Federated Malay States - Revenue Stamps

 Federated Malay States

 

On 20 January 1874, Sir Andrew Clarke, governor of the Straits Settlements, concluded with the Sultan of Perak the treaty of Pangkor whereby the Sultan agreed to "receive and provide a suitable residence for a British Officer to be called Resident, who shall be accredited to his court, and whose advice must be asked and acted upon on all questions other than those touching Malay Religion and Customs". The residency system was extended the same year to the states of Selangor and Negri Sembilan, and in 1888 to Pahang.

To promote greater administrative efficiency, these four states ( Perak, Selangor, Negri Sembilan and Pahang ) were brought together in 1895-1896 to form the Federated Malay States. This structure was highly centralized, real power resting in the hands of the agents of the British Government, at first called the Resident-General, and later the Chief Secretary.

The British established the Federal Council in 1898 to administer the Federation. It was headed by the High Commissioner (The Governor of the Straits Settlement), assisted by the Resident-General, the Sultans, the four state Residents and four nominated unofficial members. This structure remained until the Japanese invaded Malaya on 8 December 1941.

 

  

NON-POSTAL STAMPS

 

 Revenue Stamps

There were no general duty revenue stamps in the FMS.  Dual purpose postage & revenue stamps were used for fiscal purposes. 

Issued in 1900, 1906, 1918, 1922

Issued in 1901, 1904

However, there are 2 high value denomination $100 & $250 were intended only for revenue.  

1922

Entertainments Duty issue overprinted REVENUE in black or surcharged REVENUE 6 diagonally in red.

In the 1910s, Impressed Duty Stamps were used in the FMS, but no examples of the issued stamps have been recorded.

  

Judicial Stamps

First judicial stamps were overprinted of Negeri Sembilan 1900’s with “FEDERATED MALAY STATES”, then further overprinted for judicial use, possibly in Negeri Sembilan only.

Then, the FMS stamps were overprinted for judicial use. 

Judicial. (with stop) in mixed case, 14½ x 3 mm, in red & black

JUDICIAL in bold sans-serif capitals, 16 x 3 mm (5c to 50c) or 24½ x 3 mm ($1 to $25), 

overprinted by De La Rue in London (1901)

Permanent issues were printed in 1903, The first printings were printed on Crown CC watermarked paper.  In due course this was replaced with Multiple Crown CA paper, and subsquently Multiple Script CA.

 

  

Labels

 1916

 

 

Railway Newspaper Stamps

C L Harte-Lovelace first recorded these stamps in the February 1919 edition of the Bulletin of the Fiscal Philatelic Society.  He lists only five values (1c, 2c, 4c, 7c, 10c) and states that the issue date was 1st January 1918.

1918-33.  Typeset values printed on a range of coloured papers, 37 x 23 mm.   

No watermark.  Rough perf 12.  Unique security number printed on each stamp.

1930s.  New typeset design in wider horizontal format, inscribed F.M.S.R. at each side.

In 1948 the FMS Railway was renamed the Malayan Railway Administration, which in turn became Keretapi Tanah Melayu on Malaysia's independence in 1962.   

 

Entertainment Duty Stamps

1920s.  Various designs, all measuring 16½ x 20 mm, inscribed ENTERTAINMENTS DUTY PAID.  

Perf 15 x 14.  No watermark.  Printed the FMS Survey Department.

Federated Malay States : Postage Stamps

 Federated Malay States

On 20 January 1874, Sir Andrew Clarke, governor of the Straits Settlements, concluded with the Sultan of Perak the treaty of Pangkor whereby the Sultan agreed to "receive and provide a suitable residence for a British Officer to be called Resident, who shall be accredited to his court, and whose advice must be asked and acted upon on all questions other than those touching Malay Religion and Customs". The residency system was extended the same year to the states of Selangor and Negri Sembilan, and in 1888 to Pahang.

To promote greater administrative efficiency, these four states ( Perak, Selangor, Negri Sembilan and Pahang ) were brought together in 1895-1896 to form the Federated Malay States. This structure was highly centralized, real power resting in the hands of the agents of the British Government, at first called the Resident-General, and later the Chief Secretary. 

The British established the Federal Council in 1898 to administer the Federation. It was headed by the High Commissioner (The Governor of the Straits Settlement), assisted by the Resident-General, the Sultans, the four state Residents and four nominated unofficial members. This structure remained until the Japanese invaded Malaya on 8 December 1941.

 

  

POSTAL HISTORY

 

Provisional Issue

 

1900

Earliest FMS stamps were 1896 Negeri Sembilan’s and 1895 Perak’s stamps overprinted with “FEDERATED MALAY STATES” with a bold line embossed over the state name.

 

   

  

overprinted on Negeri Sembilan stamps

 

 

 
overprinted on Perak stamps

Permanent Issues

 

1900 ( Wmk.1 )

Later in the year 1900, permanent issue postage stamps were issue, copying the Malay states’ 1895 Indian Elephant, replacing the state name with “Federated Malay States”.

  

 

1901  ( Wmk.2 )

 

 

 

1904 ( Wmk. 3 )

1906 ( Wmk.3 )

1906 ( Wmk. 3 )

1918 ( Wmk. 3 )

1922 ( Wmk.4 )

1922 ( Wmk. 4 )

1925 ( Wmk. 4 )

watermarks

The stamps of the Federated Malay States ceased in 1935 and were replaced by stamps of the individual states.