaya and British Borneo were placed under British Military Administration

1946

The Straits Settlements were dissolved.

Settlements

The Straits Settlements originally consisted of the 3 individual settlements : Malacca, Prince of Wales Island ( Penang Island ) with the Province Wellesley ( Seberang Perai ), and Singapore.

Prince of Wales Island with Province Wellesley

1874-1935 Dinding ( Manjung ) incorporated into Penang

Singapore

1900-1958 Christmas Island was incorporated into Singapore

1903-1955 Cocos Island (Keeling ) was incorporated into Singapore

1907-1912 Labuan was incorporated the Singapore.

Labuan

1912 Upgraded became the 4^th Settlement.

1946 Transferred to the North Borneo Crown Colony

Postal Service – Permanent Issues

When the Straits Settlement ( SS ) were established in 1826 as part of the territories controlled by the EIC, thus postage stamps of India were used from 1854 until 1867.

When the SS became a separate Crown Colony on 1 April 1867. On 1 September 1867, existing stock of Indian stamps were overprinted with a crown and a new value in cents.

The provisional issue was replaced by a new set of postal stamps in late 1867.

The new Straits Settlements’ own postal stamps were printed by De La Rue, with a prominent white frame around the profile of Queen Victoria, inscribed “STRAITS SETTLEMENTS POSTAGE”. The set of 9 values, consisting of 2cents, 4c, 6c, 8c, 12c, 24c,30c, 32c, and 96c.

Shortages from 1879 through 1882 forced the production of various surcharges, i.e. 5c, 7c and 10c. New 5c and 10c were issued in 1882.

Queen Victoria

1867-1872