Letter from Le Commissaire résident de France to Bourbonne les bains (Haute Marne) France, were he was born. Henri Sautut was French Resident Commissioner in Vila from 1933 to 35 and 1937 to 40. British 5d. stamp tied by PCH type 10A. Backstamped Bourbonne 18-6-35. I wonder why the French Resident Commissioner in Vila used a British stamp! ("SeSi" collection).

Registered cover with French 25c, 40c, 50c and 75c to Berne, Switzerland. The cancel is PCH type 10A, the registration label is PCH type R11.
The letter is backstamped on arrival in Berne 13 April 1935, so it took six and a half weeks for the journey. (Klinger coll.)

Similar cover: Registered cover to Berne, Switzerland.

Letter from the New Hebridean Postmaster to Denmark, the British 10d, 20d and 60d and the French 5c, 25c and 30c stamps cancelled with PCH type 10. (Merot coll.)

Letter written by the Condominium Land Surveyor Desestre to Haiphong forwarded to France. British 4d and French 1F 10c pay the 50c rate and the 1F registration fee. Cancelled with type 10. Backstamped Hai-Phong 15-4 35 and Colombes 13-V. (Goron coll.)

Late use of a 1920 stamp on a registered cover to Switzerland. Postmark PM7B, registration cachet NR9. I must really wonder about this cover: Non-colonial letter rate was 1F50c, registration was 1F50 so the postage was 3F but it has only 1F20c. Image thanks to Steve Drewett postal history.

As Roger Desestre was a land surveyor and cartographer by profession it is no wonder that the addresses on his letters were very nicely and daintly written. In 1953 was Registrar of Land Titles in Vila. He arrived in Sydney on 23 February 1930 on board the Messageries Maritimes S.S. Eridan to be attached to the French-British staff in Vila as land surveyor. The photo may have been taken in the 1950s.
Source: Coll. Fred Petit.

Letter written by the Condominium Land Surveyor Desestre to Germany. British 1F50 non-colonioal letter rate and 1F50 non-colonial registration fee: correctly frnaked.

Nice registered letter from Port-Vila to Bern Switzerland. The British 1921 provisional overprint 2d on 40c, 1924 provisional overprint 3d and the 1925 definitive serie 2/- stamps tied by GK type PM7B, registration cachet type NR9. Correct 3Fr rate for a non colonial registered letter. Backstamped BERN 1 BRIEFAUSGABE -4.V.35 in arrival. ("SeSi" coll)
Adolf Gribi was registrar of the "Schweizerischen Briefmarkenzeitung" (Swiss Stamp Journal) in 1910 and in 1945 still member of the "Philatelisten-Verein Bern 1885" and the "Consilium Philateliae Helveticae".

Registered letter to GRAZ AUSTRIA with correct non colonial registered letter rate 3 F : Registration fee 1 F 50c. and 20g. letter rate 1 F 50c. The 6d , 2F and 40c. stamps tied by PM7B. Registration label is type NR10B. ("SeSi" coll.)

Letter from Le Commissaire résident de France Port Vila to Alfred Sautot in Bourbonne les Bains Haute Marne France. The 5d tied by GK type PM7B. Backstamped BOURBONNE LES BAINS 18 - 6 35 on arrival.
As Henri Sautot, the Resident Commissioner in Vila in 1935 was born in Bourbonne les Bains the addressee may be a younger brother of Henri. ("SeSi" coll.)

Letter to London, the British 50c cancelled with PCH type 9 or 10. (seen in an old auction)

Letter to San Farancisco USA total franking 3F. The British 2 1/2d. and the French 2F, 20c, 25c. and 30c. stamps tied with a nice impression of GK type PM7C.

Letter to New Jersey USA total franking 1F50c. The British 1/2d.(2), 1d., 2 1/2d., and 6d. and the French 5c. and 25c. stamps tied by PCH type 10. ("SeSi" collection)

Letter to France, written by the surveyor Roger Desestre (handwriting!). The mixed stamps cancelled with PCH type 10. (Goron collection)

Picture postcard (Merveilleuse cascade de Pentecote, coll. Barrau) from Vila to Tuckerton N.J USA. Correct non colonial postcard rate 9d. The 2d, 5d and 2d stamps tied by GK type PM9A 18 MY 35, aside VILA 20 MY 35 (PM7B). ("SeSi" coll)

Registered envelope to Italy, written by the surveyor Roger Desestre (handwriting!). The total of 3F 70c is cancelled with PCH type 12. Routed via France to Modane with Piacenza arrival on reverse. Image thanks to Gaertner auctions

Letter from Société commerciale Gubbay frères des Nouvelles Hébrides to Detroit, Michigan, USA via s/s Morinda. One French 50c on front and 2 on back cancelled with PCH type 10A: correct rate to USA 1F50. The Burns Phils & Co. steamer Morinda came to Sydney at end of July and started her next run on 1 August via Norfolk Island. So this cover fits fine to the July run. ("SeSi" collection)

2 July 1935

Registered Desestre letter to Germany. English 1925 3F cancelled with PM7C, registration label NR10B. Carried to Sydney by MM LA PEROUSE. Non-colonial letter rate in 1935 was 1F50c, registration fee 1F50c too so it was paid correctly.
Image thanks to Chris Rainey

Letter to USS ITASCA Hawaii Islands readdressed to Caspar California. The British 1d. and the French 1F tied by GK Type PM11A. Total 1F50c. Backstamped machine cancel HONOLULU SEP 28 1935 BUY US SAVINGS BONDS ASK YOUR POSTMASTER in transit and Caspar OCT 7 1935 on arrival. (The sender is the "Géomètre du Condominium Roger Desestre") ("SeSi" collection)

12 August 1935

Letter to Austria, the 2/- and 7½d stamps cancelled with GK Type PM11A. (The sender is the "Géomètre du Condominium Roger Desestre") (seen on Ebay)

The mixed total of 5d. cancelled with PCH type 11. (The sender is the "Géomètre du Condominium Roger Desestre") ("SeSi" collection)

Registered envelope to Hong-Kong. Three 1925 English 5d stamps cancelled with PM7B, registration cachet NR11B. Colonial letter rate was 5g, registration fee 10d so it was cottectly franked. Backstamped REGISTERED SYDNEY 14 September 1935
Image thanks to Gaertner Auctions

Registered envelope to Italy, written by the surveyor Roger Desestre (handwriting!). The total of 3F 70c is cancelled with PCH type 12. Routed via Modane with Piacenza arrival on reverse. (seen in an old dealer's offer)

Registered maritime letter from a marist missionary in the New Hebrides to the Reverend Mother of the carmelite monastery at Lisieux, France. The Brithish 50c and the French 1F stamps are cancelled with PCH type 93. The registration handstamp is the martime one PCH type R57.
The sender of the 2 letters in this cover could be Père Joseph André founder of L'école Saint Michel in Santo (the man who rescued the bell of the "Bucephale" and placed it in St. Michel. (Merot coll.)

Letter to USA, the total mixed franking of 1F50c (non-colonial letter rate) cancelled with PM7B.
Maybe this letter comes from the Vila postmaster. It tells the the Condominium is not about to be terminated and that the currency exchange rate at the moment is 75F = 1BP.

30 October 1935

Letter to Noumea. 50 c cancelled with GK type PM7B. Backstamped Noumea 5.11.35 (ex Millet coll.)

4 November 1935

Registered letter to Piacenza, Italy with the British 1d, 2d, 2½d and 2/- stamps, tied with GK type PM11A but the one figure day is preceded by a solid rectangle. Registration label is PCH type R11. Backstamped with two different Genova 13.12.35 and two different Piacenza 14.12.35 cancels. This letter was written by the surveyor Desestre. (Klinger coll.)

4 November 1935

Registered letter to France Piacenza, Italy with the British 2d and 1/- and a French 10c stamp tied with GK type PM11A but the one figure day is preceded by a solid rectangle. Registration label is PCH type R11. Overpaid 5c. Backstamped on arrival 14-12-35. Written by the surveyor Desestre. (Klinger coll.)
It is interesting that these two covers to different countries which were side by side on the PO desk (Reg No. 778 & 779) are now side by side again.

Letter from Vila to Nantes, France. Correct colonial letter rate 50c. Cancelled PCH Type 10A. Seen in June 2012 at Delcampe.
The stamp is not cancelled in Vila but has a mirrored contact copy of a Nantes machine cancel. We have two other letters of the same sender and addressee of 23 May 1932 and 18 June 1934.

Registered to Marseille, cancelled with PCH type 9, registration label PCH type R11. (Merot coll.)

Registered letter to GRAZ AUSTRIA . The 50c , 40c , 2F and 1d stamps tied by PM7C. Total franking 3 F : correct non colonial regisrered letter rate. Registration label NR10B. ("SeSi" collection)

Letter to Paris 8. 1925 French 50c. stamp tied by PCH type 10A. Backstamped Paris 15 FEV 36. ("SeSi" collection)

Small cover to Nouméa, the French 25c stamp is cancelled with PCH type 9B. Christmas and New Year greetings to "Tiby" Hagen? (Merot coll.)

Letter to Seattle USA. The 1925 French 30c., 75c., 40c.and 5c. stamps tied by PCH type 12. ("SeSi" collection)

Registered to London, cancelled with PCH type 10, registration label PCH type R8. ("Aore" coll.)

Identical registered to London, cancelled with PCH type 10, registration label PCH type R8. Backstamped Sydney registered 29JA23 and Walthamstow 8 MR 36. Manuscript "Epi New Hebrides" in sender's handwriting on reverse. Image thanks to Lugdunum Philatélie, Lyon.

Letter from Vila to Saint James (Manche) France. Stamps tied by GK type PM7B. Correct 75c franking for a 21-50g cover. Backstamped Nouméa 13-3 36 in transit and Saint James 25-4 36 in arrival. ("SeSi" coll.)

11 March 1936
(new 8/2019)

Cover to Sydney with correct rate. The stamp is cancelled with PCH type 9B. ("Aore" coll.)

Simple cover to U.S.A. Two stamps (total 1/2½d) cancelled PM7B. Non colonial letter ratewas 1/3d so underfranked ½d. Image thanks to Gaertner Auctions

Cover with correct French domestic rate 5d/50c French issue from Vila to Nimes/Gard (France), Date: VILA, 28 MR 36, PCH type 10, the 8 seems to be upside down, reverse: NIMES GARD, 16.*, 8 . V 1936. (Klinger coll.)

Registered cover to Noumea. Colonial letter rate was 50c and registration fee 1Fr so the cover is correctly paid with 1F50c. (ex Millet coll.)

Plain cover from Vila to Boston. ("Klinger" coll.)

Surveyor Roger Desestre letter registered to the Netherlands. Mixed 1925 3F franking cancelled with Type 12. Picture thanks to Corbitts auctions

Surveyor Roger Desestre letter registered to Germany. Mixed 1925 3F franking cancelled with Type 12. Backstamped Lyon 11 7 36 and Hamburg 14.7.36 (seen in an internet auction)

Registered letter to Switzerland, the stamps pay the postage for a volume of Encyclopedia Britannica, a total of 7F10c of French 1925 stamps.
Picture thanks to Soler y Llach, Spain

Another Trümpy cover registered to Switzerland with many stamps. Backstamped Hätzingen 13.VII.36 on arrival. (seen in an internet auction)

Another Trümpy cover registered to Switzerland with many stamps.

Registered letter to Hätzingen Switzerland. The 1925 French 40c., 1F, 2F, 10c. stamps tied by PCH type 12. The British registration label is type R14. Backstamped HÄTZINGEN 13 VII 36. ("SeSi" collection)

Similar cover to Mr. Trümpy. Image thanks to Cover Story Ltd..

Registered letter to Hätzingen Switzerland. The 1925 French 5F stamp tied by PCH type 12. The British registration label is type R14. Backstamped HÄTZINGEN 13 VII 36. The letter travelled 45 days. Image thanks to Lugdunum Philatelie)

30 May 1936
(new 2/2020)

Registered letter to Hätzingen Switzerland. The 1925 French 5F stamp tied by PCH type 12. The British registration label is type R14. Backstamped HÄTZINGEN 13 VII 36. The letter travelled 45 days. ("JGI" collection)

Correct 40c or 4d postcard rate to France. The French stamp is cancelled with [PCH 9A] - the one with the longer bars. ("JGI" coll.)

Philatelic cover to the U.S. - overpaid as non colonial letter rate was 1F50c and 20g overweight 90c. Seen at Delcampe.

An other one from the Géomètre du Condominium Roger Desestre: Letter to Paris 18 readdressed Meriel (Seine et Oise) France. The 1925 French 10c., 30c., and a pair of 5c. stamps tied by PCH type 11. Backstamped Paris Distribution 15 VIII 36 and Meriel 18-8-36 in arrival. ("SeSi" collection)

Cover to Marseille redirected to Neris-les-bains. 1F pastage pays 100g letter.
Image thzanks to Sandafayre

Letter to Paris, the 50c stamp cancelled with PCH type 9B. Backstamped Paris 15 VII / 36. Seen on Ebay in 2007

From 1934 until 1936 the brothers Fahnestock sailed on the Pacific in their schooner "DIRECTOR". During this first expedition they found petroglyphs. Letter to the U.S., franked 1F50c which paid the non-colonial letter rate up to 20g.

24 July 1936

24 July 1936

Cover with correct French foreign rate 30c and 1Fr French issue and a 2d British issue from Vila to Jeannette, USA, Date: 17.SEP.36, PCH type 9B. (Klinger coll.)

Postmaster cover to U.S.A. 1F50c paid exactly the non-colonial letter rate in September 1936. Cancel: PM7C

Registered letter to GRAZ AUSTRIA. The 1 F, 75c. and 1/- tied by PM7C. Total franking 3 F : correct non colonial registered letter rate up to 20g. Registration label NR10B. ("SeSi" coll.)

Cover with 25c and 30c French and 1d, 2½d and 6d British issue from Vila to Port Moresby, Papua, tied by New Hebrides/Vila cds 6 October 1936, PCH type 9B (left separator bar broken), but the one number day date is preceded by a solid rectangle. A KPM sign on the reverse plus 20c and 10c French, ½d and 1d British stamps which the postmaster didn't want to cancel. KPM = Koninklijke Paketvaart Maatschappij (Netherlands). (Klinger coll.)

6 October 1936

50c British stamp on a cover to Germany, taxed 40 (?). Non colonial letter rate was 1F50c. I don't know how the tax was calculated. (seen in an internet auction)

50c British stamp on a cover to the U.S. cancelled PM7B and taxed 8c U.S.). Non colonial letter rate was 1F50c.

Registered ship letter to Paris redirected to Cannes. The 1F50c cancelled with GK type PM8 (LAPEROUSE - arrived in Sydney on 8 August). Colonial letter rate 5oc and colonial registration 1F. Registration cachet GK type NR11B. Laperouse carried the cover to Noumea for the Messageries Maritimes steamer. Laperouse did not return to Sydney until 11 March 1937.
Backstamped Paris arrival.

29 July 1933
(new 11/22)

1,50F on a cover to New York cancelled with PM7B. Non-colonial letter rate to the U.S. was 1,80F for 20g so this one is underpaid. (Klinger coll.)