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From Lurah Bilut, FELDA's first

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Lurah Bilut is a small settlement in Bentong, Pahang that is better known as the Federal Land Development Authority (FELDA)'s brainchild. FELDA was first established in 1956 by the Malayan government to address rural poverty, develop unused land, and provide land ownership and employment opportunities for rural communities. Its early focus was on land settlement schemes, particularly for the cultivation of rubber and later oil palm. Lurah Bilut is a particularly important place in Malaysian rural-development history because it was the first FELDA land-development scheme in the country. Before FELDA, the area was essentially a forested valley in the Titiwangsa Range, associated with the Sungai Bilut area and the Klau Forest Reserve. The first settlers comprised of 616 pioneers brought in from parts of Malaya essentially transformed a forested land into a functioning agricultural settlement. A snap from FELDA's profile booklet Lurah Bilut was effectively the prototype for w...
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1961 North Borneo One Cent Varieties

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Not reported in the ISC catalogue but there are three known (so far, hopefully there's more) varieties in the 1961 definitive series. The 1 cent stamp that features the Sambar stag, locally known as 'Payau' has a dot flaw at position R3/3 described as a dot flaw in the letter 'R' of BORNEO. Dot flaw on R of BORNEO Enlarged scan of the dot flaw Another denomination with an interesting variation is the 10c stamp with a line break seen next to Mindanao. This, however, I am unsure whether it is a constant flaw seen.  Line break next to Mindanao
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Flaws in a field of 100 Sampans

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Irrespective of country or theme, everything looks better in a full sheet (also known as a full pane). Though I do not collect Singapore, the 1955 issue is an exception - the design alone just looks amazing when arranged as a complete set. In a field of 100 sampans (2 sampans per stamp, that is), the first thought is always: "look for plate flaws". This has already been studied in specialized groups; there are already records including respective positions. This is just an extension of the study, with individual flaws enlarged of plate 1B. I could not find a full pane of 1A, for now.  I take a deep interest in finding plate flaws. It is the sense of achievement that gives great joy in collecting. The inconsistency in printing provides another excuse to detail every corner of a stamp, which I personally think is many times better than a world of perfection. Without the imperfections, half of the adventure would not even exist. R2/2 Dot under A of MALAYA R3/4 'Sea-snake...
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Malaya BMA $5 - Gash at eyebrow plate flaw

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While arranging my Malaya BMA album, it occurred to me to look for the dot on neckline plate flaw since I have a few. To my surprise, I did not find any of the flaw that I am looking for but discovered that I did have one with the gash at eyebrow plate flaw on this block of $5 stamp. Try looking for the gash at eyebrow Initially, I bought this block for the clear security marking strike, Netherlands Trading Society/ Penang. Turns out I found something even better!  This is the enlarged scan showing the gash at eyebrow This plate flaw is located at position R5/1. With this find, I better go back to flipping the album once more!
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Kudat postal cover

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I always refuse to believe that there will not be a single Sabah cover in a box full of Johor and Perak covers (this dealer had 3 boxes of them; I am very sure each box contains at least 1,000 covers). Turns out, I was right! There is one, though torn at the lower left corner, it is still a happy find.  After almost 2 years of not going to Amcorp Mall, I was greeted with a few good finds. Perhaps this is also the Devil's temptation luring me to return again the subsequent week.  This is a fairly normal cover with a 75c stamp that accurately pays for both the 20g mail + registered post charges. Two KUDAT/ SABAH single-ring circular datestamps (c.d.s); one defaces the 75c stamp and the other ties the KUDAT registered label.  The back of the cover shows three c.d.s.: postal counter KUDAT/SABAH dated 19 Feb 1975, transit KOTA KINABALU/SABAH dated 20 Feb 1975, and the arrival PENANG/R4 dated 21 Feb 1975. One could only dream of such efficiency today. It's always a pleasant fin...
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Sabah Registered Mail with missing A in KINAB_LU cds

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Here's a good find that has been sitting in the bought-but-not-sorted pile. A letter franked with a block of six 20c stamp tied with LAHAD DATU/SABAH single ring c.d.s. dated 20NOV87 sent to Kuala Lumpur. There is a faint rectangular box cancel 'LAHAD DATU' in violet in the bottom of the letter. Although this was a commercial registered mail, you have got to appreciate the clear cancel strike. Rates: 20c for surface mail within 20g + $1.00 for registration fee. It gets interesting on the back of envelope - multiple transit postal markings.  LAHAD DATU/ SABAH K2 - 20NOV87 KOTA KINABALU/ SABAH * - 22 NO 87 KUALA LUMPUR - 23 NOV 87 KEPONG/ KUALA LUMPUR - 24 NOV 87 If examined closely, you will notice that KINABALU is missing the letter 'A'. What could have caused the missing alphabet?
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Registered cover - Keningau

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A recent acquisition of a registered mail sent from Keningau, Sabah.  I always loved registered handstamps - that is one more element that 'decorates' a cover. The cover was uprated with additional $1.50 for the purpose of express mail. On the cover, the red express mail label was conveniently placed underneath the postage stamps and were tied altogether with a KENINGAU/SABAH circular datestamp.  On the back of the cover, a transit datestamp of KOTA KINABALU/ SABAH, then PUSAT POSLAJU/W.P., and finally the arrival datestamp at Kuala Lumpur.  I have recently bought covers in bulk but have not gone through them in detail. I hope to update again cover by cover.  Thanks again for dropping by!
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