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THE
KINGS AND QUEENS COLLECTION
Postal Reform
During
the early period of the British colonial rule, letter writing was
the most efficient form of communication between residents in Singapore,
who were mostly immigrants, and their friends and families in their
homelands. Sending a letter was however an expensive affair and
the recipients were responsible for paying the postage fees.
Rowland
Hill, a schoolmaster, published a pamphlet entitled "Post
Office Reform: Its Importance and Practicability". The
adoption of his reform ideas introduced the Uniform Penny
Postage on 10 January 1840, reduced postage fee to one penny, postage
fees was pre-paid by the sender and an adhesive stamp was introduced
to pre-pay postage.
Penny
Black, The First Postage Stamp
Penny Black, the first Postage Stamp |
Penny
Black was introduced at the early reign of Queen Victoria (1837-1901).
The portrait of the Queen taken from a medal was used. The stamps
became valid for postage on 6 May 1840. A total of 68 million were
printed. These stamps were not perforated and had to be cut by
hand. A special postmark, popularly known as the Maltese cross,
was also introduced to cancel the stamps. To prevent the illegal
removal of the cancellation and re-use of the stamp, the colour
of the stamp was changed from black to red in January 1841. The
idea of the gummed label was so simple, and the design so attractive,
that it was copied by postal administrations all around the world.
First
Postage Stamp in Singapore
First Postage Stamp in Singapore |
Postage
stamp was introduced in Singapore in 1854. At that time, Singapore
was one of the three British Straits Settlements placed under the
charge of the British EIC. The postage stamps that were used in
Singapore were issued by EIC charged in Indian annas, also depicting
Queen Victoria's portrait. The same postage stamps were used by
all three Settlements. To differentiate the origin of letters,
postal cancellations with different numbers were used. Penang was
assigned with B/147, Malacca B/109, and Singapore B/172. "B"
represented "Bengal".
Crown
Colony Stamps
After
the Indian Mutiny in 1857, the EIC was abolished. Straits Settlements
continued to be ruled as part of the British India under the Indian
government but was eventually transferred to the Colonial Office
on 1 April 1867, forming the Crown Colony.
To
reflect the change in government, postage stamps that were in use
before the transfer were overprinted with a crown. The Indian denominations
on existing stamps were overprinted with Straits currency.
The
Collections
The
Kings & Queens Exhibition is organised to showcase the Museum's
Straits Settlements collection, comprising rare covers, stamps and
archival printing materials from mid 1800s to the end of the colonial
period.
A British
colony from 1819 to 1959, Singapore saw the reign of five British
monarchs - Queen Victoria (1837-1901), King Edward VII (1901-1910),
King George V (1910-1936), King George VI (1936-1952), and Queen
Elizabeth II (1952 - Present).
Exhibition
Highlights:
Queen
Victoria (1837-1901)
Postal
Reform and the world's first postage stamp, Penny Black, were introduced.
Her portrait was used on the first postage stamp, setting a precedent
for all stamps in UK to portray the reigning kings or queens.
Look
out for:
- 1856
restored cover with earliest known B172 postal cancellation (donated
by Spink Singapore Pte Ltd)
- Only
known cover bearing all four 1854 Indian annas value in Straits
Settlements
- Minted
stamps of 1867 stamps overprinted with 'crown' and 'Straits cents'
Earliest known cover with B172
cancellation |
Only known cover with four values of
East India Company stamps used in Singapore |
King
Edward VII (1901-1910)
With the ascension of the King, new postage stamps had to be designed
to mark the new reign. For the Straits Settlements, local themes
were introduced. King Edward VII was closely linked to the renown
Royal Philatelic Collection, the most comprehensive collection of
world postage stamps devoted to United Kingdom and the Commonwealth
developed since 1864 by members of the Royal Family.
Look
out for:
- Only
known Edwardian essays for the Straits Settlements prepared before
the issue of universal key plat set.
- Essays,
colour trials and die proofs of new designs with local themes
- Proofs
of high value stamps - $25, $100 and $500
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Specimen of King Edward VII stamp with
kris design |
King
George V (1910-1936)
Anti-German feeling led King George V to change the German-sounding
title of Saxe-Coburg & Gotha to the family name of Windsor.
House of Windsor remains the family name of the current Royal Family.
King George V was a keen and able philatelist, inheriting the Royal
Philatelic Collection from his father. He was a pioneer in collecting
stamp designs, proofs and trials.
Look
out for:
- Universal
Commonwealth King George V Head die proofs
- Die
proofs of Straits Settlements King George V stamps
- Errors
in die proofs
- Uncommon
usage with cancellation from Raffles Institution, Christmas and
Cocos Islands
Specimen of King George V
1
stamps
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Specimen of King George V
$25 high value stamp
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King
George VI (1936-1952)
When King George V passed away in 1936, he was succeeded by his
son Edward VIII. Edward VIII abdicated the throne after 325 days
to marry Mrs Simpson, a twice-divorced American woman. The throne
was succeeded by King George VI, who took a personal interest in
the Royal Philatelic Collection. He however did not share his father
George V’s specialised knowledge.
Look
out for:
-
King Edward VIII's essay
- Die
proofs of King George VI stamps
- Usage
of high value postage stamps
Plate block of
King George VI $5 stamp |
King George VI
perforated specimens from Die I |
Queen
Elizabeth II (1952 - Present)
Queen Elizabeth II's reign started during a period of great social
changes. After World War II, the British colonies saw the rise
in nationalism and the struggle for independence. Queen Elizabeth
II was the last monarch to be depicted on Singapore stamps. The
1959 New Constitution Stamps of Singapore, commemorating self-government,
depicted the monarch's portrait for the last time.
Look
out for:
- Queen
Elizabeth II's 'last Singapore stamps'
- Queen
Elizabeth II's coronation (Mr Henry Ong's collection)
- Contemporary
collection on Queen Elizabeth II's Golden Jubilee and Golden Wedding
Anniversary (donated by Mr Colin Mortimer)
MONARCHS,
SULTANS & RAJAS IN ASIA
Mr
Richard Hale's Collection
Four
frames of stamps and philatelic materials from countries, colonies
and states in the region during the 19th to 20th
century.
Look
out for:
- Colonial
monarchs from Netherlands, France, Great Britain, Portugal and
Spain
- Emperors
from the East
- Local
sultans from the Malay states and Rajas from Sarawak
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