The history of postage stamps and postal history of Malaysia, a state in Southeast Asia that occupies the south of the Malay Peninsula and Sarawak and Sabah in the north Borneo, includes the development of postal services in these periods: the sultanates as British protectorates (1874–1941, 1948–1957); Japanese occupation during the Second World War (1941–1945); British military administration (1945–1948); and independence of the state (since 1957).

Malaysia has been issuing stamps after independence from the United Kingdom in 1957, first as the Federation of Malaya, then as Malaysia after 1963. The national postal operator is Pos Malaysia.

Mail development Postal history in Malaya tracked from the 19th century, initially postal services for the Malay colonies were provided by the post offices of British India. In 1854, stamps of British India were used.

The Straits Settlements

In 1867, the first stamps of the Straits Settlements colony were issued, which were stamps of British India overprinted with a crown and new values in local currency. In December 1867, the first definitives were issued.

State issues Subsequently, the individual Malay states issued stamps, starting with Johor in 1876. Perak and Selangor followed in 1878 and 1881, then Pahang in 1889 and Negri Sembilan in 1891.

Terengganu, Kelantan and Kedah, which were ceded by Thailand in 1909, started issuing stamps from 1910 onwards.

Johor The Sultanate of Johor was one of the unfederated Malay states. In 1876, a postal service was set up in the sultanate, and stamps of the Straits Settlements were overprinted with a star and crescent.

From 1884 to 1891, stamps of the Straits Settlements overprinted "Johore" were used. In 1891, definitive stamps were issued. In 1896, stamps were overprinted "KEMAHKOTAAN" to commemorate the coronation of Sultan Ibrahim.

Since 1948, issues have been similar to those of other Malay states.

Perak

The Sultanate of Perak become a British protectorate in 1874. In 1874–1878, the stamps of the Straits Settlements were used. In 1878, the first stamp of the Sultanate was issued, overprinting stamps of the Straits Settlementsn with crescent, star and letter "P" in an oval. In 1880–1891, stamps of the Straits Settlements were overprinted "Perak". In 1892, stamps with the image of a jumping tiger were issued, followed by stamps featuring the image of a tiger's head or elephants in 1895–1899.

In 1900–1935, stamps of the Federated Malay States were used. In 1935–1941 two sets of definitive stamps were issued. Since 1948, issues have been similar to those of other Malay states.

Selangor Stamps of the Straits Settlements were overprinted for use in the Sultanate of Selangor in 1881. In 1891–1895, stamps depicting a jumping tiger were issued. In 1895–1897, a new series with the image of a tiger's head or elephants was issued.

From 1900 to 1935, stamps of the Federated Malay States were used. The 1935–1941 series depicted a mosque in Klang or a portrait of the Sultan.

Beginning in 1948, issues have been similar to those of other Malay states.

Pahang The Pahang Sultanate became a British protectorate in 1888 and was part of the Federated Malay States from 1895.

The first stamps of Pahang appeared in 1889, overprinting on stamps of the Straits Settlements. In 1891, stamps of the Straits Settlements were surcharged with new value for the Sultanate.

In 1891–1897, a series of stamps depicted a jumping tiger or a tiger's head similar to those of other Malay states during that period. In 1898, stamps of Perak were overprinted "Pahang".

In 1900–1935, stamps of the Federated Malay States were used. In 1935–1941, these were replaced by the release of the sultanate.

Beginning in 1948, stamps have been similar to those of other Malay states.

Negri Sembilan

Negri Sembilan was placed under the control of a British Resident in 1887. The first stamp was issued in August 1891, overprinting "Negri Sembilan" on stamps of the Strait Settlements, and then came a stamp with the drawing of a jumping tiger. In 1896, a series of stamps with the image of a tiger's head was issued.

From 1900 to 1935, stamps of the Federated Malay States were used. Since 1935, stamps were issued depicting the coat of arms.

Regional Edition In 1878, Sungai Ujong (under the control of Great Britain since 1873) issued its own stamps. It was an India ½ anna stamp overprinted with crescent, stars and the abbreviation "SU" in an oval, the issue was informal. In 1880, similar overprint appeared on 2 cent stamps of the Strait Settlements. In 1881, stamps of the Strait Settlements were overprinted "Sungei Ujong". From 1891 to 1895, stamps with similar designs to those of Negri-Sembilan were issued. After Sungai Ujong had incorporated into Negri-Sembilan, stamps of the latter were used since 1895.

Terengganu Terengganu was transferred from Siam to Great Britain under the terms of the Anglo-Siamese Treaty of 1909. In 1910, the first stamps were issued. In 1922, stamps were overprinted to commemorate the Malaya-Borneo Exhibition. In 1937, a set of postage due stamps was issued. Since 1948, issues have been similar to those of other Malay states.

Kelantan

Kelantan was part of Siam until coming under British control in 1909. Kelantan was one of the unfederated Malay states. In 1909, stamps of the Federated Malay States were used. In 1911, stamps were first issued for Kelantan featuring the coat of arms of the sultanate. In 1922, stamps were overprinted to commemorate the Malaya-Borneo Exhibition. Since 1948, issues have been similar to those of other Malay states.

Kedah

After Kedah was transferred from Siamese control in 1909, stamps of the Straits Settlements and the Federated Malay States were used. In 1912, the first set of stamps depicting a rice sheaf, a peasant with a buffalo and a government building, were issued. Stamps overprinted "Malaya Borneo Exhibition" for the Malaya-Borneo Exhibition were issued in 1922. After 1948, Kedah issued stamps with similar designs to those of the other Malay states.

Malacca The state of Malacca was part of the British colony of Straits Settlements. Malacca began issuing stamps in 1948 featuring the portrait of British monarch. Since 1960, stamps are issued with the coat of arms of Malacca.

Penang

Penang was part of the British colony of Straits Settlements. Stamps were first issued when Penang became a state in the Malayan Union in 1948. Since 1960, the emblem of Penang are depicted on its stamps.

Perlis The stamps of the Federated Malay States were used in Perlis in 1909–1912. From 1912 to 1942, Perlis was in a postal union with Kedah and used stamps of Kedah. Perlis began issuing its own stamps in 1948.

Sabah

Sabah (as North Borneo) was a British protectorate from 1888 and a British Crown colony after 1946. The Colony issued stamps until 1963 when Sabah joined Malaya, Sarawak and Singapore to form the Federation of Malaysia.

Sarawak

In Sarawak, stamps of British India were used from 1859. In 1869, the first stamps were issued.

In the period from 1869 to 1941, series of stamps with the image of the Rajahs of the Brooke dynasty were issued. On the 1869 stamps, in the corners are the letters "JBRS" (an abbreviation of "James Brooke, Rajah of Sarawak"). Charles Brooke was depicted on stamps issued from 1871 to 1917. The last Rajah on the issues of 1918–1941 was Charles Vyner Brooke.

Initially, before Sarawak was admitted to the Universal Postal Union in 1897, its stamps were valid only for delivery to Singapore, where additional stamps were affixed for further shipping.

Sarawak was made a British protectorate in 1888. After the Japanese occupation in 1941, stamps were overprinted by the Japanese forces. In 1943, two stamps of Japanese design were issued for use throughout Sarawak and North Borneo. After liberation in 1945, Sarawak came under British military administration, during which stamps were overprinted "BMA" in 1945 and used in the post offices of Brunei, Labuan, North Borneo and Sarawak.

A set of commemorative stamps was issued in 1946 to mark the 100th anniversary of the Brooke dynasty. In the same year, Sarawak was ceded to Britain as a Crown Colony. In 1947, stamps of Sarawak were overprinted with the British royal monogram. In 1950, a series of definitive stamps showing images of butterfly, pangolin, a map of the colony and other local themes were released.

Federated Malay States

In 1896, the Federated Malay States were formed. The first stamps of the Federated Malay States began in 1900, when the stamps of Negri-Sembilan and Perak were overprinted "Federated Malay States".

In 1901, a series of stamps of 12 denominations was issued, showing a jumping tiger or an elephants. Stamps of the same designs continued were issued until 1934 in a large number of varieties. During July 16, 1900, to January 1, 1902, due to a shortage of stamps, stamps of the Straits Settlements were also used. The stamps of the Federated Malay States ceased in 1935 and were replaced by stamps of the individual states.

Malayan Postal Union In 1935, the Malayan Postal Union was created, which included the Straits Settlements and the Federated Malay States. Only postage due stamps were issued with the inscription "Malayan postal union", which were used in the colony and the individual states. Similar postage due stamps were used in Malaysia until 1966 and in Singapore until 1968.

Japanese occupation

After the occupation of Malaya by the Japanese forces, in 1942, stamps of the Straits Settlements were handstamped "Post of the Military in Malaya" in Japanese. Later issues were overprinted "Dai Nippon 2602 Malaya" or "Japanese post" in Japanese inscriptions. The same overprints were also applied to stamps of the individual states.

In 1943, a series of 10 definitive stamps was released. In 1943 and 1944, two sets of commemorative stamps were issued. The texts on these stamps were only in Japanese and were in circulation in Malaya and Singapore.

In October 1943, as compensation for participation in the war on the side of Japan, Kedah, Kelantan, Perlis and Terengganu were transferred by the Japanese to Thailand. In 1943, six stamps were issued in these territories with the inscription "Thailand" in Thai and English and denominated in Malay currency. The image on these stamps are similar to those of the 1943 Thailand issue showing a monument.

British military administration In October 1945, stamps of the Straits Settlements were overprinted B.M.A. MALAYA by the British Military Administration. These were available throughout Malaya, and used till regular postage stamps were produced for each state after the formation of the Malaya Federation in 1948, the last being Kelantan in 1951.

Independence Malaya Federation

The Malaya Federation began issuing stamps on May 5, 1957, in preparation for independence from Great Britain in the same year. The four stamps of the first series were inscribed "Federation of Malaya" and depicted the coat of arms, and map of the state.

Only commemorative stamps were issued by the Federation. Definitive stamps were issued by the individual states of the Federation.

Malayan Federation stamps 1957 Malaya Federation issue Independence Day

1958 U.N. Economic Commission for Asia and Far East Conference, Kuala Lumpur 1st Anniversary of Independence 10th Anniversary of Declaration of Human Rights

1959 Inauguration of Parliament

1960 World Refugee Year Natural Rubber Research Conference

1961 Installation of Yang Di-Pertuan Agong (Tuanku Syed Putra) Colombo Plan Conference, Kuala Lumpur

1962 Malaria Eradication National Language Month Introduction of Free Primary Education

1963 Freedom from Hunger Cameron Highlands Hydro-Electric Scheme.

Malaysia

Malaysian definitive stamps