Exceptional first day of issue : 12 July 1911 was the first day for the French 1911 issue. Registered letter from Cabinet du Commissaire Résident de France to Monsieur LEBRUN Ministre des Colonies Paris , bearing the 1910 French provisional series 50c. in combination with the 20c. of the 1911 definitive series tied by PCH type 5 cds. Backstamped Sydney 25 JL 11 in transit and Paris 27 AOUT 11 on arrival. ("SeSi" collection)

Albert LEBRUN : Homme politique français (Mercy le haut (Meurthe et Moselle) 1871-Paris 1950). Ancien élève de Polytechnique, ingénieur des Mines, il siégea à la Chambre des Députés (1900) avec la Gauche Démocratique et fut nommé Ministre des Colonies (1911-1914), puis du Blocus et des Régions Libérées (1917-1920) . Président du Sénat (1931), il fut élu Président de la Troisième République (1932-1940) et se retira après l'armistice et la formation du gouvernement de Vichy (juillet 1940). Arrêté par les Allemands, il fut déporté (1944-1945). réf: dictionnaire Le Petit Robert 2 .

This registered postcard was sent to UK. The British colonial postcard rate is 1d (10c) and a registration fee of 2½d (25c) is applied. The message is from Mr. A. Deschamps the second condominium postmaster. (unknown coll.)

7 August 1911

Letter to England with the correct rate in French stamps: 25c. Backstamped Sydney 24 August 1911, brought by the Burns Philp & Co. Ltd. steamer MAKAMBO. ("Mele" coll.)

Philatelic registered letter from Port-Vila to Mme Houades PARIS 15 France. The three top value French stamps 1Fr, 2Fr, and 5Fr tied by GK type PM2 on 7 AOUT 11, registered cachet type NR1C.
Extraordinary franking 8 Fr. for a 35 centimes rate ( 23 the price ! ). Backstamped SYDNEY REGISTERED AU 24 11 in transit and PARIS XV DISTRIBUTION 29-9 11 on arrival. Carried to Sydney by the Burns Philp steamer MAKAMBO. ("SeSi" collection)

7 August 1911
(new Feb 2018)

Letter to Loudéac (Cotes du Nord) France bearing the 10c. 1911 French definitive series tied by PCH type 5 cds. This is the first postal object known to us with the 1911 French issue, first day 12 July 1911. ("SeSi" collection)

Registered cover to Samoa, bearing the 1908 French provisional series 50c in combination with the 5c and 10c of the 1911 definitive series, tied by PCH type 5 cds. Reg. Nr. 380. Image thanks to Roumet Philatélie, Paris

Registered cover to Samoa, bearing the 1908 French provisional series 50c in combination with the 5c and 10c of the 1911 definitive series, tied by PCH type 5 cds. Reg. Nr. 368 (Treadwell coll.)

Registered cover to Samoa, bearing the 1908 French provisional series 50c in combination with the 5c and 10c of the 1911 definitive series, tied by PCH type 5 cds. Reg. Nr. 376. (Goron coll.)

26 August 1911

Registered cover to Samoa, bearing the 1908 French provisional series 50c in combination with the 5c and 10c of the 1911 definitive series, tied by PCH type 5 cds. Reg. Nr. 373. Backstamped Apia 21.9.11. A shame that somebody tried to soak the 1908 stamp! ("Mele" coll.)

Registered cover to Samoa, bearing the 1908 French provisional series 50c in combination with the 5c and 10c of the 1911 definitive series, tied by PCH type 5 cds. Reg. Nr. 377. Backstamped Apia 21. September 1911. Image thanks to Lugdunum Philatélie, Lyon

Registered cover to France, a couple of French 1911 stamps cancelled with PCH type 5. (Merot coll.)

1d cover (French colonial letter rate) to France cancelled GK type PM4. "SE22" placed upside-down in the cancel device.
Backstamped PARIS 4.11.11 ("SeSi" coll.)

5c postcard (French colonial short message postcard rate) from Santo to Noumea cancelled GK type PM4. "SE22" placed upside-down in the cancel device.
The had trouble with the date because here the first 2 and the E in the date are larger than on the previous cover.
The card was rather slow on its way to Vila as it was written on August 26. (coll. Fred Petit)

22 September 1911

Letter from Port Vila to Kew, Victoria, bearing a 1911 French 20c tied by PCH type 5 cds. Frank H. L. Paton was a son of the well known New Hebrides missionary John G. Paton. He was Honorary Director of the John G. Paton Mission Fund in Kew. ("JGI" coll.)

Full set (except 5/-) cover to France, cancelled PM2.

Registered cover to Birmingham franked French 5c, 10c, 25c (not pmkd), 30c and 5Fr tied by PCH type 5 cds. (Seen in an 1990's Australian auction catalogue)

Cover to New South Wales, with British colonial letter rate of 2d. (unknown coll.)
This is the first letter known to us with the 1911 British issue, first day 25 July 1911.

Registered cover to France franked with the complete French set less the 25c and 30c cancelled with PCH type 5. This letter was most likely carried by the Messageries Maritimes steamer Pacifique, which called at Sydney on 29 October 1922. The Burns Phil & Co. steamer Malaita came from Vila to Sydney on 21. October but that would be too early for this letter I think. Backstamped on arrival: Paris 2 distribution 2-12-11. ("SeSi" collection)

Registered cover to Newark, USA, bearing a pair of the 1911 French series 40c and a 10c paying for a triple weight letter(?) tied with PCH type 5 cds. Backstamped transit San Francisco 8 December 1911 and arrival Newark 13 December 1911. (Ruecker coll.)

Registered cover to Apia, Samoa to Mr. Irving C. Hetherington.

Postcard from Alfred Rosiers in Faureville (please see [Pre Condominium --> N.C.A --> covers 1908] plan at left for the Rosier settlement in Faureville) to a relative in Madagascar, the British 1d stamp prepays the correct French colonial rate and is cancelled with PCH type 5. Colombo transit machine cancellation dated 16 November 1911 on address side. (Klinger coll.)

22 October 1911

Buess registered cover to the post director in FREIBURG BADEN redirectored to PFORZHEIM. Attractive overpaid letter with a total franking 2,30 F. Backstamped REGISTERED - SYDNEY NSW - 22 NO 11 in transit, FREIBURG(BREISGAU)1 30-12-11 and PFORZHEIM 31.12.11 on arrival. Just in time for the new year! ("SeSi" coll.)

31 October 1911

Letter to Australia. The correct colonial letter rate cancelled with GK type PM2. Backstamped twice Sydney 22.11.11 ("SeSi" coll.)

9 November 1911

Postcard 10c colonial rate to Noumea, long text. Mixed ½d - 5c franking cancelled with PCH type 5. Sent to Mademoiselle Hélène Fruitet, daughter of the well known pharmacist Eugène Fruitet. She was born 1892 and died 1971. The card was most likely carried to Noumea by Messageries Maritimes' steamer PACIFIQUE, which left Sydney on 8 Nov and was back on 26 Nov. (Jeff Blinco coll.)

16 November 1911

Cover from Vila to Sydney, Two 1d cancelled with PCH type 5. ("SeSi" coll.)

Letter, most likely overweight, to the stamp dealer William Ackland in Melbourne. The 8½d stamps are cancelled with PCH type 5. Triple weight plus registration could be exactly 8½d. (Goron coll.)

Postcard to New Caledonia with short message, hence 5c. (now unknown coll.)

Small letter from Vila to Noumea, typical for Christmas & New Year greetings, the 5c stamp cancelled with PCH Type 5. PACIFIQUE left Sydney on 6 Dec, arrived at Noumea on 10 Dec, left for Vila on 12 Dec, arrived there on 13 Dec, returned from the island tour on 17 Dec, left for Noumea the same day and arrived there on 18 Dec. Off to Sydney on 20 Dec and back there on 24 Dec. (These are the dates according to her normal timetable). Image thanks to Gärtner Auktionen Germany