A First Day Cover of the British 5c and 30c stamps to USA. The stamps are cancelled with PCH type 11. In contrary to PCH (..where there is only one figure for the day it is preceded by a dash) this cancel has a solid rectangle behind the one figure "1". (Treadwell coll.)

A First Day Cover of the British 10c stamp as local letter. The stamp is cancelled with PCH type 11. They changed the canceler because now there is only one figure for the day preceded by a dash. See more covers by Mrs. A. Larney (E. Larny) on the France Libre page on 3. Dec 1941 and on the "censored" page on 4 March 1942. (Ruecker coll.)

Local FDC. The 5 French stamps 5,10,15,20 and 25c.or tied by PCH type 11 and the British 5,10,15,20 and 25cg tied with PCH type 12.("SeSi" coll.)

Peythieux registered cover to France. 1938 issue mixed 2F70 gold cancelled with GK type PM7A, registration cachet "Villa" NR9.
Backstamped Sydney 24 AU 38 and Valence 5-9-38. The only ship in the island returning to Sydney was MORINDA leaving Sydney on 4 August and returning on 23 August. So this cover had to wait in Vila PO until about 12 August.
Image thanks to Gaertner auctions

4 August 1938

Letter to Italy franked 10c, cancelled with PCH type 10A and taxed. Backstamped BRESSANONE BOLZANO 14.10.38. ("Sesi" coll.)

2 September 1938

Picture postcard to Paris franked 15gc (overfranked 5gc ?). (Klinger coll.)

2 September 1938

Cover with both 5c,10c and 15c British and French issue from Vila to Monroe, Louisiana, Hals/Collas Postmark #9, registration cachet #8, markers on reverse: Vila -5 OC 38, Sydney 10 NO 38, San Pedro Calif 28 NOV 1938 and Monroe 1. DEC 1938. (Klinger coll.)

5 October 1938

Cover (20g-40g) to France.
Image thanks to Soler y LLach, Spain

28 October 1927 (i.e. 28 October 1938)
Twilight zone or NH in the Bermuda Triangle? (Or une bouteille de Rouge, not from the customer but before cancelling the cover): 28 OC 27 Registered letter to Madame E. Peythieux Valence (Drôme) France. 1938 British 30c. gold stamp tied by PCH type 9B VILA 28 OC 27. Registration handstamp is PCH type R8. Backstamped Valence 10-12-38 on arrival. The sender is A.E Peythieux Sous-Capitaine on S/S POLYNESIEN. Seems like both year rolls of the handstamp had rolled back one position ("Sesi" collection).
This letter shows very clearly that one should be very "nonchalant" when judging NH cancellations. When I was in Santo on Oct 11, 2006, the canceller at the PO was set to Oct 14, 2006. I think it was set only once a week. (comment: Roland Klinger)

28 October 1938

10cg letter rate to the U.S.: underpaid, correct rate ws 30cg. Date illegible, transit San Pedro, Cal., DEC 9 1938 with a cachet on front saying 'Deficiency in address supplied by '28' San Pedro Calif. P.O.' as the state was not written on the cover. See [E.2.-38MYxx] too. ("JGI" coll.)

Big (18x30 cm) and heavy registered post office letter to Fitchburg Mass. USA with US custom cachet Passed Free in violet. The French 50,30 and 5c.or tied by PCH type 15, registration cachet is type R8. Backstamped Boston Jan 17 1939 in transit and Fitchburg Jan 18 1939 in arrival. ("SeSi" coll.)

Registered letter from the French Judge's office to the holder of the Land Register. The British 30cg stamp prepaid the 10 cg postage and the 20 cg registration fee. It is cancelled with PCH type 9, the registration cachet is PCH type R11. (Merot coll.)

Registered cover to England with a total of 1.05Fg cancelled with GK type PM11A and registration label NR10B #48. Sandafáyre Auctions

Registered cover to England with a total of 2.95Fg (set to 1F) cancelled with PCH type 11 and registration label R11 #86. Arrival backstamped OLDHAM LANCS 7FE39 #86. ("JGI" collection)

Registered cover to England with a total of 1.05Fg cancelled with GK type PM11A and registration label NR10B #52. (ex Millet coll.)

Registered cover to England with a total of 1.05Fg cancelled with PCH type 11 and registration label R11 #58. Backstamped Oldham Lancs. 7 February 1939. Seen on an internet auction site.

Registered cover to England with a total of 1.05Fg cancelled with PCH type 11 and registration label R11 #66. Backstamped Oldham 7. Feb. 1939 on arrival. Seen on an internet auction site.

Registered letter to Paris redirected to Enghin. 1F50c g cancelled with GK type PM11A. reg cachet NR9. Backstampes Sydney Air 15.2.1939, Paris 27.2.39 and Enghien 27.2.39 (ex Millet coll.)

3 February 1939

Registered letter to Paris 18: "Mademoiselle Mallet Chef du secrétariat particulier du Président du Conseil". The 10c.gold (2) and the 10c.or (2) stamps tied by PCH type 15A. Registration label is type R11. Backstamped Paris XVIII distribution 8- 4-39. ("SeSi" collection)

Postcard to Andlun au Val (Bas Rhin) France. The 5c.or and 5c.gold stamps tied by PCH type 10A. ("SeSi" collection)

Registered letter to Paris18. Total franking 30c. with three 10c. stamps tied by PCH type 12. The French registration label is type R11. Backstamped Paris 15-4-39 on arrival. ("SeSi" collection)

Registered letter to Nouméa, 30cg pays the 10cg rate and 20cg registration fee to New Calédonia. The stamps are cancelled with PCH type 11. Suggested ship is S.S. Eridan (famous for her sqare funnels), which did the Marseille-Panama-Tahiti-Sydney run since 1935.

Registered letter to Nouméa, 30cg pays the 10cg rate and 20cg registration fee to New Calédonia. The stamps are cancelled with PCH type 12. The registration label is PCH R11. (Merot coll.)

Registered Peythieux cover to Valence. PCH type 12 on a French 40c stamp, one strike alongside. (seen in an old dealer's offer)

Registered envelope to the Bank of Indochina at Noumea, the 10c and 20c French stamps cancelled with PCH type 10. Noumea arrival on reverse. (seen in an old dealer's offer)

Registered envelope to Las Vegas with an English short set 5c to 50c.

Registered envelope to Las Vegas with a French short set 5c to 50c.

Letter to New Caledonia, the British 10c stamp cancelled with the Inter-Island cancel. Nouméa backstamp.
Image thanks to Soler y Llach, Spain..

Registered postmaster letter to the U.S., the British 25c and 50c stamp cancelled with PCH type 12. Sydney backstamp 3-JE39, Boston, Mass. JUL / 5 / 1939 and Fitchburg, Mass JUL / 6 / 1939. Additional Cachet "Passed Free / U.S. Customs / Boston, Mass." on front and rubber handstamp "Foreign Letter Postage / COLLECT 10 CENTS / for Customs Clearance. / Postage-due stamps / to be affixed & cancelled!" but this was not done. (Klinger coll.)

27 May 1939

Letter from Club des Nouvelles Hébrides Port-Vila to Nouméa NC. The 1938 British 10c. stamp tied by PCH type 12. Backstamped Nouméa 13-7-39. ("SeSi" collection)

Heavy letter to Australia with a total postage of 1Fg45cg in 1938 French stamps cancelled with PCH Type 12, registration handstamp R8. Backstamped Sydney 18 July and Ashfield, NSW, 18 July. Carried by "PIERRE LOTI" which arrived at Sydney on 18 July. (coll. Petit)

10cg correct postcard rate to New Caledonia cancelled with [PCH 12] - the one with the double short bars. ("JGI" collection)

1 August 1939

Registered cover to Townsville, Queensland, Australia with a total of 1.95 Fg cancelled with PCH type 12, registration handstamp PCH type R8 . Backstamped GPO SYDNEY RS -9SE39 in transit and REGISTERED TOWNSVILLE 12 SEP 39 on arrival . ("SeSi" collection)

Registered to France cancelled with PM7C. Colonial registration fee was 20 cg so theletter must have been between 40g & 60g for 30 cg. Registration label NR7A. Backstamped Noumea 20 SEPT 39 and Paris 14-11 39. (ex Millet coll.)

As the cover was unfranked, it has been correctly surcharged 20cg representing twice the local rate of 10cg. Both language labels have been used. ("JGI" collection)

The correct letter rate was 10c. So a surcharge of 2 x 5cg has been applied using two English and French 5cg taxe/due labels. ("JGI" collection)

Registered Baldwin cover. The British 10c, 15c and 25c cancelled with PCH type 12, registration stamp PCH type R8. ("JGI" coll.)

Baldwin registered cover with a total of 50cg cancelled with PCH type 11 and registration label R14. ("JGI" collection)

Registered Messageries Maritimes cover from Vila to Aubagne (Bouches du Rhône) France. The British 10 and 20cg. stamps tied by PCH type 12. The year 40 is shown as a solid rectangle followed by 4. Registration label is type R11. Backstamped AUBAGNE-Bches DU RHONE 29.3.40 on arrival. ("SeSi" coll.)

31 January 1940

Letter to France, the French 10cg stamp pays the correct rate and is cancelled with PCH type 12 which in early 1940 shows the forty as a solid rectangle followed by a "4". (Merot coll.)

Registered letter from the Justice of the Peace to the holder of the Land Register in Port-Vila. The two French 15cg stamps (10cg postage, 20cg registration fee) are cancelled with PCH type 13, registration handstamp PCH type R8. On the left top corner the French Official Cachet Holland type of5 is applied and the name "Jeanson" in script.
Gaston Jeanson became French judge at the Condominium Court in 1931 and Registrar of Titles in 1935. (Merot coll.)

Registered Peythieux cover to Valence cancelled with PCH type 8. (seen in an old dealer's offer)

Baldwin cover from Santo to Australia with the British 20cg and 30cg stamps tied with PCH type 36, the first English cancel for Santo. As double works better there is a PCH type R34 registration label affixed with #166 and a PCH type R31 handstamp applied with #166 too. (Mele coll.)

Baldwin cover from Santo to Australia franked with 10, 15, and 25cg and is numbered #167. (Merot coll.)

Registered cover from Santo to Australia franked with 10 and 40cg and is numbered #162. Backstamped Sydney. Source: Auckland City Stamps

Letter to Ste Foy les Lyon (Rhône) France via IndoChina. The 10c.or stamp tied by PCH type 13. On reverse label "La défense contre la tuberculose". Backstamped machin cancel Saigon Central Cochinchine 17 AOUT 40 10h50 in transit and Ste Foy les Lyon 12-11-40 on arrival. ("SeSi" collection)

17 June 1940

Commercial cover to USA, the 1938 French 10cg and British pair of two 5cg stamps are cancelled with PCH type 11. (Klinger coll.)

Cover to Australia with the correct 10 cg rate stamp tied with SANTO PM16. Carried by SS MORINDA. (ex Millet coll.)

Cover to Australia with the correct 10 cg rate stamp tied with PCH type 11. Carried by SS Mirani (854 t), a Burns Philp interisland vessel until 1940. (Aore coll.)

Letter from Oscar Newman to his brother-in-law Louis Page, "habile géomètre du Tribunal Mixte" ( O'Reilly ). The letter was carried from some outer island by the mission vessel "St. Josef" and cancelled in Vila. For a reason unclear to me the postmaster decided that the letter was underpaid 20c and a 40c tax was applied on 12 August 1940. ("Aore" coll.)

Inter island letter from Vila to Santo forwarded to Vanikoro (in light blue at left) . The British 10cg cancelled with PCH type 12 and the French 30c.or cancelled with PCH type 11. Handstamped with PCH type 38 on 24DE40 in Santo . The registration handstamp is PCH type R8 Port-Vila n°65 . Same cover as C.4.3 40NO27 but with inter-island registration n°64 . Both cancelled in Vila? The manuscript above the 30c stamp could read "Returned".

Correct 10cg colonial letter rate to Australia. Ex Bill Holland coll. Although censorship of mail was introduced in the New Hebrides and Australia immidiately after the declaration of war in Europe in 1939, this December 1940 letter was censored in neither country. The cover is endorsed ont the reverse "From K.H. Garvey Vila".
Image thanks to Lugdunum Philatélie France.

Air mail letter from Port-Vila to Saigon Indochina . The two 30gc. stamps tied by PM11B. On front circular cachet GREFFIER - NOTAIRE / - Port-Vila. Nouvelles-Hébrides - Backstamped SAIGON COCHINCHINE 23 12 40 on arrival. Travel 10 days. ("SeSi" coll.)

13 December 1940

Baldwin "Christmas cover" from Santo to Australia, the British 5c and 25c and the FRench 20c stamps tied with PCH type 38. As double works better there is a GK Type NR17 registration label affixed with #375 and a GK Type NR18 handstamp applied with #375. (Mele coll.)

Baldwin "Christmas cover" from Santo to Australia, the British 20cg and the French 5cg & 25cg stamps tied with GK Type PM15. As double works better there is a GK Type NR17 registration label affixed with #370 and a GK Type NR18 handstamp applied with #370 too. Backstamped Vila 28 DEC 40 with GK Type PM7C and Sydney 3 JAN 41. (image thank to Malcolm Goyns)

24 December 1940

Internal registered cover with 10cg postage and 20cg registration(?) to the Vila postmaster Ludovic de Gaillande. Cancelled PCH type 10, registration cachet PCH type 8, the one with the miss-spelled VILLA. (Aore coll.)

Registered letter to Australia, correctly franked 30cg. Unusual for a civil letter not having been censored. ("JGI" coll.)

Letter to Sydney with a French 1938 5cgold and a British 1925 2d stamp. They are cancelled with PCH Type 11. Tax stamped in the New Hebrides with manuscript 10cgold and Tax stamped Sydney 1½d paid by a 1d and a ½d Australian Tax stamp. Adressee informed handstamp dated 8.5.41. (Alain Millet coll.)

Uncensored 10cg rate cover to the High Commissioner of the British Western Pacific Territories Sir Harry Luke in Fiji. ("JGI" coll.)

A letter from Vila to U.S.A: This one is from the last voyage of Irving Johnson's old Brigantine YANKEE in 1941. Cancelled with GK type PM7D. (ex Millet coll.)

7 May 1941

Letter to the High Commissioner in Fiji, the 20c stamp cancelled with PCH type 38. (Ruecker coll.)

10c rate to Noumea, not censored, postmark Goyns Klinger type PM7C. (ex Millet coll.)

10c rate to Australia, not censored, postmark Goyns Klinger type PM7C. (Klinger coll.)

10c rate to AUstralia, not censored, postmark Goyns Klinger type PM7C. (Klinger coll.)

AVIS DE RECEPTION for a registered letter sent from Luganville 27 janvier 1942 by M. Harelle Directeur de la Compagnie des Iles Banks to M. Laborde settler in Santo.The British 10c. stamp tied by PCH type 38 SANTO -6.FEV.42 ("SeSi" collection)

6 February 1942

Picture postcard "un coin de la côte à Epi" from Port Vila to San Francisco . The 20c.or tied by GK type PM11A. Correct non colonial postcard rate. ("SeSi" coll.)

This cover with the return address of the USS Crescent City, PCH type 38 tying mixed postage stamps is dated two days after the Crescent City reached Santo. However no postal service was extended o this item and it was held simply as a souvenir. (Jersey coll.)

Piece with the 10c normal and the 5c, 10c Postage Dues. Cancelled Santo, 21OC42. (Klinger coll.)

Complete set of Postage Due stamps on five unaddressed covers tied by PCH type 36 first English cancel for Santo.
Cover 1: 5c. postage due
Cover 2: 10c. postage due tied by PCH type 36 and French 1F stamp tied by PCH type 38.
Cover 3: 20c. postage due
Cover 4: 40c. postage due and British 25c.
Cover 5: 1F postage due
("SeSi" collection)

AVIS DE RECEPTION with octogonal handstamp AR.Two French 10c. stamps tied by PCH type 11. PORT-VILA 12 MARS 43. The registred letter sent by Cdt Nicolas Harelle Director of the Société des Iles Banks to Monsieur Launay Henri settler of the Société Française des Nouvelles Hébrides in Santo. Backstamped by PCH type 37 SANTO 9 APR 43. ("SeSi" collection)

12 March 1943

Cover with mixed 1F25c (a 5c stamps is a tax stamp)to U.S.A. cancelled GK PM16. (Blinco collection)

Correct 5cg local island rate cancelled with Goyns-Klinger type PM11A. Édouard Pouillet was a planter in Mele. Not censored.
Ex Bill Holland coll.
Image thanks to Lugdunum Philatélie France.

Avis de Réception: Two British 10c stamps cancelled with PCH type 36, the second day digit is a blank square. It is remarcable that this paper does not follow the two language rule! Still affixed with the original two rusty needles is the complete registration segment, the VILA label not corrected to SANTO. It belonged to a postal object from Mr. Harelle, (at this time director of the "Société des îles Banks") to Mr. Launay, (at this time settler of the "Société Français des Nouvelles Hébrides" (Klinger coll.)

2 September 1943

1938 British 10c, 1941 French 5c and 15c tied with PCH type 10A on a letter to: Pott's Point, Sydney, Australia.
"Official cover" sent to the "Postmaster on leave", Ludovic de Gaillande. (Aore coll.)

9 September 1943

O.C.S. post office cover to New York, the British 5c stamp (normal rate to U.S. : 30cg) cancelled with PCH type 11. (Klinger collection)

Local APO 708 cover via civil mail (?) 2 5c.or on front and a strip of 3 10cg backstamped by PCH type 38. There was the company "B" 117th engineer battalion on Santo but what about 117 AAA Gp ? ("SeSi" collection)

3 December 1943

Local letter to Bombing Squadron 104 Espiritu Santo franked with four British postage due stamps 5c., 10c., 20c., and 40c. tied by PCH type 38. ("SeSi" collection)

Letter to France, 2 x 5 cg cancelled with Goyns Klinger type PM11A. The first "4" of the year is not correctly set. Colonial letter rate was 10 cg. "Messageries Maritimes" imprint on reverse. (Klinger collection)

Registered letter to Noumea- uncensored. Colonial letter rate 10cg and colonial registration fee 20cg. Cancelled PM11A, registration label NR10C. (ex Millet coll.)

Correct 10cg local inter-island rate cancelled with Goyns-Klinger type PM11A. Reverend John Gillan was at Tangoa Mission Ccollege. Not censored.
Ex Bill Holland coll.
Image thanks to Lugdunum Philatélie France.

Underpaid letter to the U.S.A. (non colonial letter rate was 30 gc). The French stamp cancelled with Goyns-Klinger type PM15 and the English one with PM16.
Ex Bill Holland coll.
Image thanks to Lugdunum Philatélie France.

Letter from Santo to Vila with both the 5c stamps and both cancels. Sign of the San Francisco Palace Hotel (enlarged in the scan) on reverse. (Klinger coll.)

Letter from Santo to Vila with both the 5c stamps and both cancels.
Image thanks to Steve Drewett stamps

Curious letters from Santo to Australia. Two French and two British 1938 10c stamps tied with PCH type 38. Mr. Baldwin, the famous Australian New Hebrides collector, got hold of an unused NZ military cover which had the NZ censor handstamp applied but not signed. So this letter seemed to have reached its destiny without any censoring. (Mele coll.)

Two French and two British 1938 15c stamps tied with PCH type 38. (seen in an old dealer's offer)

New Zealand military cover from Santo to Sydney which had the NZ censor handstamp pre-applied but not signed. Uncensored letter sent by (and to) Mr. Baldwin a famous Australian New Hebrides collector. Pair of 10c. postage due stamps tied by PCH type 38. ("SeSi" collection)

Interisland cover to Tanna with the British 5c stamp, cancelled Vila with PCH type 11. In the background another local cover with the same stamp but tied with PCH type 10 and a type 11 additionally. (Mele coll.)

Letter from Santo to Kilbirnie, Wellington, New Zealand. the British 40cg and 50cg stamps and the British 40cg POSTAGE DUE stamp are cancelled with PCH type 38. One of the very rare covers with a (unintended?) normal use of a POSTAGE DUE stamp. (Klinger coll.)

Letter to France. 10cg colonial letter rate cancelled with GK type PM7D. (ex Millet coll.)

A complete set of the 1938 gold issue plus the five TAXE stamps on a Burns Philp (South Sea) Coy. Suva cover to Burn Philp in Santo (New Caledonia !!). Cancelled with GK Type PM16. Image thanks to Lugdunum Philatélie

30 May 1945

Letter from a medical officer to New York, Port Vila censor cachet in violet. The British 30c stamp cancelled with PCH type 11. A late use as PCH give April 1945 as last use date. (seen in an old dealer's offer)

New Zealand military mail, the 10cg stamp cancelled with GK PM16.

Correctly franked letter to the U.S.A., non colonial letter rate 30 gc. All stamps cancelled with Goyns-Klinger type PM16.
Ex Bill Holland coll.
Image thanks to Lugdunum Philatélie France.