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Auction: 24017 - Stamps and Covers of British Asia
Lot: 336

(x) Federated Malay States
1918 MCA, prepared for use but not issued "4/cents" on 3c. scarlet, fine unused with large part slightly browned original gum. Extremely rare. Cat. £5,500. Photo

Note: This surcharge was produced to remedy a shortage when the inland letter rate was raised to 4c. on 1st January 1918. 5 million stamps were overprinted. The 3c. was used as there were insufficient quantities of the higher value stamp. In April 1918 nine million 4c. stamps were printed and the receipt of these in Malaya in, May or June, obviated the need for the surcharged stamps. The five million unwanted surcharged stamps were packed in weighted boxes and sunk in the sea. Somehow a few survived and this stamp is one very few known examples.

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Sold for
£1,800

Starting price
£1600