Ian McMahon
Figure 17 Blowholes at Liku, View in Brown Figure 18 Beach at Haapai, View in Brown Figure 19 Shipping at Vavau Wharf, View in Brown changed from the sample to read peni e tama (one penny) rather than peni e tama moe koga (one and a halfpence).
They also requested that 2,000 lettercards be printed but that the rate should be changed to 1½d and the stamp amended to read peni e taha moe koga. In a dispatch dated 7 November 1910 the British Consul confirmed that the designs for the postcards and lettercard stamps had been approved by the Government of Tonga (Figures 13 and 14). He also confirmed that 50,000 postcards had been ordered from Valentine and Sons of Dundee with the views printed on the reverse and no printing on the front and asked for a quote on the printing of 50,000 cards rather than the 8,000 previously quoted on. The cost of printing the cards was to be charged initially to the Government of Fiji. De La Rue replied on 11 November 1910 that the cost of printing the stamps on these cards would be 4/1 per 1,000 and enclosed samples of the lettering for both the postcards and the lettercard and asked if the lettering for both should be done in red. The postcards with 1d red stamps featuring King George II in an oval were printed with 10 different views in black (Figure 15 and 16), and with 10 different views in brown (Figures 17-19). The ten views in black were: Haamoga Amau; Flying Foxes, Hihifo; Presentation of Kava; Nukualofa from Wharf; The palace and chapel Nukualofa; Vavau Harbour; Neiafu, Vavau; Swallow Caves, Vavau; Cocoanut [sic] in Various Stages; and Three Steaded Cocoanut [sic]. The cards illustrated in brown are: Cocoanut [sic] Palm Avenue, Haapai; Beach at Haapai; Palace Haapai; Hospital at Nukualofa; Shipping at Nukualofa Wharf; Ovava, Captain Cook’s Tree; Shipping at Vavau Wharf; Hospital at Vavau; Government Offices; and Blow Holes at Liku. The lettercard has a 1½ d claret stamp featuring King George II in a rectangle. It is printed on blue card and was issued in 1910. On 12 July 1911, a second printing of the lettercards was requested. This printing was to have the lettering on the back altered to read. ‘Should any other matter be enclosed in this lettercard, full letter rates will be charged’. 10,000 of this lettercard were supplied at a cost of 8 pounds 10 shillings (17/- per thousand). On 14 April 1930, the Crown Agents wrote to De La Rue saying that the Government of Tonga had authorised the destruction of the original flat die of the 1d stamp used for printing postcards. Stamp News - 27