The Rubber Controller of Ceylon
1934-1942 Issue Coupons

As part of the International Rubber Restriction Agreement of 1934, a national quota was given as a fraction of assessed standard production. Export coupons were then distributed to all registered producers, with export entitlements determined by the area under cultivation multiplied by the "standard-yield" of the size-class category of the particular producer. Under §29 such coupons could be freely traded from the inception of the coupon-rationing scheme in June 1934 until its suspension in May 1942.

These certificate were used to monitor and control the export of Rubber from Ceylon. Each grower with a small holding was given their quota recorded in card covered by coupons which needed to be accompanied with all sales.

Although these Rubber coupons like the Tea coupons didn't circulate freely as Currency, some growers used their coupons almost like cash to obtain provisions.

1934 Annual Issue coupon Coupons not Seen.

1935 Annual Issue coupon

1937 Annual Issue coupons

1938 Annual Issue coupon

1939 Annual Issue coupon Coupons not Seen.

1940 Annual Issue counter stamped FINAL ISSUE coupon

1941 SECOND Advance Issue coupons
1941 First Advance Issue counter stamped by hand FINAL ISSUE coupon
1941 SECOND Advance Issue counter stamped FINAL ISSUE coupons
1941 SECOND Advance Issue Revalued and counter stamped Final Issue coupons
1941 FINAL Issue coupons

1942 FIRST Advance Issue coupons
1942 SECOND Advance Issue coupons

Perforations are seen on the left edge on lower denominations (1, 5, 10 lbs) and top edge on higher denominations (50, 100, 1000 lbs) indicating these coupons were issued in booklets

With 3 issues in 1941 and two in 1942, each years background design of the coupon was the same with only a change in colors between them. 1941 First Advance issue was in 3 colours. 1941 Second Advance and Final issue was in 2 colours. 1942 First and Second Advance issue had only a 1 colour. As Rubber Coupons were discontinued in 1942 May, they were not over printed like the 1941 issues.

Three different Watermarks are known.

(2) Ceylon Government Restriction used for Final Issue 1941 and First Advance issue of 1942.

(3) Crown Agents Standard used for Second Advance Issue 1942.

Type 2 watermark was also used for Tea Coupons of 1941 April 1st and the Emergency 25 & 50 cents issues of 1942 February 1st

Signatory P. Saravanamuttu, the influential Rubber and Rubber controller of Ceylon during the WW-II was the highest paid local civil servant. He was also president cricket-association, and the P. Sara Oval or Colombo Oval of the Tamil-Union Club, is named after him.

Rubber Coupons are listed in The Standard Catalog to South Asian Coins and Paper Money published by Krause in 1981, pages 523-524, but not listed in Standard Catalog of World Paper Money, Specialized Issues.

I have posted a preliminary catalog
Please contribute images (preferably 300 dpi scans) if you have a specimen of any Rubber Coupon not listed on the webpages linked above. Please E-mail kavan @ gmail.com, the size of the Coupon, which edge the Coupon is perforated and the Type of Watermark. Thanks.

Questions