2017 has been a good year in this respect. But there have quite a few items that I failed to purchase due to the keenness and deeper pockets of fellow collectors. None the less, I have still been able to continue to build up my collection significantly. Some of the items are shown below.
The 1931 set is rightly sought after because it is in many NB collectors' opinion the best designed stamps from North Borneo. I have shown the set and the colour samples before. I have only this value of the specimen set and it is very good to start with the $5 value.
This is the 1939 set used but I am only showing the high values. It is a very popular item on ebay.
This is the earlier of the BNBC type cancellations from Sandakan D9 and invariably for fiscal usage. It is different from D10 in having the St Andrew's Cross with dots instead of the typical Maltese Cross. The date here of 22 APR 91 is the same as the one shown in Proud's book. It is quite likely that this was a reference copy used in the illustration as it used to belong to a member of the Sarawak Specialists' Society. There are also BNBC type cancellations from Kudat and Jesselton. Kudat is quite uncommon and I rate the Jesselton as rare as I only have one copy after years of looking.
The 1930 AIR MAIL NORTH BORNEO covers went for very good money in last year's Spinks sale. It was somewhat unexpected as the majority were philatelic items and they did not even have the correct postal rate. My cover from Sandakan to Tawau shown here was quite likely used commercially.
This is my second Beaufort Linotype but not as good as the other one here and also I prefer it on a North Borneo stamp. The BMA issues from North Borneo and Sarawak were eligible for use throughout the BMA territories of North Borneo, Labuan, Brunei and Sarawak when they were temporarily administered collectively as one area after the war from 12 September 1945 to 1 July 1946.
These are my two from Tenom but they are not clear to make out. They are again on Sarawak stamps.
Sandakan Linotype on a moderately valuable Sarawak adhesive with a date of MAR 1946 30.
I got these two a couple of years back. The Tawao Linotype is quite uncommon especially with clean clear cancellations like these two with a date of 12 MAY 1946.
