The 1977 Provisionals Postal History

----------

1976-1980

---

Covers with Vila overprinted stamps

8 August 1977
(new 5/2018)

A 10 FNH stamp used as local letter rate on 8 August 1977 from Norsup via Santo to Aoba. The stamp cancelled with GK type PM41B and backstamped Santo PM29B.
The 10 FNH stamp is from the first local overprint of the 10 FNH value. ("RMH" coll.)

9 August 1977
(new 5/2018)

Santo backstamp

9 August 1977
(new 5/2018)

A 10 FNH stamp used on 9 August 1977. Most likely sent to the Church in Lolowai too. ("RMH" coll.)

9 August 1977
(new 5/2018)

3.5 mm distance

9 August 1977
(new 4/2020)

A 10 FNH local overprint, 20 FNH and two 15 FNH Paris overint stamps on a cover to U.S.A. 15 FNH for a 20g non-colonial letter and 2 x 15FNH air surcharge for 20g: 15 FNH overpaid. (Klinger coll.)

10 August 1977
(new 5/2018)

A 10 FNH stamp used on 10 August 1977. ("RMH" coll.)

11 August 1977
(new 5/2018)

A 10 FNH stamp used on 11 August 1977. ("RMH" coll.)

22 August 1977

Letter from Santo to Paris with a local 40 FNH stamp. 25 FNH air mail surcharge and 15 FNH letter rate to Europe. (ex Millet coll.)

26 August 1977
(new 7/2018)

Local registered cover with seven 10 FNH stamps used on 26 August 1977. Registration fee was 50 FNH and 20 FNH the rate for a letter up to 50 gr.
The stamps come from the first local overprint of the 10 FNH stamps. There were no higher provisionla values overprinted at this date. All stamps have the 3.50 mm gap which means they are from col. 3.
It is interesting that these stamps are cancelled with the old (from 1959) Vila English postmark GK PM30A though the later (1970) type PM30B was present. ("RMH" coll.)

3,5 mm distance strip of two

3,5 mm distance strip of five

29 August 1977
(new 7/2018)

Local cover at the local printed matter rate to Lolowai. ("RMH" coll.)

20 September 1977
(new 7/2018)

A 5 FNH stamp used on 20 September 1977. (local printed matter rate) ("RMH" coll.)

1.6 mm distance

29 September 1977
(new 11/2022)

Fully franked registered cover to France.

reverse

13 October 1977
(new 4/2020)

Local mail Vila. The local overprint provisional 10FNH pays the local letter rate. (Klinger coll.)

17 October 1977

Registered Fung Kuei letter to England. 200 and 35 FNH local overprint.(Lebourcq collection)

21 October 1977

Letter with 25 and 40 FNH Vila overprints to to France cancelled with GK Type PM52. (Albert collection)

23 October 1977

Letter to France. 40 FNH local overprint.(Lebourcq collection)

8 November 1977

Air mail letter to Cannes - the English 40 FNH stamp with local overprint.(Klinger collection)

8 November 1977
(new 4/2020)

Local cover from Vila to Aoba. PM30B and correct colonial letter rate. (Klinger coll.)

9 November 1977
(new 4/2020)

Local cover 10 NFH rate. Local overprint. (Klinger coll.)

17 November 1977

Registered air mail letter to Lyon 07 France.7 stamps with local overprint : British issue 5 FNH, 10 FNH, 15 FNH, 25 FNH on 25 gold c.,35 FNH on 35 gold c., 40 FNH on 65 gold c. and 200 FNH on 5 gold francs tied by PCH type 21. Registration label is type R29 but with a hyphen. Backstamped Port-Vila 17.11.77--1 and LYON 08 21-11-1977 on arrival. ("SeSi" collection)

18 November 1977
(new 4/2020)

Local mail Vila - Lolowai, Longana, Aoba. The local overprint provisional 10FNH pays the local letter rate. (Klinger coll.)

19 November 1977

Illustrated registered air mail cover with advice of receipt from PORT-VILA to LYON ARMEE FRANCE.
The British Ambrym 100FNH and the local 40FNH/65Gc. stamps tied by PM31A.
A.R handstamp in black, the registration label is type NR20E with PORT-VILA added by a big blue block capitals handstamp over Vila in manuscript.
Backstamped Port-Vila 19.11.77--1 ,LYON RP ARRIVEE 24 11 1977 and LYON ARMEES 69998 24-11 1977 on arrival.
Franking 140 FNH : registration fee 50 FNH, overseas letter rate 10 FNH, air surcharge 50 FNH (10-20g) and A.R 30 FNH by deduction (to be confirmed). ("SeSi coll.)

7 December 1977
(new 4/2020)

Cover to U.S.A. 10 FNH local and 15 FNH Paris overprints. Overpaid 5 FNH. (Klinger coll.)

22 December 1977
(new 4/2020)

Cover to U.S.A. 10 FNH locals and 5 FNH locals. Most likely 5 FNH underpaid. (Klinger coll.)

End of 1977
(new 4/2020)

Postcard from our late friend Jacques Merot to U.S.A. 15 FNH French & English locals. (Klinger coll.)

End of 1977
(new 4/2020)

reverse

30 December 1977
(new 11/2019)

Registered air mail letter from our late friend Jacques Mérot Vila to Wallers Nord France. The 5 French 15 FNH stamps and British 5 FNH stamp with local overprint tied by GK type PM30A, registration label type NR20E. Total franking 150 FNH for a 21 - 30g cover. There is the rare variety 15 FNH with the F lower than NH (stamp in the centre of the strip of 3 at left) . Backstamped Vila 30.12.77-1 and Wallers 3-1 1978 on arrival. ("SeSi" coll.)

reverse

15 FNH variety

15 FNH variety

16 January 1978

Air mail letter to Wallers Nord France. The French 5 FNH and 35 FNH stamps with local overprint tied by GK type PM31B. Franking 40 FNH for a cover up to 10g. The sender is Jacques Mérot tribunal de Port-Vila. ("SeSi"coll.)

23 January 1978
(new 4/2020)

Registered cover to U.S.A., the 100 FNH and two 5 FNH are local overprints. (Klinger coll.)

28 January 1978

Registered air mail letter to PARIS 13. 9 stamps with local overprint: French issue 5, 10, 15 (x2) FNH, 25FNH/25c.or 35FNH/35c.or, 40FNH/65c.or, 200FNH/5F.or and 500FNH/10F.or tied by PM31A . Registration label is type NR20E with a handstamp Vila in grey and the registration number printed in black. Backstamped Port-Vila 28.1.78--1 and PARIS DISTRIBUTION 2-2 1978 on arrival. ("SeSi"coll.)

28 January 1978
(new 1/2019)

Registered air mail letter to PARIS 13. Sent by my late friend Jacques Merot.

28 January 1978
(new 1/2019)

Registered air mail letter to PARIS 13. Sent by my late friend Jacques Merot.

1 February 1978

Registered air mail letter to Lyon 07 France. 3 British 25 FNH on 25 gold c. stamps with VILA OVERPRINT (2+1) and 3 French 25 FNH on 25 centimes or stamps with VILA OVERPRINT (2+1) tied by PCH type 21. Registration label is type R27 but with Vila written above the rectangle. Backstamped Port-Vila 1.2.78--1 and LYON 08 10-2-1978 on arrival. ("SeSi" collection)

17 February 1978

Registered air mail cover from Jacques Mérot tribunal de Port - Vila to Alain Millet Paris 13. The 16 10FNH (8 British and 8 French), the British 35FNH and the French 70FNH stamps all with local overprint tied by GK type PM30A. Registration label type NR20E. Total franking 265 FNH. There is the rare variety 10FNH with the H lower than FN in a block of 4 of the French stamp. Backstamped PARIS 13 DISTRIBUTION 20-2 1978 in arrival. ("SeSi" collection)

27 February 1978

Registered air mail letter to Lyon 07 France. 4 stamps with local overprint 10 FNH (2) and 35 FNH (2) tied by PCH type 22. Registration label is type R24. Backstamped Vila 27.2.78--1 and LYON 08 1-3-1978 and 2-3-1978 on arrival. ("SeSi" collection)

13 March 1978
(new 4/2020)

Registered cover to U.S.A., all seven stamps local overprints. (Klinger coll.)

13 March 1978
(new 4/2020)

reverse.

13 March 1978

Registered air mail letter to Lyon 07 France. The 3 British Kingfisher issues : 35 gold centimes, 35 gold centimes Paris overprint 35 FNH, 35 gold centimes VILA OVERPRINT 35 FNH and the 50 FNH British definitive issue Shepherd Island tied by PCH type 26. The registration label is type R24 but 38/13,5 mm label in blue, paging machine numeral is 3,5 mm in black and Vila handstamp 21/6 mm. Backstamped Vila 13.3.78--1 and LYON 08 16-3-1978 on arrival. ("SeSi" collection)

4 April 1978
(new 4/2020)

Cover to U.S.A., all 3 10 FNH local overprints. (Klinger coll.)

6 July 1978
(new 4/2020)

Cover to U.S.A. with a demonstration of the different stamps (by Jacques Merot) (Klinger coll.)

8 March 1978

A very astonishable cover: according to SG catalogue (the local 100 FNH ovpt. is listed there as a footnote only) this stamp was only available at the Vila Philatelic Bureau. But at least the postmaster had it on his desk as on this cover, a typical stamp delivery cover from the PO a 100 FNH is used for postage. Dr. Allan Hauck served churches in Michigan, Kentucky, and Indiana. He later devoted his efforts to teaching. From 1958 until 1968, he was Professor of Religion and Philosophy at Midland Lutheran College, Fremont, Neb. Allan was Professor of Religion at Carthage College, Kenosha, from 1968 until his retirement in 1989, as Professor Emeritus. He was also a well known philatelist. (Klinger coll.)

1977/1978
(new 2/2019)

1977 or 1978 Photoletter

1977/1978
(new 2/2019)

1977 or 1978 Photoletter reverse

Covers with Paris overprinted stamps

The question from which date on these stamps were used is still not clesarly answered. During the last weeks "RMH" in England did a lot of research on this issue and sent me a couple of items which define the range of the provisionals use more exactly as known so far.

Here are six covers which my friend Alain Millet "produced" on the occation of his visit to the New Hebrides.

Some 1977 Provisional Definitives FDCs