Query No. 14

Sarawak Stamps postmarked Trusan

I have in my possession three envelopes with a stamp each of Third Rajah of Sarawak and has a postmark of TRUSAN. My late father who passed these to me mentioned that these are rare as they bear the last post mark of Trusan.

Are these kind of postmarks common in Borneo?

(I don't have these collections with me here in Glasgow but I should be happy if you could enlighten me of the history. Why was the postal service terminated then?)
Lawrence Tseu

Answers

  1. The last postmark of Trusan was the small type 'Town and Country' with a '*' at top center and was used from about 1947 until the PO was closed in 1951. Certainly the covers are scarce but not as scarce as pre-War examples. Postal service was changed to Sundar in 1951 but cannot recall why.
    Steve Schumann
  2. "Trusan, in the Fifth Division, likewise disappeared July. As members are aware the village of Trusan has fallen upon evil times since the war, and much of its importance has been stolen by up and coming Sundar, further down the Trusan valley. After the war Trusan Post office was never re-opened at Trusan, but the new post war cancellation was used at Sundar as a temporary measure. Now the situation has been partially put right and a new cancellation has been supplied which reads "Sundar". A first day cancellation, therefore, reads August 1st.1951. Would members please note that I possess a limited number of covers carrying the Trusan postmark, and if anyone would like one I shall be pleased to forward it, if they will be kind enough to enclose an addressed envelope with their request. First come first served, with the exception of members in the States and Australia, for whom I will keep a few in reserve.

    "I have used the word 'partially' when it is said that the situation at Sundar has been put right. This is because in one respect it has not been completely put right. A registered letter of course carries a registration stamp, which has the number of the registration filled in in indelible pencil! This stamp has not so far been replaced at Sundar."
    JOHN FISHER (Limbang)
    The Sarawak Journal Volume 5. No. 1. November 1951 pages 28/29.

  3. In The Sarawak Philatelist (the journal of the Philatelic Society of Kuching Sarawak) Vol. 4 No. 1 of June 2002, I have written an article on "FROM TRUSAN TO SUNDAR" and illustrated 2 covers – one being postmarked at TRUSAN on the last day 31 JY 51 and the other postmarked at SUNDAR on the first day 1 AU 51. The copy of this journal had been given to the SSS UK/ Australian members who had visited Kuching in June 2002.
    Chan Kee Tex


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