The Sarawak Specialists' Society

11th August 1839	James Brooke first arrived in Sarawak in the yacht Royalist.
24th September 1841	James Brooke granted government of Sarawak by Raja Muda Hassim after helping to quell rebellion
by 1855	Postal service in operation.
by 1859	Indian stamps available in Kuching.
8th September 1867	Opening of Council Negri (State Council)
11th June 1868	On his death, James Brooke had bequethed Sarawak to his nephew Charles Johnson later renamed Charles Anthony Brooke
by 1869	Indian stamps replaced by Straits Settlements stamps.
1st March 1869	First definitve stamp issued depicting James Brooke. Local postal service established.
1st January 1871	New definitive stamp issued depicting Charles Brooke.
1st November 1874	Indian stamps replaced by Straits Settlements stamps.
1875	First "receipt" stamps issued.
1879	Straits Settlements postal cards sold for use in Sarawk at a premium of 1 cent.
1st July 1887	Parcel Post service established.
5th September 1888	Sarawak became British Protectorate.
10th November 1888	New definitive stamps printed by de la Rue.
1889	First postal card issued Revenue stamps issued.
1890	Sarawak occupied Limbang Valley.
February 1895	New definitive stamps printed by Perkins Bacon
1897	First postal card issued.
1st July 1897	Sarawak joined UPU.
1899	Revenue stamps overprinted "Customs" issued.
24th May 1989	Sarawak joined the Empire Penny Post scheme.
10th November 1899	De la Rue definitives reissued without "revenue".
1913	First registered envelopes issued.
17th May 1917	Rajah Sir Charles Brooke died. Charles Vyner Brooke installed as Raja.
26th March 1918	New definitive stamps issued showing Charles Vyner Brooke
1929	Air mails accepted for Singapore-Karachi-London Imperial Airways service.
1st January 1932	New definitive stamps issued printed by Waterlow.
1st May 1934	New definitive stamps issued printed by Bradbury Wilkinson.
1st March 1938	"All-up" Empire air mail service extended to Sarawak.
15th December 1941	Miri occupied by Japanese.
October 1942	Sarawak stamps overprinted in Japanese issued.
23rd June 1945	Australian forces liberated Miri.
by October 1945	Austalian stamps made available for civilian use.
17th December 1945	New stamps issued overprinted BMA (British Military Administration)
15th April 1946	Sarawak transferred back to Rajah Charles Vyner Brooke.
1st June 1946	British Crown Colony of Sarawak established.
16th April 1947	Stamps reissued overprinted with Royal Cypher and Script CA watermark.
1st January 1950	George VI definitives issued.
1st June 1955	First Queen Elizabeth defiitives issued.
31st August 1963	Sarawak became self-governing.
16th September 1963	Sarawak joined Malaysian Federation.
15th November 1965	Orchid definitive stamps issued.
1st February 1971	Butterfly definitive stamps issued with Sarawak Arms printed by Bradbury Willkinson.
12th February 1977	Butterfly definitive stamps re-issued with Sarawak crest printed by Harrison.
30th April 1979	Flowers definitive stamps issued.
1983-86	Flowers definitive stamps reprinted on un-watermarked paper.
25th October 1986	Agro products definitives issued.
1st September 1993	Agro products definitives re-issued showing new shield.

More detailed information on the postal history of Sarawak is contained in
Edward Proud's book "The Postal History of British Borneo"