Malaya (Penang)
Chapter overview
For Acknowledgments see the main Asia page
Currency
- Impressed revenue stamps (catalogue numbers prefixed Z)
- Revenue (catalogue numbers prefixed R)
- Revenue usage of Postage stamps (catalogue numbers prefixed S)
For Acknowledgments see the main Asia page
Currency
- (Until 1967) 100 cents = 1 Straits / Malayan / Malaya & British Borneo dollar
- (Since 1967) 100 cents (sen) = 1 Malaysian dollar (ringgit)
Z4/14
1863-83 (recorded usage). Ornate circular design (35 mm diameter) with Imperial Crown at top, inscribed STAMP OFFICE PENANG. Colourless. Recorded dates of usage are shown in brackets.
a) Denominated in annas and rupees, value in English and Persian script (1863-67)
Z4. 8 annas
Z6. 1 rupee
Z13. 15 rupees
Z14. 20 rupees
a) Denominated in annas and rupees, value in English and Persian script (1863-67)
Z4. 8 annas
Z6. 1 rupee
Z13. 15 rupees
Z14. 20 rupees
Z21/45
b) Denominated in cents and dollars, value in English only (1868-73)
Z21. 3 cents
Z34. 50 cents
Z39. 1 dollar 50 cents
Z41. 2 dollars 50 cents
Z44. 5 dollars
Z45. 6 dollars
Z21. 3 cents
Z34. 50 cents
Z39. 1 dollar 50 cents
Z41. 2 dollars 50 cents
Z44. 5 dollars
Z45. 6 dollars
Z61/63, Z66/67, Z70, Z73/84 (Z73 image from Hsiong) plus proofs of Z64/65, Z68/69, Z71/72 and Z85/86
Embossing die as Z71 used to cancel adhesives in 1891
February 1883 to December 1887 (recorded usage). Portrait of Queen Victoria in frames of different shapes, all 25 to 30 mm across. All designs incorporate date plugs, with the year plug centrally at top or bottom.
Z61. 3c vermilion
Z62. 5c vermilion
Z63. 10c vermilion
[Z64. 15c]
[Z65. 20c]
Z66. 25c vermilion
Z67. 30c vermilion
[Z68. 40c]
[Z69. 45c]
Z70. 50c vermilion
a. Colourless
[Z71. 60c]
[Z72. 75c]
Z73. $1 vermilion
Z74a. $1½ colourless
Z76. $2 vermilion
a. Colourless
Z77. $3 vermilion
a. Colourless
Z78. $4 vermilion
Z79. $5 vermilion
Z81. $10 vermilion
Z82. $25 vermilion
Z84. $50 vermilion
[Z85. $100]
[Z86. $500]
Notes:
1. The colourless stamps are known used between February and December 1883. The recorded usage of the vermilion stamps is from June 1884 to December 1887. The values shown in brackets are not known as issued stamps.
2. The Crown Agents archive in the British Library includes a complete set of proofs. The proofs from 3c to $50 are blind embossed, with date plugs for 23-5-82 (23rd May 1882) on the 3c, 5c, 20c, 50c, $1, $1½, $10, $50. The proofs of the $100 and $500 are inked in vermilion.
3. The above listing is for direct embossed impressions appearing on documents without adhesive stamps. From 1888 onwards the same dies were used as over-embossing cancels to tie adhesive stamps to documents as illustrated here. The cancelling die was matched to the value of the adhesive stamp (a 3c die to cancel a 3c adhesive etc). Multiples or combinations of adhesives were cancelled with an embossing die for the total value, eg 50c and $1 adhesives tied by a single $1.50 cancel across both stamps. New cancelling dies were introduced after 1901 with a crown replacing the Queen's portrait, and the practice of matching the cancel to the face value of the adhesives continued until the introduction of an undenominated Penang Stamp Office cancel in 1939.
Z61. 3c vermilion
Z62. 5c vermilion
Z63. 10c vermilion
[Z64. 15c]
[Z65. 20c]
Z66. 25c vermilion
Z67. 30c vermilion
[Z68. 40c]
[Z69. 45c]
Z70. 50c vermilion
a. Colourless
[Z71. 60c]
[Z72. 75c]
Z73. $1 vermilion
Z74a. $1½ colourless
Z76. $2 vermilion
a. Colourless
Z77. $3 vermilion
a. Colourless
Z78. $4 vermilion
Z79. $5 vermilion
Z81. $10 vermilion
Z82. $25 vermilion
Z84. $50 vermilion
[Z85. $100]
[Z86. $500]
Notes:
1. The colourless stamps are known used between February and December 1883. The recorded usage of the vermilion stamps is from June 1884 to December 1887. The values shown in brackets are not known as issued stamps.
2. The Crown Agents archive in the British Library includes a complete set of proofs. The proofs from 3c to $50 are blind embossed, with date plugs for 23-5-82 (23rd May 1882) on the 3c, 5c, 20c, 50c, $1, $1½, $10, $50. The proofs of the $100 and $500 are inked in vermilion.
3. The above listing is for direct embossed impressions appearing on documents without adhesive stamps. From 1888 onwards the same dies were used as over-embossing cancels to tie adhesive stamps to documents as illustrated here. The cancelling die was matched to the value of the adhesive stamp (a 3c die to cancel a 3c adhesive etc). Multiples or combinations of adhesives were cancelled with an embossing die for the total value, eg 50c and $1 adhesives tied by a single $1.50 cancel across both stamps. New cancelling dies were introduced after 1901 with a crown replacing the Queen's portrait, and the practice of matching the cancel to the face value of the adhesives continued until the introduction of an undenominated Penang Stamp Office cancel in 1939.
Z91 proof, Z92 used and Z93 proof
1885-1940. Cheque stamps, 17 x 28 mm, featuring crown. Date plugs with year at foot.
[Z91. 3c vermilion (1885)]
Z92. 4c colourless (1920)
[Z93. 6c vermilion (1940)]
Note: the dates are based on the archive material. There exists a handpainted essay for Z91 dated 16th September 1885, and proofs for Z92 and Z93 dated 1920 and 1940 respectively. Z92 is known used in 1928. I have not seen any issued examples of Z91 or Z93.
[Z91. 3c vermilion (1885)]
Z92. 4c colourless (1920)
[Z93. 6c vermilion (1940)]
Note: the dates are based on the archive material. There exists a handpainted essay for Z91 dated 16th September 1885, and proofs for Z92 and Z93 dated 1920 and 1940 respectively. Z92 is known used in 1928. I have not seen any issued examples of Z91 or Z93.
Z101 with (at left) dated machine cancel
1954 (recorded usage). 28 x 28 mm. Meter stamp inscribed Stamp Office Penang. Value in centre.
Z101. [Stamp Office Penang] vermilion
Note: Separate values are not listed since the use of meters allowed any value to be produced.
Z101. [Stamp Office Penang] vermilion
Note: Separate values are not listed since the use of meters allowed any value to be produced.
Revenue
R1/3
1949. King George VI Large Nyasa key type, inscribed REVENUE at both sides. 25½ x 30 mm. Wmk Multiple Script CA. Perf 14. Printed (typo) by De La Rue in sheets of 50.
R1. $25 red and brown
R2. $100 purple and blue
R3. $250 purple
Printings (details from Crown Agents Requisition books):
R1. $25 red and brown
R2. $100 purple and blue
R3. $250 purple
Printings (details from Crown Agents Requisition books):
- Req 1289/1 (sent to Malaya 12th May 1949): $25 (251 sheets), $100 (244 sheets), $250 (240 sheets)
Revenue usage of Postage stamps
Note: for ease of reference, numbering follows the Stanley Gibbons Part 1 catalogue throughout this section. Values listed here are those recorded as having been used for revenue purposes.
S1
1948. Royal Silver Wedding.
S1. 10c violet
S1. 10c violet
S3/22
1949-52. King George VI portrait in oval with palm trees at sides. Wmk Mult Script CA. Perf 17½ x 18. Chalk-surfaced paper. Printed (typo) by De La Rue.
S3. 1c black
S4. 2c orange
S5. 3c green
S6. 4c brown
S7. 5c bright purple (1952)
S8. 6c grey
S11. 10c magenta
S13. 15c ultramarine
S14. 20c black and green
S15. 20c bright blue (1952)
S16. 25c purple and orange
S18. 40c red and purple
S19. 50c black and blue
S20. $1 blue and purple
S21. $2 green and scarlet
S22. $5 green and brown
S3. 1c black
S4. 2c orange
S5. 3c green
S6. 4c brown
S7. 5c bright purple (1952)
S8. 6c grey
S11. 10c magenta
S13. 15c ultramarine
S14. 20c black and green
S15. 20c bright blue (1952)
S16. 25c purple and orange
S18. 40c red and purple
S19. 50c black and blue
S20. $1 blue and purple
S21. $2 green and scarlet
S22. $5 green and brown
S23/27
1949. 75th Anniversary of the Universal Postal Union.
S23. 10c purple
S24. 15c deep blue
S25. 25c orange
S26. 50c blue-black
1953. Coronation.
S27. 10c black and reddish purple
S23. 10c purple
S24. 15c deep blue
S25. 25c orange
S26. 50c blue-black
1953. Coronation.
S27. 10c black and reddish purple
S30/43
1954-57. As 1949-52 issue but now with portrait of Queen Elizabeth II.
S30. 4c brown
S31. 5c bright purple
S32. 6c grey
S34. 10c brown-purple
S40. 50c black and bright blue
S41. $1 bright blue and brown-purple
S42. $2 emerald and scarlet
S43. $5 emerald and brown (1955)
S30. 4c brown
S31. 5c bright purple
S32. 6c grey
S34. 10c brown-purple
S40. 50c black and bright blue
S41. $1 bright blue and brown-purple
S42. $2 emerald and scarlet
S43. $5 emerald and brown (1955)
S47/54
1957. Pictorial designs with portrait of Queen Elizabeth II. Wmk Multiple St Edward's Crown Block CA. Perf 13 x 12½ (1c to 8c), 12½ x 13 (10c, 20c), 13 x 11½-12½ (50c), 13½ ($1), 11½-12½ x 13 ($2, $5). Printed (recess) by De La Rue.
S47. 5c carmine-lake
S49. 10c deep brown
S52. $1 ultramarine and reddish purple
S53. $2 bronze-green and scarlet
S54. $5 brown and bronze-green
S47. 5c carmine-lake
S49. 10c deep brown
S52. $1 ultramarine and reddish purple
S53. $2 bronze-green and scarlet
S54. $5 brown and bronze-green
S58/65
1960-62. As previous issue but with inset Arms of Penang, 10c in new colour. Wmk Multiple PTM. Perf 13 x 12½ (1c to 8c, $2 & $5), perf 12½ x 13 (10c to 50c) or perf 13½ ($1). Printed (recess) by De La Rue.
S58. 5c carmine-lake
S60. 10c deep maroon
S62. 50c black and blue
S63. $1 ultramarine and reddish purple
S64. $2 bronze-green and scarlet
S65. $5 brown and bronze-green
S58. 5c carmine-lake
S60. 10c deep maroon
S62. 50c black and blue
S63. $1 ultramarine and reddish purple
S64. $2 bronze-green and scarlet
S65. $5 brown and bronze-green
Note: later issues of Penang are also recorded with revenue cancels but are not illustrated here. I have seen the following values:
- 1965 Orchids: 6c, 10c, 15c
- 1971 Butterflies: 10c
- 1979 Flowers: 25c
