1942 2c, 4c, 6c, 8c Crest of the Colony Postage Due Issues Overprinted with 3 Kanji Characters, each in a full sheet of 50, with complete selvedge, with fresh colour, well centered and never hinged. The gum and parts of the selvedge has moderate browning due to original climate and tissue protection. In online searches we found only one group of four singles offered at AUD$250. This lot includes the original O.H.M.S. envelope in which these were stored for almost 80 years. Each of the four sheets here are very likely unique.

The two lots offered here (see also lot #593) were delivered to North Borneo during the Japanese Occupation and have stayed with one family since that time. The three overprint characters literally translate as "sealed paper" and are most often described as custom seals. The comprehensive 186 page "Dai Nippon in South East Asia" lists all 5 of the North Borneo postage dues as receiving the Kanji overprints, but only 6 denominations of the Sarawak set, with the highest value being the 20c. Listed in Barefoot as a heading only, with the note "used to be listed as revenues, these are now known to have been used only as postal seals". See scans online of the fronts and backs of each sheet to show the fresh, well centered stamps, but also the browning of the gum mentioned in our description. (Image)

Est. $ 5,000

1916 First Semi-Postal Group, with B1 (x2), B2, B2a, B3, B4, B5 (x2), B6, B7, B8 (x2) and B10, all mint hinged, with fresh colours and very fine. (Image)

Scott $ 528