Reply Coupons of Malaya & Malaysia

Straits Settlements 1826-1946

Federated Malay States 1895-1941

 
 

Malayan Union 

1.4.1946-1.2.1948 

From 1946 to 1948, the eleven Malay states formed a single British Crown Colony known as the Malayan Union.  Due to opposition from Malay nationalists, the Union was disbanded and replaced by the Federation of Malaya, which restored the symbolic positions of the rulers of the Malay states. 

 

Federation of Malaya 

1.2.1948-31.8.1957

Within the Federation, while the Malay states were Protectorates of the United Kingdom, Penang and Malacca remained British colonial territories. Like the Malayan Union before it, the Federation did not include Singapore.
 
The Federation became independent from British colonial rule and became an independent member of the Commonwealth of Nations on 31 August 1957.    The independent Federation now includes Penang and Malacca.

Commonwealth Reply Coupon

IRC - Model 2 

Malaya - 24cents

IRC - Model 2  

Malaya - 30cents

IRC - Model 2 

Federation of Malaya - 40sen

 
 

Malaysia  

16.9.1963- present

In 1963, the Federation was reconstituted as "Malaysia" when it federated with the British territories of Singapore, Sarawak, and North Borneo ( later Sabah ).  Singapore separated from Malaysia to become an independent republic on 9 August 1965.

IRC - Model 3 

Malaysia - 40sen

IRC - Model 3 

Malaysia - 60sen

IRC - Model 4 

Malaysia - M$1.00

IRC - Model 4 

Malaysia - M$1.50

IRC - Model 4
Malaysia - RM2.00

IRC - Model 4 

Malaysia - RM3.00

Imperial Reply Coupon & Commonwealth Reply Coupon

 Imperial Reply Coupon

1927-1953

A meeting of British Empire delegates to the Stockholm UPU Congress in 1924 to discuss the issue of where the postage rate difference between the British Empire and the rest of the world. 

UPU on 16th September 1926 approved what it termed “restricted unions” within the UPU, to allow a more favorable rates for the British Empire

The Imperial Reply Coupon was first placed on sale on and from Monday, the 4th April, 1927. They were valid only between England and her colonies, protectorate and occupations.

Imperial Coupons, exchangeable within the Empire only for a stamp or stamps representing the postage on a single letter rate from the country of exchange to a destination within the empire, sold at the price of 2½d. each at all offices which sell International Reply Coupons.  Like International Reply Coupons they remain valid for six months exclusive of the month of issue. 

1st Feb 1933.   Imperial Reply Coupons selling price increased from 2½d to 3d.

13th Feb 1941.  Modification on IRC consists of the addition of the words "Exceptionally, the exchange value in India is 2½ annas."

  

21st May 1947. Modification on IRC consists of the addition of the words : “Exceptionally, the exchange value in India and Burma is 2 1/2 annas"

Commonwealth Reply Coupon

1953-1976

23rd Feb 1953.  Imperial Reply Coupon was replaced by the Commonwealth Reply Coupon.  

  

1st Feb 1956. Modification on IRC consists of the addition of the words : “Exceptionally, the exchange value in India and Pakistan is 2 1/2 annas"

3rd March 1957.  Modification on IRC consists of the addition of the words : “Exceptionally, the exchange value in India is 16 naye paise and Pakistan is 2 1/2 annas"

22nd April 1959.    selling price increased from 3d to 5d.

17th July 1968    selling price increased from 5d to 7d. 

5th  Sep 1976    selling price increased to 6p.

26th Feb 1975    selling price increased from 6p to 7p.

29th Sep 1975    selling price increased from 7p to 8½ p.

The Commonwealth Reply Coupon was completely withdrawn from sale on 1 November 1975.  

Some country had  stopped issuing and exchanging CRC prior to 1975 : beginning as early as in 1962 ( Republic of South Africa, South West Africa ); 1971 ( Canada, Trinidad & Tobago, Australia, Ceylon, Lesotho ); 1972 ( Pakisatan, Singapore, Zambia, Jamaica, Solomon Islands ); 1973 ( Nigeria, Bermuda ); 1974 ( Barbados, India, Cayman Islands ); 1975 ( Fiji, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Bangladesh )