Kelantan Stamps
Kelantan is a state located in the northeastern part of Peninsular Malaysia, Southeast Asia. As one of the Federated Malay States under British protection, its postal history is intertwined with the broader Malayan postal administration, though it maintained distinct issues.
- Issued stamps
- 1911–2018
- Region
- Asia, Southeast Asia
- Currency
- MYR
- Languages
- Malay, English
- Issuer type
- Colonial postal administration
- Part of
- Malaya
About Kelantan stamps
Stamps from Kelantan typically feature the Malay language, often alongside English, reflecting its historical context within the Straits Settlements and Federated Malay States system before joining the unified Malaysian postal service. The state's postal autonomy largely ceased following the formation of Malaysia in 1963, integrating its postal services fully into the national framework.
Further reading: Wikipedia
Inscriptions to look for
Words printed on the stamp that point to this issuer. Search any of them in the issuer directory.
- KELANTAN
How to identify Kelantan stamps
- Look for 'KELANTAN' inscription, often in both Roman and Jawi script.
- Early issues (1911-1941) frequently depict the state's coat of arms, tigers, or portraits of the Sultans (Ismail, Ibrahim).
- Japanese Occupation stamps will have Japanese overprints on existing Malayan or Kelantan stamps.
- Watermarks (e.g., Multiple Crown CA, Script CA) are crucial for distinguishing printings and varieties.
Popular series
-
First Definitive Issue (Tiger and Arms)
1911-1921
Kelantan's inaugural stamp series featuring the state's coat of arms and a tiger, often overprinted 'KELANTAN'.
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Sultan Ismail Definitive Issue
1928-1937
A long-running definitive series depicting Sultan Ismail, with various color and watermark changes.
-
Japanese Occupation Issues
1942-1945
Stamps of Malaya or Kelantan overprinted by the Japanese during World War II, reflecting the wartime administration.
-
Sultan Ibrahim Definitive Issue
1951-1955
Definitive series featuring Sultan Ibrahim, issued under British Military Administration and later as part of the Federation of Malaya.
Value overview
Typical ranges as orientation, not prices for a particular stamp. Condition, variety and demand decide the value of your copy; for current asking prices, check listings or the app.
- Common stamps
- $0.50–$10
- Scarce stamps
- $50–$500+
Early definitive issues, especially those with errors, varieties, or on cover, command higher prices. Japanese Occupation overprints can also be valuable. Later issues from the Federation of Malaya period are generally more common.
Catalogs. Kelantan stamps are listed in the major world catalogs: Scott, Michel and Stanley Gibbons. Catalog numbers and groupings differ between them; the Stamp Identifier app shows the numbers it can find for your stamp.
Questions about Kelantan stamps
Kelantan stamps are postage stamps issued by the state of Kelantan, located in northeastern Peninsular Malaysia. They were issued from 1911, initially under British protection as one of the Unfederated Malay States, and continued through various administrative changes until the full integration into the Malaysian postal service.
The value of Kelantan stamps varies significantly. Early definitive issues, especially those from 1911-1921, and stamps with errors, varieties, or used on period covers, can be quite valuable, ranging from $50 to several hundred dollars. Japanese Occupation issues also hold collector interest. Later issues from the 1950s and 60s are generally more common and less valuable, typically in the $0.50 - $10 range.
Kelantan stamps are identified by the prominent 'KELANTAN' inscription, often in both Roman and Jawi script. Early designs feature the state's coat of arms, tigers, or portraits of the Sultans. For a first lead, photograph the stamp in the Stamp Identifier app, then confirm the catalog number; valuable stamps deserve an expert opinion.
Kelantan stamps are comprehensively listed in major international stamp catalogs. You can find them in the Scott Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue (Volume 3 for countries of the world), the Michel Ostasien (East Asia) catalog, and the Stanley Gibbons Commonwealth & British Empire Stamps catalogue (Part 3, Southern & Central Africa, and Asia).
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