Letters from A.E. Peythieux, Captain on board the steamer POLYNÉSIEN
Correspondences
1933: Peythieux was honored .....
A.E. Peythieux C.L.C (Capitaine au long cours) on board S/S Polynésien. Albert Émile Peythieux must have been second captain or something similar on
the Polynésien as Monsieur Bosche was Commander and Captain of the ship during her few voyages to the New Hebrides from 1938 to 1940.
1 July 1938
Air mail letter from Capitaine Peythieux to (his parents?) Valence.
The British 1F and 30x stamps cancelled with GK type PM7A. 10cg colonial letter rate up to 20g and 1Fg20cg air surcharge to
France.
1 July 1938
Backstamped Marseille Gare Avion 17 VII 38 and Valence 18 VII 38.
4 August 1938
(new 9 OCT 2017)
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
reverse
16 August 1938
Registered air mail cover to Valence (Drôme) France.The British 1F and 50c. gold
tied by PCH type 15A. The French registration handstamp is PCH type R8. Backstamped
SYDNEY AIR 7 24 AU 38 in transit and VALENCE 5-9-38 on arrival. The sender is
A.E Peythieux S.Capitaine on board Polynésien. Travel-time 20 days.
("SeSi" collection)
16 August 1938
16 August 1938
9 October 1938
29 October 1938
(new 11/22)
Air mail letter from Valence (Drôme) France to A. Peythieux
on board S/S Polynésien Port-Vila. Stamps tied with mechanic cachet
VALENCE GARE DRÔME with slogan " VALENCE SUR RHÔNE /
SES POGNES / SES SUISSES ". (pastries). ("SeSi" coll.)
28 October 1938
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
28 October 1938 - reverse
28 October 1938
1.50 gf airmail rate to France with VILA cds PCH type 9B. Note that the cds shows date as 28OC27. Cover inscribed on reverse: Expéditeur A E Peythieux,
s/capitaine n/n Polynésien, Pt. Vila. Backstamped on transil Sydney Air 10 NO 38 (14 days), Valence 22 11 38 (12 days). ("JGI" coll.)
Note: le capitaine did not trust this air service as he sent a 30c cover the same day (with the same wrong date on the cds). Please see 1938 British uncensored.
28 October 1938
(new 6/18)
1938 INTER_ISLAND SERVICE cds (GK type PM10) on Airmail letter to France: 1,50 Franc Gold paid the 10cg colonial
letter rate, 20cg colonial registration fee and 1F20cg air mail surcharge.
The cover is cancelled with PM7B in Vila on 2? OC 38, Sydney Air 10 NO 38 and on arrival in Valence on 22-11-38.
(seen on an internet auction)
This cover seems to proof that PM10 was held on board the POLYNESIEN in late 1938.
28 October 1938
(new 6/18)
revers
5 December 1938
(new 10/21)
1938 GK type PM11A on a registered Airmail letter to France: 1,50 Franc Gold paid the 10cg colonial
letter rate, 20cg colonial registration fee and 1F20cg air mail surcharge. Reg.-label GK type NR10C.
Source: Davod Morrison Postal HIstory
5 January 1939
Registered letter to Valence, France. The 1938 French 1gF and 50gc stamps are tied with
PCH type 9, the registration label is PCH type R11. The sender is given on the reverse:
"A.E. Peythieux, Capitaine au long cours, M/V Polynesien". Backstamped Sydney Air
21. December 1938 and on arrival Valence sur Rhone / Drome 1.1.39 (they took it
casually with the adjustment of the cancels in Vila). (Yeomans coll.)
The Messageries Maritimes company bought a mixed-cargo boat in 12/1937 called MYGRETA
ex YUNG PING and named it POLYNESIEN. She replaced the old BUCEPHALE on the
New Caledonia - New Hebrides line and was used until 1940, then taken off by
the France Libre Naval Force. She has been used again on the New-Hebrides lines from 1946 to 1955 when the POLYNESIE
was launched. - Information thanks to Philippe Ramona.
5 January 1939
16 August 1938
18 January 1939
(new 1/2019)
18 January 1939 Peythieux cover.
18 January 1939
18 January 1939 reverse.
3 February 1939
(new 1/2019)
Registered letter to Valence, France. 1F50cg rate.
3 February 1939
(new 1/2019)
Registered letter to Valence, France. 1F50cg rate.
24 February 1939
Registered letter to Valence, France. The 1938 British 1gF and 50gc stamps are tied with
PCH type 11, the registration label is PCH type R11. The sender is given on the reverse:
"A. E. Peythieux, Capitaine au long cours, M/V Polynesien". Backstamped Sydney Air
9. March 1939 and on arrival Valence sur Rhone / Drome 21.3.39. (Klinger coll.)
24 February 1939
24 February 1939
4 May 1939
Registered Peythieux cover to Valence. PCH type 12 on a French 40c stamp, one strike alongside.
8 June 1939
(new 6/18)
Registered Air Mail letter from Monsieur Peythieux (the captain of POLYNÉSIEN) to Paris. The 1938 British/French
1F and 10c stamps are cancelled with GK type PM11A. Backstamped Sydney air 21 JE 39 and Valence 1.7.39.(seen on an internet auction)
1 August 1939
8 June 1939
24 July 1939
(new 8/2018)
Incoming to Peythieux from France with night flight Paris Marseille.
1 August 1939
Registered Air Mail letter from Monsieur Peythieux (the captain of POLYNÉSIEN) to Paris. The 1938 British
1F and 10c stamps are cancelled with PCH type 12, registration label PCH type R 11. ("JGI" coll.)
The remark "en instance à la poste jusqu'à nouvel ordre / le facteur / V.18" means that the
postman, against order, took care that the letter was NOT sent back to the sender as he knew that it will
take more time until Mrs. Peythieux's arrival from the New Hebrides. (Thanks "SeSi")
1 August 1939
1 August 1939
1 September 1939
Registered Air Mail letter from Monsieur Peythieux (the captain of POLYNÉSIEN) to Paris. The 1938 British
1F and 10c stamps are cancelled with PCH type 12, registration label PCH type R 11.
31 October 1939
(new 6/18)
Registered Air Mail letter from Monsieur Peythieux (the captain of POLYNÉSIEN) to Paris. The 1938 French
1F and 80c stamps are cancelled with GK type PM11A. Backstamped Sydney air 19 NO 39, Valence 29-11-39 and manuscript 30.11.39.(seen on an internet auction)
31 October 1939
31 October 1939 reverse
5 December 1939
(new 6/18)
Registered Air Mail letter from Monsieur Peythieux (the captain of POLYNÉSIEN) to Paris. The 1938 English
1F and 10c stamps are cancelled with GK type PM7C. Backstamped Sydney air 19 DE 39 and Valence manuscript 2.1.40.(seen on an internet auction)
5 December 1939
5 December 1939 reverse
23 December 1939
Registered air mail letter to Valence (Drôme) France. The 10c. and 1F or stamps tied by PCH type 12.
The French registration handstamp is PCH type 8. The sender is A. Peythieux C.L.C (Capitaine au long cours)
on board S/S Polynésien. Backstamped GPO SYDNEY AIR 7 26 JA 40 in transit and VALENCE 7-2-40 on arrival. ("SeSi" collection)
23 December 1939
23 December 1939
29 January 1940
Registered letter to Valence, France. The 1938 British 1gF and 5gc stamps are tied with
PCH type 12, the registration label is PCH type R11. The sender is "A. E. Peythieux, CLC
M/V Polynesien" again. Note the year "solid block-4"
rather than "40". Backstamped Sydney Air 7. February 1940 and marked manuscript on arrival
22.2.40. ("JGI" coll.)
5 March 1940
Registered Air Mail envelope to France bearing French 5c and 2 x 50c routed via Sydney. ("JGI" coll.)
5 March 1940
Registered Air Mail envelope to France bearing French 5c and 2 x 50c routed via Sydney with transit GPO SYDNEY AIR March 8 1940.
Image thanks to Corinphila
6 March 1940
(new 6/18)
Registered air mail letter to Valence (Drôme) France. The French 2,50 Fg stamps tied by GK PM7D.
The sender is A. Peythieux C.L.C (Capitaine au long cours)
on board S/S Polynésien. Backstamped GPO SYDNEY AIR 7 16 MR 40 in transit and VALENCE 1-4-40 on arrival.
(seen on an internet auction)
6 March 1940
6 March 1940 reverse
12 March 1940
(new 6/18)
Registered air mail letter to Valence (Drôme) France. The French 1,70 Fg stamps tied by GK PM7D.
The sender is A. Peythieux C.L.C (Capitaine au long cours)
on board S/S Polynésien. Backstamped GPO SYDNEY AIR 7 23 MR 40 in transit and VALENCE 1-4-40 on arrival.
(seen on an internet auction)
12 March 1940
12 March 1940 reverse
1 April 1940
Registered Peythieux cover to Valence cancelled with PCH type 8.
(seen in an old dealer's offer)
23 April 1940
(new 15 June 2018)
Censored registered air mail cover from Port-Vila to Valence (Drôme) France.
The 1938 British 1gF and 5gc stamps are tied with GK type PM7D, the registration cachet is type NR9.
On left Australian censor tape OPENED BY CENSOR .. tied by violet mark PASSED BY CENSOR / S.30.
Backstamped GPO SYDNEY AIR 7 -4MY40A on cover, GPO SYDNEY AIR 7 -7MY40B on censor tape in transit
and VALENCE S/RHONE DROME 20-5 40 in arrival.
The stamps paid the 10gc surface, the 20gc registration and the 75gc air rate to France. ("SeSi" coll.)
reverse
16 May 1940
Registered to France but stopped and returned as 'undeliverable' to Vila. Colonial letter rate to France was 10 cg and the air mail
rate from Australia to France from 1938 to 45 was 1/9d. Assuming an exchange rate of 1Fg = 2/- this would be 87 cg, colonial registration fee
was 20 cg so the sum is 1F 17cg, 1F 5cg was not on the safe side. Cancelled with Goyns Klinger type PM11B, registration cachet type NR9. Released by censor cachet.
Backstamped 2 x Sydney and 28 OCT 40 Dead Letter Office Sydney, Vila (type PM11A) 25 November 1940 and Noumea 11 December 1940. I can only assume that
the Vila Postmaster knew that the ÜOLYNESIEN was in Noumea and forwarded the returning letter to Noumea. ("Aore" coll.)
16 May 1940
(new 15 June 2018)
Nearly identical: Registered air mail letter to Valence (Drôme) France.
The French 1,05 Fg stamps tied by GK type PM11B.
The registration cachet is type NR9 (letter N°110).
The sender is Monsieur PEYTHIEUX captain of POLYNESIEN.
On front in violet a rectangular cachet UNDELIVERABLE / RETURN TO SENDER and RELEASED BY CENSOR cachet.
Backstamped GPO SYDNEY AIR 7 13JE40 ,GPO SYDNEY RS 25OC40,
DEAD LETTER OFFICE SYDNEY 28 OCT 1940 in red, PORT VILA 25 NOV 40 and NOUMEA 11 DEC 40. ("SeSi" coll.)
It is interesting that the 16 May 1940 covers to a friend I assume addressed to a person about
40m from the house of Peythieux's wife and the other one to his wife were not delivered, the later 5 June cover below was delivered.
5 June 1940
British 1Fg and 5cg stamps on an Air Mail letter to France, cancelled with PCH
type 14. Registration handstamp PCH type R8 - the "VILLA" - type.
Transferred by ship and backstamped Sydney 22 June 1940. Censored there (two red dots)
but somewhere held up en route as it arrived at Valence on 9 September 1940. (ex Jersey coll.)
12 June 1940
(new 1/2019)
12 June 1940 Peythieux cover.
12 June 1940
12 June 1940 Peythieux cover.