World Banknotes K-Z

Lot 2637    Session 9 (4.30pm Wednesday)    World Banknotes K-Z

Estimate $600
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $1,000

MALAYA, WWII propaganda leaflet, printed in the style of The Japanese Governnment (J.I.M.), ten dollars, serial prefix MN (Wong.p126). Nearly very fine and very rare.

In his book 'The Japaneses Occupation of Malaya (Singapore) and its Currency', Wong Hon Sum outlines the circumstances of this interesting rarity. 'The British forces began air dropping these leaflets over Malaya and Singapore in late 1944 or early 1945 and the Japanese had not surrendered by then. As such, the people were afraid to be caught in possession of these leaflets, resulting in their rarity today.

The Malay words WANG JEPUN AKAN MATI BERSAMA2 JEPUN written obliquely across the face of the note mean 'The Japanese invasion money will perish with the demise of the Japanese'. The back of the leaflet carries notices in Malay, Jawi and Chinese printed in red. The Chinese version reads: 'The Japanese had been driven out of Burma and their invasion notes had been annulled. But the British Burmese currency is still legal tender. When the British return to Malaya, the Straits currency will retain its value, but the Japanese invasion currency will perish together with the demise of the Japanese'.

These leaflets were printed by the British Psychological Warfare Division in Calcutta, and there is a serial number at the bottom of the Jawi text on its back - SMA/39.