List of Postmarks of North Borneo Stamps
From the first issues through c. 1912, most North Borneo stamps have been cancelled with an oval of bars. Stamps with clear postmark of dated town are evidently more attractive and sells for much higher prices. Some of the rarest North Borneo postmark include Airmail postmark (1930), Paqueboat postmark, Silam, Gayah and other small town cancels. 4 commonest postmarks are from Sandakan, Kudat, Jesselton and Victoria (Labuan).
"Common" foreign cancels on North Borneo stamps may include Singapore and to a lesser extent, Hong Kong. There are also some fiscally cancelled marks.The Japanese occupation of Borneo introduced a new addition to the variety of postmarks in North Borneo stamps. Because the British Borneo was administered under one administration not only during the Japanese occupation but also during the BMA, some North Borneo stamps may have cancels from towns in Sarawak and Brunei. With regards to Labuan stamps, very few cancels are seen from outside the island of Labuan.
North Borneo Postmark:
1. Jesselton
Jesselton Oval bars (1910-1955) K1 K2 K3
Jesselton Oval bars (1910-1955) K1 K2 K3
Jesselton D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 D7 D8 D9 D10 D11 D12 D13 D14 D15 D16 D17 D18 D19 D20 D21 D22 D23 D24 D25 D26 D27 D28 D29 D30 D31 D32 D33 D34 D35 D36 D37 D38 D39 D40
Jesselton Registered Marks (R) R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 R8 R9 R10 R11 R12 R13 R14 R15
Jesselton Avis de Reception (AR)
Jesselton Paid (PD)
Jesselton Parcel Post (PP)
Jesselton Unpaid (UP)
Jesselton Instructional Mark (I)
Jesselton Ship Letter (Paquebot)
2. Ambong
2. Ambong
Beaufort D1 D 2 D3 D4 D5 D6 D7 D8 D9 D10 D11 D12 D13 D14 D15 D16
Beaufort Registered Mark (R)
6. Fort Birch
7. Gantian
7. Gantian
Gantian D2
Gantian Registered Mark (R) R1
8. Gayah/Gaya
8. Gayah/Gaya
Gayah (1885-1897) D1 D2
Gaya (1898-1899) D3
9. Keningau
9. Keningau
Keningau D1 D2 D3
Keningau Registered Mark (R) R1
Keningau Unpaid (UP) UP1
10. Kota Belud
11. Kudat
11. Kudat
Kudat Oval bars (1890-1894) K1
Kudat D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 D7 D8 D9 D10 D11 D12 D13 D14 D15 D16 D17 D18 D19 D20 D21 D22 D23 D24
Kudat Registered Mark (R) R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7
Kudat Avis de Reception (AR)
Kudat Unpaid (UP)
Kudat Instructional Marks (I)
Labuan Registered Marks (R)
Labuan Unpaid Mark (UP)
Labuan Instructional Marks (I)
Labuan Ship Letter (Paquebot) SL2 SL3 SL4 SL5 SL7 SL8
Lahat Datu D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 D7 D8 D9 D10 D11 D12 D13 D14 D15 D16 D17
Lahad Datu Registered Mark (R)
Lahad Datu Unpaid (UP)
Lahad Datu Airmail (AM) [Note: Jesselton AM]
Lahad Datu Ship Mail (Paquebot)
15. Lamag
16. Membakut
Membakut
Membakut
Membakut Registered Mark (R)
17. Mempakul
17. Mempakul
Mempakul Oval bars
Mempakul
18. Papar
18. Papar
Papar Registered Mark (R)
19. Ranau
20. Sandakan
20. Sandakan
Sandakan doted and bars cancels
Sandakan Hand Stamp Slogan (HS) British Empire Exhibition 1922
Sandakan Registered Mark (R)
Sandakan Avis de Reception (AR)
Sandakan Parcel Post
Sandakan Postage Paid (PP)
Sandakan Unpaid (UP)
Sandakan Instructional Marks (I)
Sandakan Ship Letter (Paquebot)
21. Semporna
21. Semporna
Semporna
Semporna Registered (R)
Sipitang
Sipitang Registered Marks (R)
24. Tamparuli
Tamparuli
Tamparuli
Tamparuli Registered Marks (R)
25. Tanjong Aru
26. Tangkulap
27. Tawao/Tawau
27. Tawao/Tawau
Tawao (Tawau)
Tawau Registered Postmark (R)
Tawau Instructional mark (I)
Tawau Ship letter (Paquebot)
28. Tenom
28. Tenom
Tenom
Tenom Registered Marks (R)
Tenom Unpaid (UP)
29. Tuaran
30. Train P.O. / Mobile P.O.
Mobile P.O. (1962-1963)
30. Train P.O. / Mobile P.O.
Mobile P.O. (1962-1963)
Train P.O.
Train Registered Mark (R)
References:
[1] The Postal History of British Borneo by Edward B. Proud. 2nd Edition 2003
[2] The Stamps and Postal History of North Borneo Part I, II and III by L.H. Shipman A.I.B, F.R.P.S.L and P.K. Cassels F.R.P.S.L. Sarawak Specialist Society
[3] The Stamps and Postal History of Sarawak. W. R. Forrester-Wood, M.A., F.R.C.S., F.R.P.S.L. Sarawak Specialist Society. 1957.
[4] Sarawak Specialist Journals.
[1] The Postal History of British Borneo by Edward B. Proud. 2nd Edition 2003
[2] The Stamps and Postal History of North Borneo Part I, II and III by L.H. Shipman A.I.B, F.R.P.S.L and P.K. Cassels F.R.P.S.L. Sarawak Specialist Society
[3] The Stamps and Postal History of Sarawak. W. R. Forrester-Wood, M.A., F.R.C.S., F.R.P.S.L. Sarawak Specialist Society. 1957.
[4] Sarawak Specialist Journals.
Censor Marks / Military Mails / P.O.W and Internee Mails
Postal censorship happened primarily before the advent of war and during the wartime. In North Borneo and much of British Borneo in general, this spanned from about 1939-1945. In general, censor marks might be applied by either one of the two opposing military alliances: the Allies on one side versus the Axis on another.
There are several censor marks recorded:
1. Allies Censor Marks
Boxed Rectangular Type
Unboxed Type
Triangular Types
2. Japanese Censor Marks
Postal censorship happened primarily before the advent of war and during the wartime. In North Borneo and much of British Borneo in general, this spanned from about 1939-1945. In general, censor marks might be applied by either one of the two opposing military alliances: the Allies on one side versus the Axis on another.
There are several censor marks recorded:
1. Allies Censor Marks
Boxed Rectangular Type
Unboxed Type
Triangular Types
2. Japanese Censor Marks
Japanese Occupation Postmark (1942-1945)
The Japanese occupation period spanned from the 1st January 1942 when the Japanese force firstly invaded Labuan before capturing the rest of Borneo. The occupation ended on September 1945 when the Japanese army officially surrendered in Labuan. Within this less than a 4-year military campaign, British Borneo (Labuan, North Borneo, Sarawak and Brunei) was formed as a single entity of admistration, the headquarter of which was in Kuching. Other central postal offices include Sibu, Miri, Jesselton (Api-Api), and Sandakan.
W.R. Forrester-Wood[1] quoted October 1st, 1942 as the official date for the establishment of the postal services by the Japanese. It is clear however that an intermediary phase existed where previous stocks of stamps were used in conjunction with the existing postmarks. The official Japanese stamps arrived in September 1942 and were placed on sale at Kuching on 1st October 1942, in Sibu by 29 October 1942 and Miri by 7 December 1942[2]. The overprinted stamps of Brunei, North Borneo, Sarawak and Straits Settlement (Labuan) were also to be issued on the 1st October 1942.
It is important to note that during the occupation, the date stamps were of Japanese:
Christian Japanese Dynastic Japanese regnal
1942 2602 17
1943 2603 18
1944 2604 19
1945 2605 20
The Japanese regnal date is calculated from the first year of the Showa dynasty, 1926, so "17" is equivalent to 1942. The first type of the Japanese cancellation usually bears this year format, firstly issued on October 21st, 1942. This consists of a rubber datestamp of a double circle divided across the centre by a horizontal partition, usually strucked in violet. The second type of Japanese cancellation was introduced during the second half of 1943, consists of a single circle metal date stamp with the town name above and 'North Borneo' below. This is flanked with a 5-pointed stars on either side. The year date used is that of Japanese dynasty. The ink is usually black but may be violet as well.
1. North Borneo & Labuan
2. Sarawak
3. Brunei
References:
[1] The Stamps and Postal History of Sarawak. W. R. Forrester-Wood, M.A., F.R.C.S., F.R.P.S.L. Sarawak Specialist Society. 1957.
[2] The Postal History of the Occupation of Malaya and British Borneo 1941-1945. Edward B. Proud & Lt. Col. Milo D. Rowell. 1992.
BMA postmark (1945-1946)
The Japanese army occupied North Borneo from 1942-1945. In June 1945 the Australian 9th Division landed in Brunei and liberated much of North Borneo before the end of the war. North Borneo was placed under British Military Administration (BMA) from 1945-1946. Before the BMA was set up, much of the area was devastated that civilians were allowed to use the Australian Army Postal Service.
During the BMA period, North Borneo, Labuan, Brunei and Sarawak were administered under one administrative area. Previous stamps from North Borneo and Sarawak were overprinted with "BMA" and remained valid throughout this larger British Borneo area. Brunei did not produce any BMA stamps and had to rely on supplies from North Borneo and Sarawak.
Brunei
Kuching
Fiscal / Revenue Cancels:
The fiscal and revenue cancellations (and stamps) are another interesting domain in stamp collecting. They are generally scarce and some are extremely rare that we don't have a full documentation of many of the marks used. Stamps used on legal documents with fiscal cancellations are even harder to find. Our sources of information on the fiscal cancellations are also limited.
Nevertheless, it is an important and exciting area to venture. Many of the cancellations are indeed unique and more complex compared to the usual postage-used cancellations. The seal of North Borneo is used in many government-related documents. Inks used also vary from the usual black ink to blue and red.
Ivor D. Moore [1] produced a great book on this topic - "The Fiscal use of Postage & Revenue Stamps of British North Borneo" - this is, I think, the golden reference book on the postage and revenue stamps from North Borneo.
1. Revenue Stamps
Revenue Stamps
Revenue Surcharges
2. Banks
State Bank of North Borneo
Hong Kong & Shanghai Bank
New Oriental Bank Corp. Limited
Chartered Bank of India
3. Commercial
Abrahamson, Sandakan
Albert W. Nieuveld
Australia & China Telegraph Co.
Behn Meyer & Co. Sandakan
Darby & Company B.N.B
Hadjee Adamsahib & Co.
Harrisons & Crossfield
Jardine Matheson & Co. Ltd
J.P. Keasberry, Labuan
Lorentson & Co.
Lo Tian Cheok & Co.
Mansfield Bogaart
North Borneo Trading Co.
Sabah Steamship Co.
Ward Son & Co. Labuan
4. Customs
Jesselton
5. District Office
Beaufort
Fort Birch
Marudu
Papar
Tawau
Pegalan
Tambunan
Tuaran
6. Government Seal
7. Harbour Master
8. Immigration
Sandakan Type 1 Type 2
9. Land Office
Jesselton
Kudat
Sandakan
West Coast
10. Legal
Judicial (Perfin)
11. Judicial Department
Kudat
Sandakan Type 1 Type 2 Type 3
12. Magistrates Court
Beaufort
Jesselton Type 1 Type 2
Kinabatangan
Kudat
Lahad Datu
Papar
Sandakan
Tawau
Tuaran
13. Sessions Court
British North Borneo
Labuan
The seal of the General Court of Labuan
14. Registrars Office
Sandakan
15. Resident's Office
Interior
Keppel Province
Kudat
Labuan
Sillam
16. Postal
Jesselton GPO
Sandakan PO
17. Telegraph Office
Jesselton
Sandakan
18. Treasury Department
Beaufort
Jesselton
Sandakan
References:
[1] The Fiscal use of Postage & Revenue Stamps of British North Borneo. Ivor D. Moore. 2nd Edition.
[2] The Postal History of British Borneo by Edward B. Proud. 2nd Edition 2003.
[3] Sarawak Specialist Society (SSS) Journals.
Fake & Forged North Borneo Postmark:
Look Here
This list is no longer maintained. Please visit my new site on British Borneo stamps called The Stamps Journal.
This list is no longer maintained. Please visit my new site on British Borneo stamps called The Stamps Journal.
