Independent Malaya

Here are the interesting and special FDCs since Independence (Merdeka) and before the formation of Malaysia.

31 August 1957: Merdeka (Independence)

This is my pride in my collection, a Merdeka FDC signed by Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj.

This FDC was cancelled in Ipoh and sent via normal mail.

This is the second alternate cover (private cover) also cancelled in Ipoh and sent via normal mail.

Here is the 3rd alternate cover cancelled in Penang and sent via normal mail. There are many alternate covers (commonly called private covers) made by enterprising people who then sell them at the entrance to the post office or at the post office counters (if they have good connections).

This FDC was cancelled in Kuala Lumpur and sent via normal mail.

This FDC was cancelled in Seremban and sent via normal mail.

This FDC was cancelled in Malacca and sent via normal mail. Malacca is special as it is the place where the proclamation of independence was held.

This FDC was machine cancelled in Johore Bahru and sent via normal mail.

This is an interesting private cover with the word “Merdeka” misspelt as “Maderka”. It is quite a sought after cover. The cover was cancelled in Pontian and sent via normal mail.

This FDC was cancelled in Kota Bharu and sent via normal mail.

This FDC was cancelled in Kuala Trengganu and sent via normal mail.

There was also a special flight cover by Pan American World Airways FDC cancelled in Johor Bahru and sent to various locations (usually to the United States).

The flight FDC includes a set of brochures.

These are the cancellations from all the Malayan state capitals. Singapore was still able to use Malaya’s stamp.

05 March 1958: ECAFE Conference

This is a rare cancellation from the ECAFE Conference venue (Kuala Lumpur) and sent via normal mail.

This FDC was cancelled in Singapore and sent via normal mail.

31 August 1958: First Anniversary of Independence

These FDCs were cancelled in Singapore and sent via normal mail.

10 December 1958: 10th Anniversary of Declaration of Human Rights

This FDC was cancelled in Singapore and sent via normal mail.

20 February 1959: Installation of HH the Sultan of Kedah

This FDC was cancelled in Alor Star and sent via normal mail.

This FDC was cancelled in Singapore and sent via normal mail.

01 July 1959: Kedah Definitive

This cover was cancelled in Singapore and sent via registered post.

12 September 1959: Inauguration of Parliament

This FDC was cancelled in Singapore. The envelope is actually a re-issued envelope and is very hard to come across. The re-issued envelope together with the Singapore cancellation makes the FDC a very rare piece.

Here is the comparison between the original envelope and the re-issued envelope. The original envelope has the date of the inauguration of the Parliament on 16 September 1959 (pretty ironic considering that exactly 4 years from that date, Malaysia will be formed!) blacked out by a black bar. The blacked out envelopes are pretty common.

This is a rare re-issued envelope cancelled in Kuala Lumpur. Most of the re-issued envelopes are found in Singapore and hardly any in Malaya.

10 February 1960: Coronation of HH the Sultan of Johore

This FDC was cancelled in Johore Bahru and sent via normal mail.

This FDC is an interesting piece. It is a private cover made for Merdeka and subsequently reprinted for the One Year Anniversary of Merdeka before ending up being “overprinted” with Inauguration of Parliament. The person who bought the envelope then used it for the Coronation issue! This FDC was cancelled in Singapore and sent via normal mail.

This FDC was cancelled in Singapore and sent via normal mail.

15 March 1960: Penang Definitive

This cover was cancelled in Penang and sent via registered post.

10 June 1960: Johore Definitive

This FDC was cancelled in Johore Bahru and sent via normal mail.

19 September 1960: 15th Meeting of the International Rubber Study Group

This FDC was cancelled in Kuala Lumpur and sent via normal mail.

This is the very rare cover cancelled with the IRSG cancellation and sent via air mail! IRSG stands for International Rubber Study Group.

This FDC was cancelled in Langkap during the opening of the Langkap Post Office. The cover was sent via registered post.

This is another cover cancelled in Singapore as registered post.

07 October 1960: Johore Definitive

This FDC was cancelled in Singapore and sent via normal mail.

04 January 1961: Coronation of the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong

This FDC was cancelled in Singapore and sent via normal mail.

17 April 1961: Coronation of DYMM Yang Di-Pertuan Besar Negeri Sembilan

This FDC was cancelled in Seremban and sent via normal mail.

This cover was cancelled in Singapore and sent via air mail.

28 June 1961: Coronation of DYMM the Sultan of Selangor

This FDC was cancelled in Kuala Lumpur with an additional cachet from the South East Asia Commonwealth Telecommunications Cable Conference sent via normal mail.

This FDC was cancelled in Singapore and sent via registered post.

17 July 1961: Coronation of HH the Sultan of Kelantan

This FDC was cancelled in Kota Bharu and sent via normal mail.

This FDC was cancelled in Singapore and sent via registered post.

30 October 1961: 13th Meeting Colombo Plan Consultative Meeting

This FDC was cancelled with the Colombo Plan Conference KL cancellation and sent via normal mail. The image of this rare cover is provided by Austin Foo.

This FDC cancelled in Singapore and sent via normal mail.

01 March 1962: Definitive

This FDC was cancelled in Kuala Lumpur and sent via registered post.

This FDC was cancelled in Kota Bharu and sent via registered post.

These FDCs were cancelled in Singapore and sent via registered post.

07 April 1962: World Malaria Eradication Campaign

This FDC was cancelled in Singapore.

21 July 1962: National Language Month

This FDC was cancelled in Singapore and sent via normal mail.

01 October 1962:  Free Primary Education

This FDC was cancelled in Singapore and sent via registered post.

21 March 1963: Freedom from Hunger

This FDC was cancelled in Singapore and sent via air mail.

26 June 1963: Cameron Highlands Hydroelectric Scheme

This FDC was cancelled in Tanah Rata and sent via registered post. The image of this rare cover is provided by KH Chung.

This FDC was cancelled in Ringletand sent via air mail. There is an insert with the message “With friendly greetings on the inauguration of the Cameron Highlands Hydro Power Plant on 26 June 1963. Joint Venture Cameron Highlands – Hochtief AG & Philipp Holzmann AG”. This is a historical and rare cover. The image is provided by Richard Cheong.

There are also FDCs issued by Lembaga Letrik Pusat (Central Electricity Board). These FDCs will have the words printed on the flap. The cancellation is Kuala Lumpur.

This FDC was cancelled in Singapore and sent via normal mail.