Chrismas Island And Its Postal History - This & That
I'll place items here which are not related to the locals but are of Christmas Island interest up to WWII
U.S.S. ASTORIA visited Chrismas Island in 1934
USS ASTORIA
21 July 1934
USS ASTORIA visited Christmas Island in 1934.
USS ASTORIA
21 July 1934
USS ASTORIA visited Christmas Island in 1934.
USS ASTORIA
21 July 1934
USS ASTORIA
21 July 1934
USS ASTORIA
21 July 1934
USS ASTORIA
21 July 1934
USS ASTORIA visited Christmas Island in 1934.
Seen on Ebay
reverse
reverse
USS ASTORIA
21 July 1934
new in Jan 2018
USS ASTORIA visited Christmas Island in 1934.
Seen on Ebay
USS ASTORIA
21 July 1934
(new 23-7-2020)
USS ASTORIA visited Christmas Island in 1934.
USS ASTORIA
22 July 1934
USS ASTORIA visited Christmas Island in 1934.
USS ASTORIA
22 July 1934
USS ASTORIA visited Christmas Island in 1934.
Rougier Postcard
new in Oct 2018
Address side of a postcard written by Emmanuel Rougier to his French home town neaar Brioude.
The postcard was printed in 1910 and Mr. ROugier wrote it in 1911 or 1912.
Example of postmark
(new Dec 2014)
Exmaple of the 1911 Fanning Island postmark
Rougier Postcard
new in Oct 2018
Image side of the postcard written on Fanning Island according to the piece of the postmark.
Emmanuel Rougier was born in La Chomette near Brioude and grew up at a place called "Château des Iles" just 1.6 km NNW of Brioude.
And that's the place where the postcard is addressed to - to a woman of his family.
This place still exists, now named "Les Iles". Here are some images of this place in older times and now:
30. May 1921
(new 12. Dec 2018)
A Emmanuel Rougier picture postcard to Mr. Roessler. It shows the place where Rougier grew up: Château des Îles near Brioude, France.
Contribution of a Christmas Island collector
Printed Edition d'Art M+B Margerite Brémond - Le Puy
30. May 1921
(new 12. Dec 2018)
A Emmanuel Rougier picture postcard to Mr. Roessler. It shows the place where Rougier grew up: Château des Îles near Brioude, France.
Contribution of a Christmas Island collector
Les Iles 1914
new in Oct 2018
Les Iles 1914.
Les Iles
new in Oct 2018
Les Iles old Photo.
Les Iles now
new in Oct 2018
Les Iles now.
Les Iles now
new in Oct 2018
Les Iles now.
Les Iles now
new in Oct 2018
Les Iles now.
The Chapel
new in Oct 2018
The Chapel now.
The Chapel
new in Oct 2018
The Chapel - sign above entry.
Just a sample of US military mail in WWII. Collector service as it looks just a couple of days after opening on 11 February 1942.
16 February 1942
(new 6/2019)
American military mail APO 915
Shall we call them fakes? No, I think reprints to pimp these covers to get the collector's money is better.
26 December 1962
26 December 1962 - Honolulu Hawaii/Christmas Island BR postmark
26 December 1962
26 December 1962 - Honolulu Hawaii/Christmas Island BR postmark
26 December 1962
26 December 1962 - Honolulu Hawaii/Christmas Island BR postmark
26 December 1962
26 December 1962 - Honolulu Hawaii/Christmas Island BR postmark
Part of CL 1 used to decorate this cover.
28 February 1979
Part of CL 1 used to decoratethis cover.
28 February 1979
Reverse
28 February 1979
Compared with a 1938 Christmas Island CL1.
Very old map
An old map of Christmas Island - source unknown
Old Map
An old map of Christmas Island - source unknown
New Map
A new map of Christmas Island - source: Ebay
Only woman 1925
(new Jan 2018)
A photo seen on Ebay: on the reverse it say "Only woman on Xmas Island 1925".
Only woman 1925
(new Jan 2018)
A photo seen on Ebay: on the reverse it say "Only woman on Xmas Island 1925". MAybe this photo was taken by Mr. Archer who
visited the island in 1925 and wrote a postcard too (see covers).
Three old and ten newer (maybe 1950s and about 1990) picture postcards:
PPC 1
(new Feb 2018)
PPC 1
Found on an internet auction site
PPC 2
(new Feb 2018)
PPC 2
Found on an internet auction site
PPC 3
(new Feb 2018)
PPC 3
Found on an internet auction site
Main Camp
1950s maybe
(new 3/2019)
PPC 4
Found on an internet auction site
Plantation and Lagoon
1950s maybe
(new 3/2019)
PPC 5
Found on an internet auction site
Plantation Road
March 1957
(new 7/2022)
PPC 5a
Image thanks to Per-Arno Hansen.
Plantation Road
March 1957
(new 7/2022)
PPC 5a
Image thanks to Per-Arno Hansen.
1990s maybe
(new 4/2019)
PPC 6
Found on an internet auction site
1990s maybe
(new 4/2019)
PPC 6 reverse
Found on an internet auction site
1990s maybe
(new 4/2019)
PPC 7
Found on an internet auction site
1990s maybe
(new 6/2019)
PPC 8
Found on an internet auction site
1990s maybe
(new 6/2019)
PPC 9
Found on an internet auction site
1990s maybe
(new 6/2019)
PPC 10
Found on an internet auction site
1990s maybe
(new 6/2019)
PPC 11
Found on an internet auction site
1990s maybe
(new 6/2019)
PPC 12
Found on an internet auction site
1990s maybe
(new 6/2019)
PPC 13
Found on an internet auction site
1990s maybe
(new 3/2024)
PPC 13
Found on an internet auction site
Some Links to other sites:
Data collection regarding Rougier & his Island:
----
Abakiroro is the Gilbertese name for Christmas Island, which means "far away island".
1864, August 26 ---- 1932, 16 December
Birth and death of Petrics Emmanuel Rougier.
1908, 18 July
The 5000 ton timber ship AEON shipwrecked on Christmas Island.
1912
First visit to Christmas Island by Emmmanuel Rougier in the auxiliary schooner LUKA, 70 tons.
1914, January 1
Occupation licence was granted to "Central Pacific Cocoanut Plantations Limited" for 87 years, £100 minimum royalty per year.
1916, early
Emmanuel Rougier bought the YSABEL MAY and sent her to Tahiti before travelling there on the MAITAI.
1916, 26 April: El Paso Herald:
Emmanuel Rougier sailed from San Fancisco to Christmas Island with his niece Margaret Rougier and her girl friend. Other sources say "Berthe & Alice Rougier".
1916, 26 April: Los ANGELES Herald:
Emmanuel Rougier sailed from San Fancisco on the MAITAI to Christmas Island with his niece Margaret Rougier whose father Stanislaus Rougier is an officer in the French Army,
and her girl friend.
1918, 24 July: Resture site
YSABEL MAY struck a rock at Christmas Island, was sold to a French Co. Emmanuel Rougier left Christmas Island on 29 August with all natives and left Joe English promising to be back in 45 days.
YSABEL MAY was destroyed by fire off Huahine in the Society Island on 25th October, 1918 .
1919, 19 October: NZ newspapers:
Lord Jellicoe on H.M.S. NEW ZEALAND picked up English and the other two men at Christmas Island.
1921, about 10-21 February:
by Rollo Beck (with the Whitney South Sea Expedition) on Christmas Island following an invitation of E. Rougiuer.
1922, March 11:
H.M.S. KALKUTTA visits Christmas Island.
1924:
"Kaimiloa" expedition of the Bernice P. Bishop Museum of Hawaii.
1928, August 25:
H.M.S. DUNEDIN visits Christmas Island - Paul Emmanuel Rougier was there.
1929, April 14/15:
Paul Rougier shot at three fleeing labourers in a launch, they were never found.
1934, 19 September: New Zealand Herald:
MARECHAL FOCH (Emmanuel Rougier bought her in 1928) split in two on a riff.
1936, 2 - 4 September:
H.M.S. WELLINGTON visited the island.
1938, 4 - 6 July:
H.M.S. WELLINGTON visited the island.
1939, December 30:
All personel in Rougier's employ were withdrawn.