Cover to New Caledonia, the correct "local" rate 1d stamp cancelled with a nice impression of PCH type 7. Backstamped Noumea 10.1.10 ("Mele" coll.)

Correct 1d "local" rate to New Caledonia, cancelled PCH type 7. Carried on the "Countess of Ranfurly" via Sydney. (Goron coll.)

And the next one on the registration list of the postmaster: cover to USA, the 5d, 6d and 1/- stamps cancelled with PCH type 7. Seen on Ebay.

Cover to USA, the 5d, 6d and 1/- stamps cancelled with PCH type 7. Backstamped Seattle, Wash., March 11 and Matawan March 16, 1910. Seen on Ebay.

Registered letter from the Postal Service to France, the 10c and 25c stamps cancelled with PCH type 5. This letter has been written by the first New Hebridean postmaster, Mr. Roy. (Yeomans coll.)

Correct 2d rate plus 2½d for the registration to Newcastle, England, tied by Type 7A cds in black. Backstamped transit Sydney, 19 February 1910, London 27 March 1910 and Newcastle, 28 March 1910. (Ruecker coll.)

Registered letter from Port Vila to Great Britain, the two 1d stamps paying the letter postage and the 2½d stamp paying the registration cancelled with PCH type 7A canceller, the one with the misengraved "FE", which reappeared every year until 1924, as Hubert Goron found out. (Goron coll.)

Same addressee: Registered letter from Port Vila to Great Britain, the 2d and 2½d stamps paying the correct registered rate, which was reduced in May 1911 to the French 3½d rate. Cancelled with PCH type 7A, backstamped Registered Sydney N.S.W. FE 19 10, Registered London 27 MR 10, and Newcastle Staffs 2.45am MR 28 10. ("JGI" coll.)

Registered cover to Germany - overpaid - with the mirrored FE variety GK PM4. Image thanks to Steve Drewett Postal History

Cover to U.S.A.- overpaid - with the mirrored FE variety GK PM4. Image thanks to Zirinsky Stamps, New York

Registered cover to London. The French 10c x 2 and 25c stamps pay the 20c rate and 25c registration. Backstamped Sydney MR 11 / 10, London E.C. Registered 15 AP 10 and S.E.D.O Registered 16 AP 10. This cover was carried from Vila to Sydney by the Messageries MAritimes steamer PACIFIQUE. (Klinger coll.)

Cover to Scotland, the total of 5½d 1908 British stamps and a French 10c stamp cancelled with PCH type 1. The use of a 1d Australasian New Hebrides Co. stamp is a gimmik of no postal importance but it is cancelled too. Sydney transit on reverse 18.4.1910. The PCH 6 cancel was used in Vila to cancel mail delivered from the interisland vessels TAMBO & MALAITA (Burns Philp & Co. Ltd.). Image thanks to Spink, London.

Very nice commercial registerd letter to Nouméa, 10c postage and 25c registration. Cancelled with PCH type 5 PORT-VILA 12 MARS 10.
LAUBREAUX Henri co-directeur des Imprimeries Réunies, artiste et poète, fils aîné de Auguste LAUBREAUX co-fondateur du Journal des Hébrides ( O'Reilly: Calédoniens). ("SeSi" coll.)

Cover from Rev. T. McMillan from Vila to Sydney. The pair of French 1908 5c stamps and the 10c stamp prepay for the correct rate. They are tied with the PCH type 5 cancel. Backstamped Sydney, 24 March 1910. (Aore coll.)

Letter to the editor of the Swiss "Schweizer Briefmarkenzeitung" F. Reinhard. The 25c stamp cancelled with PCH type 5, backstamped Bern 21 ? 10. ("Aore" coll.)

Registered letter to Belgium with a British 6d stamp tied with PCH type 7 cancel. Letter distributor's writings on front: a cancelled 457, a 619 together with a circular "619" handstamp, a faint ?? May cancel copy of another letter on front, a Sydney transit cancel 18 April 1910 and a Brussels arrival ?? May (1910) on reverse. (Goron coll.)

An this is this letter's twin: nearly identical. Brussels arrival cancel on reverse is be 2? May (1910). (Seen in a 1988/90 dealer's offer, now ??)

Registered to the stamp dealer Naumann in Dresden, Germany. Four 1908 2d stamps cancelled with GK type PM4, registration cachet NR1C. 2½d non-colonial letter rate and 2½d registration, 2½d for 15g overweight leave ½d overpayment according to New Hebrides rates. But maybe Australian rates were applied. 18 April 1910 Sydney transit on reverse. PACIFIQUE arrived at Sydney on 18 April. On 20 April via rail to Adelaide (22 April) for RMS OTWAY. on 19 May on train in Naples via Kuftsein and Minich to Dresden, arriving there on 21 May 1910. (Blinco coll.)

An this is this letter's triplet: nearly identical. A heavy postmaster (Mr. Roy) letter with stamps I suppose. Brussels arrival cancel on reverse is 2? May (1910). (unknown coll.)

An this is the fourth one: nearly identical. A heavy postmaster (Mr. Roy) letter with stamps I suppose. Sydney cancelled 18 AP 10 - Brussels arrival cancel on reverse is 21 May 10. The Sydney date is exactly the date when the Messageries Maritimes steamer PACIFIQUE arrived at Sydney from his New Caledonia - New Hebrides run. The Messageries Maritimes steamer VILLE DE LA CIOTAT left Sydney at the same day and arrived at Marseilles on 27 May. ("SeSi" coll.)

Piece of a registered letter with the complete 1908 French set.

A busy day for the postmaster: same date.
Registered letter to Newark USA. The French 50c. stamp tied by GK Type PM2 pays the 25c non colonial letter rate and the 25c registration fee. Registration cachet is GK Type NR1C. Backstamped SYDNEY (AP 1)8 10 , LONDON 21 MY 10 and NEW YORK N.Y REG'Y DIV 6-2 1910 in transit and NEWARK JUN 2 1910 on arrival.
The PACIFIQUE carried this letter to Sydney arriving there on 18 April. In spite of the VILLE DE LA CIOTAT steamer arriving in Sydney on 18 April the next mail to London was 19-20 April 1910 by mail train overland to Adelaide to RMS Otway. Her mails arrived London 21-5-10 (exact match). ("SeSi" coll., routing by Jeff Blinco)
Remark: On this day all English franked letter were cancelled with GK Type PM4 and the French ones with GK Type PM2.
Benedict Prieth was owner of a publishing company in Newark and editor of the German language paper ""New Jersey Freie Zeitung".

PM2 on two New Caledonia 5c stamps in 1910 (!). Postcard to France, cancelled Noumea 30 June 10 (?). Madame Villeval was director of a technical school in Noumea. Image thanks to Lugdunum Philatélie, Lyon.
PACIFIQUE arrived in Noumea from Sydney on 3 April so easily could make it to Vila until 6 April. She was back in Sydney on 18 April so she left Noumea on 14 April probably. So why is this card cancelled Noumea 30 June 10?

6 April 1910

A postcard to Noumea written by Jean Colonna, judge at the joint court. (coll. Fred Petit)

Registered cover to Paris with a mixed franking of the French 1908 issue 25c.,50c. and the British 2½d, 6d stamps cancelled with PCH 5 . Backstamped Sydney 28 AP 10 in transit and Paris 4-6-10 on arrival. ("SeSi" coll.)

25c on a cover to the U.S. (unknown coll.)

Cover to Australia, the 2d stamp tied by Type 7 cds. (Goron coll.)

Registered cover to Great Britain, the ½d, 6d and block of four 1d stamps are tied with PCH type 7. Coventry Registered handstamp June xx 10 on front, other British arrival cancels on the reverse. Pictures thanks to Premier Philately, Australia.

Picture postcard to France, correctly franked 5c - French colonial postcard rate short message. Cancel: GK type PM2
Image thanks to Lugdunum Philatelie

A couple of 1908 stamps on a registered postmaster Roy letter to Monsieur Éduard Cheval in New Caledonia. (old auction)

Registered cover to Belgium with a set of the 1908 issue, cancelled with type 7. Backstamped Sydney 5 May 1910 and Brussels 8 Juin 1910. Rather fast for 1910! ("Mele" coll.)

"A bit" overpaid registered postcard to UK but looking cute! (unknown coll.)

Registered Postmaster cover to France, 1d and a 25c stamp cancelled PM2, backstamped 15 May 10 and Paris 18 June 10. 1d French colonial letter rate and 25 c registration fee. (unknown coll.)

The cover illustrated shows the 1d value of the first British New Hebrides issue, on a cover to France dated 7 MAI 10, tied by a clear Port Sandwich Type 4 double ring cancellation in blue. Discovery of this cover offers proof that the Port Sandwich canceller was genuinely in use after 1908, (reference Cancellation Study, page 2). The month, as will be seen, is in italic capitals while the numbers, of both the day and year, are in normal typeface. The cover illustrated carries a Sydney transit datestamp of 16 May, and a Montpellier arrival datestamp of 18.6.10.(Millet coll., text quoted from PACIFICA, the quarterly of PACIFIC ISLANDS STUDY CIRCLE vol. 33 1997 page 175)

Lettre du cabinet du commisaire résident de France du 8 mai 1910:
Lettre au tarif de 30c triple port pour Nouméa avec un affranchissement mixte franco-britannique . Cette enveloppe scéllée par un cachet de cire rouge devait contenir des documents administratifs . Oblitérée à Vila avec le cachet type 7 MY 8 10 , arrivée à Nouméa le 10 mai 10 . Transportée par le Pacifique . Printed envelope ("Nouvellels Hébrides, Cabinet du Commissaire Résident de France"), bearing Oct. 1908 British ½d. green and 1d. red overprinted and French 5c. green and 10c. red all tied by PCH type 7. ("SeSi" coll.)

Unusual combination on this part of a registered(?) letter: 5d British issue together with 1F French issue, cancelled VILA, Date: MY 21 10, Hals/Collas Postmark #7.
Is there somebody who can tell me the meaning of the little circle below the 1F stamp drawn with the same pencil as the big cross on the letter? Does it mean that the stamps was demonitised? But then it should not be cancelled.

Two of the rare single CA watermark 1sh stamps on a letter to Australia. There is a manuscript remark on the cover "Single C.A.". But one can easily see at the bars at top that these are single CA watermark stamps. The addresse was Mr. Courtenay Smith, who managed a home for alcoholics called "Rest Haven" at a place which is now known as Echo Point Roseville. Courtenay Smith was also the founder of the Philatelic Society of Australia in 1911.
He died on November 5, 1915: the London Philatelist wrote: "We regret to have to record the death of Mr. Courtenay Smith, of Sydney, who devoted his life and all that he made by the sale of stamps to the maintenance of a sanatorium." (Klinger coll.)

Postcard to Noumea cancelled with GK Type PM4. Correctly franked French colonial short message postacrd rate 5c or ½d. Image thanks to Lugdunum Philatélie

Postcard to Noumea cancelled with GK Type PM3. Correctly franked French colonial short message postacrd rate 5c or ½d. Sent from Santo. (Coll. Fred Petit)

Registered Letter to Noumea. 10c colonial letter rate and 25c registration fee. Stamps cancelled with PM4. (ex Millet coll.)

Registered cover to France, the 1908 French 25c, 50c and 1F stamps are tied with PM2. Backstamped Sydney 28 June 1910, Paris 31.7., 31.7. and 1.8.1910. From Sydney overland to Adelaide by mail train on 29 June to meet Orient line RMS Ormuz. Mail arrived in London 1 August (Klinger coll.)

2d cover to England (correct rate), backstamped Ipswich.
Image thanks to Victoria Stamp Comapany Ridgewood, NJ, U.S.A.

Registered cover to England. The two 1908 1d stamps and the 2½d stamp are cancelled with PCH Type 7. Backstamped Sydney 28 June 1910, London 1 August 10 and Newcastle Staffs arrival AU 2 10. The cover was carried by the Burns Philp & Co. steamer TAMBO which arrived at Sydney on 27 June 1910. ("SeSi" coll.)

Cover to Australia, the two 1d stamps cancelled with PCH Type 7. (Goron coll.)

Inverted year slug.
Correct 1d French colonial letter rate. Image thanks to Lugdunum Philatélie France.

At least on this day the year slug was wrongly placed in the cancel. (Klinger coll.)

1d postcard rate to Australia: postcard to Drummoyne near Sydney, cancel type 7. ("Mele" coll.)

5½d on a registered cover to France. Backstamped Noumea 22 July. Ex Stan Jersy, ex Alain Millet coll.

Registered cover with AR (advice of receipt) to Lyon redirected to Paris. The French 25c stamp and the British 1d stamp are cancelled with PCH type 5. Backstamped Noumea 5 Juil 10, Lyon 2?.??.10. and Paris 28.8.10. (Millet coll.)

British 1d stamps paying a postmaster's cover to France, cancelled with PCH type 7.
Noteworthy: until 1 August 1911, the letter rate to France was 10c or 1d and to the United Kingdom 2d or 20c. It is quite unusual that a letter to France was franked with a British 1d stamp rather than a French language stamp.
Backstamped Sydney JY 26 10 (19 days) and Paris on arrival 21 AOUT 10 (32 days). The cover needed 51 days for these 20,000 kilometers. (JGI collection).

Correct 1d rate to New Caledonia, tied by Type 7 cds in blue.
This letter did not reach Charles Liétart, a tobacco and coffee producer in Nouméa, as he retired to France after 1905 and died there in 1909 - but his son Gaston took over the tobacco company. Maybe this letter was an order for cigars. The Messageries Maritimes steamer PACIFIQUE arrived at Sydney on 7 August and (according to her normal journey dates) left Vila on 31 July 1910. (Treadwell coll.)

Postcard to Newark, USA. The ½d stamp seems to underpay the rate and is cancelled with PCH type 7. But if the writing counts for 5 or less words then it should be o.k. The sender of this postcard was the first Condominium Treasurer and Postmaster, Monsieur Roy, who had been detached from the Nouméa Post Office to run that of the Condominium. (Hals/Collas p.80) C.P.M. = Condominium Post Master. Transit Sydney 8 Aug 1910 which means that the card was carried to Sydney by the Messageries Maritimes steamer PACIFIQUE, which arrived on 7 Aug. This being a Sunday the card was processed on 8th. ("JGI" coll.)

Cover to Germany, the 1/- stamp (which one?) cancelled with GK Type PM4, registration cachet GK Type NR1C. Carried by MAKAMBO. ("Aore" collection)

Cover to Germany, the 1/- stamp (which one?) cancelled with GK Type PM4, registration cachet GK Type NR1C. Backstamped Sydney registered AU 30 10 and Ulm Bahnhof 1 Okt 10. Carried by MAKAMBO. Image thanks to Lugdunum Philatélie

Postcard to Noumea cancelled with GK Type PM4. Correctly franked French colonial short message postacrd rate 5c or ½d. Image thanks to Lugdunum Philatélie

A 1908 British set on a cover to Ceylon. Cancelled with PCH type 7. (Angleviel coll.)

Postcard to England written by Postmaster Roy, the two ½d stamps cancelled with PCH type 7. In February 2003 offered by in the offered by Compustamp, Santa Fe.

Registered cover to Belgium with a set of the 1908 issue, cancelled with type 7. Seen at Soler y Llach auctions, Spain. It is a bit weird that this cover has no registration number and has not the for Brussels typical numbers in a circle like 10AP29 for example. Image thanks to Soler y Llach

Cover to Switzerland with most of the 1908 stamps, tied with PCH type 7. (Klinger coll.)

Cover to Germany with most of the 1908 stamps, tied with PCH type 7. Backstamped Sydney and Pforzheim 28.10.1910. Seen on Ebay in 2007.

Cover to Great Britain, the 2d stamp cancelled with PCH type 1 (a very late use). I'm not sure why two stamps seem to have been lifted off, the 2d did pay postage to GB. And the left stamp would not have been cancelled. The date of type 1 is in its original form here: month, day and full year below. ("CSO" collection)

Cover to Paris, the 1d stamp as correct 10c rate tied with PCH type 7. Backstamped Sydney SEPT 26 1910 and Paris 28 10 1910. (43 days) ("JGI" coll.)

Cover to Sydney, the 2d stamp as correct rate tied with PCH type 7 in blue. Could be December 1910 as well but not February as this was mirrored. ("SeSi" coll.)

Registered letter to France, the 1908 French 25c and 1910 French 10c pay the colonial rate to France and the registration fee. They are cancelled with PCH type 5. (The English 4½d (45c) rate was reduced to the French of 35c (3½d) rate on May 1, 1911. Backstamped Nouméa 26 SEPT 10, Marolles les Braults, Sarthe 15.40 24-11 10. (JGI (ex Jersey) coll.)

Cover with two British 1908 1d stamps as vertical pair to Richmond Hill, London. The stamps are cancelled with PCH type 7. ("Mele" coll.)

British 1908 stamps on a letter to New Zealand, cancelled with PCH type 7. (Treadwell coll.)

Two British 1908 1d stamps on a letter to London, cancelled with PCH type 7 in blue, backstamped Sydney (machine cancel) OC 26 10. ("JGI" coll.)

A lot of 1908 British stamps (no 2d.) on a registered cover to Paris. Backstamped Sydney 24 Nov and Paris 31 Dec 1910. (unknown coll.) Image thanks to Victoria Stamp Comapany Ridgewood, NJ, U.S.A.

Cover to Germany, the complete 1908 set cancelled with PCH Type 5. ("Aore" collection)

Cover to Germany, the complete 1908 set cancelled with PCH Type 5.

1908 British 1d (I cannot see which one) on a "Buess" letter to Germany cancelled with PCH Type 7. Seen in a 1977 Macray Watson auction catalogue. Thanks to Allan Gory, Australia, for sending me the image. This one is an untypical Buess cover and may as well be a real one.

After a couple of years another one of these awkward Karl Fr. Buess covers shows up. There must have been hundreds of these as many many singles exist too which had been cut out from these covers.

A sample of the Buess cut-outs.