Mount Kinabalu in stamps of North Borneo

Mount Kinabalu is the highest peak in Borneo at 4,095 meters featuring bare rock plateaux. Adding to the beauty and peculiarity of Mount Kinabalu is its isolation that results in its unique own - and the plethora of species unique to the mountain. 

Even in the early issues of North Borneo stamps, what has been consistently depicted was Mount Kinabalu. The shift from Blades, East and Blades, London to Waterlow & Sons Ltd ushered a complete change in the print style as well. From a focused portrayal of North Borneo's Coat of Arms and Arms of the Company by the former, to bi-color engravings featuring what the latter would assume intricate, and artistic. 


North Borneo 1894 ISC68 18 cents Black & Deep Green


North Borneo 1897 ISC95 18 cents Black & Green, Inscript. 'POSTAGE & REVENUE'


North Borneo 1901 ISC120 18 cents Black & Green, ovpt 'BRITISH PROTECTORATE.'  in red. 


North Borneo 1902 ISC D42 18 cents Black & Green, ovpt 'POSTAGE DUE' horizontally in black on ISC120.


North Borneo 1931 ISC262 12 cents Black & Ultramarine


North Borneo 1945 ISC295 50 cents Chocolate & Violet, ovpt 'BMA'


North Borneo 1950 ISC320 1 cent Red-Brown 


North Borneo 1954 ISC336 1 cent Red-Brown


North Borneo 1956 ISC353 35 cents Black & Bluish-Green


North Borneo 1961 ISC364 35 cents Slate-Blue & Bright Purple


Similar designs, ISC68 and ISC92 were used again for the Labuan overprints, and one (ISC364) were overprinted 'SABAH' in Sabah's early post-independence issue. 

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