Straits Settlements Overprints

In the Straits Settlements, overprints were used on postage stamps for postage—not only as a way to pay an excise tax.

According to COSGB member Peter Spencer, firms used perfins or overprints to prevent pilferage of stamps from within the firm; in countries where the stamp was liable to be removed from the envelope after posting but before canceling, overprints were used to tie the stamp to the envelope.

The commercial overprints that follow are just some of the types used in the Straits Settlements. If you know of others, please email us.

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A. L. Johnston, Singapore

This A. L. Johnston overprint is wider than the stamp, suggesting that it is a handstamp.

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Boustead & Co.

With offices throughout the Malay penninsula, Boustead & Co. were the largest user of perfins and prolific users of commercial overprints.

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Charter Bank of India, Australia, & China, Singapore

The C. B. of I. A. & C. opened in Singapore on 19/2/1859.

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C. M. B.

This overprint user is unknown.

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Guthrie & Co., Singapore

Alexander Guthrie went to Singapore in 1820 and opened for business as a general merchant. The company used perfins from about 1900 to 1920.

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Great Eastern Life Assurance Co., Singapore

Tentative identification.

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Hong Kong Banking Corp., Penang

Tentative identification.

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John Little & Co., Singapore

These overprints, which appear to read JN LITTLE, appear on JL&Co/+ perfins. This perfin pattern was used by this company from about 1890 to 1930.

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MacLaine Family, Singapore

The overprint reads, in part, "Forward MacLaine Family, Singapore." This may not be a commercial overprint in the usual sense.

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Nederlandsche Handel-Matschappij, Singapore

This company opened a branch in Singapore in 1859. They used perfins from about 1906 to 1934.

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Rautenberg, Schmidt & Co., Singapore

This company was established on 21/4/1849 and may have been the first company in Malaya to use perfins. The company ceased operations at the beginning of World War One.

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Sandilands, Buttery & Co., Singapore

This company was established in 1859 in Penang as Lorraine, Sandilands after the first British trader there. Lorraine retired in 1862, causing the company name to change to Sandilands & Co. When Mr Buttery joined in 1863, the name changed again to Sandilands, Buttery & Co.

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