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Christmas Island

FIRST STAMPS Straits Settlements from 1900.
FIRST STAMPS ISSUED 15 October 1958.

CURRENCY
1958, 100 cents = 1 dollar Malaysian.
1968, 100 cents = 1 dollar Australian.

Previously uninhabited island in the Indian Ocean, south of Java, known since the 17th century but annexed by the British only in 1888. A settlement was established from the Cocos Islands and administration passed to the Straits Settlements in 1900. The island was occupied by the Japanese navy 31 March 1942. In 1946 the island was administered from Singapore until 1 January 1958 when, for 10 months, it was treated as a Crown Colony before being handed over to Australia.

In 1891-1900 mail was passed by visiting ships usually via Fremantle (Western Australia). P0 was opened in 1900.

Used stamps of Straits Settlements 1900-42. No civil mails known under Japanese occupation. Used stamps of B.M.A. Malaya 1946-8. Used stamps of Singapore 1948 - 14 October 1958.