Some recently acquired maps of North Borneo

I recently acquired these maps as part of a private philatelic collection which also included some amazing old North Borneo postal and fiscal cancellations which may in time appear on these pages.  

This is a Church Mission Map which probably dated from between 1841 and 1846. I deduce this from observing that the area of Sarawak under the control of James Brooke was only the region around Kuching which he established in 1841. And also the island of Labuan on the map was part of Brunei. It was ceded to Britain in 1846. It is also interesting to note the areas held respectively by the Sultans of Brunei and Sulu were mainly confined to the coastal areas.

In the North Borneo part, the settlements of  Sandakan and Kudat were not shown as these were established in 1879 and 1881 respectively. In fact there are no settlements named in North Borneo in contrast to Sarawak. The trading settlements of Tuaran and Murudu for example would have been thriving during that time. Maps of this period shows the legendary Kinabalu Lake to the east of the mountain. There is no evidence to show such a large of water ever existed.

This map is slightly more recent and likely around 1851. Here we can see that the area under James Brooke had expanded some way eastwards and also Labuan was noted as a British possession. The features of the North Borneo are similar with Kinabalu Lake and additionally, the settlements of Ambong and Marudu were recognised. The height of Mt Kinabalu was given as 13,698 feet which implies that this map was compiled after Hugh Low climbed the mountain in March 1851.

This is part of a large map showing the position of Borneo in relationship to the rest of the East Indies & Further India which in recent times is referred to as South East Asia. I would date this to be from early 20th century. Jesselton, Kudat, Sandakan and Silam were noted but no Lahad Datu and Tawau. Lahad Datu was established by 1897 and Tawau in 1898 and then Jesselton was founded at the end of 1899. 

On this map, there was an area just north west of Sandakan known as Balmoral which I found intriguing and it was an estate but I have not found any further information yet.

This is a large detailed map from 1964. I had to scan it in 4 different parts before pasting them together with photoshop to achieve this excellent composite image. It shows all the towns, settlements, natural features, roads, railway, airfields etc. I noted the road connecting Sandakan to Telupid. But it was completed in 1971 and then to Ranau in 1972. So what is shown here was the dust track that was laid during colonial times.  

Around the world covers that visited North Borneo

These two items are plainly philatelic and contrived by the same person in Scotland UK. Otherwise, it would be impossible to see such beautiful and interesting covers. The process was actually quite complicated and involved cooperation and help from friends and contacts in these countries.

This cover left Edinburg in November 1931 and went through Bermuda, Chile, Dutch West Indies and then North Borneo and from there to Italy and then Scotland.

It also received a Retour instruction as it went through Seattle, USA and then somehow managed to reach North Borneo.

This cover has a more ambitious route. It started from Edinburg in January 1931. It went first to Palestine, a country that no longer exist due to ongoing Middle East conflict. It was then sent to Kenya in Africa and from there to South India. Then it was sent to North Borneo where it was generously franked with five stamps of the beautiful 1931 issue. Fuji was the next port of call and from there to Jamaica and then to Saskatchewan Canada before being returned to Scotland.

Early North Borneo and Labuan Sanbride postcards

About 15 years or more ago before the colour postcards of Borneo were printed by Sanbride, there was a series of monochromic postcards published by F & K Chinn showing Kudat and Labuan and printed by Sanbride. Conceivably, there are others apart from these four here which are the only ones that I have seen so far. Chinn was probably based at Kudat. 

The Kudat Market is depicted here. There is no year date but it should be 1906 or later due to the lack of clear margins around the card where a message is usually scribbled prior to 1906.

Kudat Town and Harbour in 1906

Kudat Town and Harbour 1907

Labuan Government House circa 1906

The card has a divided back for a postcard of North Borneo from 1906. No written message was allowed on this side prior to 1906 or the lower postcard postal rate would have been forfeited.

Along the vertical line were these letters printed to confirmed Sanbride was the printer. This was before the logo with the steeple of St Bride Church on Fleet Street, London was adopted.

Update 9 April 2025

I have found another postcard of this series on the net. They are probably some others.