Straits Settlements Watermarks 4 And 5

I am just starting to collect this area and found that many sites refer to 5 different watermarks. I can not find a definitive description or example of the difference between watermarks 4 and 5. AI when questioned one way says they are the same and asked another that it is only the script CA without the crown. Can anyone help? Tom

Most collectors of the area do not use Scott.

You might help them by stating what series have those watermarks: issue years.

straits settlements watermark types:
https://stampdata.com/issuer.php?id=71

The watermarks aren't unique to Straits Settlements, so you'll recognize them from other Commonwealth issues.

Gibbons names them, in chronological order, Elephant's Head, Crown CC, Crown CA, Mult Crown CA and Mult Script CA. The Elephant comes from India on the first issues, and the others are completely common throughout the Commonwealth.

Here is a slightly-larger comparison of the two Multiples:



Mult Crown CA started appearing in 1904, and Mult Script CA started appearing in 1921.

If you're collecting Malaya, a used Gibbons Commonwealth catalogue is a cheap and valuable investment. Doesn't need to be current.

I second the recommendation of picking up a Gibbons Commonwealth to go along with a Scott Classic Specialized.

If you're buying in the U.S., both of them will help you find things that go unidentified by a dealer using the basic set of Scott catalogues.

There are some eye-watering catalogue values in Gibbons for Straits Settlements varieties, such as inverted watermarks, or overprint varieties.