Kota Kinabalu: During the British North Borneo Chartered Company era, North Borneo stamps served not only as postal tools but also as a key source of government revenue.
Stamps were one of the government’s main revenue sources during the era, as they were required for all postal and official services, according to Borneo History Association founder and President Dr Shari Jeffri.
He said revenue stamps were required for a range of official documents, including firearms licences, livestock licences, permits to collect bird’s nests and various other administrative matters.
“Money was not the only economic instrument. Stamps also generated government revenue because people had to buy them to send letters, as well as for use on various official documents and licences.
“Stamps were used for more than just postal services. They were also affixed to official documents and licences as proof that taxes or government fees had been paid,” he said.
He said the British North Borneo Chartered Company administration commissioned prominent British engravers, including J H C Harrison, to improve the value and prestige of stamps issued in the territory.
The artistic touch of these leading engravers created not only visually appealing designs but also helped establish North Borneo stamps as prized philatelic items among collectors around the world.
The 1883 stamp issue, now part of his personal collection, is considered a highly valuable asset, said Shari, who is also Information and Publicity Bureau chief of the Malaysian Historical Society Sabah Chapter.
According to him, centuries-old North Borneo stamps are highly valued by philatelists, with prices ranging from hundreds to thousands of ringgit depending on their rarity and unique features.
The value of these stamps is largely determined by factors such as their year of issue, printing mistakes and how difficult they are to acquire, he said.
He said he was concerned that valuable North Borneo stamps are becoming harder to obtain locally because international collectors have already bought many.
He said the limited availability of reference books on North Borneo stamps in Sabah poses challenges for researchers, students, and antique dealers in accurately assessing their value and sharing knowledge with the younger generation.
“The absence of local reference sources has hindered efforts to build a local auction industry and licensed dealer network, leaving the philatelic market dominated by collectors and traders from abroad,” he said.
He suggested setting up a specialised exhibition centre in Sabah featuring North Borneo stamp collections to draw international visitors and stamp collectors worldwide.
