Sarawak Revenue Stamps

Sarawak issued revenue stamps from 1875 to 1942 when it was an independent kingdom as well as when it was under Japanese occupation.

In 1874, Sarawak published its first newspaper – the Sarawak Gazette.   According to the Postal Convention between Sarawak and Straits Settlements in 1874, the postage for newspaper was fixed at two cents. Sarawak’s only stamp cost three cents, and so the Sarawak government overprinting existing three cents stamp with the words “TWO CENTS”. This became the first provisional issue of Sarawak.

The country's first revenue stamps were issued in 1875¹ . A 3c black inscribed Sarawak Receipt Stamp portraying Sir Charles Brooke was issued, and ten years later in 1885² this was reprinted in red.

1. 1875 3c Receipt Stamp

2. 1885 3c Receipt Stamp

Around 1887, various postage stamps were overprinted with a large 'R'³ to specify fiscal use only. Some were also additionally overprinted ‘REVENUE ONLY’⁴.

3. overprint 'R'

4. overprint 'R' & 'REVENUE ONLY"

However, between 1888 and 1946, several dual-purpose stamps were issued for both postage and revenue.  Those stamps were printed with “POSTAGE” and “REVENUE”.^4b

 4b. various dual-purpose stamps with "POSTAGE" and "REVENUE" printed on stamps

All overprinted issues were withdrawn on 30 June 1900, the day before a new vertical design⁵ was issued, again portraying Sir Charles Brooke. These remained in use until the Rajah's death, and in 1918⁶ this set was reissued with the portrait of the new monarch, his son Sir Charles Vyner Brooke. Some of these were also overprinted with provisional surcharges in 1934⁷. The 1900 and 1918 sets also exist overprinted ‘CUSTOMS’⁸ and 'TELEGRAPHS’⁹ diagonally.

5. 1900 Charles J. Brooke

6. 1918 Charles Vyner Brooke

8. overprint 'CUSTOMS'

9. overprint 'TELEGRAPHS'

Japanese forces overran Sarawak in February 1942. Initially, revenues from the 1918 issues were handstamped in Japanese⁹, but these were quickly replaced with postage stamps overprinted in various Japanese characters¹⁰. These were used until Sarawak was liberated by Australian forces in 1945.

 10. Postage stamps overprinted in various Japanese characters

After the war, postage stamps were used for fiscal purposes. Sarawak joined the Federation of Malaya and North Borneo to form Malaysia in 1963. Since then Malaysian revenue stamps have been used in Sarawak.

Sarawak ( Brooke Dynasty ) 1841-1941

“If it please God to permit me to give stamp to this country which shall last after I am no more, I shall have lived a life which Emperors might envy.”

– Sir James Brooke, K.C.B. First Rajah in 1868 at his home, Burrator in Devonshire -

Excerpt from Sarawak Postal History 1858 – 1956 by J.C.B. Fisher

The words written by the First Rajah had their tragic sequel as very unfortunately Sir James Brooke did not live to see his stamp in use.

In Sarawak stamps are issued from 1869.  All issues, until WWII, portray the ruling member of the Brooke dynasty.

In WWII, during the occupation by Japan, the Japanese administration overprints available stamps from Brunei, North Borneo and Sarawak in Japanese. The overprints would read ‘Imperial Japanese Government’, ‘Imperial Japanese Post North Borneo’ or just ‘North Borneo’. The overprints exist in several varieties and in different colors as the overprint was applied both by the central authorities and by local post offices. Two sets of Japanese design have been issued in 1943. Both overprints and definitives were valid throughout the administrative area of North Borneo including Sarawak.

After WWII, the British issue stamps of North Borneo and Sarawak overprinted ‘BMA'. These overprints were also valid for use throughout all the British possessions in northern Borneo. In 1946, a set is issued to commemorate 100 years of rule by the Brooke family – ironic since the family would be deposed the same year.

From 1947 until 1963, the colony of Sarawak issues stamps. The first issue is an overprint on previous issues, the overprint being an emblem with a crown and ‘GR'. Subsequent issues are of the standard design issued in many British colonies.

The stamps of the colony of Sarawak are superseded, from 1963, by the federal issues of Malaysia, used concurrently with the state issues of Sarawak.

Brooke Dynasty

1869  James Brooke

1871  Charles J.Brooke

 

 1875  Charles J.Brooke

 

 

1888  Charles J.Brooke 

 1895  Charles J.Brooke 

 

 1897  Charles J.Brooke 

 

 

 

 1899  Charles J.Brooke 

 

 



 1918  Charles Vyner Brooke 

 
 

 
 1928  Charles Vyner Brooke

 
 
 
1932  Charles Vyner Brooke

  
  
  

  

 1934  Charles Vyner Brooke

 1946   Brooke family