Postage stamps and postal history of the Straits Settlements
The Straits Settlements of the Malayan Peninsula have a postal history distinct from the other Malayan areas. == Early postal arrangements == Mail was originally handled privately by passing ships; the earliest known postal markings date from around 1806, used by a post office on Prince of Wales Island (now Penang).
Source: Wikipedia — Postage stamps and postal history of the Straits Settlements (CC BY-SA 4.0)