+ Issue Date : 01/09/1867
+ Classification : Postage Stamp
+ Emission : Definitive / General Issue
+ Printer : De La Rue & Co, Limited
+ Printing : Typography
+ Paper : White Woven Paper
+ Watermark : Elephant's Head
+ Perforations : 14
+ Separations : Normal Perforations
+ Gum Type : Gum
+ Shape : Rectangular
+ Orientation : Vertical
Surcharged by De La Rue in different coloured inks to distinguish the various values because the 1 anna brown and 2 annas yellow were used to make three different “cents” values each.
CROWN COLONY
The Straits Settlements, a British colony of islands off the Malayan peninsula that included Singapore, used stamps from India between 1854 and 1867. When the Settlements became a crown colony in 1867, they began issuing their own stamps, not least because they adopted a currency based on 96 cents to a silver dollar.
On 1 September 1867, the Straits Settlements took charge of its own postal affairs, and issued a set of stamps to coincide with the occasion. Those times, a new issue did not mean a new design. In fact, a new issues were often just an administrative step in "up-dating", so to speak. So, the first Straits Settlements stamps were a set of Indian stamps overprinted with a crown and a value surcharge for "cents" - practical if not pretty.
Straits Settlements first adhesive stamps were issued beginning on 1 September 1867, nine types in the existing stocks of Indian stamps featuring a portrait of the young Queen Victoria, and the stamps were inscribed with a crown across the top and the "cents" denomination across the bottom.
A surcharge is an inscription on a stamp that alters its value, either an increase or decrease. Most stamps are printed with one surcharge, but the Straits Settlements stamps carried two - one for altering value and second to alter the currency.
This method was used as new designs and a new printing took a very long time. As it were, the Crown Agents took some time deciding between the alternatives before settling for the overprint a tthe top and surcharge value at the bottom design. This was a provisional issue and the stamps were only used briefly. For this reason, the quantities of each denomination overprinted and issued were small and these stamps are rather sought after by serious collectors. The reason that overprints were usually on the 1- and 2-anna stamps were probably because there were larger stocks of these available in India.
A variety of the 12 cents exists with a double overprint. This variety is known only in unused condition and was considered for some time as a trial overprint which found its way into the philatelic market.
+ Issue Date : 1867
+ Classification : Postage Stamp
+ Printer : De La Rue & Co, Limited
+ Printing : Typography
+ Paper : White Woven Paper
+ Watermark : Crown CC
+ Perforations : 14
+ Separations : Normal Perforations
+ Gum Type : Gum
+ Shape : Rectangular
+ Orientation : Vertical
Stamps printed by De La Rue for the Settlements started arriving in December 1867.
The design consisted of the Queen’s head within a double circle or rectangle enclosed within a frame, inscribed “STRAITS SETTLEMENTS POSTAGE”, with different ornaments in each corner, the values appearing in letters or numerals at the base.. The set of nine values, 2c to 96c, appeared gradually, with the 30c value not being issued until 1872.
There were 240 stamps to a sheet – four panes of 60 arranged in rows of six by ten. For the earlier printings the gum used was yellow, but later issues bore a white gum.
+ Issue Date : 05/1879
+ Classification : Postage Stamp
+ Printer : De La Rue & Co, Limited
+ Watermark : Crown CC
+ Perforations : 14
+ Separations : Normal Perforations
+ Gum Type : Gum
+ Shape : Rectangular
+ Orientation : Vertical
The Straits Settlements joined the Universal Postal Union in 1877 and two years later changes were made in the postal rates which required the issue of stamps of 5c. and 7c. denominations. This was effected by surcharging the 8c. orange and 32c. pale red of the 1867-71 issue with “Five Cents.” and “Seven Cents.” respectively, in two lines, in black.
+ Issue Date : 03/1880
+ Classification : Postage Stamp
+ Printer : De La Rue & Co, Limited
+ Watermark : Crown CC
+ Perforations : 14
+ Separations : Normal Perforations
+ Gum Type : Gum
+ Shape : Rectangular
+ Orientation : Vertical
With other changes in postal rates, the need arose for a stamp of 10c. value and to provide for this, stamps from the stock of the 30c. claret were surcharged “10 cents.” in two lines, the “cents” appearing in italics in 1880. There are no less than ten varieties of the figure “10″. The surcharging was done at the Government Printing Office at Singapore and a pane of 60 stamps was covered at each operation.
Original stamp, number 17
Known Varieties:
(a) '1' thin curved serif & thin foot, 'O' narrow.
(b) '1' thin curved serif & thin foot, 'O' is broad. Both numerals are heavy.
(c) '1' same as (a), 'O' same as (b).
(d) '1' same as (a) but thicker, 'O' same as (a)
(e) '1' same as (a), 'O' same as (a) but with thicker sides.
(f) '1' same as (d), 'O' same as (e).
(g) '1' same as (a) but narrow 'O'.
(h) '1' thin, curved serif & thin foot, 'O' same as (g).
(i) '1' thin, curved serif & thick foot, 'O' same as (g)
(j) '1' same as (d), 'O' same as (g) but raised.
(k) '1' same as (a) but shorter, with shorter serif and thicker foot, 'O' same (g) but numerals are closer than (g)
+ Issue Date : 04/1880
+ Classification : Postage Stamp
+ Printer : De La Rue & Co, Limited
+ Watermark : Crown CC
+ Perforations : 14
+ Separations : Normal Perforations
+ Gum Type : Gum
+ Shape : Rectangular
+ Orientation : Vertical
About a month later after first surcharge, a new setting of the “10″ surcharge was made with the word “cents” missing. Here again there were apparently eight varieties of the figure “10″.
Original Stamp number 17.
(l) '1' thin curved serif and thin foot, 'O' narrow.
(m) '1' thick curved serif and thick foot, 'O' is broad. Both numerals are heavy.
(n) '1' same as (a), 'O' same as (b).
(o) '1' same as (a), but narrow 'O'.
(p) '1' same as (b), 'O' same as (a).
(q) '1' same as (b) but shorter and with another serif and thicker foot, 'O' same as (d).
(r) '1' straight serif at top, 'O' same as (d).
+ Issue Date : 08/1880
+ Classification : Postage Stamp
+ Printer : De La Rue & Co, Limited
+ Watermark : Crown CC
+ Perforations : 14
+ Separations : Normal Perforations
+ Gum Type : Gum
+ Shape : Rectangular
+ Orientation : Vertical
In August 1880, the 8c. orange stamps of the 1867-71 issue were surcharged in black in two lines with “5 cents.” the word ”cents” being italicised. There were three different types of the figure “5″, varying according to the rows of the pane utilised for this purpose.
+ Issue Date : 12/1880
+ Classification : Postage Stamp
+ Printer : De La Rue & Co, Limited
+ Printing : Typography
+ Watermark : Crown CC
+ Perforations : 14
+ Separations : Normal Perforations
+ Gum Type : Gum
+ Shape : Rectangular
+ Orientation : Vertical
In December 1880, the 30c. claret was surcharged in black in two lines with a new variety of “10 cents.” the numerals, as well as the letters being in italics and the “cents” in larger fount. It appears that by then the stock of the 30c. claret had been exhausted for, in January 1881, the surcharge was applied to the 12c. ultramarine value of the 1867-71 issue and to the 12c. blue value in February 1881. In November of that year it was applied to the 6c. lilac.
