NZ Great Barrier Island Pigeon Post

I just saw a cover depicting a re-enactment.

A great article Clayton, and some interesting facts about the service noted.

".... and Mr Smales, the well-known mining man, suggested the institution of a pigeon service, and the idea was taken up and completed by Mr Parkin, who was the proprietor of the original service." (Smales of Smales Farm fame in Takapuna!).

"The first message ever flown from the Barrier was dated May 14, 1897, and was carried by Mr Parkin's bird."

"Asked as to the number of messages the birds carried, he said the average would be about 15 to 20 a week, and in one week he flew as many as 107"

" Mr Howie was the first person to use a stamp for the purpose of carrying messages by pigeons, this method having originated with his service. After the message is written and rolled round the bird's leg it is fastened and kept in position by means of the stamp. This is a more humane way of fastening the message, and is much preferable to the old system of using string or cotton."




Thanks for sharing this with us. Saved for posterity 


Dave

Thanks for posting this. 

I need to sit down with a magnifying glass to plate this block I have sitting in a stock book.  Feels like it should be easier than I think it might be ... 

I managed to get a few items at the latest StatusInt auction.  Nice and interesting pieces.

I also got another "Saved from the S.S. Wairarapa" cover, the ship that hit and sunk on the Great Barrier Island in 1894 highlighting the lack of communications between the island and the mainland.  The first flimsy from the Great Barrier was sent by a reporter with his story on the memorial cruise organised by the owners of the ship.

I also got some very interesting Pigeon Post items including a couple of envelopes used to forward the flimsies if they were destined out of Auckland.  Also a letter from The Agency with letter to London enclosing stamps (not included) for a buyer in the UK.

I also got a genuine VP1 used.   I have only ever seen three genuine used VP1 stamps, and two of those were on cover (there are only three covers known). I got one from this auction for AU275 + fees, what a bargain.  I have 11 forged used versions all with violet round cancels - all forged as are most used copies of this stamp. I have a dozen or more unused genuine copies (and about a dozen forgeries).

Anyone else think they've got one? At the Oded Eliashar auction there were two covers and NO used stamps.  The covers are magnificent - but no used items.  

auction.siegelauctions.com/sale/854?PageNo=2

Keen to hear of others experiences.

Neil

Thank you, Neil! How incredibly helpful. Nice to see your plating work, too.

RK