+ Issue Date : 04/09/1955
+ Classification : Postage Stamp
+ Emission : Definitive / General Issue
+ Designer : C.A. Gibson-Hill
+ Watermark : Multiple Script CA
+ Separations : Normal Perforations
+ Gum Type : Gum
+ Shape : Rectangular
Queen Elizabeth's coronation issue produced the last common design stamp which Singapore issued together with other British Colonies. It also meant a new definitve set was needed. In fact, a new defintive set was being prepared with the King's head but the untimely passing of King George VI made it necessary to feature the next monarch - Queen Elizabeth II who graced the stamp, finally issued in 1955. This was a beautiful set featuring principally seacrafts in view of Singapore's importance as a major sea-port and trading centre. As if the designer foresaw Singapore becoming a major aviation hub twenty years later, the 25¢ value depicted an "Argonaut" aircraft. The orginal design was that of a "Comet" aircraft but the series of aircrashes involving that name of aircraft necessitated a change in design. The lower values were printed by photogravure and the three top values by the recess method. Many printing plates were used for the lower values but only two for the recess printed stamps. There were several printings which could be distinguished by the paper, shades and the intensity of the background.
+ Issue Date : 01/06/1959
+ Classification : Postage Stamp
+ Emission : Definitive / General Issue
+ Printer : Harrison & Sons, Limited
+ Printing : Photogravure
+ Watermark : Block CA
+ Perforations : comb 11½ x 12
+ Separations : Normal Perforations
+ Gum Type : Gum
+ Shape : Rectangular
+ Orientation : Horizontal
In 1955 at the Legislative Assembly General Election, the Labour Front Party emerged as the most number of candidates elected. Its leader David Marshall became the First Chief Minister of Singapore. He led a delegation to London in 1956 to negotiate for independence of Singapore but failed. The reason was he was too soft with the communists. In 1954, the labour unrests led by the communists were so many that it was dubbed as ‘The Year of the Strikes’. The British government wanted him to deal with the communists first before granting independence for Singapore. He resigned upon returning to Singapore. Lim Yew Hock then the Minister for Labour and Welfare took over as Second Chief Minister. He began a series of suppression against the communists. The British government then had more confidence in granting independence. From 1956 to 1968, there were a series of ‘Merdeka Talks’ for Singapore. The British finally agreed to grant self-government to Singapore in 1959 under the New Constitution. The People’s Action Party had just won the 30 May election and Lee Kuan Yew became the Prime Minister. On 1 June 1959, the General Post Office issued this set of ‘The New Constitution’ stamps. Each stamp has the Golden Lion to represent the state of Singapore with government administrative buildings in the background. Queen Elizabeth II was still the sovereign head as defence and foreign affairs were still under her control.
The Malayan Federation came into being in 1957 but Singapore remained a separate state. The stamps of the Malayan Federation were interchangeable with the current stamps of Singapore. Singapore became self governing as the State of Singapore on 3 June 1959 and commemorated the event with a special stamp issue. These were the first stamps where the Singapore Lion dominated the design. The Singapore Lion did of course appear as part of the state crest on the $5 value definitive issued in 1955. With this New Constitution issue, the stamps of Singapore no longer bore the word "Malaya".
Stamps were issued to commemorate the new constitution that saw Singapore turning from a British colony to that of a state. Design showing Singapore Lion and Administrative Centre.
Singapore celebrated its first national day as a self-governing state on 3rd June 1960. The occasion was commemorated aptly with two stamps featuring the new state flag.
The words ‘State of’ were in cursive and SINGAPORE was in bold. June 3 1960 were printed on the left of the landscape format of the stamp. In this issue there were only two stamps – the 4 cent denomination and the 10 cent denomination. At that time 4 cent postage was used for posting an unsealed standard envelope, whereas a 10 cent postage was used for a sealed standard envelope.
In a similar fashion, each of the three ensuring national days was marked with an issue of commemorative stamps featuring themes considered critical to the political and economic well being of Singapore.
Design showing state flag of Singapore.
Watermark
Normal sideways watermark shows Crown to left of CA as seen from reverse of the stamp.
+ Issue Date : 03/06/1961
+ Classification : Postage Stamp
+ Emission : Commemorative
+ Printer : Joh. Enchedé en Zonen, Haarlem, Netherlands
+ Printing : Photogravure
+ Watermark : Block CA
+ Perforations : 13½ x 13¼
+ Separations : Normal Perforations
+ Gum Type : Gum
+ Shape : Rectangular
+ Orientation : Vertical
On 3rd June 1961, on the second National Day, two stamps with the same denominations of 4 cent and 10 cent stamps were issued.
In this set, the hands of the four major races portraying a multi-racial society clasped together over the outline map of Singapore was printed. That was to signify ‘National Unity’.
This time the words ‘NATIONAL DAY, STATE OF SINGAPORE’ were in capital letters. The date ‘3rd. JUNE 1961 were printed below the words NATIONAL DAY.
They were so small that they were hardly noticeable by the naked eye. But upon careful observation, the values 4 cents and 10 cents were each reflected twice – one on the top left hand corner and one on the top right hand corner. National Day - Its Meaning TELLING THE PEOPLE
TODAY Singapore celebrated its second National Day with pageantry and festivity which will be continued tomorrow.
It is right that this should be an occasion for joy, yet at the same time it must be a time for thought and for resolve.
It is an occasion for thought as to the true, deeper meaning of National Day …… and for resolve by every Singaporean to give his utmost in the service of the State.
On this day the accent is on the word "national" …… for the theme of the whole programme of celebration is the necessity for an ever-increasing sense of national loyalty, of national consciousness.
Today, of all days, the people of Singapore must remember that they are one people, one nation ….. not Chinese or Malays or Indians or members of any race but first and foremost Singaporeans and Malayans.
Their loyalty is to Singapore - no longer to the country of their birth or their parents' birth if that country happens to be a foreign country.
This national loyalty every good citizen must both practice and preach …… practice it himself and see that others practice it, too.
The good citizen must show, by his personal example, that they ways of divided loyalties, of narrow racialism, are the ways of disaster, of "all Hell let loose," as the Minister for Culture, Mr. Rajaratnam has put it.
That is the first necessity if Singapore is to flourish - undivided loyalty to the State. The other necessity, if Singapore is to increase its prosperity, is sweat and toil.
The Government has mapped the way through the Four Year Plan. The Government leads and guides …… that is its duty.
But the translation of plans into reality depends, in the final analysis, on the hard work and enthusiasm of the people.
Therefore on this National Day the good citizen must pledge himself to give the State his undivided loyalty to shun all narrow racialism and to work harder for the country - his country.
+ Issue Date : 31/03/1962
+ Classification : Postage Stamp
+ Emission : Definitive / General Issue
+ Printing : Photogravure
+ Watermark : Block CA (Upright)
+ Separations : Normal Perforations
+ Gum Type : Gum
+ Shape : Rectangular
15¢, 30¢, $2 and $5 are known to exist with PVA gum and gum arabic.
1962 Singapore Definitive Issue without the word "Malaya" and the Queen's profile.
Following the introduction of the new constitution, the Yang Di-Pertuan Negara replaced the Governor as the head of state. It was therefore no longer appropriate for Queen Elizabeth's portrait to grace Singapore's stamps. A new definitive set was therefore designed without the word "Malaya" and the Queen's profile. The stamps featured the flora and fauna as well as marine and bird life, reflecting the rich natural history in and around the island. The new definitive stamps were multi-coloured and the designs were certainly very lively. They added colour and excitement to our philatelic scene as many printing flaws and varieties including missing colours were found.
