My 2005 SG Commonwealth and British Empire catalogue lists an 1895 issue as the first Brunei issue, and has a rather extensive write-up about them with the conclusion they were legit.
My 2015 Scott World doesn't even mention an 1885 issue and lists the first Brunei stamp as the 1906 Labuan overprint.
Do these sources still disagree?
Lars
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As of the Scott 2017 Standard catalog, the 1895 issue is footnoted and references referred to the Classic Catalog. The Classic catalog (mine is 2015) lists the issue as Scott #A1-A10.
The note about the issue in the Classic catalog is as follows:
"These stamps were valid within Brunei and to Labuan. Prior to Brunei's admission to the UPU in 1906, all oversees mail was sent through Labuan, where Labuan stamps were required for dispatch abroad."
Scott thusly treats the 1895 issue as a local one.
Thanks, Michael. That's more in line with what SG had, although they gave them major unprefixed numbers. Interesting that my 2015 Standard Catalogue has absolutely no mention, yet there was a note and listing in your 2015 Classic, and a note in your 2017 Standard. All for something in SG in 2005, if not earlier.
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Lars, the 2019 Classic Specialized Catalog contains the same text that Michael found. Catalog value for the A1-A10 set hinged is $202.75. Used is $552.00.
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