During Brooke's administration period, Sarawak had their own stamps, coins and evolved as one of the independent kingdom. For a long time, stamps were the visual representative or 'the little ambassador' to spread the information of Sarawak. And of course, every stamp has their own stories. I don't have much, so I keep them as my favourite.
Arts and Buildings
Istana, Sarawak
Istana was the old name of Astana, the official residence for Brooke for three generations. Built in 1870, Istana was the historical and prominence building at Sarawak.
Date of issue: 20-12-1986
Denomination: $1
Art type: Architecture
Paper: SPM watermarked, phosphor coated
Printing process: Lithography
Designer: Peter Khang Howe Ket
Tugu Majlis Negeri Sarawak
Sarawak's City Council Monument was built in 1967 and it becomes of the administrative symbol in Sarawak.
Year of issue: 2003
Art type: Architecture
Denomination: 30 cent
Traditional Baby Carry
Traditional baby carry or in Malay, 'penggendong bayi tradisional' was well known at Sarawak. With unique tribal design, usually in Kayan's traditional motives, it becomes one of the favourite item for foreign tourists.
Year of issue: 2003
Art type: Traditional handcraft
Denomination: 30 cent
Kayan Dancing
The Kayan is the indigenous tribe from the island of Borneo, mostly lived in Sarawak and categorized as Dayak people of Borneo. Kayans are similar to their neighbour, Kenyah and collectively known as Orang Ulu.
Year of issue: 1955
Art type: Traditional dance
Denomination: 2 cent
Associate symbol: Queen Elizabeth II's reign
Plants and Flowers
One of the most attractive orchid flower at Lower Perak, northern Selangor and the large extent of Sarawak. It has a short inflorescence and only one or two flower open at a time.
Date of issue: 15-11-1965
Flower type: Anggerik Anak Bulan (Phalaenopsis Violacea)-Definitive
Denomination: 20 cents
The most handsome orchid at Langkawi Kedah, northern Perak, Kelantan and Terengganu. It has a beautiful inflorescence with small flowers clustered together.
Date of issue: 15-11-1965
Flower type: Anggerik Lilin/Anggerik Ekor Tupai (Rhyncostylis Retusa)-Definitive
Denomination: 15 cent
Also known as 'Scorpion' orchid, it has a slight fragrance and a long climbing plant type. It can be found at Perak, Pahang, Sabah and Sarawak.
Date of issue: 15-11-1965
Flower type: Anggerik Kesturi (Arachnis Flos-Aeris)-Definitive
Denomination:10 cent
The common terrestrial orchid throughout Malaysia. Many hybrids have been raised from this species.
Date of issue: 15-11-1965
Flower type: Anggerik Buluh Hutan (Spathoglottis Plicata)- Definitive
Denomination: 6 cent
The sea-type orchid, it can be found on limestone rocks by the sea. Widely known at Langkawi and northern Perlis.
Date of issue: 15-11-1965
Flower type: Anggerik Kasut (Paphiopedilum Niveum)-Definitive
Denomination: 5 cent
[There were two more denominations for this series- 2 cent and 1 cent. Not in my collection]
Bunga raya or hibiscus is the national flower of Malaysia, mostly represented in red colour. Many hybrids have been raised with different petals and colours.
Flower type: Bunga Raya (Hibiscus Rosa Sinensis)
Denomination: 15 cent
Animals and Insects
This type of butterfly has 27 different species. This species can be found in Asia and Australasia. It belongs to the Pieridae family, which is under the Yellows and Whites butterflies.
Year of issue: 1971
Insect type: The Great Orange Tip butterfly (Hebomoia Glaucippe Aturia)
Denomination: 10 cent
This type of butterly is widely known of its attractive blue colour on wings. It has a lot of different species under the same family type. It has a a different name according to its species; Eyed Pansy for Junonia Orithya at South Africa, or known as Blue Argus in Australia.
Year of issue: 1977
Insect type: The Blue Pansy butterfly (Precis Orithya Wallacei)
Denomination: 15 cent
A beautiful species, the female is basically bigger than male and it has a different base of colours. It can be found throughout Malaysia and also Thailand.
Year of issue:1971
Insect type: The Clipper butterfly (Parthenos Sylvia Lilacinus)
Denomination: 5 cent
Hornbill bird, or known in Malay as 'burung kenyalang' is one of the Sarawak symbol. It becomes the other name for Sarawak as 'The Land of Hornbills' and also the chief of all birds based on the Ibanic group's thought.
Year of issue: 1955
Animal type: Sarawak Hornbill (Buceros Rhinoceros)
Denomination: 6 cent
Associate symbol: Queen Elizabeth II's reign
The sea turtle, also known as green turtles are the endangered species that inhabit all of the world's ocean, except the Arctic. Most of it can be identified by the scales on their shells.
Year of issue: 1955
Animal type: Sea Turtle (Chelonia Mydas)
Denomination: 15 cent
Associate symbol: Queen Elizabeth II's reign
Orang Utan's name was derived from Malay's word which means, 'people who lived in the jungle'. The orangutans are the two exclusive Asian species, currently found in only the rainforests of Borneo (Sabah, Sarawak and Kalimantan Barat) and Sumatera.
Year of issue: 1955
Animal type: Orang Utan (Pongo Pygmaeus)
Denomination: 2 cent
Associate symbol: Queen Elizabeth II's reign
Others
Logging was an important activity in Sarawak to support the administration and it is still one of the biggest contributor in Sarawak's economy. Yet, this activity is under the authority's control in order to protect the forest from the illegal activities.
Year of issue: 1955
Activity type: Logging
Denomination: 1 cent
Associate symbol: Queen Elizabeth II's reign
[More foreign stamps to come. Ready for some exchange.]
@themagi2013
