The 1949 U.P.U. Issue Postal History
1949-1965
Bishop Jules Halbert
Source: One hundred years of mission: the Catholic Church in New Hebrides, Vanuatu, 1887-1987" von Paul Monnier (Port-Vila, 1987).
2 November 1949
(new 1/2019)
Complete set on a Service des Postes cover to the U.S. From my 2003 archive
18 November 1949
Air Mail to France. 1F 10c caqncelled with GK Type PM11A. The correct air mail rate to France in 1949 would have been 10cg for a 20g letter
and 50cg air surcharge - but most people in the New Hebrides didn't know that. (Klinger coll.)
25 November 1949
(new 11/22)
Registered cover from Vila to New Zealand. The 1F5c stamps cancelled with GK type PM11B.
Image thanks to Ron Leith Auctions.
29 November 1949
Unused cover commemorating the last day of use of the INTER-ISLAND PCH type 90. (Klinger coll.)
29 November 1949
Inter island letter Vila to Tanna: the 10 cg is cancelled with GK type PM7B which is astonishable as the use of PM7B is so far documeted only until 1939.
(ex Millet coll.)
5 December 1949
(new 4/2020)
Air mail from Vila to Chaumont (Haute Marne) France. Stamps tied by PM11B. Underpaid 5gc : air surcharge 50 gc, colonial letter rate 10 gc. Arrival 14.12.49 in manuscript .("SeSi" coll.)
16 December 1949
French 1949 UPU 30c. and 15c. used on air mail cover from Santo to Burwood NSW
tied with PCH type 38 : a very late use. ("SeSi" coll.)
9 January 1950
British 1949 UPU 30c used on a registered cover to England PM7B. Registration label NR19B. (ex Millet coll.)
11 January 1950
British 1949 UPU 30c used on a cover to Canada tied with PCH type 14.
Backstamped St. Aubert 20 April 1950. (Ruecker coll.)
2 February 1950
(new 8/2019)
Air mail letter from Santo to Vesoul (Haute Saône) France missent to Adelaide
South Australia.
The 40c.or stamp tied by GK type PM16, the 15c.or UPU by 2 black circular oblitérations
which were a form of Santo paquebot cancellation at this time. Aside Adelaide12 6FE50 and a rectangular cachet POST TOWN/NOT KNOWN IN/SOUTH
AUSTRALIA. In red manuscript try France. Underpaid 5cg as colonial letter rate was 20cg and air surcharge to France 50cg. ("SeSi" coll.)
7 March 1950
Registered cover to India showing the R22 registration label which was used provisionally when there was
a shortage of regular labels in 1950. Frames measures 38 x 15 mm. Backstamped transit G.P.O. SYDNEY AIR 17MR50A
and arrival DELY DEPT BOMBAY 20AMR 50. ("JGI" coll.)
18 June 1950
Lettre par avion de Santo à Port Vila. Le 10cg UPU oblitéré par le type 37 SANTO 18 JUN 50
et le type 234 10 EME ANNIVERSAIRE / DE L'APPEL HISTORIQUE / DU 18 JUIN 1940 .
Monseigneur Jules Halbert (1886-1955) sera Vicaire Apostolique des Nouvelles Hébrides
du 11 juillet 1929 au 11 mars 1954. Il fut un soutient actif au mouvement de La France Libre:
C'est dans la salle de la Mission catholique de Port Vila que le gouverneur Sautot rallie les NH
à la France Combattante le 20 juillet 1940.(O'Reilly: Hébridais). ("SeSi" col..)
It is interesting that in spite of the French slogan and the French postmark they used an English stamp. (Roland)
12 June 1949
Lettre par avion de Paris pour Mgr Halbert à Port Vila.
La série émise pour le centenaire du timbre poste français oblitérée par le cachet spécial du centenaire
le 12 juin 1949. La combinaison avec le bloc du 10F n'était possible que pendant 12 jours:
du 01 juin (émission) au 12 juin (retrait) .
Au verso cachet de Nouméa du 21 6 49 en transit.
("SeSi" col..)
20 April 1950
British 1949 UPU 30c plus 1938 15cg used on an Air Mail cover to USA
tied with PCH type 9B. Same sender as letter 2 Sept 1947 in 1938 after WW II. (Klinger coll.)
9 August 1950
Not seen so often: A FDC sent nearly one year later. Registered letter to New York, PCH type 14, registration label R12. Cancels on reverse: Vila, 9 August 1950, Nouméa, 10 August 1950, AMF San Francisco,
15 August 1950, Brooklyn, Reg. Sec. Tour 3, 16 August 1950 and Brooklyn, Vanderveer Sta. 17 August 1950. (Klinger coll.)
9 August 1950
Reverse
15 January 1952
French 1949 UPU 150c plus British 1938 25cg and French 1938 20cg used on an Air
Mail cover from Santo to Algeria, tied with PCH type 40. (Sender A. Cruel, Santo)
(Klinger coll.)
23 June 1952
(new 3/2020)
French 1949 UPU complete set on a cover to U.S.A. Cancelled with PM18A. (Klinger coll.)
23 June 1952
reverse
20 April 1953
(new 11/22)
Registered Air Mail Letter from Santo to U.S.A.
20 April 1953
(new 11/22)
reverse
28 July 1953
Registered Air Mail Letter from the Catholic Mission in Vila to Torino, Italy.
The postage is a 1938 British 20cg stamp, a French 1953 2 Fr. and a French
1949 UPU 10c stamp. The stamps are tied with PCH type 17, registration label is PCH
type R12. (Merot coll.)
24 October 1953
"Condominium of New Hebrides celebrates United Nations Day Oct 24, 1953". Whatever this was! Somebody tried to make some money with this day. (Maker of the cover: Arthur Bergen)
1949 British 10c
stamp, cancelled with PM19A. (Klinger coll.)
21 May 1954
Registered Air Mail set cover to Germany six years after the first day of these stamps. Backstamped Vily 21.V.54, Sydney 27MY54 and Berlin Britz 1 C 31.5.54.(Klinger coll.)
7 November 1955
(new 11/22)
French UPU set from Vila to France cancelled gk type PM11B.
Some First Day Covers of the 1949 issue.
10 October 1949 : UPU
Vila English
Vila FDC of the English 1949 UPU issue.
Vila English
Vila FDC of the English 1949 UPU issue.
Vila English
Vila FDC of the English 1949 UPU 10cg.
Port-Vila French
Port-Vila FDC of the French UPU issue.
Port-Vila French
Port-Vila FDC of the French 1949 UPU 10cg.
Port-Vila French
Port-Vila FDC of the French 1949 UPU issue. Cancelled with PM11B. )Klinger coll.)
Port-Vila French
(new 3/2020)
Port-Vila FDC of the French 1949 UPU issue. Cancelled with PM11B. )Klinger coll.)
Both Sets
FDC use of both sets to USA. The French stamps are Cancelled with PCH type 14
and the British ones with PCH type 13. Registration label is PCH type R15. (Klinger coll.)
Both Sets
Another FDC with both sets to Nouméa. The French stamps tied with PCH type 14 and
the British ones with PCH type 13; registration label R15.
Backstamped Vila PCH type 13 10OCT49 and Nouméa 12 OCT 49 on arrival.
("SeSi" coll.)
Both Sets
Reverse
Port-Vila English
Registered Port-Vila FDC of the English 1949 UPU issue cancelled with Goyns Klinger type PM7D. Registration label Goyns Klinger Type NR19A.
Backstamped Vila 10 OCT 49, Noumea 18 OCT 49, San Francisco 22 OCT 49, Montreal 24 OCT 49, Montreal Outremont 24 OCT 49, (Klinger coll.)
Port-Vila English
Port-Vila FDC of the British Philatelic Association and the Philatelic Traders Society. (ex Millet coll.)
Santo Engl./Fr. cancel
(new 31 Dec 2018)
The English set tied by Santo French postmark type PM16. ("SeSi" coll.)
Port Vila Fr. cancel
(new 2/2019)
The French set FDC tied by Vila French postmark type PM11B.
Image thanks to Sandafayre Auctions
Port Vila Fr. cancel
(new 2/2019)
The French set FDC tied by Vila French postmark type PM11B.
Image thanks to Sandafayre Auctions
Port Vila Br. cancel
(new 6/2020)
The English set FDC tied by Vila French postmark type PM7D.
Image thanks to Sandafayre Auctions
Port Vila Br. cancel
(new 6/2020)
The English set FDC tied by Vila French postmark type PM7B.
Image thanks to Sandafayre Auctions
