Malayan Porcupine - From the Farquhar Collection

Malayan Porcupine - From the Farquhar Collection

Singapore Stamp issued 2002

Here's another intricate sketch of local wildlife that was commissioned by Farquhar during his stay in Singapore and the Malay peninsula during his career as a British commissioner in the early 1800s.


The Malayan Porcupine is still common as it has a wide distribution across South Asia, South East Asia and also into parts of China.  This little fellow has a wide diet, as it is an omnivore, eating tubes, roots and leaves, in addition to feasting on dead carcasses and insects.

Farquhar Collection - Asian Small Clawed Otter

Asian Small Clawed Otter - Sketch and Painting from the Farquhar Collection (circa 1823)

Singapore Stamp Issued 2002

It's no wonder that the paintings commissioned by Farquhar during his time as an official in Singapore and modern day Malaysia were focussed on the diversity of plant and animal life in the region.  This part of Asia was one of mega-diversity, with extensive rainforests across the equator.

This species is now classified as vulnerable, due to widespread habitat loss, hunting and pollution - a sad fact of life for any animals that battle for survival in this part of the world that has developed rapidly.  

Farquhar Collection - Pale Giant Squirrel

Tupal Kerawak - From the Farquhar Collection

Singapore Stamp Issued 2002

This the the second of a series of watercolours from the Farquhar Collection that were made as stamps in Singapore in 2002.  The pale giant squirrel was native to Singapore, although it is now extinct.  Farquhar worked for the East India Company in Malacca, but he constantly pursued an interest in natural history during his time in the South East Asian region.  When he moved from Singapore to Malacca, he also took a large personal collection of animals with him, including wild cats, a cassowary, procupine, numerous monkeys and a tiger.  

This painting is typical of those commissioned in the Farquhar collection - it was probably completed by Chinese painters who were brilliant at providing a magnificent level of detail for these drawings that had a very scientific focus.

Monitor Lizard from the Farquhar Collection - Artist Unknown

Sketches of Lizards from the Farquhar Collection

Singapore Stamps issued 2002

These are another two stamps that were developed from the Farquhar Collection of sketches that were issued by Singapore Post in 2002.  Although Farquhar did not draw these sketches, he did commission the work, as he had a keen interest in natural history.

Farquhar is a comparatively forgotten figure in Singapore history, when compared to Stamford Raffles, even though he administered Singapore in the early stages of its development as a settlement under British control.  Farquhar was also instrumental in preserving historical buildings in Malacca, which had been previously settled by the Portuguese and Dutch (prior to it becoming one of the British Straits Settlements in the early 1800s).  

Napuh from the Farquhar Collection - Artist Unknown

Watercolour from the Farquhar Collection

Singapore Stamp Issued 2002

Napuh - Artist Unknown

Singapore issued a series of stamps that were developed from drawings from the Farquhar Collection.  Over 400 watercolours were commissioned between 1819 and 1823 by William Farquhar, who was an employee of the East India Company and First Resident of Colonial Singapore.  These exquisite and realistic drawings were made by Chinese locals, depicting the local flora and fauna of the region.

The napu is also known as the Greater Mouse Deer.  It inhabits lowland tropical forests and mangrove areas of the south east Asian tropics and is often tamed as a pet by people who live in these regions, although it has disappeared from Singapore nowadays.

Singapore Street Scenes - Artist Unknown

Singapore Street Scenes - Paintings of Chinatown - Artist Not Specified

Singapore Stamp Issued 1989

Although the Singapore postal authority promoted this stamp issue as an art series, they did not specify the artists who were responsible for the creation of these lively paintings that depict colourful Singapore street scenes of Chinatown through the years.   The scenes of Temple Street and Pagoda Street do not differ markedly from the Singapore of today, except that things have been cleaned up a lot.  This is wonderful neighbourhood architecture that has thankfully be retained by this young and fast growing country.