The Postal History of New Guinea from 1888 to 1942 by John H Powell

THE POSTAL HISTORY OF

THE TERRITORY OF

NEW GUINEA FROM 1888 TO 1942

By

JOHN H. POWELL. F.R.P.S.L.

Updated and reset by ANDREW LOUGHRAN April 2007

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The task of writing a book covering the postal history of any country is rather complicated, particularly when the early cancellations were only in use a short time and the population of white settlers very small. With the help and cooperation of fellow collectors this burden has been lightened, so I take this opportunity to express my thanks to a number of enthusiasts who have willingly helped me in the preparation of this monograph.

Practically all the data in the book is confirmed from specimens in my own collection. and Max Bulley of Melbourne, has been a tower of strength in helping with scarce cancellations. and covers.

Ray Kelly, of Dean. Victoria, has kindly prepared all the drawings for the illustrations of the cancellations. Eric Creed off Melbourne for his help in the base office cancellation; Romney Gibbons of Sydney, for the introduction and advice generally, particularly in furnishing details of bibliography; Mr D. B. Maloney for permission to reprint articles froth the Australian Stamp Journal and his assistance on the geographical and historical chapter. Dr E. H. Friedman and F. V. Thompson. of Sydney, for lending their collections of postmarks and covers; and l. H. Harrison. of Tasmania. for confirming dates of postmarks on Papuan stamps used in New Guinea. To the Mitchell Library of Sydney and the War Museum Library of Canberra for access to the Government Gazettes of Rabaul and the diary of Colonel Holmes.

To those mentioned above many thanks, and if by chance someone has been omitted please excuse the omission.

UPDATE – MAY 2007 I have been collecting the stamps and postal history of New Guinea for more than 25 years and throughout that time I have relied on the “Powell Handbook” to provide detailed information on the post offices and post marks of the territory. This information has been the basis of my research into all aspects of this subject. However over the course of time new information has come to light and much of this has been published in the journals of the Papuan Philatelic Society.

In deciding to update and reset this handbook I was mindful of one minor problem that has bugged me! The fact that the postmark illustrations were separate from the text. So I have now included the original illustrations in the main body of the book.

Since the original work was published in 1964 many of the ERD’s and LRD’s have been amended and no doubt they will continue to change as more and more research into the postal history of this fascinating region is undertaken. My thanks to Jim Dykehouse and Max Bulley for their help in collating this research.

I am indebted to those members of the Papuan Philatelic Society who have published the results of their research in PPS “Stamp News” (first published in January 1955) and later in “Papua New Guinea Calling” (Issue No. 236 was published in Jan. 2007). The magazine is distributed quarterly to all members of the PPS; details of membership may be obtained from the secretary: (website:- http://www.communigate.co.uk/york/pps/ ) Derek Ashton, 71 Lowerside, Ham, Plymouth PL2 2HU, U.K. Two other societies which I have found to be a great source of information and help are: German Colonies Collectors Group – details from the Secretary-Treasurer:John S Miller, PO Box 27, Newton Upper Falls, MA 02464-0001, U.S.A. Interessengemeinschaft Neuguinea:Peter Oelke, Postfach 1520, 63205 Langen, Germany.

Andrew B Loughran May 2007

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BIBLIOGRAPHY Stewart's Handbook of Pacific Islands.

Friedemann's German Colonies, Leipzig, 1921.

D. McDonald in the Stamp Collector's Fortnightly. 1925; (Vol. XXXI, page 412, et seq.). Reprinted in the Australian Stamp Journal for 1926 (Vol. XV1. page 37, et seq.).

D. McDonald in the Stamp Collector's Fortnightly, 1930 (Vol. XXXVI. page 40, et seq.).

R. Gibbons' "The Post Offices of New Guinea" (A.S.J.. Vol. XXI, pages 19, 86).

Numerous articles have been published in the Australian philatelic press which may provide further details.

Andrew Loughran Summer 2006

Published by Andrew Loughran, 2 Ravencar Road – Eckington – SHEFFIELD S21 4JZ e-mail: qandrewloughran@supanet.com

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CONTENTS CHAPTER

PAGE

1

GEOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL

5

2

THE CANCELLATIONS LISTED IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER

8

3

NAURU:

NEW GUINEA STAMPS USED AT NAURU

49

4

RADIO CANCELLATIONS IN NEW GUINEA AND PAPUA

50

5

NOTES ON THE TEMPORARY AND PROVISIONAL CANCELLERS

51

5a

BASE OFFICE CANCELLATION

52/3

6

STAMPS AVAILABLE DURING THE MILITARY OCCUPATION

54

7

THE N. W. PACIFIC ISLANDS OVERPRINTS EXPLAINED

55

8

APPENDIX 1

57

9

FORGERIES & MYSTERY CANCELLATIONS

60

10

THE POST OFFICES OF BUKA & BUKA PASSAGE

66

11

STEPHANSORT ‘13’ USED AT RABAUL – K Humphreys

70

12

DISTRICT OFFICE & OTHER “OFFICIAL” CANCELLATIONS

73

MAP OF NEW GUINEA UNDER GERMAN & AUSTRALIAN RULE

75

LISTING OF ALL CANCELLATIONS

76/79

TABLE OF CANCELLATIONS WITH SCARCITY RATING

INDEX

80

80/83

4

CHAPTER 1 GEOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL New Guinea, the largest island in the world, lies just below the equator and is separated from Australia by the Torres Strait.

The Territory of New Guinea consists of three main groups, namely: North-East New Guinea (formerly Kaiser Wilhelm's Land) on the mainland of the island of New Guinea and comprises approximately one-third of that island, the remainder being divided between Indonesia (West Irian, formerly Dutch New Guinea) and Australia (Papua).

The island of New Britain (formerly Neu Pommern), New Ireland (formerly Neu Mecklenburg), the Admiralty islands, chief of which is Manus Island, and the Duke of York Group (formerly Neu Lauenburg), which group of islands form the Bismarck Archipelago.

Lastly the Bougainville district, comprising the large island of Bougainville and the smaller island of Buka.

There are many other islands and small groups but the above-mentioned are the main islands which have the settlements and towns large enough to be of importance. Generally speaking, all the islands are mountainous, some peaks rising to 15,000 feet in height. Two huge rivers traverse the mainland, firstly, the Sepik flowing west, north, and east, from the great inland ranges to emerge at the coast and pour its waters into the Pacific Ocean. The nearest town is Marienberg, situated about thirty miles upstream.

Secondly, the Ramu River flows into the sea about twelve miles south of where the Sepik meets the ocean.

Both these rivers flow through rugged mountainous country and wide valleys where the rainfall ranges from 140 to 200 inches yearly. Naturally roads are costly to construct and maintain in this type of country, therefore air services are used extensively throughout the Territory and this means of transport has opened up new areas much more rapidly than earlier forms of exploration.

The history of discoveries of what is now known as New Guinea and of the islands surrounding it is long and complicated. In a book of this nature it is sufficient to refer to it in outline only.

The Portuguese, Antonio D’Abreu, in 1512, discovered what was apparently the northern coast of New Guinea. Some fifteen years later another Portuguese, Jorge de Meneses, discovered Western New Guinea, naming it "Os Papuas" - Papuas meaning frizzy-haired. In 1528 a Spaniard, Alvaro de Saavedra. furnished an accurate description of the northern coast of New Guinea, to which he gave the name "Island Of Gold".

The north coast was visited again in I545 by Ynigo Ortiz de Retes, who took possession for Spain of what today is West Irian. It was Retes who first applied the name New Guinea owing to a resemblance, real or imaginary, of the natives to those he had seen on the Guinea Coast of Africa also, the approach from the sea resembled the Guinea Coast.

For some three hundred years the mainland and its surrounding islands were visited by such early discoverers as Torres, Jansz, Lemaire, Shouten, Tasman, Vinck, Keyts, Dampier, Carteret, Bougainville and Shortland. Many of these contributed new discoveries and fresh knowledge of the territory. European countries however showed a reluctance to establish ownership or colonize any of the new lands due to the ferocity of the natives and the redoubtable barriers of dense jungles, vast mountains and tropical fevers.

The British East India Company, in 1793, formally took possession of part of New Guinea in the name of Britain, but the annexation was not recognized by it. The Dutch, who had been established in the East Indies since 1611, formerly annexed the western half of New Guinea in 1828.

5

In 1846 Lieutenant Yule, in Her Majesty’s ship Bramble, took possession of the south coast in the name of Britain. Once more Britain ignored the annexation.

Goddefroy & Sons (Johann Cesar Goddefroy & Sohn ), merchants of Hamburg, Germany, established a trading station on Matupi, an Island in Blanche Bay at the entrance to Simpson Harbour.

The date of establishment has been variously stated as 1850 and 1857. Whatever may have been the date of the coming of the Goddefroy's to New Guinea, they were certainly well established there when Captain Simpson, in H.M.S. Blanche, anchored in Simpson Harbour near Matupi in 1872. It is also known that at that time the company had its agents in New Britain, New Ireland and neighboring groups.

The financial difficulties in which the Goddefroy firm found itself in I879 led to the formation of the South Sea Trading Company under the leadership of Adolph von Hansemann. When that company failed to secure certain government subsidies the same sponsors, still under von Hansemann's leadership, formed the Deutsche Handels-Und Plantagen-Gesellschaft der Sud SeeInseln, sometimes referred to as "D.H. and P.G." or "the long handle firm". The company's plans were accorded the approval and protection of the Imperial Chancellor.

Due principally to the work of the company, Germany, in November I884, took over the northeast coast of the New Guinea mainland, the islands of New Britain, New Ireland, the Admiralty Islands and the adjoining islands. It was, in fact, the company's steamer Samoa which carried a party of "traders" on a "trading mission" when they proclaimed the territory a protectorate of Imperial Germany.

The proclamation was made at Matupi on 3 November 1884, at Mioko in the Duke of York group on 4 November, at Astrolabe Bay on 12 November and at Finschhafen on 27 November. Formal annexation followed in 1885.

The German cruiser Adler, in October 1886, took possession of the islands of Ysabel, Choiseul, Bougainville and Buka in the Solomon’s group. On 13 November 1886 the charter of the New Guinea Company was extended to include these islands but by an Anglo-German agreement of 1889 and later by the Samoan Settlement of 1900, Germany retained only Bougainville and Buka, and these islands were added to the administration ( generally called the "Protectorate"). The Marianne, Marshall and Caroline Island, which Germany had acquired. were also added to the "Protectorate" in the year 1910 and administered from Rabaul.

As a reward for its services the Imperial German Government, in May 1885, granted the company (in the charter called “The New Guinea Company”) sovereign power, as the governing agency, over the protectorate territory. The company established its headquarters, sometimes called the capital, at Finsch Harbour (afterwards called Finschhafen).

Until February 1888 there does not appear to have been any official organized postal service in New Guinea. Mail emanating from there might be expected to be found with German sea post markings. The first Reichpost agency was opened at Finschhafen, then the capital or headquarters of the New Guinea Company, on 15 February 1888 and, in the same year, mail agencies were opened at Hatzfeldthafen on I April, at Kerawara on 4 April and at Konstantinhafen on 15 May. In I892, because the Finschhafen area was unhealthy, the company moved its headquarters to Stephansort ( Bogadjim ) on Astrolabe Bay. The new site proved to be even more unhealthy and the company quickly moved twenty miles northward to Friedrich Wilhelmshafen where a post office was opened on 1 March 1892.

When, on 1 April 1899, the Government relieved the company of its administrative powers and appointed Rudolph von Benningson as Governor, he immediately transferred the seat of government to Herbertshöhe (Kokopo). It is interesting to note that at that time there were, in the colony, 96 Germans, 104 other Europeans and some 300 Chinese.

In 1910, upon the expansion of the administration due to the addition of the Marianne, Marshall and Caroline Islands, the seat of government was removed to Simpsonhafen. It was at this time that the name Simpsonhafen was changed to Rabaul and the postal agency there became a full post office.

6

At the time of the outbreak of World War I the areas and populations were estimated roughly as follows: Land Area Sq. Miles N New Guinea Mainland Bismarck Archipelago (New Britain, New Ireland, Admiralty Islands and smaller adjacent groups. including Lavongai (New Hanover) and Duke of York group) Solomons (Buka and Bougainville)

Native

Population White

70,000

110,000

300

18,000 3850

190,000 .60,000

700 100

The white population was practically confined to trading stations and a few plantations.

Especially in the Bismarcks, the German policy appears to have been to build coastal roads with native labour, occasionally to push plantations a little way in from these roads and allow the native tribes to govern themselves so long as there was no inter-tribal fighting and a small poll-tax was collected by the local head-men who were appointed Government officials for the purpose. The main business was in the hands of German trading companies, while the shipping was almost entirely done

by German shipping lines. There were a few Australian planters in New Britain and one or two Australian firms in Bougainville.

On 4 August 1914, Great Britain declared war on Germany following that country's invasion of France, Luxemburg and Belgium. The declaration necessarily involved the Australian Commonwealth.

The Australian Government, at the request of the British Government, began to organize the "Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force" to take action against the German colonies in the Pacific. By 10 August the commanding officers had been appointed and enlistment commenced on the following day.

On 5 August 1914 Rabaul learned of the declaration of war and the following day there was an extraordinary issue of the Official Gazette containing a proclamation of a state of war and announcing the removal of the seat of government to Toma which was in the country behind Herbertshรถhe, and th the site of a sanitarium. On 7 August a field post was established for the German Military Forces and a Field postcard was provided. The defense force was encamped at Malaguna, a district a few miles out of Rabaul.

On the morning of 12 August units of the Australian Navy appeared off Herbertshรถhe. and landed a small force which raided the post office and cut the telephone lines to Rabaul. The naval vessels then withdrew, but in the afternoon the H.M.A.S. Warrego reappeared and landed three officers. six men and two mechanics who occupied the post office, utterly destroyed lines of communication, cut the installation cable and left a letter for the Governor demanding that the wireless station should cease working immediately. After half an hour ashore the small task force left, and the Warrego withdrew.

By noon on I8 August the Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force had embarked on the armed merchant cruiser Berrima, which sailed from Sydney for New Guinea on the following day. It was not until the early hours of the morning of 11 September that the assembled Australian ships arrived at Blanche Bay with the intention of occupying Herbertshรถhe, Rabaul and the island of New Britain. The convoy consisted of the Berrima, the cruisers Australia, Sydney and Encounter, the destroyers Warrego, Yarra and Parramatta, the submarines A.E.1 and A.E.2, the supply ship Aorangi, the collier Koolonga, and the oil tanker Murex.

During the day landings were effected. Herbertshรถhe was occupied in the afternoon and the wireless station at Bita Paka was in the hands of the Australian forces by seven o'clock in the evening.

On the following day, 17 September, Rabaul was occupied. Little fighting had occurred and casualties were slight on either side. On 17 September the German Governor signed terms of capitulation. By 25 September the island of New Britain was under effective military occupation.

7

CHAPTER 2 THE CANCELLATIONS Listed in Chronological Order

FINSCHHAFEN Finschhafen is situated on the north-eastern coast of the New Guinea mainland, north of Huon Gulf. It is the headquarters of a large Lutheran Mission. After formal annexation of the territory in 1885, Finschhafen was chosen by the New Guinea Company as its headquarters. On 15 February 1888 the company opened there the first Reichpost Agency. Due to the unhealthy tropical conditions the headquarters were moved in 1892 to Stephansort and the Reichpost Agency at Finschhafen was closed.

The agency apparently opened with the c.d.s. Type 1, consisting of a single-lined circle 25 mm. in diameter, inscribed "FINSCHHAFEN" (above), a single star device below, and the date in two lines in the centre expressed in numerals only. The earliest date seen is 7 July 1888 on piece in the writer's collection. It has been stated by some writers that the agency closed in 1891, and they vary in the date from March to October. The writer has not been able to find any evidence to justify an 1891 closure but is of the opinion that the office remained open, as a matter of necessity, until 1892, that is to say, as long as Finschhafen remained the headquarters of the company, the governing authority for the territory at that time. It may be that other writers have been influenced by the fact that the S.S. Ottilie, which carried the mails, foundered in March 1891 and there was a consequent interruption in the regular mail service from Finschhafen. There were, however, casual opportunities for outward mail.

Strikes from a c.d.s. Type 1 may be found on the stamps of the German Empire of the 1880 and 1889 issues. All strikes seen have been in black. Strikes from a forged canceller, closely resembling Type I, but in which the figure "1" appears without serif at foot, are to be found on the German Empire issue of 1880 with dates 21.2.88 and 19.11.88.

On I5 July 1904 the post office was re-opened using c.d.s. Type 2, consisting of a single-lined circle of 27.5 mm. In diameter, inscribed "FINSCHHAFEN' above a segment, "DEUTSCH-/NEUGUINEA" in two lines in the centre and the date in numerals in two lines below. The date is flanked on each side by a star device.

Strikes from this c.d.s. may be found on German colonial yacht type stamps, generally struck in black.

The office remained open until December 1914. There is, however, some doubt about that date. One writer records a closing in February 1915, although it has been recorded that Finschhafen was visited by H.M.A.S. Parramatta, Warrego and Yarra early in January 1915. On this visit, it is possible that the post office was closed.

An "unofficial" * post office was listed in 1922 but no canceller has been recorded. However, a cover has been seen with a 2d. N.W. Pacific stamp with a manuscript "Finschhafen 7.1.23" and postmarked in addition "Madang 26 J A 21" (one line).

The office, on reopening under Australian administration, had in use c.d.s. Type 3, consisting of a single-lined circle of 27 mm. diameter, inscribed "FINCHHAFEN" (spelling error) above, "NEW GUINEA" below, the date in one line in the centre (ERD = 19 JA 1929). The latest date seen is 17 Aug. 1939. (PPS News June 1973; p.11).

8

HATZFELDTHAFEN (HATZFELDT HARBOUR) Hatzfeldthafen was situated about twenty miles south of Bogia, on the northeast coast of the New Guinea mainland and was recognized as a very good harbour. The settlement does not appear to have survived and is not shown on present day maps.

A post office was opened here on I April 1888, using c.d.s. Type 4, consisting of a single-lined circle of 24 mm. diameter inscribed "HATZFELDTHAFEN" with a five-pointed star device at the base and the (date in numerals in two lines in the centre, the day and month being separated by a stroke. Strikes from this c.d.s. are very rare. The post office closed on 30 September 1891. Cancellations dated 9/11 91 are known (page 163 of Dr Steuer’s book) and are due to a reversal of the month and day numerals.

A manuscript marking is recorded with a date of 14.3.90 (one-line date).

•

See note after Maron on page 28

KERAWARA The famous J. C. Goddefroy & Sons, shippers and traders of Hamburg, had extended their commercial activities in the Pacific from Samoa to New Guinea. The company's earliest activities appear to have centred on the island of Mioko in the Neu Lauenburg (Duke of York) group, and to have spread from there. At least by 1872, the company's traders were established at Matupi, an island in Blanche Bay at the entrance to Simpson Harbour, on which Rabaul is situated.

It is recorded that the traders were driven by hostile natives to the Duke of York group, which includes the island of Kerawara - four miles south of Mioko and twenty miles east of Rabaul. It had been intended to open a post office at Matupi, but the evacuation altered this plan, and a post office was opened at Kerawara on 4 April 1888. It is not surprising, therefore, that during April and May 1888, the Kerawara post office was using the Matupi canceller, Type 25. The German Empire stamps of 1880 were in use in this period.

On 31 May 1888 the regular Kerawara canceller, Type 5, was brought into use, consisting of a single-lined circle of 24 mm. in diameter inscribed "KERAWARA" with a five-pointed star at base, (date in two lines in centre). The 1880 and 1889 G.E. issues were current during the time this office was open and the regular canceller used.

Strikes from a forged canceller, closely resembling Type 5 may be found on the 1880 German Empire issue with date 19.11.88.

The writer has two strikes from Type 5 bearing dates 31.5.88 and 29.6.88. The earlier strike, which is believed to be on the first day of use of this c.d.s., shows a very clear bulge-like flaw on the outer edge of the circle above the first "RA" of "KERAWARA". The second strike shows the same flaw, but somewhat larger. Strikes from the forged canceller do not show the flaw. The c.d.s. illustrated above is genuine (Steuer cert.).

Note: In June 1890 Kerawara was closed and a new post office opened at Herbertshöhe. The Kerawara c.d.s. Type 5 was used there from the opening until December 1890.

9

KONSTANTINHAFEN (NOW ERIMBA) Konstantinhafen is situated on the mainland of New Guinea, south of Stephansort, on Astrolabe Bay. During German times, sisal hemp was grown there and exported until the Australian occupation in 1914.

On 17 September 1871, the three-masted corvette Vitiaz, of the Imperial Russian Fleet, dropped anchor in Astrolabe Bay. On board was a young scientist, Baron Mikloucho-Maclay, who had persuaded the Russian Government to facilitate his journey to New Guinea in order to study the natives and their customs as well as the flora and fauna of the strange new land. A landing was effected on the shore of the harbour where a hut was erected for the scientist and the Imperial Russian flag hoisted above it. The harbour was named Constantine after the Grand Duke Constantine. The Baron remained fifteen months. His efforts to induce the Russian Government to declare the territory a Russian protectorate were fruitless.

A post office was opened on 15 May 1888 and closed on 30 September 1891.

Type 6, consisting of a single-lined circle of 25 mm. diameter, inscribed "KONSTANTINHAFEN� with a star device below and the date in numerals in two lines in the centre. Stamps in use were the German Empire issues of 1880 and 1889.

STEPHANSORT (NOW BOGADJIM) Stephansort (now known as Bogadjim), a plantation centre, is situated on Astrolabe Bay, south of Madang, on the north-eastern coast of the New Guinea mainland.

In 1892, the New Guinea Company shifted its headquarters from Finschhafen to Stephansort, and remained there only briefly, a further move being made twenty miles north to Friedrich Wilhelmshafen (Madang) about 1 March 1892.

A post office was opened on 14 December 1889 and closed on 30 June 1914. In use throughout the period was a c.d.s. Type 7, consisting of a singlelined circle of 24 mm. diameter, inscribed "STEPHANSORT" above, a star device at the base and the date in numerals in two lines in the centre.

This type, showing only the figures "13" of date, was in use at Rabaul shortly after Australian military occupation in the 1914 -15 period.

A "relief" c.d.s. or reserve die, Type 8, was in use in 1898. This consisted of a single-lined circle, 26 mm. in diameter, inscribed "STEPHANSORT" above, three stars at the base, and the date in numerals in two lines in the centre.

Strikes may be found on the German Empire issues of 1880 and 1889, from a forged canceller resembling Type 7.

10

HERBERTSHÖHE (NOW KOKOPO) Herbertshöhe (now called Kokopo) is a small but important township on the Gazelle Peninsula, on the southern side of Blanche Bay, and in the centre of a rich plantation area. It is some eighteen miles by road from Rabaul.

Herbertshöhe was a port of call for the North German Lloyd Steamer Service which ran from Singapore, via ports, to Matupi, in the period 1893-1900.

In 1899 the charter of the New Guinea Company was withdrawn and Governor Rudolph von Bennigsen assumed office. He immediately transferred headquarters from Stephansort to Herbertshöhe, because of the greater number of settlers there and the healthier climate.

When, in 1910, the administration was expanded to include the Marianne, Marshall and Caroline Islands, the headquarters were transferred to Simpsonhafen, now called Rabaul.

A postal agency was opened in June 1890 and used the Kerawara datestarnp, Type 5, provisionally, until December 1890. Strikes from this c.d.s. are usually found on the 1880 issues of the German Empire.

In January 1891 the postal agency became a full post office and a new c.d.s., Type 9, with the name spelt "Herbertshöh" was brought into use and remained in use until 22 April 1900.

Type 9 consisted of a single-lined circle of 24.5 mm. diameter, inscribed "HERBERTSHÖH" above, a star device at the base, and the date in numerals in two lines in the centre. Strikes from this c.d.s. are to be found on German Empire issues of 1880 and 1889, and the overprinted DeutschNeu-Guinea issue of 1897.

Type 10 c.d.s., in which Herbertshöhe was spelt with a final "e", was introduced late in April 1900 and remained in use until the office was closed on Australian military occupation on 11 September 1914. This cds consists of a single-lined circle of 28.5 mm. in diameter, inscribed "HERBERTSHÖHE", with DEUTSCH-/NEU-GUINEA" in two lines in the centre, and the date in numerals in two lines at the base flanked by single star devices.

Strikes may be found on the German Empire issues of 1889, the overprinted issues of 1897, and the definitive yacht type issues.

As stamps of each of the various issues referred to may be found used, one issue with another, with some frequency, the post office did not exhaust supplies of one issue before putting a later issue on sale.

After the declaration of war, Herbertshöhe was raided by units of the Australian Fleet on 12 August 1914. On 11 September a landing party from H.M.A.S. Sydney hoisted the Union Jack there without resistance - the occupation of German New Guinea had begun.

Upon the Australian occupation, two temporary, straight-line cancellers, without date, were brought into use. These consisted of handstamps set up from movable rubber type in a metal or wooden holder and popularly sold in "outfits" about that period for use by lay persons desirous of making cheap rubber handstamps.

The first temporary canceller, Type 11, consisted of the town name "Herbertshöhe" with the Capital "H" 4 mm. high and the remaining letters in lower case 3 mm. high. The total length was 31.5 mm. This type has been seen on Australian Commonwealth stamps and on a Marshall Is 2d/20pf. (H Gough - May 2003). Struck in violet ink.

11

In the second temporary canceller, Type 12, the town name was incorrectly spelt "HerbetshOh". The first "H" and the letter "O" were in capitals 3 mm. high, with the remaining letters in lower case 2 mm. high. The total length was 24 mm. This canceller has been seen struck in violet on Australian Commonwealth issues (punctured O.S.), on the "N.W. Pacific Islands" overprinted issues and on a 1d./5pf. Marshall Islands GRI overprint.

Early in 1915 a new c.d.s., Type 13 was brought into use consisting of a single-lined circle of 25 mm. diameter, inscribed "HERBERTSHOHE" with two curved lines separated by a circular stop at base, and date in one line in centre.

The town name Herbertshöhe was altered to Kokopo, its original native name, in January 1916. There was brought into use in January 1917, a new and somewhat interesting c.d.s., Type 14, consisting of a single-lined circle of 26 mm. diameter, inscribed "KOKOPO" above, "QUEENSLAND" below, and the date in one line in the centre. Use of the word "Queensland" was, of course, an error, and was probably due to carelessness in preparation of the order by the post office. When brought into use, the word "Queensland" was obliterated by means of a filling of soft metal which printed as a semi-circular bar.

The canceller soon showed signs of the shedding of the soft metal filling with the result that the word "Queensland" became successively more legible, producing Type 14A. Subsequently, early in 1919, the canceller was corrected, the word "Queensland" was removed and the space left blank, and with short, thick bars only before and after "Kokopo". (Type 14B.)

Type 15, a c.d.s. in rubber, was in use during 1923 and 1926. It consisted of two concentric circles of 31.5 mm. and 21.5 mm., inscribed between the circles, "POST OFFICE," above, and "P.O. KOKOPO" below, flanked by five-pointed stars. This type had been seen only on "N.W. Pacific Islands" issues, struck generally in violet until a commercial cover bearing a th 2d. “Huts” stamp cancelled 20 June 1925 with this c.d.s. appeared at auction in the year 2000. (acquired by the editor).

Type 16 was brought into use late in 1926. It consisted of a singlelined circle of 29.5 mm. with "KOKOPO" above, and "NEW GUINEA" below in letters 3.5 mm. high, and the date with the year in full in one line extending practically across the centre. This c.d.s. remained in use until at least 16 Nov.1933 and has been found struck in black or violet on the 1925 definitive issues. A copy of the 2d. Jubilee issue 1935 has also been seen cancelled 1 with this c.d.s. (also /2 d. NWPI 9 FEB 1925)

Type 17 was introduced early in 1929. It consisted of a single-lined circle of 27 mm. diameter, with "KOKOPO" above, and "NEW GUINEA" below, separated by stops, letters 4.5 mm. high, and with the date in one line, the last two figures of the year only, in the centre, but somewhat shorter than in the preceding type. This c.d.s. remained in use until the Japanese occupation on 23 January 1942. Can be found struck in black on the 1925 and subsequent issues.

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FRIEDRICH WILHELMSHAFEN (NOW MADANG) Friedrich Wilhelmshafen, now called Madang, is situated on Astrolabe Bay on the north-east coast of the New Guinea mainland. In 1892 the New Guinea Company transferred its headquarters from Finschhafen to Stephansort for a brief period and thence to Friedrich Wilhelmshafen. A postoffice was opened here on 1 March 1892 and remained open until occupation of the town by Australian military forces on 24 September 1914. Thereafter the office was under Australian military administration until 1921. The name of the town and district was changed to Madang, its native name and a canceller bearing that name was introduced on or before 20 April 1915. The change from military to civil administration was not accompanied by any change in postal markings. The office continued to function until the Japanese invasion, being closed on 12 February 1942.

The post office opened on 1 March 1892, using c.d.s. Type 18, consisting of a single-lined circle of 25 mm. diameter, the town name within the circle, the date in two lines in the centre, and a single five-pointed star at the base (centre). This type may be normally found struck in black on the stamps of the German Empire 1880 and 1889 issues and on all German New Guinea colonial issues. The earliest date seen is 26 October 1892.(13 Oct 1892.) This c.d.s. continued in use until the office was taken over under Australian military occupation on 24 September 1914.

Upon occupation, several improvised cancellers were brought into use. One, Type 19, had been the seal of the Imperial District Court, consisting of a single-lined circle of 34 mm. diameter, with "KAISERLICHE BEZIRKSGERICHT" (Imperial District Court) above, and "FRIEDRICH WILHELMSHAFEN" below, both in capital letters 3 mm. high, and having an eagle device in the centre. Prior to being brought into use as a postal canceller the words "KAISERLICHE BEZIRKSGERICHT" and the centre device were scored through so that, when struck, a blank line appeared through the centre of the letters and device. The period of use of this canceller was from September 1914 to early 1915. It may be found struck in black or violet on the German colonial yacht issue without the G.R.I. overprint, and on the Australian Commonwealth stamps punctured O.S. It has also been seen on G.R.I. overprinted issue (Blk of 4 1d/3pf. O.S. – PPS News June 1973).

Two additional cancellers were introduced at this same period. The original consisted of a two-line rubber hand-stamp with the wording "Friedrich-Wilhelmshafen" in one line 45 mm. in length and "Deutsch-Neu-Guinea" below, 19 mm long. Before use as a canceller the word "Deutsch" was removed, forming Type 20, and strikes of this canceller are scarce.

A second type of straight-line canceller consisting of the words “Friedrich Wilhelmshafen" (without hyphen) only, was brought into use, Type 20a ( 51 mm. in length). This has been seen on Australian Commonwealth stamps punctured O.S. used in late 1914.

Type 21 is an interesting type of provisional canceller introduced after occupation. It was the seal used by the post office under German administration for impressing wax sealing agents on mall bags. The lettering and design on the seal was recessed so that, when applied to the soft, cooling wax, it produced raised letters and design, but when used as a canceller the letters and device appear in colorless relief but often lacking in clarity. This seal consisted of two concentric outer circles of 34 and 30 mm. respectively and with an inner circle of 22 mm. diameter. Between the second and third circles, in the lower half, appear the words "Friedrich Wilhelmshafen", while there is a blurred device in the inner circle. This type was introduced probably late 1914 and remained in use until at least July

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1915. It may be found struck in black to blue-black and violet inks on the German colonial yacht issues with and without the G.R.l. overprints, on the Australian Commonwealth issues punctured O.S. and on the N.W. Pacific Islands overprints. (LRD – Aug 1915 on letter which arrived Coffs Harbour 27 August 1915) This handstamp probably belonged to one of German companies in the Friedrich Wilhehmshafen area. It consists of a double-box box of 48mm. x 32mm. inscribed "FRIEDRICH WILHELMSHAFEN" above "EINGR:" both in seriffed letters along with the only date seen used with this cancel, "18 NOV 1914", the third line reads "J.Nr..............".

In the Colonel Harrie Evans sale in 2001 (lot 292), a 1/2d pair on piece was offered bearing two strikes of this double lined box struck in blue. The date seems to be in October 1916, long after the town name had been changed. No other example of this mark had been seen until a single copy of the 1/2d value was offered on e-bay, as part of a collection, in December 2004. (Source – R. Benoist, PPS) On the change of the name Friedrich Wilhelmshafen to the native name of Madang a new type of canceller, Type 22, was brought into use. It consisted of a single-lined outer circle of 26.5 mm. in diameter, " MADANG" (above), two curved lines separated by a circular stop (below), and the date in one line across the centre. This Type 22 was introduced in August 1915. Strikes from Type 22 found on German colonial issues with 1915 and later dates can only be regarded as being improperly applied. It may he found struck in black on Australian Commonwealth stamps punctured O.S. and on the N.W. Pacific Islands issues. It has not been seen on the 1925 and later issues.

Type 23 came into use at least by 16 October 1924. It consisted of a singlelined circle of 28.5 mm. in diameter, with "MADANG" (above), "NEW GUINEA" (below), two dividing bars of 2.5 mm., and date in one line in the centre. This type, which remained in use until probably late in 1933, may be found struck in black and in violet on the 1925 and 1931-32 definitive issues.

Type 24 was introduced at least by October 1934. It is very like Type 23 and consists of a single-lined circle of 27 mm. diameter, "MADANG" (above), "NEW GUINEA" (below), two dividing bars of 3.5 mm., and the date in one line in the centre. The letters and figures in the date line are noticeably smaller. This canceller remained in use until the closing of the office on 12 February 1942 and may be found struck in black and violet on the 1932 definitive issues and all subsequent issues.

Two district office circular datestamps have been seen. One, Type 24a, consisting of a single-lined circle of 33 mm. diameter, showing "DISTRICT OFFICE" (above), "MADANG"- (below), with a stop before and after, and with the date in one line in the centre - the year being shown in full (1925-1926).

The other, Type 24b, consisting of a single-lined circle of 32 mm. diameter, showing "DISTRICT OFFICE" (above), "MADANG" (below), with two dividing bars 4 mm. in length, and the date in one line in the centre - the year being shown in full (1931 - 1935). Both are usually found struck in violet ink.

24b

24a

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MATUPI Matupi is an island in Blanche Bay at the entrance to Simpson Harbour and quite close to Rabaul. It was on this island that the German trading firm, Goddefroy & Sons, had an established trading station when Captain Simpson arrived there in H.M.S. Blanche in 1872. Mission stations are centered here, and a German naval coaling station was situated here until 1914.

A post office was opened on 1 November 1894. It had been intended to do so in 1888 but, due to a transfer of the trading station to Kerawara, a post office was opened at that place instead, on 4 April 1888, using for the months of April and May the Matupi canceller, Type 25, which had already been prepared. Consequently, the Matupi cancellation bearing 1888 dates indicates original use at Kerawara.

Type 25 c.d.s. of Matupi, previously used at Kerawara, was in use at Matupi from the opening of the office there on 1 November 1894 to its closing on 31 January 1906. The c.d.s. consisted of a single-lined circle of 24 mm. diameter, with "MATUPI" (above), a five-pointed star below, and the date in numerals in two lines in the centre.

Strikes from a forged canceller resembling Type 25 may be found on yacht type issues, with the date 15.7.01. In the forgery the figure "1" in the year is without serifs, the letters "M" and "A" of "MATUPI" are pointed at the top, and the letters of "MATUPI" are about 1.5 mm. from the outer circle.

In genuine strikes, the "1" in the year has serifs, the letters "M" and "A" in MATUPI" are rather flat at the top, the letters of "MATUPI" are 1 mm. from the outer circle and are composed of rather broader lines than in the forgery.

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BERLINHAFEN -- LATER EITAPE (NOW AITAPE) Berlinhafen is situated on the north coast of the New Guinea mainland some eighty miles from its border with West Irian. It is today the site of a Government sub-station.

A post office was opened here on 22 May 1898, using a c.d.s. consisting of a single-lined circle of 29.5 mm. diameter, Type 26, but with the letters "BERLINHAFEN" 4 mm. high and "DEUTSCH-NEU-GUINEA" in two lines with letters 3 mm. high. This c.d.s. may be found struck in black on the German Empire issues, the overprinted issues and the German colonial yacht issues.

The name of the town and district was changed to Eitape on 30 September 1912. A c.d.s., Type 27, consisting of a single-lined circle 26.5 mm. in diameter, inscribed "EITAPE" above a 2.5 mm. segment, "DEUTSCH/NEUGUINEA" in two lines in the centre, and the date in two lines flanked by five-pointed stars at the base.

No evidence has been seen of the use of any cancellers at Eitape between the outbreak of war and August 1916. The town was occupied early in 1915 and garrisoned by one officer, ten N.C.O.s and men, and ten native police. A c.d.s., Type 28, consisting of a single-lined circle 26 mm. in diameter, inscribed "EITAPE" (above), two curved lines separated by a circular stop (below), and the date in one line in the centre, was supplied in August 1915, and continued in use until mid-1922.

During the period mid-1922 to the latter part of 1924, three types of circular datestamps, inscribed "DISTRICT OFFICE / EITAPE", can be found cancelling N.W. Pacific Islands stamps. The first, Type 29, consisted of a misshapen double outer circle 30-32 mm. across, district office c.d.s. in rubber. with movable date in centre. It is probable that the mis-shaping was caused by tropical heat. The earliest date seen is 6 October 1922 and the latest 1 December 1922. (ERD now 10 June 1922 on cover in Prestige Philately Auction 15 May 2004 – lot 1354)

The second c.d.s., Type 30, consisted of a double outer circle approximately 36 mm., with an inner circle of 25 mm. In diameter. Inscribed between circles, "DISTRICT OFFICE" above, and "EITAPE" below, and the date in one line in the centre. It was in use during 1923.

A new district office rubber stamp c.d.s.,

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Type 31, consisting of a single-lined circle 30-

31 mm. In diameter, inscribed "DISTRICT OFFICE" above, "EITAPE" below, but with (date in three lines in the centre. This has been seen dated between 31 December 1923 and 2 January 1925 (see Appendix 1).

Type 31a was first recorded in PPS Stamp News No.121 by Mr. W H Fee. It is a single circle of 30.5 mm. diameter and was in use during 1924. It is something of a rarity.

31a

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Type 32 c.d.s. in rubber, with a single-lined circle of 31 mm. diameter, inscribed "POST OFFICE" above, "AITAPE," below, flanked by stars, and with date in three lines in the centre, was in use from January 1925 to February 1926.

Type 33 c.d.s. consisted of a singe-lined circle of 29 mm. diameter inscribed "AITAPE" above, "NEW GUINEA" below, separated by short bars, and the date in one line in the centre. This c.d.s. appears to have been in use in the period June 1927 to October 1928.

Type 34 consists of a single-lined circle of 32 mm. diameter, "DISTRICT OFFICE" above, "AITAPE" below, separated by a star and date in two or three lines. This has been sighted with dates from June to September 1929.

Type 35 consists of a large double circle, 41 mm. outer circle and 26.5 mm. inner circle, inscribed "DISTRICT OFFICE" above, "AITAPE" below, separated by short bars 3-4 mm. in length, date in one line across centre with year in full. This was in use in the period late 1929 to early 1930.

Type 36 consisting of a single-lined circle of 28 mm. diameter, inscribed "POST OFFICE." above, "AITAPE" below, flanked by round stops, and the date in one line in the centre, was in use from August 1929 to early 1938. In PPS Stamp News No.121 (June 1977) WH Fee reported 2 types of this cds – the first having numbers and letters of the datestamp 3 mm. high as against 2.5mm. high in the second version. (presumably the smaller date-line wheels replaced the original larger ones circa 1932).

Type 37, consisting of a single-lined circle of 29 mm. diameter, inscribed "AITAPE," above, "NEW GUINEA" below, and with the date in one line in the centre followed by the time of clearance, appears to have been introduced in 1939.

In the latter part of 1917 this office and that at Manus sold out of the N.W. Pacific Islands overprinted issues and in lieu thereof placed on sale Australian Commonwealth stamps punctured O.S. The total sale of these stamps in this period was less than three hundred. Values seen used are one halfpenny, one penny, two pence and three pence. (Australian Philatelist, Vol. 24, page 56.)

The cancellation shown here is very rare and its use was probably “unofficial”. I have one example in my collection on a German postal stationary card (5 pfennig). The strike was previously used as seal at the Imperial Customs Office and is inscribed “ DAS KAISBUCHE ZOLLAMPT * EITAPE *” around the Imperial Eagle ? The circle is 34mm in diameter.

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KAEWIENG (NOW KAVIENG) Kaewieng, (now spelt Kavieng,) is situated on Nusa Harbour at the north-eastern tip of New Ireland, less than 200 miles south of the Equator, and about 160 miles north-west of Rabaul. It is the port of New Ireland, and has a non-native population of about 110 Europeans and some 300 Asiatics.

A post office was opened on 1 January, 1904, with c.d.s. Type 38, consisting of a single-lined circle 26.5 mm. in diameter, inscribed "KAEWIENG", above a segment 2.5 mm. high, "DEUTSCH - / NEUGUINEA" in two lines in the centre, and with the date in numerals in two lines at the base flanked by five-pointed stars. This c.d.s. was in use until the town was occupied by Australian forces on 17 October 1914.

Type 39, a c.d.s. consisting of a single-lined circle of 26 mm. diameter and inscribed "KAWIENG" above, two curved lines separated by a round stop at base, and with date in one line in the centre, was supplied to the office in late July or early August 1915 and remained in use until 1922.

Type 40, a c.d.s. consisting of a single-lined circle of 30 mm. diameter, with "KAEWIENG" above, two short bars separated by a round stop below, and the date in two lines in centre, was introduced in 1922, remaining in use until 1925.

Type 41, a c.d.s. consisting of two concentric circles of 30 mm. and 18 mm. diameter respectively, with, between the circles, "POST OFFICE" above, "KAVIENG" below, and without the date, was per favour only. Strikes of this c.d.s. have been seen on the N.W. Pacific Islands overprints and on the 1925 and 1931 definitive issues. (A similar type exists with scalloped inner circle – Appendix 1.)

Undated double circle cancellation inscribed “POST OFFICE KAVIENG ” separated by two dots and measuring 33 mm outer diameter and 23 mm inner. The lines of the circle are 1mm thick struck in black ink on a block of 4 x 4d. Huts. The format resembles Type 41 (page 9) but that device appears to be a smaller steel type with circles of 30mm and 18mm.

This is a rubber device with scalloped inner ring and is believed to be a forgery created by Woodman.

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Type 42, a very large c.d.s. consisting of two concentric circles of 43 mm. and 26.5 mm. diameter respectively, with, between the circles, "POST OFFICE" above, "KAVIENG" below, with a square stop before and after, and with the date in one line in the centre, was introduced in 1925 and remained in use until 1932. (LRD: 25 July 1932). (see next page for an example on cover)

Type 43 consisted of a c.d.s. of a single-lined circle of 41 mm. With "DISTRICT OFFICE" above and "KAVIENG" below flanked by stars, and with the date in one line in the centre. The writer has a number of strikes all dated 1927 and struck in red on various values of the 1925 definitive issues. (A similar date-stamp also exists with lettering slightly smaller, but seen only as arrival marking.)

Type 44, c.d.s consisting of a single-lined circle of 27 mm. diameter, with "CANCELLATION" above and "KAVIENG" below, separated by short bars, and with date in one line in the centre, was introduced in 1926 and remained in use until late 1932.

Type 45 consisted of a single-lined circle of 29 min. diameter, inscribed "KAVIENG" above and "NEW GUINEA" below, without separating devices, with the time after the date in one line in the centre. It was brought into use in 1932 or 1933 and remained in use until the office closed on 21 January 1942.

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A post office seal 28.5 mm. in diameter, used to impress the wax sealing on mail bags has been found struck in violet on 5 pf., 30 pf. and 40 pf. values of the yacht type without G.R.I. overprint.

It comprises a solid circular background, 26 mm. in diameter, inscribed in relief, "KAISERLICH DEUTSCHE POST" above the German Imperial crown, "KAEVIENG/(DEUTSCH-/NEU GUINEA)" across the centre in three lines, and a post horn device at the base.

This is a long-known forgery reported in PNGC June 1987. I believe it was early-on reported by Vern Rutherford. The dateline reads "-3 MAR 32" and is found only(?) on 1931 dated BOP/BOP Airs high values. Robin Linke (2004) had a Pound (Air) - Lot #892 returned the set to the consignor. Nutmeg Stamps (USA) had a marginal block (4) of Pound BOP with BPA cert. stating genuine stamps/false cancel.

Incredibly, even with that info, it sold for $575(US) plus 10% commission!

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SIMPSONHAFEN (NOW RABAUL) The wide open-expanse of water at the north-eastern tip of New Britain is named Blanche Bay, the north-western stretch is named Simpson Harbour.

It was around the shores of Blanche Bay that the famous Mrs. Emma Forsyth, afterwards known as "Queen Emma", began to establish coconut plantations about the year 1880. By 1899 "Queen Emma's” plantations occupied a considerable area of the district. In that year Governor Rudolph von Bennigsen transferred the capital from Friedrich Wilhelmshafen (Madang) to Herbertshöhe (Kokopo), in the centre of the district occupied by "Queen Emma" and her numerous relatives. In 1910, upon addition of the Marianne, Marshall and Caroline Islands to von Benningson's jurisdiction for administrative purposes, the capital was transferred to Simpsonhafen, a town on Simpson Harbour, and the town name was changed to Rabaul.

On 1 February 1906 a postal agency was opened here with c.d.s.

Type 46, a single-lined circle of 28.5 mm., inscribed at top "SIMPSONHAFEN" above a segment (4.5 mm. high), and with "DEUTSCH- / NEU-GUINEA" in two lines in centre, and date below, the day and month in numerals separated by a sloping stroke in one line with the year, indicated by the last two numerals, at base. Two five-pointed stars flank the first line of date. This c.d.s. remained in use until the transfer of the capital here in April 1910. Upon that happening the postal agency became the principal post office using the new town name Rabaul. Type 46 may be found struck in black on the German colonial yacht type stamps.

Upon the office becoming the principal post office in April 1910, there was brought into use a c.d.s., Type 47, consisting of a single-lined circle of 27.5 mm. diameter, inscribed at top "RABAUL" above a segment (3 mm. high), with "DEUTSCH" followed by a hyphen in one line and "NEUGUINEA" in the second line in centre and date below. The day and month are indicated by numerals with an oblique stroke between, in one line, and year, indicated by the last two numerals, at base. The first line of the date was flanked by two five pointed stars.

Variations in the setting of the dates in this canceller have led to some assertions that more than one canceller of this type were in use. However, some time between 7 October and 18 December 1910, due to either a fault or damage, a small break in the outer circle appeared immediately below the figures of the year. It is by means of this break that one may establish the use of a single canceller, Type 47, which may be found (a) with the date set as first described above, (b) with the substitution of a round stop for the oblique stroke between the numerals of day and month, and (c) without either the stroke or the stop. (see Appendix).

This c.d.s. was in use at least until 9 September (on a German censored letter to Germany) prior to the Australian military occupation on 12 September 1914. It may be found generally, struck in black on German colonial yacht type issues.

Circular date-stamp Type 48 consisted of a single-lined circle of 28.5 mm. diameter, inscribed at top "RABAUL" over a segment 2 mm. high. "(DEUTSCH-NEUGUINEA)" in two lines in centre, and date in numerals with stops after day and month in one line below, with figures of clearance time at base, followed by “A” or "N” representing a.m. and p.m. respectively. The clearance time is flanked by a five-pointed star at left and the lower case letter "a" at right. The earliest date of use is 6 April 1913, and this c.d.s. was still in use at the date of the Australian military occupation.

It would appear that the post office at Rabaul closed on 11 September 1914 and on the following day was occupied by the Australian forces. Upon such occupation it was found that all current cancellers had been removed. All stamps which were in stock were seized and subsequently overprinted G.R.I. - Georgius Rex lmperator - and value in Australian currency. A stock of Marshall Islands German colonial stamps was found at Nauru and brought to Rabaul for overprinting at a later

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date. There is no doubt that German colonial issues, overprinted as stated above, were available to certain officers as early as 1 October 1914, for the writer has a cover franked with G.R.I. 1d. on 5 pf. which is cancelled with the two-line rubber movable type hand-stamp without ornament, Type 49A, showing the date 13 October 1914. On the reverse of this cover is a certificate as follows: "I hereby certify that the stamp attached to this envelope is one of the original stamps of the 16 sets issued by the Military Government of New Guinea.�

Dated 1 October 1914.

"Signed, Walter Fry, Capt.

"Treasurer."

In the Government Gazette, Vol. 1, No. 1, of 15 October 1914, there appeared an important announcement as follows: POSTAGE STAMPS. "The postage stamps of the late German Administration seized at the Post Office, Rabaul, after British Military Occupation, have been endorsed with the Royal initial letters G. R. l. and their respective values altered as found necessary. In future, all letters posted from the garrisons of Rabaul and HerbertshĂśhe will require, before being accepted for transmission by mail, to have affixed to same the necessary stamps, which may he obtained on application to the Postmaster at each place."

It has been difficult to find authoritative evidence of the date of the opening of the post office at Rabaul following occupation. According to an article in The Australian Philatelist of 3 December 1914 the G..R.I. issues were first placed on sale on 17 October, and it would be safe to assume that postal services were available to civilians on or about that date. The earlier use, 13 October 1914, on the cover described above with Treasurer's certificate endorsed, could not safely be accepted as evidence of general or normal use.

The movable rubber type hand-stamp applied to the cover above described was set up with movable rubber type in a metal or wooden frame folder from an "outfit" sold about that period for use of persons desirous of making a cheap rubber hand-stamp. The hand-stamp may be found in three states or types as follows: "The 49A, consisting of the word "RABAUL" in capitals in the upper line, and date in one line below. There are no stops or ornaments. Type 49B, consisting of the word "RABAUL" in capitals in the upper line with a five-leaf ornament and star before, and a star and fiveleaf ornament after, and with date in one line below with an asterisk before and after; and Type 49C, with abbreviated month in capitals with the asterisk before date omitted. This omission occurred during November 1914.

Strikes from this type in each of the three states, A, B, C, frequently are accompanied by what have been described by some writers as, and certainly appear to be, horizontal bars before and after the setting of the movable type. These apparent bars are really impressions made by the wooden or metal channel banks which were only very slightly below the level of the surface of the movable type.

Type 49A would appear to have had a very limited use. It has not been seen with a date other than 13 October 1914. It has been seen on the cover, with certificate endorsed, described above and on similar covers. It has also been seen on a registered cover bearing a Rabaul German registration label, unfranked and with a manuscript marking, "On Active Service Rabaul - No Stamps Available".

The cover is addressed to Randwick, N.S.W., and is back-stamped "Sydney, Thursday, 25 October 1914", "Randwick. Monday, 29 October 1914". The use of Type 49A otherwise is unknown to the writer.

Type 49b. was in use from 17 October 1914 and is to be found struck in violet on the G.R.I. overprinted issues first printing and occasionally on Commonwealth of Australia issues. In the latter case the earliest use seen is on a one penny King George V, with the date 22 October 1914.

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Type 49C is known used as from 2 November 1914 and is found struck in violet on Commonwealth of Australia issues punctured O.S., and also on G.R.I. issues. The use of this hand-stamp came to an end probably late in November 1914.

Type 50 consisted of a two-line rubber hand-stamp of German origin with "Simpsonhafen" in the upper line and "(Deutsch Neu-Guinea)" in the lower line, capitals and lower case letters being used throughout.

The hand-stamp was introduced during November 1914, and the writer has strikes on two covers, each postmarked on arrival at Sydney, 20 November 1914. At most, this marker had a life of only a few months.

Type 51 consisted of a single-lined rubber hand-stamp, probably of German origin, with the word "Rabaul" only. The "R" is capital and the remaining letters are in lower case. The word measures 24 mm. In length. It is generally found struck in violet or greenish black on Commonwealth of Australia issues punctured O.S. It would appear to have been used only during the month of December 1914. The writer has not seen evidence of its use other than during that month.

Type 52 c.d.s. of Stephansort was apparently returned to the post office at Rabaul when the office at Stephansort closed on 30 June 1914 and was still there when the Australian forces took over on occupation. The last two numerals of the year date "13" are believed to have become fixtures, perhaps due to corrosion. This c.d.s. was brought into use at Rabaul, probably during December 1914, and was in use until mid July 1915. Max Bulley has supplied details of this strike on a cover censored in Brisbane on 29 July 1915. Throughout the period of its use at Rabaul the figures "13" remained without the addition of any other figures. Doubtless no metal plug figures were available.

Usually struck in greenish black ink, copies also exist struck in black ink, "per favour".

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Type 53 is a horizontal oval rubber hand-stamp, , measuring 41 mm. x 26 mm. and consisting of a double-lined outer frame enclosing "RABAUL" in serifed capitals at top, "NEW BRITAIN" in sans-serif capitals at the base flanked by curved lines, date in one line in the centre, with an arc above and below, was introduced on 4 January 1915. This oval canceller was used until August 1915, and has been seen struck in violet only on Commonwealth of Australia issues punctured and unpunctured, on the G.R.I. overprints, including Registration labels, on the N.W. Pacific Islands issues, and monocolour Papuan (1/2 d. and 2d.) issue.

A further provisional rubber handstamp, Type 54, came into use. Again, this was a handstamp of German origin.

It consisted of a single-lined oblong frame measuring 51.5 mm. x 29 mm. with "RABAUL" in sans-serif capitals in one line at the top, and with date in a second line commencing under "B� of "RABAUL". All strikes from this handstamp seen by the writer show evidence of some lettering having been at the base of the stamp, although there is not sufficient clarity to identify any single letter. The scoring through or cutting away of German names or language from handstamps which took place elsewhere (e.g., Morobe) was probably repeated in this case by a cutting away of the rubber lettering at the base. That the handstamp was of German origin there is no doubt. The writer has a number of strikes in which the month of May is spelt "Mai" (German language). The earliest date of use known to the writer is April 1915, shown on a registered and censored commercial cover in his collection and addressed to Sydney, N.S.W., backstamped on arrival 17 April 1915. The cover is franked with 21/2 d. N .W. Pacific Islands and G.R.I. 3d. on Rabaul registration label. Strikes from Type 54 may be found in violet or blue-black on Commonwealth of Australia issues, the G.R.I. overprints or the N.W. Pacific Islands stamps. The handstamp appears to have had a limited life and strikes later than June 1915 are unknown to the writer.

The first permanent metal c.d.s., Type 55, for Rabaul, consisted of a single-lined circle of 25 mm. diameter enclosing "RABAUL" in sans-serif capitals above, the date in one line in the centre, and two curved bars separated by a stop at the base. The earliest date of use which the writer has is 30 July 1915, on a 1d. Kangaroo Commonwealth stamp punctured O.S. and struck in black. Although strikes are generally found struck in black, they may occasionally be found struck in greenish black (August 1915), and rarely in violet. This type remained in use until 1921. There is evidence of use as late as 1929, but at this period it would appear to have been brought back for some short emergency.

With the introduction of a new c.d.s., Type 56, inscribed "RABAUL, NEW BRITAIN", came a reminder that the island upon which Rabaul stands was so named by William Dampier when he sighted it on New Year's Day 1700. The German name for the island was Neu Pommern but, with the Australian military occupation, there began a process of name-changing from the German to either British or native names. Type 56 consisted of a singlelined circle of 27 mm. diameter, with "RABAUL" above, and "NEW BRITAIN" below, both in sans-serif capitals and separated by short bars on a level with the base of the letters "R" and "L" of "RABAUL", and the date in one line in the centre. The earliest date in the writer's collection is 18 July 1921, and the latest seen is November 1923.

Type 57 was introduced at about the same time. Similar to Type 56, but with the "N" in "BRITAIN" reversed. A good checking point of these two types is the distance between the base of the letter "N" in "BRITAIN" and the top of the letter "L" in "RABAUL". The distance in Type 56 is 10 mm. and in Type 57 it is 7 mm. These two types were used concurrently. The earliest date of use of Type 57 seen by the writer is 13 August 1921, and the latest is on "piece" with the date 2 January 1924.

24

Type 58 consisted of a single-lined circle of 30 mm. diameter inscribed "RABAUL" above, "NEW GUINEA" below, both in sans-serif capitals and separated by short bars in line with the centre of the letters, and with the date in one line in the centre, month stated in two letters only. The earliest date recorded is 15 January 1924, while the latest recorded date is 7 January 1933.

Also used in 1935 and 1937 as a "relief" canceller. (see p.35 on forged cds.)

Strikes have been seen struck in black and violet.

It should be noted that Types 56 and 57, which had been in concurrent use, went out of use in the 192324 period and were replaced by Type 58. One would have expected that two new cancellers would have been introduced in place of those discarded. Enquiries on this question have satisfied the writer that indeed two new c.d.s. were introduced, but both were Type 58. The writer has two strikes, one from each c.d.s., which were obtained by favour, but careful comparison has not enabled him to discover any distinguishing feature.

Accordingly, only one type is here listed. It appears that both these c.d.s. were brought back into use for cancelling first-day covers of the 1937 Coronation commemoratives on 18 May 1937.

Type 59 consisted of a single-lined circle of 30 mm. diameter, inscribed "RABAUL" above, and "NEW GUINEA" below, both in sans-serif capitals separated by short bars, and with the date in one line in the centre, preceded by the clearance time. This c.d.s. was brought into use about June 1928, and remained in use until June 1941. During part of the period it was in concurrent use with c.d.s. Type 58. It has only been seen struck in black.

Note the short right legs of “U” and “N” of “GUINEA”.

Type 60 consisted of a single-lined circle of 29 mm. diameter, inscribed "RABAUL" above, and "NEW GUINEA" below, both in sans-serif capitals separated by short bars, and the date in one line in the centre, followed by the clearance time. Earliest and latest dates of use are 21 December 1936 and 11 November 1941 respectively.

Type 61, similar to Type 60 but with "RABAUL" and "NEW GUINEA" separated by curved bars 5 mm. in length, and the letters of "NEW GUINEA" 3.5 mm. high, compared with 2.5 mm. in Type 60, was in use in the 1938-39 period. Strikes from this c.d.s. in black are usually very neat and clear.

Type 62 consisted of a single-lined circle of 29 mm., with "RABAUL" above, and "NEW GUINEA" below, both in sans-serif capitals and separated by square stops, the date in one line in the centre with month stated in three letters instead of two letters as in Type 58. Period of use, May 1941 to January 1942.

Type 63 consisted of a single-lined circle of 26.5 mm., inscribed "POSTAGE PAID" above, and "RABAUL" below, both in sans-serif capitals and separated by stops, and with the date in one line in the centre. It appears to have been in use at least from 12 November 1928, which is the earliest recorded date seen by the writer, until 24 August 1941, the latest date seen.

The post office at Rabaul was closed on 23 January 1942.

25

KIETA Kieta is situated on an excellent harbour on the east coast of Bougainville Island and is the site of a Government station. Prior to the outbreak of war in the Pacific in 1942 Kieta was, from German times, the centre of administration for the Northern Solomon Islands.

A post office was opened in April 1907 and closed on occupation by Australian forces on 9 December 1914.

The office opened with c.d.s. Type 64, consisting of a single-lined circle of 29 mm. diameter, with "KIETA" above a segment 4 mm. high, the date below in two lines, and "DEUTSCH-NEUGUINEA" in two lines in the centre.

This c.d.s. was in use up to the time of the Australian occupation.

A postal service was again available early in 1915, using the N.W. Pacific Islands overprinted issues. A single-lined rubber stamp, "Station Kieta", Type 65, measuring 33 mm. in length, apparently made from movable rubber type, was brought into use as a canceller. The earliest use in the writer's collection appears on a commercial cover with the "Station Kieta" struck on the stamps and with the Tulagi, British Solomon Islands, c.d.s. showing date 18 March 1915 struck on the front. The single-lined canceller remained in use for about six months of 1915.

Type 66, was introduced in late July or August 1915 and remained in use until December 1921. This consisted of a single-lined circle 26 mm. in diameter, inscribed "KIETA" above, curved lines separated by a round stop at the base and the date in one line in the centre.

Type 67 consisted of a single-lined circle of 28 mm. diameter, inscribed "KIETA" above, and two open concentric arcs below, - with the date in one line in the centre. This c.d.s. was in use from December 1921 till 1923.

Type 68 consisting of a single-lined circle of 30mm. diameter, with "KIETA" above, "NEW GUINEA" below, the two separated by curved lines, and the date in one line in the centre, was in use from 1924 to 1937.

Type 69 consisting of two concentric circles of 40 mm. and 27 mm. diameter respectively, with "DISTRICT OFFICER" above and "KIETA" below, flanked by stars, and with the date in one line in the centre, was in use from 1928 until late in 1931.

26

Type 70, consisting of a single-lined circle of 38 mm. diameter, with "POST OFFICE" above and "KIETA" in large letters below, flanked by a diamond between bars, and with the date in one line in the centre, was in use from June 1929 until possibly late 1931. (1 July 32)

Type 71 consisted of a single-lined circle of 28 mm. diameter, with "KIETA" above, "NEW GUINEA" below, both in smaller lettering, without separating devices, and with the date and clearance time in one line in the centre. This c.d.s. was introduced in 1938 and continued in use until the post office closed on 23 January 1942. (E.R.D: 25 JULY 1938; L.R.D. 26 Feb. 1942 – Ted Bishop PNGC No. 226, April 2004).

27

MARON Maron Island is in the Hermit or Moron group in the Bismarck Archipelago, due north of the mainland of New Guinea, and some hundred miles north-west of Manus Island. The Hermit group, together with the Ninigo and Anchorite (or Kaniet) Islands, are perhaps better known as the NorthWestern Islands.

A post office was first opened on 1 January 1911 with c.d.s. Type 72, consisting of a single-lined circle of 28 mm. diameter, inscribed "MARON" at the top above a segment 3 mm. high, with the date at the base in two lines flanked by five pointed stars, and "DEUTSCH-NEUGUINEA" in two lines in the centre. The c.d.s. remained in use until the office was closed in November 1914, upon occupation by Australian forces.

An "unofficial" * post office was opened in 1922 with c.d.s. Type 73, consisting of a single-lined circle of 29 mm. diameter, with "MARON" above, "NEW GUINEA" below, separated by short bars and with the date in one line in the centre. The writer has seen a strike on a one-penny N.W. Pacific Islands overprint of the fifth setting with the date 1 January 1923. It is believed that the office closed in 1924.

* The Acting Govt. Secretary of the Territory of New Guinea Central Administration, Rabaul, in response to inquiries by the editors of A.S.J., has given the following list of post-offices in this territory.

Official offices: Rabaul, Kokopo, Madang, Kavieng, Manus, Kieta, Eitape, Gasmata, Morobe, Namatanai. Unofficial offices: Bita Paka, Maron, Mokareng, Witu and Finschhafen. These offices were established in June 1922. (A.S.J., 13 November 1922, page 162.)

28

NAMATANAI Namatanai is situated on the east coast of New Ireland, formerly Neu Mecklenburg in the German colonial period, somewhat south of its centre, on Nabuto Bay. It lies at the end of the east coast road 170 miles from Kavieng and is the centre of the administrative sub-district for the southern half of the island with a native population of 14,104 and like the remainder of the island is given over to the growth of coconuts.

A post office was opened on 8 September 1911 and a circular datestamp Type 74 was brought into use early in 1912, possibly in January. This c.d.s. consisted of a single-lined circle of 26.5 mm. diameter, inscribed "NAMATANAI" above a 2.5 mm. high segment, "DEUTSCH- / NEUGUINEA" in two lines in the centre and the date in numerals in two lines at the base, and all words in sans-serif capitals. Strikes from this c.d.s. have been seen only on the German colonial yacht type struck in black. This c.d.s. remained in use until November 1914 when the district was occupied by Australian forces.

Under the early military occupation Namatanai was administered as part of the Kavieng district and was garrisoned by a white police-master and forty native police. Early in 1915 it was restored to its former status as headquarters of a separate district with a garrison consisting of an officer, ten N.C.O’s and men, and a force of native police.

The writer has no evidence of the date when postal services again became available, but in all probability it was shortly after occupation. One can only assume that either no canceller was in use and mail was cancelled on arrival at Rabaul or the provisional two-line "Post Office, / NAMATANAI" canceller, Type 75, was in use. This provisional canceller consisted of two lines with "Post Office" above in serifed capitals and lower case letters, 20.5 mm. in length and with a comma after "Office", and "NAMATANAI" below in serifed capitals measuring 24 mm. in length. The earliest date of use which can be fixed is 24 January 1917, seen by the writer on registered cover, on which appears also a strike of Type 76, described below, showing the date stated. Strikes from this provisional canceller have been seen struck in violet only.

Type 76 consisted of a single-lined circle of 25 mm. diameter, with "NAMATANAI" above, "QUEENSLAND" below, and the date in one line in the centre. As in the case of Type 14 canceller of Kokopo, the word "QUEENSLAND" was obliterated by means of a filling of soft metal which printed as a semi-circular bar. During use, this filling began to shed so that the word "QUEENSLAND" became successively more discernible. The earliest known date of use is 24 January 1917, as mentioned in the previous paragraph. The latest date of use known to the writer is 6 October 1922, but probably later dates may be found in view of the date of introduction of the next type, namely, 1924.

Strikes from Type 76 have been found struck in violet. (LRD 22 Dec 1923 – AL) Type 77 consisted of a single-lined circle of 28.5 mm. diameter, with "NAMATANAI" above, "NEW GUINEA" below, separated by short bars, and with the date in one line in the centre. The earliest known date of use is 23 April 1924, struck in violet-black. The latest date of use so far recorded is 5 May 1939.

Type 78 was introduced late in 1939 and consisted of a single-lined circle of 28.5 mm. diameter, inscribed "NAMATANAI" above, "NEW GUINEA" below, separated by round stops, and with the date in one line in the centre. It remained in use till the office closed in January 1942.

29

The writer has a district officer's date stamp, consisting of two concentric circles of 42 mm. and 30 mm. diameter respectively, inscribed between the circles, "NAMATANAI" / "NEW IRELAND DISTRICT" with circular stops before and after "NAMATANAI", and the date in one line in the centre. Struck in black on the 2d. 1931-32 issue with the date 23 or 28 September 1933.

78a Type 76

Type 75

30

DEULON (ALEXISHAFEN) (Variously called Alexis Harbour, Port Alexis and Port Grand Duke Alexis) Alexishafen is situated on the east coast of New Guinea mainland about ten miles north of Madang (Friedrich Wilhelmshafen). It is the site of a Catholic mission station the native name for which is Deulon (later spelt Doilon), and does not appear to be, or to have been, an important centre.

The chief industries here are the manufacture of desiccated coconut, which suffered a serious setback in 1952, and the felling and milling of ironwood.

A postal agency was opened here on 4 December 1912, using the name Deulon, which suggests that in all probability the agency was conducted at the mission station. The office had a very short life, having been closed on 20 September 1914. Throughout its life the office used c.d.s. Type 79, consisting of a single-lined circle of 27 mm. diameter, inscribed "DEULON" above a segment 2.5 mm. high, "(DEUTSCH-NEUGUINEA)� - across the centre in two lines, and the date in two lines at the base, flanked by fivepointed stars. The writer has been able to acquire only one strike from this c.d.s. but has seen others. Specimens are extremely difficult to acquire.

31

MANUS The Admiralty group is situated 380 miles northwest of Rabaul and consists of the large island of Manus and numerous small islands. The island of Manus is fifty miles long and about twenty miles wide and has an area of 630 square miles. Like New Britain and New Ireland, Manus is rugged and mountainous. It was not until 1927 that Government patrols were able to push their way right across the island and gain knowledge of its interior. Some 10,000 acres are planted under coconut palms and trochus and goldlip shell are recovered from its adjacent waters. There are no other commercial projects. The population of the group amounts to 16,752.

Headquarters of the district of Manus are at the principal port Lorengau on the western side of Seeadler Harbour.

A post office was opened at Manus on 6 December 1912 with c.d.s.

Type 80 consisting of a singe-lined circle of 26 mm. diameter, with "MANUS" above a segment 3 mm. high, "DEUTSCH- / NEUGUINEA" (in brackets) across the centre in two lines, and the date in two lines below flanked by stars. It might safely be assumed that the c.d.s. was used at or about the date of the opening of the office and it is known to have continued in use up to the time of Australian military occupation on 22 November 1914, when the armed Germans and native police surrendered. A garrison consisting of an officer and twelve naval ratings was posted at Lorengau, the seat of administration.

The writer has no record of the opening of postal services at Manus under Australian military administration. In his collection he has a cover bearing a one-penny stamp of Australia, punctured O.S., cancelled with straight-line "Manus" (16 mm. in length), Type 81. The cover bears on the front the name of the sender "T. M. Robertson, 246", and is marked also "Naval Garrison, Manus Island". On the reverse is the date 11.12.14 in addressee's manuscript. The use of this straight-line canceller is uncommon and seldom seen.

The writer has seen a cover bearing two onepenny N.W. Pacific Islands stamps cancelled "Kaiserliche Station / Manus" in two lines enclosed in an oblong "box" 68 mm. by 28 mm., Type 82. This canceller is of rubber and of obvious German origin.

The cover is addressed to Sydney and bears an arrival back-stamp of 31 July 1915. The writer has two strikes from this canceller on German colonial yacht 10 pf. stamps without G.R.I. overprint.

Type 83 consisted of the word "Manus" (22 mm. in length) within an oblong "box" measuring 68 mm. by 28 mm. and was generally used as a back-stamp.

In July 1915 a permanent c.d.s., Type 84, was introduced. It consisted of a single-lined circle of 26 mm. diameter, inscribed "MANUS" above, the date in one line in the centre, and two curved bars at the base separated by a round stop. The earliest recorded date of use is 3 July 1915 and the latest date in the writer's collection is 27 Dec. 1928.

32

Type 85 consisted of a single-lined circle of 27 mm. diameter, inscribed "MANUS" above, NEW GUINEA" below, separated by circular stops and the date in one line in the centre, with the month abbreviated to two letters and the year indicated by two numerals only. This type was introduced in late 1928 and remained in use until 1933. Strikes from this type are generally found struck in black but also exist in violet.

.

Type 86 consisted of a single-lined circle of 28 mm. diameter, with "MANUS" above, "NEW GUINEA" below, separated by circular stops and the date in one line in the centre. In this case the month is contracted to three letters and the year is shown in full. This c.d.s. was apparently a replacement for Type 85 and was introduced during 1933 and continued in use until the middle of 1938. Strikes are generally found struck in violet. .

.

Type 87 consisted of a single-lined circle of 30 mm. diameter, inscribed "MANUS" above, "NEW GUINEA" below, without separating devices, and the date in one line in the centre followed by the time of clearance. This c.d.s. was introduced in 1938 and remained in use until military occupation by the Japanese in February 1942.

87a

A District Office c.d.s. Type 87a, is known on a cover dated 28 Nov. 1934. This is a singled lined circle 40 mm.

In diameter. The writer has two clear strikes on piece with 1935 dates of a single-lined circular date-stamp (40 mm. diameter) inscribed "DISTRICT OFFICE" above, "MANUS" below, separated by five-pointed stars with the date in one line in the centre.

Note: In the latter half of 1917 Manus was without supplies of N.W. Pacific Islands stamps but, apparently, had a supply of stamps of the Commonwealth of Australia punctured O.S. However, only a small number were sold to the public and these consisted of halfpenny, one-penny, two-penny and three-penny values. Similarly, Aitape in the same period sold the punctured Australian stamps. The total number of all values sold would not exceed 300.

Type 85 struck in violet ink

33

MOROBE Morobe is situated on the east coast of the New Guinea mainland about twenty three miles north of the Papuan border and only five or six miles from the mouth of the Waria River.

In German times, Morobe was the administrative centre of the Morobe district and was frequented by Australian gold seekers who were constantly being chased by German officials. The story of the Morobe goldfields cannot be told here but has been admirably dealt with in such works as Mountains, Gold and Cannibals by Mrs. Doris Booth, and Gold-dust and Ashes by lon Idriess.

A post office was first opened here on 20 January 1913, using c.d.s.

Type 88, consisting of a single-lined circle of 26 mm. diameter, inscribed "MOROBE" above a segment 2.5 mm. high, "DEUTSCH- / NEUGUINEA" (in brackets) across the centre in two lines, and with the date in two lines below flanked by five-pointed stars. This type was in use from the day of opening until the closing of the office which took place upon the Australian military occupation in January, 1915.

The re-opening of the post office under Australian military administration probably took place at about the time of the arrival there of the Australian garrison force. The writer has been unable to ascertain the date of that arrival, but the destroyers which accompanied the garrison forces there departed on 13 January 1915 after what was, most likely, a stay of only a few days.

The first cancellation to be used under Australian military administration, Type 89, was improvised from a rubber handstamp found at the German Government station. The original handstamp (which was NOT used to cancel stamps but used only as an office stamp) consisted of a fourline stamp, "Kaiserliche Station / MOROBE / Eing a m (date) / J. No. . . . .

Anfage". The word "MOROBE" and the date were allowed to remain but other wording was removed. It should be noted that the date is a little below and to the right of "MOROBE". This handstamp has been seen by the writer struck on the 1911 monocolour typographed issues of Papua, dated "15 MRZ 1915" and 14 APR 1915", and on the Australian Commonwealth one-penny kangaroo (O.S.), dated "16 MAI 1915".

The above dates quoted seem to confirm the existence of a monthly mail service between Morobe and Ioma.

Type 90, was introduced probably late in 1915. This consisted of a single-lined circle of 25 mm. diameter, inscribed "MOROBE" above with curved bars separated by a stop below, and the date in one line in the centre.

The earliest date of use known to the writer is 7 October 1915. which is on original cover. This c.d.s. continued in use until the office was closed on 26 November 1926, from which date an office was opened at Salamaua on the coast some sixty-five miles northwest of Morobe.

The writer has a commercial cover addressed to Burns Philp & Co Ltd., cancelled by a large double circle c.d.s., inscribed “DISTRICT OFFICE” above and “MOROBE” below, dated 27 SEP 1926. This device is very similar to the one used at Ambunti and Gasmata and is 41 mm. in diameter.

At Salamaua, the Morobe c.d.s., Type 90, was in use from the time of opening until a new c.d.s., inscribed "SALAMOA" was introduced early in 1927. Accordingly, strikes from Type 90 with dates after 26 November 1926 indicate provisional use at Salamaua and not at Morobe.

34

90a

MOROBE HANDSTAMP ON PAPUA WITH IOMA C.D.S. The use of the Morobe handstamp on stamps of Papua with the Ioma, Papua, c.d.s. provides evidence of a "runner service" far too interesting to the postal historian to be dismissed with the remark, "done per favour".

A post office was opened on 20 January 1913 at Morobe in German New Guinea, near the Papuan frontier. The German Government Resident Minister commenced sending mails addressed to Morobe. The Minister arranged to send a mail bag, carrying letters only, by messenger to the postmaster at Ioma for transfer to the S.S. Mindoro, a Burns Philp vessel calling monthly at Mambare Beach on the Papuan coast, near the Papuan-New Guinea border, and about equidistant from Morobe and Ioma. This arrangement received official sanction -- see letter dated 21 August 1913, German Colonial Postmaster at Rabaul to the Chief Postmaster at Port Moresby and the latter's reply of 10 September 1913. (Vide Australian Post Office, Philatelic Bulletin, No. 25, August 1957, at page 7.)

On Australian military occupation the service continued. It would seem that about March-April 1915, no New Guinea stamps being available, the messenger brought Papuan stamps to Morobe for local civilian use as a matter of necessity. These stamps were marked with a rubber handstamp of German origin showing "MOROBE� in one line with the date below and a little to the right.

Upon delivery of the mail to Ioma, the circular datestamp of that office was applied. This procedure was a matter of necessity and not a matter of "done per favour", as Hamilton Croaker, without any cited evidence or authority, writes in his Postmarks of British New Guinea and Papua.

The writer has a cover bearing a halfpenny monocolour issue of Papua with a strike of the Morobe c.d.s., Type 90, dated "7 Oc. 15". The cover is addressed to Samarai, Papua, and back stamped "SAMARAl", 2.11.15. This is confirmation that the runner service continued until that date at least and probably for a long time thereafter while New Guinea stamps were still unavailable to civilians. The earliest sighted cancellation, "MOROBE", Type 90, on the Australian Commonwealth one-penny punctured O.S. is on cover in the writer's collection and is dated 31 December 1915.

That stamps were not always available earlier is borne out by the stampless censored cover of 19 July 1915 in the collection of Mr. Max T. Bulley, and referred to in his article in the December 1956 issue of the Papuan Philatelic Society's Stamp News. It is interesting also to note that G.R.I. issues are not found with Morobe postmarks, and the writer has yet to learn of a N.W. Pacific Islands issue with a Morobe postmark earlier than 1916.

It should be remembered that in 1915 Morobe was a remote outpost, in fact the most lonely outpost in the Territory, in very wild uncontrolled country, with hostile jungle tribes and an area garrisoned by only one officer and ten N.C.O.s and manned with a native police force of twenty-eight. Prior to the 1914 war there were few whites in the area and they consisted mostly of gold prospectors, since little agricultural development had taken place.

35

BUKA The island of Buka lies to the north of Bougainville in the Northern Solomon Islands. The two are separated by a narrow passage. Buka consists of mountainous and undulating country as well as lowlands with mangroves, dense forests and grasslands. On Buka and adjoining lesser islands there are some 9000 natives of Melanesian origin, distinguished for their powerful build and intelligence.

Germany took possession of Buka and other Solomon Islands in October 1886. A post office was opened here on 26 July 1913, using the German colonial Yacht type stamps. The Office remained open until the occupation of Buka by Australian military forces. The date of such occupation is not recorded but is believed to have taken place shortly before Kieta was occupied on 9 December 1914.

Upon the opening of the post office under German administration there was in use a c.d.s., Type 91, consisting of a single-lined circle of 26 mm. diameter, inscribed "BUKA" above, DEUTSCH / NEUGUINEA" (in brackets) in two lines across the centre, and with the date below in two lines flanked by five pointed stars. The writer has seen a strike of this c.d.s. on G.R.I. three-penny on 30 pf. (S.G. 23) on cover addressed to Captain Fry, Rabaul, with the date 16.11.14, some time before occupation of the Solomon islands by Australian forces. The obvious explanation of such use is that the date plugs were either rusted in position or other date plugs were not available when occupation forces took over this office. However, we do not know of any other postal matter originating from Buka after closure by Australian forces, and so the letter addressed to Captain Fry, the treasurer at Rabaul, must be regarded with some reserve.

A full Buka cds on piece dated 29.5.14 realized 22000 DM at auction in Jan. 2001 (Vogenbeck.)

This post office should not be confused with that named "Buka Passage" situated on the island of Sohano.

ABLINGI Ablingi Island is a small island off the southern coast of New Britain, not far removed from Gasmata.

It was reported in the Australian Philatelist of 7 May 1919, at page 155, that "a post office had been established here for some time, but although postage stamps were obtainable they had no cancelling stamp. All letters from Ablingi and Gasmata are sent to Rabaul. The mail leaves once in every six or seven weeks."

The writer has in his collection a cover franked with a pair of the one-penny N.W. Pacific Islands stamps postmarked Rabaul, 3 or 5 November 1921, struck in black. Each stamp also bears a strike in violet from a standard office datestamp showing 3 October 1914. The difference in dates establishes nothing but provides food for thought. Could this cover have originated from some outlying office from which mails were infrequently dispatched? Possibly some collector may have material or information which would assist in answering the question posed.

36

TALASEA Talasea is situated on the beautiful harbour of Talasea on the eastern side of Willaumez Peninsula, which is on the northern coast of New Britain. The district is the site of a Government station and an area of much thermal activity. The harbour provides an official landing area for flying boats.

A post office was opened here in 1920, probably about June, using c.d.s. Type 92, consisting of a single-lined circle of 27 min. diameter, inscribed "TALASEA" above, and two curved lines below, the date appearing in one line in the centre. This c.d.s. remained in use until at least the end of 1928, the latest date known being 2 December 1928. Strikes may be found in red, green, black and violet.

C.d.s. Type 93 consisted of a single-lined circle of 27.5 mm. diameter, inscribed "POST OFFICE� above, "TALASEA" below, the two separated by circular stops, and the date in one line in the centre with the year shown by four figures. This c.d.s is reported to have been introduced in January 1929 and it remained in use most likely until the introduction of Type 94 in mid-1936. However the editor (A.L.) has an example of this c.d.s. on a piece dated 11 April 1922.

C.d.s. Type 94 consisted of a single-lined circle of 27 mm. diameter, inscribed "TALASEA" above, "NEW GUINEA" below, the two separated by bars 2 mm. in length and the date in one line in the centre with the year indicated by two figures. This c.d.s. was introduced about mid-1936 (earliest date recorded, 5 August 1936). This appears to have had a rather limited life, the latest date of use known being 11 November 1937.

C.d.s. Type 95 consisted of a single-lined circle of 29 mm. diameter, inscribed "TALASEA" above, "NEW GUINEA" below, and the date in one line in the centre, followed by time of posting.

This type is believed to have been brought into use about 1938 or 1939 and to have remained in use until the closure of the office by Japanese occupation in January 1942.

A district office circular datestamp consisting of two concentric circles of 39 mm. and 26 mm. respectively, inscribed between the circles, "DISTRICT OFFICE." above, "TALASEA" below, the two being separated by elongated diamond devices, and with the date in one line in the centre, is occasionally found cancelling adhesives. The writer has strikes showing dates of September 1933 and April 1934. (Type 95a, see page 73).

95a

37

GASMATA Gasmata, situated on the southern coast of New Britain, is the centre for a large plantation area.

A post office was opened here in early 1921 using a district office oval datestamp, Type 96, measuring 50 mm. by 30 mm. and consisting of a double-lined frame, inscribed "DISTRICT OFFICE" above, "GASMATTA" below, the two separated by five-petal floral devices. The only strikes from this datestamp are without dates, but those on covers bear 1921 arrival markings. Mr Bulley has a copy on registration receipt showing date 18 April 1922.

C.d.s. Type 97 consisted of a single-lined circle of 29 mm. diameter, inscribed "GASMATTA" above, "NEW GUINEA" below, the two separated by short bars and the date in one line in the centre with the month abbreviated to two letters. This c.d.s. was introduced in April 1922. The only strikes which the writer has been able to collect are all on N.W. Pacific Islands issues punctured O.S., which suggests that In all probability the greater volume of mail emanating from this post office came from the sub-district office situated there.

C.d.s. Type 98 consisted of a single-lined circle of 28.5 mm. diameter, inscribed "GASMATTA" above, "NEW GUINEA" below, separated by short bars, and the date in one line in the centre with the month contracted to three letters. In this type the letters of "GASMATTA" and "NEW GUINEA" are 3 mm. high, compared with letters 4 mm. high in Type 97 and in Type 98 the separating bars are noticeably shorter than in Type 97. This c.d.s. is scarce and was in use from July to November 1928 only.

It may be noted that the three previous cancellations show "GASMATTA" with two "Ts".

C.d.s. Type 99 consisted of a single-lined circle of 27.5 mm. diameter, inscribed "GASMATA" above, "NEW GUINEA" below, the two separated by round stops with the date in one line in the centre, wherein the month is abbreviated to two letters. This c.d.s. was introduced in November 1928 and remained in use until at least early 1933.

C.d.s. Type 100 consisted of a single-lined circle of 28.5 mm. diameter, inscribed "GASMATA" above, "NEW GUINEA" below, with somewhat smaller lettering, showing the date and clearance time in one line in the centre, the month being abbreviated to three letters. This c.d.s. was introduced at least by August 1933 and was still in use at the date of the closure of the office on 11 February 1942.

The district office circular datestamp consisted of two concentric circles of 44 mm. and 27 mm. diameter respectively, inscribed between the circles, “DISTRICT OFFICE” above, and “GASMATA” below, the two separated by five pointed stars and the date in one line in the centre. The writer has strikes from this handstamp with dates extending from 18 November 1928 to 29 March 1931 (now to 7 May 1937). A smaller type, outer circle 38 mm., was in use during 1928 in which GASMATTA was spelt correctly (100b) 100a 100b

38

MOKARENG Mokareng is a coconut plantation district situated at the north-east corner of Manus Island adjoining Seeadler Harbour.

An "unofficial" post office was opened here in June 1922 using c.d.s.

Type 101, consisting of a single-lined circle of 29 mm. diameter, inscribed "MOKARENG" above and "NEW GUINEA" below, separated by short bars, and the date in one line in the centre.

The office was open at least until 19 May 1923 (the latest date in the writer’s collection), but is believed to have closed in that year.

BITA PAKA Bita Paka is situated on the Gazelle Peninsula on the island of New Britain, some five or six miles south-east of Kokopo.

It was here that the German administration erected the high-power wireless station which was in operation during the early days of the 1914 war and which a party of Australian naval and military forces were marching to seize when it clashed with native soldiers led by Germans on 11 September 1914. In that clash the only casualties of the Australian occupation task force occurred.

An "unofficial" post office was opened here in June 1921 using c.d.s. Type 102, consisting of a single-lined circle of 28.5 mm. diameter, inscribed "BITA-PAKA" above, and "NEW GUINEA" below, separated by short bars, and with the date in one line in the centre.

The latest date seen on strikes from this c.d.s. is December 1922. The office appears to have closed about, or soon after, that date.

39

W ITU The Witu (also spelt Vitu) Islands, the home of some 4000 natives, are a group of volcanic islands about fifty miles north of the island of New Britain.

There are a number of very good cocoa and coconut plantations in the group which consists of three larger and six smaller islands.

An "unofficial" post office was opened here in June 1923 using c.d.s. Type 103 consisting of a single-lined circle of 28.5 mm. diameter, inscribed "WITU" above and "NEW GUINEA" below, separated by curved bars and the date in one line in the centre.

The post office remained open until 1924.

Strikes from Type 103 are very difficult to obtain. This office did not have facilities for registration of mails, and covers seen have borne rubber stamp registration cachets applied on arrival of the mail at Rabaul. (A reg. cover cancelled 16 April 1923 appeared in Premier Auction 104 – July 2003, lot 1246.)

40

AMBUNTI The settlement of Ambunti is situated on the New Guinea mainland some 250 miles up the Sepik River and is an administrative sub-district of the Sepik district. Its native population is some 35,000. An airfield is situated at this centre.

A post office was opened in 1925 but the date of opening cannot he fixed by the writer. The only canceller seen is the district office handstamp Type 104. This consists of two concentric circles of 40 mm. and 26.5 mm. diameter respectively, inscribed "DISTRICT OFFICE" above and "AMBUNTI" below, separated by five-pointed stars and with the date in one line in the centre. It has only been seen struck in violet.

The earliest date of use known is 27 June 1925. The post office was closed in 1934. However. copies of the district office handstamp can be found used as an arrival mark as late as 1937. (Vide A.S.J., Vol. 24.) This office provided all services except money orders. No registration labels were ever used, but in place thereof a rubber cachet with large letter "R" and the name of the station and space for registration number was in use.

BUKA PASSAGE (SOHANO) Buka Passage is the narrow strait separating the islands of Buka and Bougainville in the Solomon Islands. The island of Sohano, a flat-topped coral island, is situated in Buka Passage. The post office using the name of Buka Passage was opened at Sohano, probably in the mid nineteentwenties. This office is not to be confused with the Buka post office of German times which was situated on the island of Buka.

Buka Passage post office opened in 1925 using Type 105. This consisted of a single-lined circle of 30.5 mm. diameter, inscribed "BUKA PASSAGE" above, and "NEW GUINEA" below, separated by short bars and with the date in one line in the centre. The earliest date of use seen is 20 December 1924, reported by Harry Voyce in PPS Stamp News of September 1970. This canceller remained in use until the office was closed upon the Japanese invasion, probably the last week of January 1942.

(L.R.D. = 16 Dec 1941) GOVERNMENT STATION BUKA PASSAGE

Prior to this a straight line cancellation In two lines (as illustrated) was occasionally used.

105a

This is one of the rarest cancellations from New Guinea and was not listed originally in Chapter 2. Only three examples have been reported. One is in Tom Belknap’s collection, a faint strike 1 on the /2 d. green KGV (fifth setting). I have recently acquired a 1d. red NWPI (fifth setting) with a faint example in purple ink. The overall length is 46 mm. approx, the letters being sans serif capitals 3 mm. in height.

Jim Harrison commented on the above item stated that although the Buka Passage post office is reputed to have opened in 1925, strikes are known in late 1924. He understands that Tom Belknap has a cover postmarked Christmas Eve 1924.

41

SALAMAUA (VARIOUSLY SPELT SALAMOA) Salamaua is situated on a narrow isthmus in Huon Gulf, on the coast of the New Guinea mainland. The Morobe goldfields lay in the country behind Salamaua and from the time of the gold rush in 1925 Salamaua grew in prominence. During World War 11 the township was destroyed and has not since been rebuilt.

A post office was opened on or after 26 November 1921 using the Morobe c.d.s. Type 90 and this continued to be used until early 1927. Accordingly, strikes from this c.d.s. bearing dates of 26 November 1926 or later indicate provisional use at Salamaua.

Late in 1926 a regular c.d.s. Type 106 was introduced. This consisted of a single-lined circle of 28 mm. diameter inscribed "POST OFFICE� above and "SALAMOA" below, and with the date in one line in the centre. In this c.d.s. the letters of "POST OFFICE" and "SALAMOA are 3.75 mm. high. This measurement affords a means of distinguishing partial strikes from strikes made from either of the two following c.d.s. In strikes from c.d.s. Type 106, made late in 1931 and up to February 1932, the plug with the Iast figure of the year is apparently inverted and prints only as an upright oblong. The writer has not seen any strikes from this c.d.s. later than 8 May 1932, that being the latest date in his collection and in that case the '2' of "1932" shows clearly.

A new c.d.s., Type 107, was introduced, probably on 1 March 1932 (the earliest date in the writer's collection). The new c.d.s. consisted of a single-lined circle of 27.5 mm. diameter inscribed "POST OFFICE." above and "SALAMAUA" below, the two separated by circular stops, the letter being 3 mm. high. The date is shown in one line in the centre with the month contracted to two letters. This c.d.s. remained in use until at least 5 May 1938.

C.d.s. Type 108 consisted of a single-lined circle of 27.5 mm. diameter, inscribed "POST OFFICE" above and "SALAMAUA" below, both in letters 4.5 mm. high and the two separated by circular stops. The date appeared in one line in the centre with the month abbreviated to two letters.

This type was introduced about August 1932 and remained in use until at least 4 June 1938.

C.d.s. Type 109 consisted of a single-lined circle of 28 mm. diameter inscribed "SALAMAUA" above and "NEW GUINEA" below, letters 3 mm. high without separating devices, and with the date and clearance time in one line in the centre. In this case the month is abbreviated to three letters. Type 109 was brought into use about May 1938 and remained in use until the closing of the office on 11 February 1942.

A c.d.s. inscribed "POSTAGE PAID/SALAMAUA" (Type 110), with. date in one line across centre (diam. 27.5 mm.), has been recorded with dates in 1932 and 1934.

42

MARIENBERG Marienberg is situated some forty miles up the Sepik River on the New Guinea mainland and is the site of a German mission station with an aerodrome nearby.

A post office was opened here in 1927 using c.d.s. Type 111, which consisted of a single-fined circle of 27 mm. diameter inscribed "MARIENBERG" above, "NEW GUINEA" below, the two separated by short bars and with the date in one line in the centre. This c.d.s. remained in use until the office was transferred to Angoram in April 1934.

This DISTRICT OFFICE CDS is extremely rare and along with other examples is more fully described on page 72.

111a

EDIE CREEK Edie Creek is situated on the creek from which it takes its name, a tributary of the Bulolo River, in the centre of the goldfields behind Lae and Salamaua on the New Guinea mainland.

It was here in February 1926, at a height of 6500 feet, that Australian miners discovered very rich auriferous gravels in the creek bed and banks. By the middle of 1926 the field was the scene of a great gold rush. The miners suffered severely in this bitterly cold place of everlasting rain and mist, covered with dense jungle and with scarcely a square yard of flat ground. The rest of the Morobe goldfield came to rely on aerial transport, but the mountains and gorges of Edie Creek provided insuperable barriers to the construction of an aerodrome.

A post office was opened here on 1 September 1928 using c.d.s. Type 112, consisting of a single-lined circle of 27 mm. diameter inscribed “EDIE CREEK" above and "NEW GUINEA" below, separated by short bars and the date in one line in the centre. This c.d.s. remained in use until the closure of the office on 11 February 1942.

A peculiarity of Type 112 is its tendency to collect foreign matter which, through building up to the striking surface, prints an arc-like impression below the town name and again above "NEW GUINEA". This would mislead collectors into believing that two types exist, but only one type was in use. The writer has strikes showing the arc-like impression with dates varying from October 1928 to June 1938.

See note on page 55 regarding a second canceller at Edie Creek

43

WEWAK (WIWIAK) Wewak is situated on the north-eastern coast of the New Guinea mainland 200 miles from the border of West Irian. It is the administrative centre for the large Sepik district which has had very little agricultural development but which provided a fertile field for recruited labour.

A post office was opened here late in 1928 using c.d.s. Type 113, consisting of a single-lined circle of 27.5 mm. diameter inscribed "WIWIAK" above and "NEW GUINEA" below, separated by short bars, and date in one line in the centre. This c.d.s. continued in use until early in 1932.

A c.d.s., Type 114, consisting of a single-lined circle of 27 mm. diameter inscribed "POST OFFICE" above and "WEWAK" below, separated by round stops and with the date in one line in the centre, was introduced early in 1932. The writer has three strikes from this c.d.s. on 1932 definitive issue, two of which strikes show date of 1935, while on the other the date is indecipherable. All three strikes are in violet.

In September 1935 c.d.s. Type 115 was introduced. This consisted of a single-lined circle of 27 mm. diameter, inscribed " WEWAK" above and "NEW GUINEA" below, separated by short bars and with the date in one line in the centre followed by "A.M." or “P.M.”, indicating morning or afternoon clearance. This c.d.s. remained in use until the post office closed in 1942.

A large double circle District Office c.d.s., similar to those in use at Ambunti, Aitape, Angoram and Gasmata has been seen by this writer (2 examples, each dated 15 July 1932) – see page 73.

Type 115a

44

WAU Wau is situated on the western slopes of the Bulolo River valley in the mountain ranges behind Salamaua on the New Guinea mainland. It is 3600 feet above sea level and some thirty-five miles by air south-west of Salamaua. The township grew up in the early days of the gold discoveries in the nineteen-twenties. While Salamaua became a port of entry to the goldfields Wau became the centre of activity of the field and the location of the mining warden with his inspectors, geologists and surveyors.

In its early days, Wau was dependent for transport upon native carriers, who took weeks to reach the township, struggling through jungle and over precipitous mountains, creeks and rivers.

However, on 18 April 1927, the first plane flew from Lae to Wau. From that time aerial transport increased and the airport at Wau became one of the busiest in the world.

A post office was opened here on 7 January 1930 using c.d.s. Type 116, consisting of a single-lined circle of 27.5 mm. diameter, inscribed "POST OFFICE" above and "WAU" below, the two separated by circular stops, and with the date in one line in the centre. This type remained in use until late 1932. However, it was occasionally used as late as 1936 and 1937.

Another canceller, Type 117, consisted of a single-lined circle of 28.5 mm. diameter, inscribed "WAU” above and “NEW GUINEA" below, letters 2.5 mm. high, the two separated by short bars, and with the date and clearance time in one line in the centre. This type is believed to have come into use as early as July 1932 and to have continued in use until the office was closed in February 1942.

C.d.s. Type 118 consisted of a single-lined circle of 28.5 mm. diameter, inscribed “WAU" above and "NEW GUINEA" below, letters 3.5 mm. high, the two separated by short bars and with the date and clearance time in one line in the centre. This type was introduced at least by 1 July 1937 and remained in use until the office was closed on 11 February 1942.

The writer has in his collection a two-penny 1932 issue bearing a strike in violet from a rubber handstamp consisting of two concentric circles of 37 mm. and 26 mm. respectively, inscribed between the circles, "Papuan Air Transport Limited. Wau. N.G." and with the initials "P. A. T." in one line in the centre. The writer is unable to provide any evidence that the strike had been properly applied to the stamp, but feels that recording it here may possibly bring to light some further evidence. It should be noted that stamps of New Guinea are not found fiscally used.

LAE Lae is situated on the Huon Gulf on the coast of the New Guinea mainland, and at the mouth of the Markham River. In 1927, as it provided a natural landing ground, it became the site of the first coastal aerodrome.

Thus Lae developed into the port for the Morobe goldfields and so grew in importance.

A post office was opened on 1 March 1932 using c.d.s. Type 119, consisting of a single-lined circle of 27 mm. diameter, inscribed "LAE" above, and "NEW GUINEA" below, the two separated by circular stops and with the date in one line in the centre. This c.d.s. remained in use until the office closed on 11 February 1942.

45

BULOLO Bulolo is situated on the Bulolo River at the foot of the Kaindi Range on the New Guinea mainland about fifty miles by air from Lae and some ten miles from Wau, the administrative centre of the goldfields. Bulolo was the site of one of the most important alluvial gold areas and the headquarters of Bulolo Gold Dredging Limited.

During the years 1924 and considerably, but it was not until the nineteen-thirties that Bulolo developed to Salamaua.

World War 2.

1925 activity on this field by individual miners increased big companies commenced dredging operations in the early into a thriving settlement with an excellent air service from Lae A road from the coast to the goldfields was not built until after

A post office was opened on 15 March 1932 using c.d.s. Type 120, consisting of a single-lined circle of 27 mm. diameter inscribed "BULOLO" above and "NEW GUINEA" below, the two separated by round stops and the date in one line in the centre. This c.d.s. continued in use until at least 18 May 1940.

A new c.d.s. Type 121 was introduced in February or March 1939. It consisted of a single-lined circle of 28.5 mm. diameter, inscribed "BULOLO" above and “NEW GUINEA" below, without separating devices and with the date in one line in the centre. This c.d.s. remained in use until closure of the office on 11 February 1942.

Airmail cover from Bulolo to USA via Sydney, showing CDS #121 used 2nd September 1940.

46

ANGORAM The settlement of Angoram lies sixty miles up the Sepik River on the New Guinea mainland.

The settlement possesses an airfield but very little industry, although from 1954 there have been oil explorations centered around the area. In German times there was a Government station here and under Australian administration there is still a Government station in the district.

A post office was opened here on 15 April 1934 using c.d.s. Type 122, consisting of a single-lined circle 27.5 mm. diameter, inscribed "ANGORAM" above and "NEW GUINEA" below, the two separated by round stops and with the date in one line in the centre. It is believed that this c.d.s. continued in use until 1939 or 1940, but the latest date in the writer's collection is 12 September 1937. Strikes from this type have only been seen struck in violet.

A district office handstamp, Type 123, consisting of two concentric circles of 40 mm. and 28 mm. diameter respectively, inscribed between the circles, "DISTRICT OFFICE" above and "ANGORAM" below, the two separated by large round stops and with the date in one line in the centre. This handstamp appears to have been in use extensively, possibly to the exclusion of other cancellers, during the period 1940-41 and probably until the closure of the office on 11 February 1942. (E.R.D: 31 DEC 1939) It is significant that the writer has not seen a normal c.d.s. of this office with a date later than 1937, nor has he seen a later date recorded by any other writer. A district office handstamp consisting of a single-lined circle of 36 mm. diameter inscribed "DISTRICT OFFICE," above and "ANGORAM" below and the date in one line in the centre, is known to have been used at least in 1936. The writer has a single strike in violet on a two-penny 1932 issue on piece of original with the date August 1936. He has not seen any other strikes from this handstamp. (see Chapter 8; Appendix 1 on page 56.)

123a In the Aprill 2007 issue of Papua New Guinea Calling (Vol 53, No.2 – Issue 237) Roger Lee (UK) describes a newly discovered CDS from Angoram.

This a circular mark, similar to type 122 but with straight sidebars separating ANGORAM and NEW GUINEA instead of round stops and is struck in violet ink as is common with the better known cancellation. This CDS was discovered on a Tattersall’s cover dated 12 August 1941 . The cover is backstamped at Samarai 15 August 1941

47

MAPRIK Maprik is situated in the Sepik district on the New Guinea mainland, about forty miles due west off Wewak. There is only little industry in the area and this consists principally of plantations, mostly coconuts.

A post office was opened here in late 1939 using c.d.s. Type 124.

This consisted of a single-lined circle of 28.5 mm. diameter, inscribed "MAPRIK" above, and "NEW GUINEA" below, and with the date and time of clearance in one line in the centre. Strikes of 1940 dates in the writer's collection show the clearance hour only, followed by upright oblong impressions made probably by inverted plugs. This c.d.s. remained in use until closure of the office on 11 February 1942.

BULWA

Bulwa is situated in the Bulolo Valley on the New Guinea mainland, in the goldfields behind Lae and Salamaua and some eight miles north of Bulolo.

Its only importance appears to stem from its mining operations.

A post office was opened on 22 May 1941 using c.d.s. Type 125, consisting of a single-lined circle of 28.5 mm. diameter, inscribed "BULWA" above, "NEW GUINEA" below and with date and clearance time in one line in the centre.

The post office was closed on 11 February 1942. (recent information suggests 22 Jan 1942 – see chapter 10)

CHAPTER 3

48

NAURU New Guinea stamps used at Nauru The island of Nauru, although only twelve square miles in area, was of great importance in 1914 when World War 1 commenced.

Valuable deposits of high grade phosphate were known and surveys taken showed that large deposits existed. Therefore the island was of great commercial value and, being within several days sailing of Australia, was an asset to be protected.

The Germans had also installed a high powered wireless station there in their chain of stations throughout the Pacific and this was of importance from a naval and military point of view.

Colonel Holmes and his troops occupied Nauru and hoisted the Union Jack on 7 November 1914. The island was thereafter administered from Rabaul until October 1915, and the stamps of the N.W. Pacific Islands are to be found cancelled postally using a c.d.s., Type 126, consisting of a single-lined circle of 26.5 mm. diameter with "P.O. PLEASANT ISLAND" above, "NAURU" below, separated by circular stops, date in two lines in centre. Generally struck in black ink. There is a second type of canceller, Type 127, which was used on N.W. Pacific Islands stamps as a wireless station canceller and this may be found used long after the overprinted stamps of Great Britain were officially issued at Nauru. Type 127, consisting of two concentric circles 24 mm. and 21 mm. in diameter, the wording within these circles being "CANCELLED" above, and "NAURU" below, separated by round stops and a small circle in centre 4 mm. in diameter. No date is shown. This type may be found on values up to the 10s. in the fifth setting and the ÂŁ1 value in the fourth setting of N.W. Pacific issues.

49

CHAPTER 4 RADIO CANCELLATIONS IN NEW GUINEA AND PAPUA Several types of radio or wireless cancellers were also used in the period up to and including 1918, and may be found used at a number of stations in New Guinea and one station in Papua.

The New Guinea towns were Eitape, Madang, Morobe, Kieta, Kaewieng, Manus and Rabaul, whilst the Papuan station was situated on Woodlark Island. The canceller (Type 128) was a rubber handstamp consisting of an oval approximately, 46 mm. by 27 mm. in size. The wording was "RADIO STATION" above, and the town name below, separated by a small Maltese-type cross on either side, date in one line in centre shown in full, This type was used at Kaewieng, Madang and Woodlark Island. Jim Dykehouse reports two sizes for this canceller, the second one measuring 43 x 27 mm.

A variation of this type of canceller occurs with the wording "RADIO-TELEGRAPH STATION" above, in place of the wording "RADIO STATION". This canceller was used at Woodlark Island (Type

129).

Lastly, another variation of wording, "RADIO-TELEGRAPH DEPARTMENT" above, and town name below has only been seen used at Rabaul (two distinct types 130 and 130a – p 77).

Cancellers not seen to date are for the towns of Eitape, Kieta, Manus and Morobe, so therefore the type used cannot be allocated. * Although Woodlark Island is administered in Papua, the radio-telegraph station was controlled from Rabaul (the military headquarters), and this would explain the use of N.W. Pacific stamps cancelled with the radio station and radio-telegraph station rubber cancellers "WOODLARK ISLAND".

Prior to this the Kulumadau, Papua cds was used at the radio station.

The editor of this update has examples of the Radio Station cancellations from Kieta, Eitape and Manus in his collection. These would all appear to be similar to Type 128 and each has been struck in purple ink except for Manus which has been struck in mauve.

I also have three examples, similar to Type 128, in which the village name in the lower half of the oval appears to have been omitted. These strikes are on three different high value NWPI’s (5/-, th 10/- and £1 values 5 setting) and are also struck in purple. The date 1921 is clearly seen on the latter stamp and precedes the figure “24” which I presume is the day of use.

50

51

CHAPTER 5 NOTES ON THE TEMPORARY AND PROVISIONAL CANCELLERS Firstly, during the Australian occupation of New Guinea in 1914 various rubber handstamps and metal cancellers of German origin found at the different towns occupied were brought into use until a permanent canceller arrived from Australia. Some were used as found with the German wording left intact, others were altered to suit the particular purpose required.

To illustrate, "Station Kieta" rubber handstamp seems to have been used without alteration, whereas "Manus" in a "boxed" frame originally read "Kaiserliche Station, Manus" (in two lines). The "Morobe" postmark, which was used to cancel the Papuan stamps of the 1915 period, was originally the German "Kaiserliche Station Morobe" office rubber handstamp. Rabaul post office in 1914 for a short time used the German rubber two-line hand canceller "Simpsonhafen / (Deutsch Neu-Guinea)".

Secondly, the casual use of office datestamps in outlying offices should be understood by readers. In remote places, Government administration centres, often only semi-native buildings, house magistrates, district officers, post offices, radio stations and other Government offices, and most, if not all, duties would be carried out by a single European officer with native assistants. In such remote places it was quite customary, if perhaps strictly not regular, for mail to be cancelled by any of a number of official handstamps, whether they were postal markers or not.

District Office Ambunti, for example, was the only type of canceller used at this office; on the other hand, many stations used their district office canceller when the permanent type of canceller was still in current use.

Note: In a number of instances town names have been spelt wrongly in the text. This is not a mistake but exactly how the canceller was delivered to the postmaster of that particular place.

Examples are Gasmatta, Salamoa and Wiwiak.

For a more detailed account of the various “Official� handstamps which have been found on mail and other documents in New Guinea please refer to Chapter 12 which the editor has compiled with the help of PPS member Mr. Jim Dykehouse.

52

CHAPTER 5a BASE OFFICE CANCELLATION. Base-Office Cancellation: This cancellation has always appeared as a part strike, generally smudgy, and in all copies examined the month is August and the year not shown. In all stamps seen with this cancel each one had a small defect (short perfs, corner missing, etc.) and all were high values. The conclusion arrived at is that it is a faked cancellation used in order to dispose of damaged high value N.W. Pacific stamps. (First mentioned by D. McDonald in Stamp Collector's Fortnightly in 1925.)

SEPTEMBER, 1968

"P.P.S. STAMP NEWS"

PAGE 7

Base Office Cancels Confirmed Fraudulent

BY T. L. BELKNAP For more than 40 years collectors of stamps of the New Guinea area have been questioning the status of the "BASE OFFICE" marking found with some frequency on stamps of the North West Pacific Islands. No official record of this "post office" is known.

A typical example of this marking is illustrated below, on the left stamp in the photo. In all examples seen, the strike is invariably only partial, showing part of the outer ring of the circular datestamp, a portion or all of the words BASE OFFICE, a large bold-face lower case "e", and occasionally part of the month and day, this being 2 AU. The year is not found. The strike always appears on higher value N.W.P.I. stamps which are defective - with thins, tears, pulled perfs, etc.

In his monograph, The Postal History of the Territory of New Guinea (page 46), John Powell discusses the BASE OFFICE markings. He reports that the first reference was in 1925, by D. McDonald in the Stamp Collector's Fortnightly, and that the marking has remained suspect ever since.

During Powell's visit to U.S.A. in 1966, he and the writer reviewed the subject again, and as of that date no cover or piece with the strike was known, nor any single stamp which showed the year with the BASE OFFICE marking. Powell concluded in his monograph that the marking in question was faked in order to dispose of damaged high value N.W.P.I. stamps.

His conclusion has now been confirmed by the recent acquisition by the writer of a copy of the N.W.P.I. stamp shown at the right of the photo (S.G. 115, 2/-). Most of the BASE OFFICE marking is present and the year is clearly evident - 1911.

The N.W.P.I. stamps were not issued until 1915, four years after the date shown in the marking, thus establishing the validity of the long-standing suspicions that the markings are indeed bogus.

Stu Leven wrote, in “P.N.G.C.” of June 2002 (p 22), an article entitled – BASE OFFICE “E” and Madame Joseph: He concluded that “The canceller of interest listed under "Indian Post Offices in China", reference number 214, is inscribed "BASE OFFICE / e / 2 AU / 11 / REG" made of copper coated zincographs, (one of 73 of this type, other cancelling devices were made of zincograph, 52, and wood, 311). As most collectors of New Guinea's North West Pacific Islands overprints may know, high value stamps are seen with the "BASE OFFICE / e / 2 AU" cancel mainly on damaged stamps.

Our member Ron Richardson (UK) has done a study of these cancels and was not completely convinced that they were forgeries. I hope this latest information puts this subject to rest. (the other cds on right is from a card posted at Tientsin in Feb. 1901)

53

CHAPTER 6 STAMPS AVAILABLE DURING THE AUSTRALIAN MILITARY OCCUPATION Period: 11 September 1914 to 9 May 1921 Stamps available and in use during the Australian military occupation of the territory were as follows: (1)

Stamps taken to the territory by the expeditionary force, consisting of a supply of 1 Australian Commonwealth current issues of values / 2 d. to 1s. punctured small O.S.

(2)

Stamps in the possession of members of the expeditionary force at time of arrival, which, no doubt, would be the one-penny kangaroo and the current one-penny George V, without the punctured O.S.

(3)

Stamps forwarded to members of the force by relatives and friends in Australia, as was the custom at that time. (See paragraph 2.)

(4)

Stamps of German New Guinea and Marshall Islands overprinted "G.R.I."

(5)

Australian stamps overprinted "N.W. Pacific Islands"

(6)

Stamps forwarded by persons in Australia or elsewhere for the purpose of their use in the territory. Although such stamps were acceptable for the prepayment of postage they were not available on issue at the post offices in the territory and their use must be regarded as purely philatelic.

It should be noted that German colonial yacht type stamps without the "G.R.I." overprint are to be found used at outlying centres during the early part of the occupation.

The writer has several values of such issue each on piece and cancelled with the partly defaced "FRIEDRICH WILHELMSHAFEN" Imperial District Court's seal, and has sighted other values, also on piece, up to and including the mark values. The 10 pf. without the "G.R.I." overprint is known used on card from the village of Taimi (Tami) marked "Passed Censor. Brisbane 17 May 15". There can be no doubt that on mail from remote places which were not in close touch with Rabaul, unoverprinted German colonial stamps were used and allowed to pass, but strictly they were not available for the prepayment of postage. During the early days of occupation some mail was endorsed, in mss., "On active service - no stamps available"'. Apparently this was not strictly in accord with postal requirements and covers have been seen which bear a strike, "Id. more to pay", enclosed in a circle and applied on arrival in Australia.

The amount to be paid was the normal postage and not at the double or penalty rate.

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CHAPTER 7 THE N.W. PACIFIC ISLANDS OVERPRINT EXPLAINED (See Official History of World War 1, Vol. X, page 148, et seq.)

On 12 August 1914 H.M.S. Hampshire of the British China Squadron called at Yap in the Caroline Islands and put out of action the German wireless station there. The wireless station at Nauru was similarly treated by a landing party from H.M.A.S. Melbourne on 9 September 1914. These vessels passed on to other tasks and did not leave garrisons. (Troops sent to Nauru on 6 November 1914.)

The British Government had suggested that Australia provide garrisons for the occupation of island groups north of the equator, the Pelew, Caroline, Marshall and Marianne Islands. A force for this purpose was organized by the Australian Commonwealth Government and assembled at Liverpool near Sydney. By 26 November 1914 the North-West Pacific Expedition was to be ready for departure in The Eastern of The Eastern and Australian Line, which had been chartered for the purpose. The expedition was placed under the command of Colonel Pethebridge who left .Melbourne on 24 November 1914 for Sydney taking with him a supply of Australian Commonwealth stamps overprinted "N.W. Pacific Islands" for use in the islands intended to be occupied. Two values only were taken, namely, one-penny (10,080) and two pence-halfpenny (8160).

During the attack on the German wireless station. From left to right, Col. Holmes, Col. Watson (O.C. Infantry), Col. Paton (Commandant at Rabaul) and Capt.

Goodsell (Quarter-master), watching from the landing operations at Kaba Kaul.

Pethebridge expected that the expedition would leave Sydney on 26 November 1914. However, there was a sudden change in the policy of the British Government and the expedition was instructed not to interfere with the Japanese occupation of the northern islands. Pethebridge received instructions to proceed to Friedrich Wilhelmshafen (Madang) with his forces and to place these at the disposal of Colonel Holmes for the purpose of acting against a reported enemy volunteer corps about sixty miles up the Kaiserin Augusta (Sepik) River.

The expedition left Sydney in The Eastern on 28 November 1914 direct for Friedrich Wilhelmshafen (Madang) and arrived on 7 December. After completion of the force's mission it Ieft on 15 December for Rabaul, arriving there on 17 December. (See Official History, p. 174.)

After arrival at Rabaul, Colonel Pethebridge and the Administrator, Colonel Holmes, conferred regarding the return of Colonel Holmes and his forces to Australia and a consequent reduction in the garrison. It was agreed that the garrison should be distributed as follows: 100 at Rabaul, 50 at HerbertshĂśhe, 50 at Madang and outposts, 25 each at New Ireland (Kawieng), Bougainville (Kieta)_ and Nauru. and 12 at the Admiralty Island (Manus). On 20 December 1914 the Mekalong left with the relief garrison for Kieta and no doubt took with them a part of the N.W. Pacific Islands stamps which Colonel Pethebridge had brought with him. On 21 December Colonel Pethebridge left Rabaul in The Eastern with reliefs for the garrisons in New Ireland (Kawieng), Nauru and the Admiralty Island (Manus).

The Eastern was at Nauru from 27 to 30 December, when it left for Manus. Probably the new garrison at Nauru was issued with some of the N.W. Pacific Islands stamps. On the return journey, due to the suspected presence of a German war vessel near New Hanover, The Eastern altered course for Rabaul and did not call at Kawieng or Manus. On 24 December another vessel was sent with a relief garrison to Madang.

Pethebridge left Rabaul on 17 January in the Una, formerly the German naval yacht Komet, for Manus with a relief party, arriving there on 20 January. There is no doubt that some of the N.W. Pacific Islands stamps were supplied to the relief party. Therefore it might he expected that the first occupying garrison, Lieut. Hext and twelve men, used the Australian Commonwealth 1d. ‘Roo punc-

55

tured O.S. during their stay, 22 November 1914 to 20 January 1915, and that the relieving party used 1 the 1d. and 2 /2 d. N.W. Pacific Islands stamps from 20 January 1915. On 16 October 1914 Major Francis Heritage with Lieut. Basil Holmes and a detail of fifteen soldiers and a machinegun left Rabaul in the Nusa to occupy Kawieng. He arrived on the afternoon of 17 October and completed the occupation without opposition. Ten soldiers remained at Kawieng while the Nusa, with Heritage and five soldiers, went to Gardiner Island in search of German Vessels. The Nusa, with three captured ships, returned to Kawieng on 20 October and sailed for Rabaul on the next day, no doubt taking from Kawieng the first outward mail, probably franked with the one-penny 'Roo punctured O.S. These could have been cancelled with the German canceller or postmarked on arrival in Rabaul. The permanent garrison for Kawieng was dispatched from Rabaul by S.S. Mekalong on 28 October 1914 and probably took away mails about the 29th or 30th.

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CHAPTER 8 - APPENDIX 1.

ANGORAM DISTRICT OFFICE DATE STAMP

(1)

PNGC June 2000 p.3

Joyce and Geoff Kemp An OHMS envelope addressed to “The Director of Agriculture, Rabaul, T.N.G.” cancelled at Angoram 24 April 1934 in violet with cds Type 122 has on the back the Single Ring date stamp “District Office – Angoram – 30 April 1935” in violet.

The ring, slightly oval is about 38mm x 40mm. Could this be the handstamp referred to in Chapter 2 as used until at least 1936 (a single strike recorded on piece dated August 1936.

One theory put forward:- a number of OHMS envelopes were pre-cancelled and handed to the District Officer to use as required. This would account for the Post Office pre-dating the District Office stamp which was applied as a “Despatch Marking” in the District Office.

ANGORAM DISTRICT OFFICE HAND STAMP (2)

A Loughran

This strike appears to be similar to the one above. Circle diameter is 38mm. The letters of “DISTRICT OFFICE” are 5mm in height and are close set, those of “ANGORAM” are 4mm. in height and are set wider.

Unfortunately the strike is on a piece and is undated and is most probably a forgery as undated strikes were not authorised.

ARMY POST OFFICE PPS Stamp News Dec 1979, p.10 A. Loughran This C.D.S. has been seen struck on the 1914 GRI 4d on 40pf (5 mm. setting) – th SG24 - It was offered in the Greg Manning Auction in London, May 22/24 1979.

The cancellation is not recorded in Chapter 2 and I have not seen it in any other article on WW1 cancellations.

Outer circle diameter = 24.5mm., inner circle diameter = 15.0 mm.

In the March 1980 (no. 132) issue of PPS Stamp News Tom Belknap reported that 1 he had such a “cancel” on a T.N.G. dated airmail /2 d. but with the cancel covering a corner and with no date visible. He also reports having seen more than one and agrees with the opinion of ABL that they are bogus.

EDIE CREEK

PPS Stamp News June 1973, p.11

Alan Jennings

“Here I will take issue with the author. The first cds as Type 112 I have dated 22 AU 28, but there was certainly more than one cds in use at this post office. I have a copy of 1935 Silver Jubilee 2d. value cancelled with a cds with smaller letters – no mistake – “EDIE CREEK” with no date. I will supply Photostat to author if he wishes.”

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EITAPE - Type 31 New early date This lot appeared in the “Colonel Harry Evans” auction held by Premier Philatelics in October 2001 (lot 289); the date is 27 December 1923 just four days before the previous recorded date (see page 8)

EITAPE – German mailbag seal This lot appeared in the “International Rarities” sale at Premier th Philatelics on 25 January 2003 (Lot 489 – Est A$2500.

The strike is a circular mailbag seal inscribed “KAISERLICH DEUTSCHE POST – EITAPE (DEUTSCH NEUGUINEA)” and Posthorn.

The only recorded suggestion of postal use. On page 8 it is stated that “no evidence has been seen of any cancellers at Eitape between the outbreak of the war and August 1916.”

FRIEDRICH WILHELMSHAFEN

PNGC March/April 2002, p.17

Illustrated here is a German Reichpost 20pf stamp cancelled with the Type 18 cds dated 13/10/92 – thirteen days earlier than the previous E.R.D.

Herbertshöhe (Type 11) cancel on G.R.I. H Gough May 2003 According to page 5 of this volume, the temporary canceller 34 on Australian “Herbertshöhe” in violet, 31.5 mm long, has only been seen Commonwealth stamps.

I have acquired one, apparently genuine, on a GRI overprint on a Marshall Island stamp (2d./20pf.) on piece, though unfortunately in poor condition.

Jim Dykehouse also reports (Aug 2003) examples of this cancellation on GRI stamps of New Guinea and Marshall Islands.

KOKOPO

PNGC December 1999, p.9

Harold Gough

Type 15 – Crumbling inner circle. The cancellation shown here is on the reverse of a registered cover and clearly shows a crumbling of the inner circle. This strike is dated 5 JUN 1925 and raises a question as to whether the damage occurred spontaneously or did it gradually develop through usage.

If the crumbling occurred over a period of time it would be interesting to learn of strikes showing evidence of damage prior to this date.

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MOROBE

PPS Stamp News March 1974, p. 6

Alan Jennings

1

/2d. Native Village stamp on piece with clear and complete cancel (violet rubber stamp) “Mining Warden” Morobe – with a 5 pointed star between.

Jim Dykehouse (July 2003) also reports this strike on the front of a 1932 O.H.M.S. cover to Port Moresby – the bird stamp is cancelled “Post Office / Wau”.

PO PLEASANT ISLAND (NAURU) Canceller

PNGC March 1999 p.12Robert Stein (USA)

Type 126 (page 27) was first recorded on 4MR15 (Humphreys 1966). It continued in use until 22SE21, almost five years after the NWPI stamps were replaced by the NAURU overprints on GB stamps.

On First Setting stamps cancelled between 4MR15 and JU 21 15, the month was put before the day on the canceller; from JU21 to N017 the day was put before the month. Third and Fourth Setting stamps cancelled from OC28 to N017 have the day/month sequence in the cds. Beginning on 3DE the month/day sequence was restored. It was then maintained for the rest of the period, mainly on Fourth Setting stamps. There are no reported variants in the cds on cancelled Fourth Setting stamps.

Notches developed in the outer rim between MY18 and JU20 15. The notch just after the U of NAURU is evident after JU21. The second, more prominent notch below the A of NAURU is evident in the frame after 15NO. Both were maintained to the end of the use of the canceller.

In JA16 a number of errors or variants in the date have been found. There is a spate of "philatelic covers" for this month. It appears that this is the time when overseas dealers and philatelists were able to learn about the N.W.P.I. issue, and get requests for covers from Nauru. The following variations have been reported: 7JA inverted, 13JA (inverted JA), 21JA (with 6 inverted in year making it look like 19), 22JA inverted.

RABAUL CDS – Type 47

PNGC March 1996 p.15

H Gough

On page 10 it is stated that “somewhere between 7 October and 18 December 1910, due to either fault or damage, a small break appeared in the outer circle immediately below the figure of the year. “ Readers with examples of this cds are invited to check the date and whether with or without the break - thus it should be possible to narrow the gap between the two dates and ideally determine an exact date when the break first appeared.

WIRELESS RABAUL

PNGC July 2001 p.17

Andrew Loughran

In PNGC No.214 (March 2002) – Andrew Duncan asked if anyone had seen this “WIRELESS / RABAUL” circular cancellation which he had acquired on a 2d. NWPI stamp. Andrew Loughran recalled having seen an identical strike some 20 years previously. This FORGERIES MYSTERY CANCELLATIONS had also been seen on a “2d.

NWPI; the&strike measured 24 mm. in diameter with lettering 3.5mm. high.

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CHAPTER 9 – FORGERIES & MYSTERY CANCELLATIONS December 1973

P.P.S. STAMP NEWS

Page 3

MYSTERIOUS NEW GUINEA CANCEL - V. A. Rutherford.

The postmark, pictured below, is on Papua #1, bearing a "6/6 08" date. It is much like the early (late 1890's) cancellers from German New Guinea except that it reads "NEW GUINEA" instead of a town name, John Powell, in his "THE POSTAL HISTORY OF THE TERRITORY OF NEW GUINEA" pictures a number of these cancellers (No. 1, "FINSCHHAFEN", and No. 18, "FRIEDRICH-WILHELMSHAFEN"), which are also shown for comparison with the unknown cancel. All three have a single star at the bottom of the circle. The diameter of the circles is essentially the same, although photographic and xerographic reproductions tend to produce some magnification.

The cancel is certainly nothing like those in use in Papua at the time. Right now, we can only speculate on its origin. Why was a German colonial-style cancel used on a British New Guinea stamp?

We know that letters were transported from some of the early gold mining areas of the Northern District of Papua to Morobe in German New Guinea, and vice versa, yet Morobe was not open at the date of the cancel. Perhaps a letter went from Papua to German New Guinea with the stamp uncancelled and was then "hit" with the canceller in question. Or, was this some-as-yet-unrecorded "Relief' canceller in either Papua or German New Guinea?

Somehow, none of these ring true. I wonder if this could be a forgery, although one might question why go to all that trouble on a relatively inexpensive stamp. Sherwin says the cancel looks genuine, i.e., a strike from a date stamp. What do readers say about this item??????????)

P.P.S. STAMP NEWS; SEPTEMBER 1981; Page 4

MYSTERIOUS NEW GUINEA CANCEL COMMENTS BY NEW MEMBER DR. H.A.K. FELIX (WEST GERMANY In the issue of December 1973 Mr. V.A. Rutherford reported an unusual New-Guinea cancel.

Since there was, as far as I know, no further discussion about this postmark up to now its problem seems still to be unsolved. I have a BNG 1/2d, thick paper, vert. wmk, bearing the same cancel twice at nearly same angle position, but with a clear '6/6 03' date.* The stamp was in a little Papua collection, which I bought in April 1981 from a postage stamp dealer in England. Though this cancel has certain similarities with early German colonial postmarks, I do not think it to be a German one. The star of the said New-Guinea cancel consists of 6 lobes, a type of star, which, with one exception - in the arrival cancel of Constantinople North German Postal Agency, 1 March 1870 to 21 March 1872 -, is not found in German overseas postmarks, the regular type being a pentagonal star. The idea of creating a special postmarker for incoming British New Guinea mail bearing uncancelled stamps could have come up in the German administration, if plenty of mail from Northern Papua was transported regularly by the way of German New Guinea. Such a procedure was popular in German East Africa's area of Lake Victoria, where mail with German East African stamps uncancelled was sent to British East Africa, and postmarked in Kisumu and Mombasa before leaving East Africa. Until 1914 it was quite common to give mail for German Samoa with stamps uncancelled in New South Wales or New Zealand on board of the next ship, to be applied an ordinary postmark in Apia.

In the same way

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uncancelled stamps on mail from Samoa were handled in Vavau/Tonga. So I might say that there was in German New Guinea no actual need for special postmarker for mail from abroad.

I agree with Mr. Rutherford's opinion, that the canceller in question was perhaps an early "Relief" type.

Or was it on board of a ship cruising the coast and islands of British New Guinea?

But if it is a fantasy-forgery it shows a very good craftsmanship indeed.

P.P.S. STAMP NEWS JUNE 1979

The Rudolph Thomas Forged Postmarks

By Brian Vincent (NZ) The following notes and illustrations are from an article by J.M. Sousa - which appeared in the American Philatelist in December 1969.

On 19 Nov. 1941 the Chicago Daily Tribune revealed that among the effects of an aged Chicago stamp dealer, Rudolph Thomas, were found 179 cancellation woodcuts and a perforating machine. This matter was then investigated by some philatelists living in Chicago who were of the opinion that the cancellations could be easily detected both from the aniline ink used and from their crudity of manufacture.

Two factors made the wholesale use of the foreign cancelling devices impractical. One, the devices were only “type high" and would have had to be held by the fingertips to be used.

Two, the dates, where used, were immovable, thus making identification relatively easy. A third factor to be considered is that the only inks found in Thomas' effects were aniline and of a type that soaked through the paper causing the cancellation to be easily visible on the back of the stamp so cancelled.

Two of the Thomas forged postmarks are of prime interest to members of the P.P.S. and these are illustrated here.

B.G.V.

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PNGC June 1996 (Issue 196); p. 10/11

MADAME JOSEPH FORGED POSTMARKS

By Roger Lee (UK)

Following the earlier references to this work published jointly by the Royal Philatelic Society and the British Philatelic Trust and inspired by Mr. Derek Worboys, relevant postmarks are illustrated below. The forged cancellers relating to Nauru and New Guinea from this “collection” are shown here. Permission was granted by the publishers and author on the understanding that further information would be passed to them through members of the PPS. (NB the regular Rabaul cds T59 shows short right legs of the “U” and “N” of “GUINEA” (page 23).

280

267

281

PNGC Sept. 1997 (Issue 200); p. 34

FURTHER INFORMATION ON MADAME JOSEPH FORGED POSTMARKS Gerhard Felser (Austria) states that the illustration (above) of Nauru Type 267 is not correct and has sent illustrations of the genuine type and a forgery. This forgery shows wider gaps between the lettering and outer circle. Gerhard notes GB overprinted Nauru stamps with this forged type.

62

PNGC June. 1995 (Issue 192); p. 3

FORGED RABAUL CANCEL Jim Dykehouse (USA) makes the following comments on this item and has submitted the illustration shown here. Jim says Tom Belknap first pointed out this cancel to him in 1990 and since that time he has seen 10 more copies, all on the 1931 airmails only. In a recent sighting, 6 of 13 stamps in a set (from 4d up to and including ÂŁ1) had forged cancels. Whilst the date stamp is itself quite a good representation of Powell Type 58, the typeset used in the dateline is non-typical. The connecting bars in front of and after "Rabaul" are deeply curved and the date is always 15 July 31. The illustrations Jim sent (not shown here) were of the 9d and 2/- values and he has only seen the cancel on the overprinted "Hut" airmails These overprints were issued 8 June 1931 - the BOP plus BOP air overprints arrived two months later on 2 August 1931. Given the short window of use and the availability of mint copies, the Huts airs - for years were, and still today are - a prime target for cancel-forgery. Collectors are wise to buy high-value examples on cover/on piece or stamps with total cancels only - corner strikes are suspect. If used copies with forged strikes were eliminated, the impact on catalogue-values would be astounding

63

December 2002

VORLÄUFER

#129:17

The Rogue's Gallery New Guinea 1 Mark Yacht, Twice

by Marcel W. Zollinger, The two examples that I would like to present today have nothing in common as far as forgeries are concerned, but I thought it would be useful to show the two forged cancels together simply because both are based on the same (genuine) stamp.

‘MATUPI 9 12 05' is a cancel where everything is clearly wrong (see Fig. 1 on left). First, the diameter of the circle is 27 mm, and thus considerably larger than the genuine 25 mm. Then the letter `M' in `MATUPI' is clearly distorted, and the letter `U' is round at the bottom instead of square. The most blatant aspect of the forgery is the date, which almost seems to have been written by hand. And to round things off, the cancel colour is purple, for which there is no record in Friedemann. Fig.1 While all this seems quite easily recognized, there are a few interesting twists. The star at the bottom of the cancel is as always difficult to copy, and so it is no surprise that this forged cancel shows just a round blob (with a point) instead of a star. But then you may note that in the Friedemann book the illustration shows the star as a round blob also! Was that actually the case with the real canceller? Several of the examples in my collection with dates before 1900 clearly show a proper star shape although in later cancels the star seems to have become progressively less clear and sharp. A mistake in Friedemann, or a deliberate change to thwart potential forgers?

The most interesting aspect of this forgery however is that it carries the “Bundesprufer signum Bothe BPP” in purple in the proper position. Given the blatant nature of this forgery, and given that Hans Bothe was one of the most accomplished collectors and expertizers, how could he have fallen for this one?

But he didn't! Because the signum is forged too! The lesson to be learned is that forgers can, and will, forge signums too, and so a signum in itself should not be taken as a guarantee for the genuine article!

The stamp in Fig. 2 (right) is a beautiful example of that stamp on piece with a pristine `FINSCHHAFEN 23 3 14' cancel.

The experienced collector might say: Almost too nice! And indeed what seems too good to be true, often is. Here the cancel was indeed made with the genuine canceller, but it Fig.2 seems that during the early days of the occupation of New Guinea by Australian troops in late 1914, the canceller must have ended up in the wrong hands. As a result this canceller was then widely used at a later date to create these forgeries. With pre-dated dates the canceller was used to cancel mint GNG stamps on letters, pieces and postal stationery, often the higher Mark values. For a considerable time these cancels were thought of as genuine, and one example exists which was signed at that time by expertizer Dr. Lantelme. It is thanks to the painstaking work of Peter Provinski that this forgery was unmasked. His most interesting article can be found in the ArGe Kolonial Berichte 113 (August 2001): 2969-2978. I do not want to repeat the information he provided there but will limit myself to my own observations and information.

The tell tale sign that this is a forgery is what the Germans call a Riefe (a scratch) across the year number `14'. It seems that at some point the canceller was damaged with two horizontal scratches across the centre of the year number 14, which hopefully can be seen in our reproduction (see Fig. 2). Provinski's research showed that there is a considerable number of Money Order Forms (Postanweisungen) where the number 14 is either solid or damaged, and he comes to the conclusion that the damage to the number 14 must have happened after the German Post Office in Finschhafen was taken over by the Australian authorities. Therefore all Finschhafen cancels with the damaged 14 on GNG stamps must be considered forgeries.

64

To my mind these forgeries must have been fabricated by a person who knew Finschhafen fairly well, including the local situation and its expatriate population, since both letters and stationery have some genuine information on them. But according to Peter Provinski that knowledge had its limits: one letter was supposedly mailed in Finschhafen with the address "Mission Station Sattelberg bei Finschhafen". As there was no postal delivery system the missionaries from Sattelberg had to pick up their mail in Finschhafen. So why would somebody mail a letter in Finschhafen addressed to Sattelberg when such mail had to be picked up in Finschhafen?

A possible culprit could be a member of the Australian troops, who entered Finschhafen, closed the post office and found the canceller and stationary. Such a person could then have taken the material back to Australia and could later on have started to fabricate these letters and postal forms.

Alternatively, the canceller could have been taken by a German missionary or government employee, who was then interned in Australia. Such a person would have had ample time to devote himself to forging stamps during his imprisonment in an Australian Internment Camp.

Finschhafen cancels with the year figures '14' therefore need to be treated with great caution because they are so attractive, and because the purchase of these higher values may cost the buyer a considerable amount of money.

"This article is reprinted with permission from VORLĂ„UFER, journal of the German Colonies Collectors Group.

It appeared in the December 2002 issue, on pages 17-18. Information on membership in the GCCG may be obtained from Kevin Doyle, 5815 Lenox Road, Lisle, IL 60532-3138 USA."

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CHAPTER 10 PPS Stamp News: Sept. 1970 (Issue 95); p. 6

THE POST OFFICES OF BUKA

By A. H. VOYCE To read in June “Stamp News” the note regarding a cover addressed to AHV New Zealand prompts the following few notes, which may be of interest to Tom Belknap and other readers.

A coterie of people interested in TPNG had long tried to get early information regarding the earliest known datestamp used at BUKA PASSAGE, and at MIPEX in Melbourne in my Postal History study of the Bougainville District I dealt extensively with this matter. But after many years it may bear repetition.

For long years it was believed that the earliest “recorded” example of the BUKA PASSAGE cancellation was a registered cover in the possession of Max Bulley of Melbourne, dated 28 SE 26, franked with a 2d. “hut” stamp, and addressed to Hawaii, and there was a feeling that the post office opened about mid-1926!

However, I believed that the post office opened much earlier, but I couldn’t produce any evidence. But then, out of the blue, information turned up of a cover in the USA dated in 1924, so I wrote to the owner to see if a Photostat could be procured. Mr. George Goodin wrote:“The BUKA PASSAGE NEW GUINEA cover is undoubtedly correct. It is a cover that was originally addressed to Mr. A. H. Voyce, in Auckland, NZ. It bears on the face a new address in Birkenhead, and has a POSTMEN’S BRANCH / AUCKLAND NZ cancel with an undecipherable date, but it has a backstamp of BIRKENHEAD NZ, 14 JAN 25. The stamp is a 2d. red KG.V of the NW PACIFIC ISLANDS, and the date is 20 DE 24”!

Yes, the cover was addressed to me whilst still in the “Dunholme” Theological College in Auckland 18 months before I went to live in Bougainville Island, and long years before I became interested in postal history! I’m glad it was “traded” to USA, otherwise it would have been lost!

Perhaps a few notes about “BUKA” - “BUKA PASSAGE” - “BUKA” may be of interest!

The Germans opened a post office called “BUKA” on July 26, 1913, but this was at the north-western corner of Buka Island in Queen Carola Harbour, 30 miles from Buka Passage. This post office had a very short life, for after the Australians occupied New Guinea there were no mails in or out of Buka post office for months, and it was officially closed in January, 1915, when after occupying Kieta, Australian Forces occupied the Buka station. So the German post office BUKA DEUTSCHNEUGUINEA is one of the really rare German cancellations of Deutsch Neuguinea, and reports say only seven or eight are known, one of which on cover is in the possession of member J. H. Powell, of Sydney.

In an endeavor to unearth information about BUKA-BUKA PASSAGE, I contacted many old identities years ago, and I think the information I gleaned will be of interest.

The late Mr. Gordon Thomas, one-time Editor of the Rabaul Times, and who was prisoner of the Japanese in Rabaul right through the war years, and later was TOLALA, editor of a column under that name in the Pacific Islands Monthly, was a most helpful contact, for he first became a resident of Buka on Pororan Island, in Queen Carola Harbour, from 1911. He wrote:“In 1912, I made request to Capt. Doellinger, the German ‘Kiap’ at Kieta, for a post office somewhere in Buka, to avoid mail being taken to Kieta and returned by ‘first opportunity.’ My wife and I were then living at Pororan Island, west coast of Buka. By July 26, 1913 - the opening date of the Buka post office as mentioned by you—I was then already living at Arigua, but I remember hearing of the post office being opened. It was located on the mainland of Buka, at a small station between Karoola and Kessa, at the end of a road which went across Buka Island to Hanahan, a place called TANNAGOLLE, near Banis.”

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Though the Australian Military Regime closed the post office at this place, it did not open another one. The official history THE AUSTRALIANS AT RABAUL, records:“Brigadier-General Griffiths, who became Administrator (Military) of New Guinea on 1 May, 1920, opened a station on Buka Passage as a supplementary administrative point for the northern end of the German Solomons.”

This was the office on the north-western tip of Bougainville Island, near Banis Plantation, and opposite Sohana Island, which later blossomed into a post office.

BUKA PASSAGE is that winding, narrow strip of dangerous water separating Buka Island from Bougainville Island, so narrow that as you pass through you may in parts toss a stone ashore on to the reefs on either side. It is a lovely stretch of water through which a fierce tide rip runs at the change of the tides, and this tide running at about 6 knots can be a source of danger to unwary craft!

So the first post office BUKA PASSAGE was on the northern tip of Bougainville Island, and the first officer in charge is believed to have been Cecil Levien, later to become famous in connection with the Bulolo goldfields. Gordon Thomas wrote:“In January, 1921, I visited Buka Passage, and found A.D.O. Cecil Levien in charge of the station situated near Banis plantation, opposite Sohana Island, on Bougainville. Two or three years later it removed to the island of Sohana.”

Mr. Eric Feldt, who wrote THE COASTWATCHERS, and who was at one time A.D.O. at Buka Passage, wrote:“The post office at Buka Passage was on the mainland in my day (1925). Vivian relieved me, but I don’t think he was there long, and I think it was Ken McMullen who shifted it to Sohana. My guess is that it would be early 1927.”

The A.D.O. at the time of the outbreak of war with Japan was Mr. Jack Read, who became a Coast watcher, and joined the RANVR, and today is Native Lands Commissioner in Rabaul (or so he was when this was written nearly ten years ago) and he wrote:“Re the earliest known date of the post office at Buka Passage, I feel it was before 1925.” Yes, and so it was! The first and last recorded dates of use of the pre-war cancellation BUKA PASSAGE are to the best of my knowledge:20 DE 24.

16 DE 41.

But surely some of a later date can be supplied by some collectors of TNG. Now the wheel has turned “full circle” and the post office is BUKA and is on Buka Island, on the shores of BUKA PASSAGE! I must have visited BUKA PASSAGE post office a number of times in 1926, but I don’t remember where it was located then - I wasn’t then interested!

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PAGE 10/11

P.N.G.C.

MARCH, 1994

POSTED FROM BULWA

By Roger Lee (U.K.) Bulwa was the last Post Office to be opened in New Guinea before civil administration ceased in 1942. The location was in the Gold Fields near Lae and Salamaua, and just eight miles north of Bulolo. It was opened in order to serve this area of the Goldfields, still developing at the time. The date of this was 22 May 1941.

However, the opening was rather late in time as Bulwa Aerodrome had been constructed in 1932, and heavy dredging equipment flown in on no less than 468 trips by June 1933. Combined weight of this heavy freight was 2,594,109 lbs or approx 1,179,140 kg. Later in 1933 a tumbler shaft of a dredge set a record on being the heaviest single air freight item carried, weighing 7,1091bs or 3,231 kg, flown in to Bulwa. Also the same year there on 30 October, a Guinea Airways Fox Moth crashed on take off due to engine failure and only pilot Orme Denny's skill saved him and his two passengers. During that early period the Bulwa road was also constructed and a hydroelectric plant nearby provided Bulwa with electricity. All these details are noted

by James Sinclair in "Wings of Gold". Also an unlikely picture of a group of Bulwa ladies greeting Lord and Lady Gowrie on their visit to the New Guinea Goldfields in 1937 is shown in Gash and Whittaker's , "A Pictorial History of New Guinea".

On the day Bulwa Post Office opened , several covers were sent and the "Woodman" cover shows m.s.s. "8" registration number, (This cover ex Tom Belknap sold for A$400 at Christies Melbourne in October 1993).

Another f.d.c. (ex Jim Harrison collection) is shown, intriguingly addressed to " The Lady " at Bronte N.S.W. , and m.s.s. registration No. here is 12. Both of these covers show frankings well in excess of the 8d needed for Australia being 5d airmail plus 3d registration.

Other than these First Day Covers, most of the surviving covers from Bulwa, of which these are very few , all appear to be commercial ones. Also , although the majority of the covers from this Post Office appear to have been sent by Airmail, a cover to Australia by Surface Mail is known, see illustration (next page – fig.1). This cover would have been flown to Salamaua and then forwarded by sea.

Most of the covers seen are backstamped Salamaua on the same or following day. The cover illustrated below (next page fig. 2) is a case in question. It is postmarked 30 May 41 and backstamped Salamaua 31 May 41. Unlike most mail from Bulwa it is not addressed to Australia, but to the U.S.A., and was sent on the Australia, N.Z., Pacific route via San Francisco. It has an attractive franking of a pair of 2/- stamps, paying correct 4/- rate for this all up airmail route, (commercially used values above

68

the 1/- are particularly scarce from the 1939 air mail issue, perhaps because they were keenly sought by stamp collectors who removed them from covers? ).

Whilst Powell gives the date of Bulwa P.O. closure as 11 Feb 42, a cover (ex Billy Huston, now illustrated thanks to Alan Jennings – Fig. 3), supports an earlier time than this. The cover is postmarked Bulolo 22 Jan 42, censored to Australia, but underneath the censor's resealing label is a Bulwa registration handstamp crossed out. It appears this must have been passed to Bulolo on closure of Bulwa, but somehow used in error on this cover. When the mistake was realized the current Bulolo registration handstamp was used instead.

Fig.1

Fig.2

Fig.3 Fig.3 Look out for Bulwa covers and if you come across one addressed to Bulwa and backstamped on arrival that is even scarcer.

Powell PType PNGC No.174; 8/9 7

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CHAPTER 11 STEPHANSORT 13 at RABAUL

BY K. HUMPHREYS (Australia) This German New Guinea canceller (Powell Type 7 & 52) is of interest as it was used as a Rabaul Australian Naval & Military Expeditionary Force post office handstamp from November 1914 to early January 1915, a philatelic handstamp at May/June 1915 and a seal at other times.

Powell Type 52

Powell Type 7

Stephansort postal agency closed 30 June 1914 according to Powell, so in 1913 the Rabaul postmaster probably did not order from Germany the `14' year plug for 1914. June 30 was the end of the business year for the Imperial Government whereas March 31 had been the close off date for the Neu Guinea Compagnie when it administered the area prior to April 1, 1899.

Stephansort was still listed as a postal agency in the 1912-13 Annual Report = 30/6/13, but as yet I have not had access to the 30/6/14 Report which survived in manuscript form. I assume Powell had access to postal or missionary archives to obtain the 30/6/14 date. What worries me is that outward 1914 Stephansort mail would have to either carry the `13' pen obliterated and `14' substituted, or no year date at all. If the `14' plug did actually arrive, why was the canceller sent back to Rabaul with the `13' plug inserted.

If we examine the composition of `13' we know that it was a 19(13) year plug sent out by Gleichmann of Berlin in late 1912. The `1' is post 1890 type while the `3' is pre 1890 type. This mixing was used for 1913 and 1914 plugs. Thus the `13' is not a combination of different era day/month plugs from the plug box. I used to subscribe to the 'frozen/rusted 13' theory but that is not now a possible description unless someone accidentally jammed the spring mechanism for the year plug in German handstamps. For a discussion on plugs readers are referred to R. Tobin's POSTMARKS OF NEW SOUTH WALES published in Sydney in 1983.

When the Rabaul post office was occupied in September 1914 the ANMEF must have found the obsolete canceller with `13' in situ and the day/month slots empty and no sign of the plug box. If the plug box was in the office surely Sgt. Moore, the ANMEF postmaster would have had the nous to fully date the canceller with day and month when he started to use it as a relief in November. As the ex-German postmaster was Moore's assistant, it now seems certain that no plug box was on hand.

Weller must have either sent the Stephansort box of plugs back to Berlin or buried it. It is intriguing why the `13' remained in the handstamp. I wonder if Moore realized that `13' meant 1913. He had no postal experience.

Genuine postal use of Stephansort 13 dates from November 7, the closing date for the MATUNGA to Sydney sailing on the 10th, to January 4,1915 when the new rubber oval postmarker came into use. This MATUNGA outward mail was the Xmas mail HOME from the troops, there being no later known scheduled shipping. Thus it was a busy time in the post office with no thought of dating the mail that was struck with the dumb Stephansort 13. Captain James Porter FRY of Special Tropical th Force was posted to Rabaul arriving there on December 17 1914. He had passed his Citizen Forces th examinations for the rank of Major and was eventually promoted to that rank on May 26 1915, eight days after becoming Officer Commanding Rabaul Garrison. This FRY, no relation to W.A. LeRoy FRY of the 1st Battalion, was a stamp collector all his life. He assembled a possible 50 philatelic NWPI and GRI/3D. stamped covers using mainly NWPI stamps of the third setting which probably arrived at Rabaul on March 26th. The covers were self-addressed “MAJOR J.P. FRY� with the NWPI and GRI/d. registration stamps cancelled by Stephansort 13.

So on or after May 26 Fry used Powell 52 either at the Post Office or ANMEF headquarter.

Collectors of New Guinea are asked to check for any genuine postal usage from January 1915. If we could find some Sydney back-stamps we may be able to extend the January 4 cut off date. I now pity the purists at the Sydney GPO. They must have torn their hair out when the Rabaul mailbags arrived!

Here we should also record the use of Powell 52 as a seal. Moore sent an unstamped October 17 cover to a Miss English of Sydney* and imprinted the flap sealing wax with Stephansort 13. The cover

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probably contained GRI surcharges. Powell 52 was also used as a seal on a registered cover dated January 9,1915. It was either applied then by a censor at HQ or Moore at the Post Office. Both the above dates are outside known correct postal usage. There are other examples of the ‘seal' being used but I unfortunately did not record the dates. Has any reader a `seal' usage after June 1915?

Hope springs eternal and I hope that one day the old Powell Type 52 turns up in a South Brisbane antique shop, having been brought to Australia by Major Fry. If it did survive World War 2 in Rabaul it could be in the Port Moresby museums or hidden away in an old safe somewhere. All we can do at present is trust that such an historic postal instrument escaped being thrown into Rabaul harbour.

References: Postal History of Territory of New Guinea – J.H.Powell 1964 Hawthorn Press.

Stamps & Cancels of German Colonies - A. Friedemann.

Published by Germany & Colonies Phil. Society G.B.1984.

Australian Commonwealth Collectors Club of N.S.W. – Bulletins of April 1986 and December 1988.

PNG-Calling - Bulletin of the Papuan Philatelic Society – June 1989 edition.

Left: Powell Type 7 on Registered cover from Stephansort dated 21/2/1907

Below: Powel Type 52 on 5pf German New Guinea postcard overprinted GRI and 1d.

71

* Max Bulley informs me (|Dec 2003) that this information is incorrect and that he informed Ken Humphreys, at the time this article was first published, that the hand-stamp was not used as a seal on the letter to Miss English dated Oct 17 1914.

However I can confirm that it was used as a seal on the back of a letter postmarked Rabaul Jan 9 1915. This letter also has an oval back-stamp in red ink of HMAS “UNA” – 5 JAN 1915 and an arrival mark of “Auckland NZ – 24 JAN 15”

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CHAPTER 12 DISTRICT OFFICE HANDSTAMPS & CANCELLATIONS Several of these handstamps are listed in the original work by Powell (examples include the 3 District Office cancellations used at Aitape / Eitape (29, 30 and 35). The well known large Ambunti District Office mark was also widely reported during the period 1925 to 1940 as it was the only canceller used during this extended period.

PPS member Jim Dykehouse has recorded several more of these marks. They are mostly found on the back of envelopes, less often as postal cancellations on stamps of the territory and also as “posting office” marks on O.H.M.S. mail addressed to Rabaul from government officials (Dir. Of Agriculture etc.). Some were even used as part of the 1939-40-41 censorship indications.

The District Office Kavieng is a variation of T.43 and predates that original strike (see page 9).

There are two strikes in existence which, so far, we have not been able to find. The first is a “SUB D.O. – BUKA PASSAGE” reported by Max Bulley. The second is “NAMATANAI / N. IRELAND DISTRICT” mentioned on page 15. (This may have been a substitute for “SUB D.O. / NAMATANAI.).

Ken Humphreys is of the opinion that there should also have been in existence :- D.O. SALAMAUA, SUB D.O. FINSCHHAFEN, SUB D.O. KOKOPO, SUB D.O. MADANG and SUB D.O. RABAUL. Type 115d is a cut down version of 115b dated 19 June 1937 (J.D.)

115a

115d

115b

115c

119a

111a

73

43a

118a

95a

Commercial cover dated 4 Jan 1932 appeared in Prestige Philately Auction No.140 on 17th Oct. 2008.

63b

63a

63c

105a

Soon after the end of WWI the Australians established a medical isolation unit on Sohano. Malaria, TB and many other tropical diseases were treated and studied there. The postal service was very limited and this provisional two line rubber h/s has only been seen on NWPI stamps.

74

75

Table of cancellations in chronological order.

Cancellation

No.

Finschhafen 1 Finschhafen 2 Finchhafen 3 Hatzfeldthafen 4 Kerawara 5 Kerawara u Herbertshöhe 5a Konstantinhafen 6 Stephansort 7 Stephansort 8 Herbertshöh 9 Herbertshöhe 10 Herbertshöhe – straight line 11 HerbetshOhe – straight line 12 Herbertshöhe 13 Kokopo 14 Kokopo 14a Kokopo 14b Kokopo 15 Kokopo 16 Kokopo 17 Friedrich Wilhelmshafen 18 Friedrich Wilhelmshafen 19 Friedrich Wilhelmshafen S/L 20 Friedrich Wilhelmshafen S/L 20a Friedrich Wilhelmshafen 21 Madang 22 Madang 23 Madang 24 Madang Dist Off 24a Madang Dist Off 24b Matupi 25 Berlinhafen 26 Eitape 27 Eitape 28 Eitape D.O. 29 Eitape D.O. 30 Eitape D.O. 31 Eitape 31a Aitape 32 Aitape 33 Aitape D.O. 34 Aitape D.O. 35 Aitape 36 Aitape 36b Aitape 37 Kawieng 38 Kawieng 39 Kaewieng 40 Kavieng 41 Kavieng 42 District Office - Kavieng 43 District Office - Kavieng 43a Kavieng 44 Kavieng 45 Simpsonhafen 46 Rabaul 47 Rabaul 48 Rabaul 49a Rabaul 49b Rabaul 49c Rabaul (Simpsonhafen) 50

ERD

Ref

LRD

15 FE 1888 07 FE 1904 24 OC 1927 02 AP 1888 19 JA 1888 28 JY 1990 15 MY 1888 14 DE 1889 15 JA 1898 Jan 1891 22 AP 1900

L P BG P WT 85 WT 85 P P AJ P P

30 JL 1891 18 FE 1915 01 DE 1939 30 SE 1891 26 SE 1890 DEC 1890 30 SE 1891 01 SE 1914 23 MY 1899 22 AP 1900 11 SE 1914

23 JU 1915 9 FE 1917 26 NO 1917 - JAN 1919 12 JA1923 9 FE 1925 22 JA 1929 1 MR 1892 25 SE 1914 10 NO 1914 Late 1914 Late 1914 15 AP 1915 10 FE 1921 03 JU 1934 11 MY 1925 25 JL 1931 1 NO 1894 22 MY 1898 01 OC 1912 16 AU 1915 10 JE 1922 05 MR 1923 27 DE 1923 - Jan 1924 21 JA 1925 13 JU 1927 Jun-29 30 OC 1929 12 AU 1929 30 AU 1931 13 MY 1939 1 JA 1904 09 JA 1915 April 1921 24 JL 1931 24 OC 1924 24 OC 1925 24 MY 1925 18 FE 1926 17 JA 1933 1 FE 1906 17 MR 1910 6 AP 1913 13 OC 1914 16 OC 1914 2 NO 1914 15 NO 1914

JD MB MB L MB PPS 106 MB WT 85 PR AL P P L RB MB JD AL P P P L GW BG GW L MB JD P L AL JD MB P MB JD TB TB TB JD BG JD P L* P P BG P AL

19 JA 1917 23 JN 1917 8 JA 1919 14 NO 1923 25 OC 1926 03 DE 1935 23 JA 1942 23 SE 1914 12 AP 1915 10 NO 1914 12 AP 1915 Aug-1915 02 OC 1924 25 JL 1939 09 JA 1942 04 DE1926 18 MY 1935 31 JA 1906 30 SE 1912 30 JY 1914 22 OC 1922 1 DE 1922 05 MR 1923 02 JA 1925 17 SE 1924 15 FE 1926 Dec-1928 24 SE 1929 22 AP 1930 23 JA 1935 AUG 1937 29 SE 1941 17 OC 1914 Feb 1922 11 SE 1925 21 JL 1932 25 JL 1932 25 JL 1932 24 MY 1925 30 NO 1932 21 JA 1942 12 MR 1910 9 SE 1914 1 SE 1914 13 OC 1914 22 OC 1914 29 NO 1914 Dec-14

76

Ref

Steuer L MB P Steuer P P L AJ P P

Diam

25 27.5 27 24 24 24 25 24 26 24.5 28.5 31.5 24.5 L 25 P 26 PG196 26 BG 26 L 31.5 JD 29.5 P 27 P 25 PR 34 AL 45 PR 51 AL 34 L 26.5 HM 28.5 BG 27 JD 33 JD 32 P 24 P 29.5 WT 85 26.5 L 26 P 30/32 BG 36 JD 30/31 PPS 121 30.5 JD 31 L 29 P 32 L 41 JD 28 JD 28 MB 29 P 26.5 L 26 MB 30 MB 30 AL 42 GW 41 JD 40 BG 27 P 29 AJ 28.5 AL 27.5 P 28.5 P MB PPS 106 P 30

Page Scarcity

8 8 8 9 9 9 10 10/69 10 11 11 11 11 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 13/56 13 13 13 13 14 14 14 14 14 15 16 16 16 16 16 16/55 16 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 18 18 18 18 18 19 19 19 19 20 20/57 20 21 21 22 22/48

C B C F F G F B B C A E F B C D C C D A A F G G F A A A F E B C E C G G F F E E E G C ?

E C C D D C E F C B C A B F E F F

Cancellation

No.

Rabaul Rabaul (Stephansort 13) Rabaul Rabaul Rabaul Rabaul Rabaul Rabaul Rabaul Rabaul Rabaul Rabaul Rabaul District Office New Britain Central Admin’n Rabaul District Office Rabaul Kieta Station Kieta Kieta Kieta Kieta Kieta Kieta Kieta Maron Maron Namatanai Namatanai Namatanai Namatanai Namatanai Namatanai District Office Deulon Manus Manus Manus Manus Manus Manus Manus Manus Manus District Office Morobe Morobe Morobe Morobe District Office Buka Talasea Talasea Talasea Talasea District Office Talasea Gasmatta D.O. (oval) Gasmatta Gasmatta Gasmata Gasmata District Office Gasmata District Office Gasmata Mokareng Bita Paka Witu Ambunti Buka Passage Gov’t Station, Buka Passage Sub D.O. Buka Passage Salamoa

51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 63a 63b 63c 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 78a 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 87a 88 89 90 90a 91 92 93 94 95 95a 96 97 98 99 100 100a 100b 101 102 103 104 105 105a 105b 106

ERD 12 DE 1914 Dec-14 03 DE 1914 01 AP 1915 12 MY 1915 16 JU 1921 05 JL 1921 19 DE 1923 24 JU 1928 21 DE 1936 14 AU 1937 02 MY 1941 12 NO 1928 31 JL 1935 12 DE 1941 16 JU 1928 25 AP 1907 18 MR 1915 15 FEB 1915 07 DE 1921 17 MR 1924 11 JA 1926 20 JU 1929 25 JL 1938 1 JA 1911 1 NO 1922 8 SE 1911 24 JA 1917 24 JA 1917 23 AP 1924 Late 1939 23 SE 1933 06 JA 1914 06 DE 1912 11 DE 1914 Jul-15 30 MR 1916 07 JA 1915 10 DE 1925 01 DE 1933 07 MR 1938 03 AU 1934 15 JA 1913 15 MR 1915 7 OC 1915 27 SE 1926 26 JY 1913 11 JA 1920 11 AP 1922 5 AU 1936 18 MR 1939 29 JA 1930 APRIL 1921 08 JU 1922 30 JL 1928 29 NO 1928 09 AU 1933 18 NO 1928 26 JL 1928 18 DE 1922 04 JU 1921 04 JL 1921 30 MY 1925 20 DE 1924 1923 ?

06 OC 1939 28 NO 1926

Ref BG P RG BG L* MB L* L* L BG L JD P JD JD JD P P MB HM L L MB AL P JD P JD JD P P P P P P P MB L* MB MB L CC L* P P AL P MB AL AL MB JD JD BG MB JD JD JD MB JD JD MB JD PPS 132 PPS 131 MB JD

77

LRD 18 JA 1915 Jul-15 03 DE 1915 25 JU 1915 23 AP 1932 21 JL 1923 2 JA 1924 18 SE 1935 26 NO 1941 11 AU 1941 07 JA 1942 15 JA 1942 24 JU 1941

09 DE 1914 08 MY 1916 26 MR 1923 05 DE 1923 23 OC 1937 16 AP 1935 01 JY 1932 26 FE 1942 Nov-14 14 FE 1923 Nov-14 24 JA 1917 11 JA 1924 18 SE 1939 Jan-42 20 SE 1914 22 NO 1914 11 DE 1914 Jul-15 01 NO 1916 27 DE 1928 28 MR 1933 05 MY 1938 Feb-42 09 FE 1935 Jan-15 30 JU 1915 26 NO 1926 27 SE 1926 16 NO 1914 2 DE 1928 29 JA 1936 01 SE 1938 24 DE 1940 30 OC 1934 21 AP 1922 13 MR 1928 14 NO 1928 04 OC 1934 11 FE 1942 07 MY 1937 17 NO 1928 03 OC 1923 24 JL 1924 26 MR 1925 22 MY 1937 16 DE 1941 1924 ?

06 OC 1939 8 MY 1932

Ref

Diam

L P JD L BG L P BG BG JD L MB P

24

Page Scarcity

22 22/69 41 x 26 22 51.5 x 29 22 25 23 27 23 27 23 30 23 30 23 29 24 29 24 29 24 26.5 24 47 x 28 73 45 x 29 73 45 x 28 73 P 24 25 SG/A 33 25/48 BG 26 25 BG 28 25 L 30 25 BG 40 25 AL 38 25 MB 28 26 P 28 27 JD 29 27 P 26.5 28 HM 28 MB 25 28 JD 28 28 P 28 28 42 29 P 27 30 P 26 31 P 16 31 P 68 x 28 31 L 68 x 28 31 P 26 31 MB 27 32 MB 28 32 P 30 32 AL 40 32 P 26 33 AL 37 33/48 P 25 33 AL 41 33 P 26 35 P 27 36 MB 27.5 36 BG 27 36 MB 29 36 AL 39 36 & 73 L 50 x 30 37/48 JD 29 37 MB 28.5 37 BG 27.5 37 P 28.5 37 BG 44 37 MB 38 37 PR 28 38 L 28.5 38 BG 28.5 39 PPS 106 40 x 26.5 39/48 PPS 95 30.5 39 46 54/73 MB P 28 40

E E B G A B B B A B B D E F F F C F B D B E D E D G D G D C F G E D G G F B C C E F D G B G F D C E E F G F E C C F G E F F B B G G C

Salamaua Salamaua Salamaua Salamaua Marienberg District Office Marienberg Edie Creek Wiwiak Wewak Wewak District Office Wewak Sub Dist Office Wewak District Office Weewak District Office Wewak Wau Wau Wau Sub District Office Wau Lae Sub District Office Lae Bulolo Bulolo Angoram Angoram District Office Angoram District Office Angoram District Office Angoram Maprik Bulwa PO Pleasant Is

107 108 109 110 111 111a 112 113 114 115 115a 115b 115c 115d 116 117 118 118a 119 119a 120 121 122 122a 123 123a 123b 124 125 126

21 FE 1932 18 JU 1932 May-38 1932 24 SE 1927 15 AP 1931 20 AU 1928 01 DE 1928 23 JU 1932 10 OC 1934 15 JL 1932 31 JL 1934 DEC 1930 19 JU 1937 7 JA 1930 Dec-31 04 OC 1936 30 SE 1939 1 MR 1932 2 JA 1940 15 MR 1932 13 AP 1939 15 AP 1934 12 AU 1941 31 DE 1939 13 DE 1934 undated 22 MY 1940 22 MY 1941 04 MR 1915

JD BG P P MB JD TB MB MB JD P AL JD JD P MB L JD P JD P MB P PG AL JD AL JD P PG 206

04 JU 1938 04 JU 1938 11 FE 1942 30 JL 1934 18 JA 1934 11 FE 1942 19 FE 1932 23 OC 1935 09 NO 1941 08 JA 1940 19 JU 1937

29 AP 1937 18 SE 1941 11 NO 1941 18 JA 1942 18 MY 1940 22 JA 1942 21 OC 1937 12 AU 1941 11 FE 1942 Aug 1936 18 SE 1941 22 JA 1942 22 SE 1921

JD P P GW MB

27.5 27.5 28 27.5 27 41 P 27 MB 27.5 BG 27 L 27 JD 40 JD 40 38 40 BG 27.5 MB 28.5 MB 28.5 40 BG 27 41 PPS 106 27 MB 28.5 TB 27.5 PG 27.5 P 40 P 38x40 38 MB 28.5 PG 28.5 PG 206 26.5

40 40 40 40 41 41/72 41 42/48 42 42 72 72 72 72 43 43 43 73 43 72 44 44 44 44 44 44/54 54 45 45 46/57

B B B G C G A E E B F F G G C B B G A G B B D F E F ?

D E C

46 47 47 47 47 48 47 47

C C D D D E E D

46 x 27 47

C

48 x 30 47 52 x 32 47

C C

Radio Stations Nauru Kaewieng Madang Woodlark Island Kieta Eitape Manus Morobe

127 128 128a 128b 128c 128d 128e 128f

24 46 x 27 43 x 27 43 x 27 43 x 27 46 x 27 43 x 27 46 x 27

Radio Telegraph Station Woodlark Island

129

Radio Telegraph Dept Rabaul Rabaul

(wavy lines)

130 130a

Scarcity ratings (provided by Max Bulley):A (over 2000 copies); B (1000-2000); C (500-1000); D (250-500); E (50-250); F (11-50); G (under 10 copies)

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Key:- Letters in the “ref” column to the right of the ERD and LRD column refer to the journal, catalogue or collection where the relevant date was published. The following letters have been used:P AL GW PPS PG AJ BG HM MB PV RG SL TB L E Bay WT JD PR RB CC

original date as published by John Powell from the collection of the editor, Andrew Loughran. items appearing in Gary Watson’s auction at Premier Philatelics items featured in PPS News (ref includes issue number) items featured in PNGC ( “ “ “ “ ) Alan Jennings Bill Gammage Hugh McMackin Max Bulley Peter Vogenbeck Bob Gibbs Sten Liljedahl Tom Belknap info supplied by Stu Leven item seen on E Bay (internet auction site) Wurttembergisches Auktionhaus Reported by Jim Dykehouse Pope & Reynolds.

Robert Benoist Clifford Crush collection

79

Post Office cancellation

Ref

Aitape Aitape Aitape Aitape Aitape Aitape District Office Aitape District Office Ambunti Angoram Angoram District Office Angoram District Office Angoram District Office Berlinhafen Bita Paka Buka Buka Passage Buka Passage Sub District.Office Buka Passage, Government Station Bulolo Bulolo Bulwa Deulon Edie Creek Eitape Eitape Eitape Eitape District Office Eitape District Office Eitape District Office Eitape, Radio Station Finschhafen Finschhafen Finschhafen Friedrich Wilhelmshafen Friedrich Wilhelmshafen Friedrich Wilhelmshafen Friedrich Wilhelmshafen Friedrich Wilhelmshafen Gasmata Gasmata Gasmata District Office Gasmata District Office Gasmatta Gasmatta Gasmatta Hatzfeldthafen Herbertshรถhe Herbertsรถhe Herbertsรถhe Herbertsรถhe Herbertsรถhe

80

32 33 36 36b 37 34 35 104 122 123 123a 123b 26 102 91 105 105b 105a 120 121 125 79 112 27 28 31a 29 30 31 128d 1 2 3 18 19 20 20a 21 99 100 100a 100b 96 97 98 4 13 9 10 11 12

Page

17 17 17 17 17 9 9 22 25 25 33 33 8 22 19 22 45 45 25 25 42 16 24 8 8 8 8 8 8 28 3 3 3 6 6 6 7 7 21 21 21 21 21 21 21 3 5 5 5 5 5

Post Office cancellation

Ref

Kaewieng Kaewieng, Radio Station Kavieng Kavieng Kavieng Kavieng Kavieng - District Office Kavieng - District Office Kawieng Kawieng Kerawara Kerawara u Herbertshรถhe Kieta Kieta Kieta Kieta Kieta Kieta Kieta Kieta (Station Kieta) Kieta, Radio Station Kokopo Kokopo Kokopo Kokopo Kokopo Kokopo Konstantinhafen Lae Lae Sub District Office Madang Madang Madang Madang District Office Madang District Office Madang, Radio Station Manus Manus Manus Manus Manus Manus Manus Manus Manus District Office Manus, Radio Station Maprik Marienberg Marienberg District Office Maron Maron Matupi Mokareng

40 128 41 42 44 45 43 43a 38 39 5 5a 64 66 67 68 69 70 71 65 128c 14 14a 14b 15 16 17 6 119 119a 22 23 24 24a 24b 128a 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 87a 128e 124 111 111a 72 73 25 101

81

Page

9 27 9 9 10 10 10 45 9 9 4 4 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 28 5 5 5 6 6 6 4 25 45 7 7 7 7 7 28 16 16 16 16 17 17 17 17 17 28 26 24 45 15 15 7 21

Post Office cancellation

Ref

Morobe Morobe Morobe Morobe District Office Morobe, Radio Station Namatanai Namatanai Namatanai Namatanai Namatanai Namatanai District Office Nauru, Pleasant Island PO * Nauru, Radio Station Pleasant Island PO, (Nauru) * Rabaul Rabaul Rabaul Rabaul Rabaul Rabaul Rabaul Rabaul Rabaul Rabaul Rabaul Rabaul Rabaul Rabaul Rabaul Rabaul Rabaul Rabaul Rabaul (Simpsonhafen) Rabaul, Central Administration Rabaul, Dist Office New Britain Rabaul, District Office Rabaul, Radio Telegraph Dept Rabaul, Radio Tel Dept (wavy lines) Salamaua Salamaua Salamaua Salamaua Salamoa Simpsonhafen Stephansort Stephansort Talasea Talasea Talasea Talasea

88 89 90 90a 128f 74 75 76 77 78 78a 126 127 126 47 48 49a 49b 49c 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 50 63b 63a 63c 130 130a 107 108 109 110 106 46 7 8 92 93 94 95

* same cancellation

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Page

17 18 18 18 28 15 15 16 16 16 16 27 27 27 10 11 11 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 12 45 45 45 28 28 23 23 23 23 23 10 4 4 20 20 20 20

Post Office cancellation

Ref

Talasea District Off Wau Wau Wau Wau Sub District Office Wewak Wewak Wewak Sub District Office Wewak District Office Wewak District Office Wewak District Office Witu Wiwiak Woodlark Island, Radio Station Woodlark Island, Radio Tel Station

83

95a 116 117 118 118a 114 115 115b 115a 115c 115d 103 113 128b 129

Page

N/A 24 24 24 45 24 24 45 24 45 45 22 24 28 28