Malaya 1957-64 Definitives in Detail

Introduced 5 May 1957, the four definitives of the Malayan Federation were reprinted several times over an eight year period. The last being 21 July 1964. Numerous shades, perf types and plates exist as a result. Welcome to the definitive guide to the definitives...

Details
Designed and printed recess (30c) or a mix of litho and recess (6c to 25c) by De La Rue with multiple St Edward’s crown and block CA watermark, perf 13 x 13 or 13 x 12½ (first printing of 30c).

The frames of the 6c and 25c are printed litho while their centres are printed recess. Conversely, the frame of the 12c is printed recess while the centre is printed litho.

The first printing of the 30c is perf 13 x 12½. Subsequent printings are perf 13 x 13.

The 6c to 25c were printed in sheets of 150 (10 x 5 x 3 panes) and issued in panes of 50. The 30c was printed in sheets of 100 (5 x 10 x 2 panes) and issued in panes of 50. 

Series of four values
6c Tapping Rubber (1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12)
12c Federation Arms (1, 2, 5)
25c Tin Dredge (1, 4, 5, 7, 11)
30c Federation Map (1, 5, 7, 9)

Printings
(1) 5 May 1957
(2) 9 December 1958
(3) 15 April 1959
(4) 17 February 1960
(5) 20 June 1961
(6) 23 January 1962
(7) 10 July 1962
(8) 12 February 1963
(9) 15 July 1963
(10) 27 August 1963
(11) 10 September 1963
(12) 21 July 1964

6c Tapping Rubber
The frame of the design is printed litho in three colours, originally represented by the first three plate numbers, while the centre is printed recess (the rightmost plate number). Unusually, the order of the plates was changed several times resulting in distinct shades.

The 6c was printed in sheets of 150 (10 x 5 x 3 panes) and issued in panes of 50.

All the following plates would have existed, but many have not been recorded. It's also possible other combinations might have existed. For instance, printings using recess plate 3 are conspicuously absent. The dates relate to the release by the Crown Agents in London. However, not all printings were released in London (and not all printings were sent to Malaya) meaning there are some very scarce plate blocks.

• 1957 (5 May). 6c Tapping Rubber plate 1A–1A–1A–1A block, type 1 sequence

Type 1 colour sequence
grey-blue (litho)–yellow (litho)–red (litho)–deep blue (recess)

5 May 1957
1A–1A–1A–1A
1B–1B–1B–1B
1C–1C–1C–1C

1A–1A–1A–2A
1B–1B–1B–2B
1C–1C–1C–2C

2A–2A–2A–4A
2B–2B–2B–4B
2C–2C–2C–4C

15 April 1959
3A–2A–2A–4A
3B–2B–2B–4B
3C–2C–2C–4C

• 1960 (17 February). 6c Tapping Rubber plate 4B–3B–3B–5B block, type 2 sequence

Type 2 colour sequence
grey-blue (litho)–red (litho)–yellow (litho)–deep blue (recess)

17 February 1960
4A–3A–3A–5A
4B–3B–3B–5B
4C–3C–3C–5C

20 June 1961
5A–4A–4A–5A
5B–4B–4B–5B
5C–4C–4C–5C

6A–5A–5A–5A
6B–5B–5B–5B
6C–5C–5C–5C

5A–4A–4A–6A
5B–4B–4B–6B
5C–4C–4C–6C

23 January 1962
6A–5A–5A–6A
6B–5B–5B–6B
6C–5C–5C–6C

7A–6A–6A–6A
7B–6B–6B–6B
7C–6C–6C–6C

12 February 1963
7A–7A–6A–6A
7B–7B–6B–6B
7C–7C–6C–6C

7A–8A–6A–6A
7B–8B–6B–6B
7C–8C–6C–6C

7A–9A–6A–6A
7B–9B–6B–6B
7C–9C–6C–6C

27 August 1963
8A–9A–6A–6A
8B–9B–6B–6B
8C–9C–6C–6C

21 July 1964
8A–9A–6A–5A
8B–9B–6B–5B
8C–9C–6C–5C

• 1964 (December). 6c Tapping Rubber plate 5C–6C–9C–10C block, type 3 sequence

Type 3 colour sequence
deep blue (recess)–yellow (litho)–red (litho)–grey-blue (litho)

14 February 1964
5A–6A–9A–8A
5B–6B–9B–8B
5C–6C–9C–8C

December 1964
5A–6A–9A–10A
5B–6B–9B–10B
5C–6C–9C–10C

6c Tapping Rubber Shades
Shades have been attributed to specific dated printings. However, applying shades to individual plate printings is somewhat subjective. Shades differ over time and broadly occur when there's a change in colour sequence:

deep blue–red–yellow–grey-blue
5 May 1957
15 April 1959
17 February 1960

indigo–red–yellow–grey-blue
20 June 1961
23 January 1962

indigo–red–yellow–slate-blue
12 February 1963
27 August 1963
21 July 1964

6c Tapping Rubber Varieties
Few varieties are recorded for the definitives and all the major ones occur on the 6c. The value exists missing yellow which results in the loss of colour from the star and crescent of the flag. Examples are elusive and the affected plate printings haven't been recorded.

Examples with shifts of yellow also exist.

Even more elusive are examples with inverted watermark. These emanate from a sheet used to send wedding invitations. The scant survivors only exist used.

Finally, a few examples are known with a blue offset of the central vignette on the gummed side. The variety would have occurred when a sheet was placed on top of another when the ink hadn't completely dried.

• 6c Tapping Rubber missing yellow from the star and crescent of the flag• 6c Tapping Rubber with inverted watermark

• 6c Tapping Rubber with blue offset on gummed side

12c Federation Arms
The 12c was printed in sheets of 150 (10 x 5 x 3 panes) and issued in panes of 50. The frame is printed recess in one colour (the first plate number) while the centre is printed litho in four colours (remaining plate numbers).

• 1957 (5 May). 12c Federation Arms plate 1C–1C–1C–1C–1C block

5 May 1957
red (recess)–blue (litho)–yellow (litho)–scarlet (litho)–black (litho)
1A–1A–1A–1A–1A
1B–1B–1B–1B–1B
1C–1C–1C–1C–1C

15 April 1959
red (recess)–yellow (litho)–blue (litho)–red (litho)–black (litho)
1A–2A–2A–2A–2A
1B–2B–2B–2B–2B
1C–2C–2C–2C–2C

25c Tin Dredge
The 25c was printed in sheets of 150 (10 x 5 x 3 panes) and issued in panes of 50. The frame of the design is printed litho in three colours, represented by the first three plate numbers, while the centre is printed recess (the rightmost plate number).

• 1957 (5 May). 25c Tin Dredger plate 1C–1C–1C–1C block

5 May 1957
blue (litho)–yellow (litho)–red (litho)–maroon (recess)
1A–1A–1A–1A
1B–1B–1B–1B
1C–1C–1C–1C

20 June 1961
2A–2A–2A–2A
2B–2B–2B–2B
2C–2C–2C–2C

10 July 1962
3A–3A–3A–2A
3B–3B–3B–2B
3C–3C–3C–2C

10 September 1963
4A–4A–4A–2A
4B–4B–4B–2B
4C–4C–4C–2C

30c Federation Map
The 30c was printed recess using two colours in sheets of 100 (5 x 10 x 2 panes) and issued in panes of 50. Early printings are perf 13 x 12½ and later ones are perf 13 x 13. 

• 1957 (5 May). 30c Map plate 1B–1B block, perf 13 x 12½

• 1962 (10 July). 30c Map plate 2A–2A block, perf 13 x 13

Perf 13 x 12½

5 May 1957
lake–orange-red
1A–1A
1B–1B

Perf 13 x 13

20 June 1961
deep lake–orange-red
1A–1A
1B–1B

10 July 1962
lake–orange-red
2A–2A
2B–2B

 

Explore 1957-64 Malaya Definitives