The stamp issues during the King Edward VII and King George period, known as the "middle reign" is significant for the Straits Settlement, of which Singapore was then a component part, for a number of reasons.
Firstly, it boasts of issuing the rarest Straits Settlement stamp today - the KEVII $500 denomination.
 Secondly, a number of significant events took place which was recorded in philately. Labuan was transferred to the Straits Settlement on 1st January 1907 and a new series of Labuan stamps was issued with the overprint "Straits Settlement" over the original Labuan stamps, Labuan ceased to be a constituent part of the Straits Settlement after the Second World War and in 1946, it became a part of the Colony of North Borneo. Between 1909 and 1912, and again between 1919 and 1920, Straits Settlement stamps were in use in the Northern Malayan States of Perlis, Kedah, and Trengganu, as a result of a temporary shortage of several low value stamps of these States.
The year 1917 saw the issue of the 1st commemorative stamps to be issued in the Straits Settlement. It was immediately after the Second World War, and as part of the Red Cross effort to secure funds for the war victims, stocks of the existing 3 cents and 4 cents values, received an additional "RED CROSS - 2c" overprint over these stamps. This issue was sold and used only over a brief period. Commercial mail covers with these stamps affixed are rarely found today.
In 1922, a trade exposition known as the "Malaya-Borneo Exhibition" was staged between the 31st March and 17th April on a newly reclaimed land at Telok Ayer. The exhibition was organised by the Chinese Chamber of Commerce with the participation of the Straits Settlements, Kedah, Kelantan, Trengganu, North Borneo, and Brunei, was opened by HRH The Prince of Wales. A set of KGV stamps with the values from 1 cent to $5 was issued with the overprint "Malaya-Borneo exhibition". The participating states also issued their own stamps with this overprint. Brunei and North Borneo have in addition the year 1922 overprinted on the issued stamps.
The KEVII/KGV period also saw the advent of Air Mail Service between Singapore and the surrounding region. The first recorded aeroplane flight to call at Singapore was in December 1919. In May 1920, Mr. C.F. Wearne purchased a 'lighthawk' aircraft and carried the first mail service between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. Letters aboard this special flight were inscribed "First Aerial Mail". In 1926, aircraft of the Air Survey Company conducting aerial surveys in Sarawak and Borneo carried mail from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur. In 1933, the Imperial Airways operated the first regular service between Singapore and London.
The Wearne Bros. Ltd air service was inaugurated on the 28th June 1937. This air service led to the formation of the Malayan Airways after the war in 1947, the forerunner of the Malaysia-Singapore Airlines today (note: this airline later split to become Malaysia Airlines and Singapore Airlines). The early airmail flight covers prior to 1937 are relatively scarce today.
*Singpex 71 National Stamp Exhibition was the third stamp exhibition, the first was held in 1969, and a joint effort by the Postal Services Department, the Singapore Stamp Club and the Singapore Philatelic Society. |
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