1889 Genuine British North Borneo 4c Stamp

Recently, I was very lucky enough to come upon an unused 120-year-old postage stamp from British North Borneo (now known as Sabah) in pristine condition.

North Borneo was a British Protectorate and later Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom, situated in what is now the province of Sabah, Malaysia. British involvement began with the granting of a charter to the British North Borneo Company in August 1881. The settlements were made a protectorate on 12 May 1888, and the island of Labuan attached from 1890 to Japan from January 1942 to 10 June 1945, after which a British military administration was in charge, until 15 July 1946. The colony joined Malaysia on 16 September 1963.

Initially, mail from North Borneo was sent via Labuan or Singapore, using postage stamps of the Straits Settlements. The company issued its own stamps in March 1883, using a design incorporating the coat of arms (a dhow and a lion), inscribed "NORTH BORNEO", and with the value written in English, Arabic, and Chinese. Initial values included 2c, 4c, and 8c, followed by large 50c and $1 stamps of an more elaborate design with the arms flanked by two natives.

State Ensign of British North Borneo, 1882-1942

In 1886 1/2c, 1c, and 10c values were added, and there was a demand for 3c and 5c stamps, resolved by overprinting existing types. At the same time, the printers (Blades, East, and Blades of London) produced a new design, largely the same but inscribed "BRITISH NORTH BORNEO", and joined by 25c and $2 values, also with elaborate frames. The stamps were redesigned again in 1888, to say "POSTAGE & REVENUE" instead of just "POSTAGE", at which time the 25c to $2 values also received minor changes. These were followed up in 1889 by even larger and more elaborate $5 and $10 stamps.

Offer Price: B$75

1993 Golden Globe Chrono Swatch Watch

In the spirit of the 66th Annual Golden Globe Awards recently held on Sunday, I'm offering you Swatch Fans out there a vintage "Golden Globe Chronograph Swatch Watch" from the 1993 Spring/Summer Collection. This beautiful Swatch has a flex metal band and is still in excellent working and aesthetic condition. It is also water-resistant up to 30 metres/100 feet.

Offer Price: B$65

1997 Star Wars Imperial Snow Stormtrooper

I am offering a 1997 STAR WARS "Power of the Force" Imperial Snowtrooper action figure for sale. The out-of-the-box 3 ¾ inch figure is in extremely excellent condition and is very detailed with great weathering effects. The Snowtrooper has movable arms and legs, twisting waist and comes complete with its blaster pistol and removable back-pack.

Snowtroopers, also known as Cold Assault Stormtroopers, were Imperial Stormtroopers trained to operate in arctic climates. The snowtroopers were the successors of the Clone Cold Assault Troopers under Clone Commander Keller during the Clone Wars.

Snowtroopers were utilized on many different icy worlds in the Star Wars Universe, including the Imperial Garrison on the Planet Akuria II. Their most notable campaign was at the Battle of Hoth, where the Imperial Blizzard Force defeated the Rebel Alliance and overran Echo Base.

Assault on Echo Base during the Battle of Hoth

Snowtroopers were armed with the standard issued E-11 blaster rifles of stormtroopers, SE-14R light repeating blasters, two concussion grenades, and one frag grenade. Elite snowtroopers were given the DLT-20A blaster rifle as a replacement for the E-11, and two stun grenades. Snowtroopers commonly employed E-web heavy repeating blasters.

Snowtrooper armor was well suited to the climate extremes of frozen worlds such as Hoth, Rhen Var, and Toola. Like other stormtroopers, snowtroopers wore a standard black two-piece temperature control body glove. Over this was an eighteen-piece outer shell altered to include more powerful heating and personal environment units, and an airtight fabric oversuit for additional protection from the cold. Their helmets had built-in polarized snow goggles. The chest plate worn by the snowtroopers was constructed of a plastoid composite armor.

To facilitate breathing in extremely cold or dangerous atmospheres, a breather hood enveloped the snowtrooper's faceplate and fed into the suit liner. Each trooper was equipped with terrain-grip boots, a standard utility belt containing high-tension wire, grappling hooks, ion flares, additional blaster ammunition, a survival kit, and ration packs.

Offer Price: B$35