Sarawak Early Charles and Vyner Brooke stamps - 1889-1918

SARAWK, in 1841, proved to be subject to piracy and lawlessness until British adventurer James Brooke helped to subdue the rebellion, for which the Sultan of Brunei ceded Sarawak to him 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 September of that year

The first stamp for Sarawak was issued 1 March 1869 with a portrait of Sir James Brooke, posthumously, as he died 18 August  1868.

As Sir James Brooke never married, the second White Rajah in 1868 was Charles Anthoni Johnson Brooke, his nephew and sister's son.

Sir Johnson Charles Brooke appeared on all Sarawak's stamp issues between 1871-1908. A  fourteen stamp typographed set was released between 1888-97 (four shown here).

The Kingdom of Sarawak became a British Protectorate in 1888, as did Brunei. North Borneo had already been a British protectorate since 1882.

With his passing in 1917, his son, Charles Vyner Brooke became the third (and last) White Rajah. Vyner appeared on Sarawak's stamps between 1918-1947.

The third "White Rajah", Charles Johnson's son, Sir Charles Vyner Brooke, was enthroned in 1917. An unwatermarked twenty-one stamp typographed issue for him was released between 1918-1923 (four early stamps are shown here).

Of interest the usual, shown here, 1c slate blue & rose (CV $2+) was also printed by mistake in slate blue & slate in 1918. This stamp colour combination was never released for use, but can be found in the philatelic marketplace.