1853 (April 17): Entire letter written from 'Fern Hill', Penang endorsed 'Overland via Southampton' to Edinburgh via Suez and Alexandria, struck with fine strike of rare framed BERAING handstamp (40 x 12 mm.) in black of Penang. Charged '1s.' due in manuscript upon receipt with London transit cds (June 4) in red on reverse, the letter (with full transcript attached) with fascinating content: "Singapore is a very fine place which has collected natives of every Eastern country...a great many streets are inhabited by Chinese...they make the best servants, but unfortunately, almost without exception, they are connected with secret societies, whose orders they dare not disobey, and frequently after ten or fifteen years service in one family, one morning they are not to be found and the Plate & Money is also missing. And to this murder is added and all at the order of the secret societies..". A fine and scarce entire.rnProvenance: Collection Hammond Giles. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image)

Johore 1904: $ 5 green & orange and $ 10 green & black, fine unused examples, each marginal from base of sheet with Plate 1 in margin, fresh and fine, unmounted og. Gi = £ 210+. (Image 1) (Image)