Sandafayre Stamp Auctions | Stamp Atlas

Sarawak

FIRST STAMPS ISSUED 1 March 1869.

CURRENCY
1964, 100 cents = 1 Malaysian dollar.

In 1839 James Brooke, then a young British merchant-adventurer, helped the Sultan of Brunei to quell a rebellion; in reward he was made Rajah of Sarawak in 1841. In 1846 the British government authorized him to accept from Brunei the island of Labuan as a coaling station on the China route. Sarawak was recognized as independent and from 1888 assured of British protection.

After occupation by the Japanese 17 December 1941 - 11 September 1945, it came under British military administration from 1 November 1945. Civil government was restored on 15 April 1946 and Sarawak was ceded to the British Crown on 1 July 1946. It joined the Federation of Malaysia in 1963.

Postal History
Casual mail was sent by ship via Singapore from 1839, and by a monthly service after 1842. The earliest recorded postal marking from Sarawak dates from 1858. A local Postal Union was set up with Straits Settlements; until Sarawak joined the UPU on 1 July 1897, letters for destinations beyond Singapore needed stamps of India or Straits Settlements.

Japanese PO closed down and destroyed its stocks on 4 September 1945. Mail was accepted by FPOs of liberating Australian forces, at first free, then (29 October - 17 December 1945) franked with stamps of Australia.

Uses both separate issues and stamps of Malaysia but no values above 25 cents issued for the territory since 1963.