Sarawak Sir Charles Vyner Brooke with British Crown Overprint

SARAWAK Sir Charles Vyner Brooke, the third and last white Rajah of Sarawak, was ruler of this north Borneo State until it became a British colony. These stamps wer part of a series iitially issued in the 1920s. After WWII, when Sarawak became a Crown Colony the stamps featured a 'crown' overprint.

In 1841, Sarawak proved to subject to piracy and lawlessness until British adventurer James Brooke helped to subdue the rebellion, for which he was given Sarawak to govern. The Brooke dynasty lasted until Sarawak became a British colony in 1946, gained independence in July 1963 and joined the Federation of Malaysia in that September.