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Post by pilot on May 10, 2020 23:06:38 GMT
bobstew617 mono-colours on cover and interesting postal history
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Post by pilot on May 10, 2020 23:33:57 GMT
The 1919-31 Lakatoi Issue
From 1919 to 1931, a new series of bi-coloured lakatoi designs were progressively introduced typographed by successive Stamp Printers, T. S. Harrison, A. J. Mullett and John Ash.
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Post by pilot on May 11, 2020 0:25:00 GMT
A quick summary:
The initial recess printings of the BNG lakatoi issues commenced in 1901 and were done by De La Rue. The sheets consisted of a 5 X 6 configuration = 30 stamps (later lithographed issues changed this sheet configuration to 5 X 8 = 40 stamps).
In 1906 overprints of these issues with the word Papua (the so called "Large Papua") were done in Port Moresby. They were done so well that there are few errors in the o/prints.
Similar o/prints though smaller (the so called "Small Papua") were then done in Brisbane. There were many errors of o/print in this series.
From 1907 to 1927 the stamp issues were done with lithography using the original design by the Stamp/Note Printing Branch in Melbourne. Printers during this period were J. B. Cooke , T. S. Harrison and A. J. Mullett. John Ash was the printer from 1927-1931.
In 1929 the words AIR MAIL were o/printed by the Government Printer in Port Moresby. In 1930 a small plane with the words Air Mail on it's wings was o/printed on issues of the day.
In 1931 Government Printer in Port Moresby o/printed two new values on the stamp issues (Two Pence and 5d. Five Pence).
The final lakatoi issue was the o/printing in 1931 of the values 9d. and 1/3.
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coastwatcher
Departed
Rest in peace
Kentucky, USA
Posts: 506
What I collect: Currently focusing on US and possessions
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Post by coastwatcher on May 11, 2020 1:37:08 GMT
pilot, Thank you for starting this very informative thread. I’ve enjoyed reading all of your posts.
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stanley64
Member
Posts: 1,825
What I collect: Canada, USA, Netherlands, Portugal & Colonies, Antarctic Territories and anything that catches my eye...
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Post by stanley64 on May 11, 2020 7:14:37 GMT
I will echo coastwatcher's sentiments, I too have been enjoying the postings and display of the Stamps of Papua and New Guinea. The postings with their well written write-ups, along with the clear and authentic images are a delight to follow; well done! Thanks for sharing and I look forward to the next installment(s)... Happy collecting!
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Post by pilot on May 11, 2020 22:58:09 GMT
The 1931 Official Stamps
For official purposes, several of the stamps of the 1919-31 issue, as well as the 3d value of 1916, were overprinted 'OS' in black and issued in 1931. As in the case of Australian Commonwealth stamps similarly overprinted, these were later withdrawn. a 5d Overprinted OS on cover paying the correct rate. 2d postage and 3d registration.
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Post by feebletodix on May 12, 2020 9:10:42 GMT
If pilot has no objections a small diversion to Kokoda. A town in the Northern Territory on the Yodda River. The Post Office opened on the 1st July 1905 and closed on the 14th February of 1942. Then re-opened on the 20th February 1947. To start with, two later postmarks Kokoda, Papua New Guinea 18 OC 1960 Papua, Kokoda 17 OC 1951
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Post by feebletodix on May 12, 2020 9:17:53 GMT
Kokoda ND, Papua 30 MAY 1930 Kokoda ND, Papua 5 MAR 1927 Kokoda ND, Papua 24 xxx 19xx Kokoda ND, Papua xx xxx xxx7 Kokoda ND, Papua 20 OCT 1915 Kokoda ND, Papua 8 AUG 1914 Kokoda ND, Papua 10 FEB 1914
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Post by feebletodix on May 12, 2020 9:21:35 GMT
Registered Kokoda Papua Kokoda, Papuea New Guinea 3 Jxx xxxx Assistant Resident Magistrate Kokoda ND 4 10 1905 Assistant Resident Magistrate Kokoda ND 1 10 1905 Assistant Resident Magistrate Kokoda ND 1 10 1905 on 2d
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Post by feebletodix on May 12, 2020 9:22:38 GMT
all together now on a single page, Kokoda, Papua New Guinea
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Post by pilot on May 12, 2020 23:30:20 GMT
Hi feebletodix you have some very nice and RARE cancels. Thank-you for sharing. The Assistant Resident Magistrate cancel (Lee 67) was unofficially used and is mostly found cancelling stamps. It was unofficially used in preference to Lee 66A (Kumisi Relief canceller).It is basically a philatelic cancel but never the less is scarce. The Lee references that I am using come from the following book: "The Postal History of British New Guinea and Papua 1885-1942" by Roger Lee. This book is long out of print but you see the odd copy on eBay or in local stamp auctions such as Prestige.It is considered one of the two "bibles" for Papua collectors. The other being Hamilton Croaker's two books, "Lakatoi 1" and "Lakatoi 2 & 3". I have a couple of Kokoda covers and a couple of different cancels which I will try and put up later today on your thread. This postmark was only in use from 1st July 1905 to Dec 1905. It is rated E by Lee, Very Scarce, 51-250 believed to exist.
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Post by pilot on May 13, 2020 23:37:57 GMT
The 1929-30 Airmail Overprints
Due to the increase in the usage of airmail in the late twenties, a number of the current issues were overprinted for this purpose. The first of these was the 3d lakatoi overprinted at Port Moresby with the words 'AIR MAIL' in black. Three printings were used for the overprints (by T. S. Harrison, J. B. Cooke (below) and John Ash), distinguishable by difference in the colour of the paper and the shade of the central vignette. Papua 1930 (5th Aug) airmail cover Port Moresby to Sydney bearing Ash 3d Lakatoi ovptd AIR MAIL & 1½d tied by PORT MORESBY PAPUA cds.
Cover bears additional airmail etiquette in red & indigo, inscribed "THIS LETTER WAS SENT SYDNEY BRISBANE SYDNEY PLEASE REPLY AIRMAIL" at left.
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Post by pilot on May 14, 2020 23:55:26 GMT
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bobstew617
Member
Posts: 376
What I collect: Switzerland, Ireland, Scandinavia, Channel Islands, Hong Kong (British Admin), PNG, others...
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Post by bobstew617 on May 15, 2020 1:10:33 GMT
yes, I have noticed that the Papua stamps tend to fade quite a bit. That purple and green though is really striking! Just another reason why Papua New Guinea is a topical collector's paradise! (examples; Birds of Paradise , Orchids, I could go on)
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Post by pilot on May 16, 2020 0:52:43 GMT
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Post by pilot on May 16, 2020 15:32:27 GMT
The 1932 Lakatoi Series
In 1932 two new values of the lakatoi series were issued to defray postal rates for parcels (9s for the first pound weight and 6d per pound extra). The two values were the last of the familiar lakatoi design which had been featured on the stamps of the territory for more than thirty years, although a re-designed version of the vessel was to appear on the 1/3 stamps of 1932 and on the 1952 issue of the Territory of Papua and New Guinea. SG 127s - 128s
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Post by pilot on May 16, 2020 21:38:16 GMT
The 1932 Pictorial Series
This era of the Lakatoi series Papuan stamps is that branch of philately that has attracted the most interest from philatelists as the variations in die and imperfections produced huge quantities of stamp variations. Considering that most stamps produced at that time usually featured reproductions of the current monarchs of the times, the new pictorial issues for Papua in 1932 adopted a rather unusual approach to stamp production as the stamps produced were taken from original photographs by Williams, Strong and Gibson as well as lithographs produced by the graphic artist E. Whitehouse all of which featuring local Papuan citizens and village scenes. It is quite notable that by taking such approach that the citizens so portrayed became the first Papua and New Guinea citizens officially recorded for time immemorial. In particular the1d stamp shows a picture of “Steve” the younger son of Oala a local successful business man operating a sawmill and trucking business at Hanuabada whilst the 5/-set is of “Sgt Major Simoi” originally from Kiwai Island being the first local policeman to reach the rank of warrant officer having joined the Papuan constabulary in 1899 later dying in 1934.
The remaining stamps in this series related to village scenes along the Papuan coast the most famous and recognisable of such being the 9d issue featuring a local from of the Gulf shooting fish with a bow and arrow with the same stamp being later reproduced in the £1 stamp of the 1950’s. What is remarkable about these series is the quality of the engravings themselves, which can only be appreciated when the stamps are enlarged.
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Post by pilot on May 18, 2020 0:43:57 GMT
The 1932 Pictorial Series
Motuan Girl black and buff (McCracken) (1940) SG 130a
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Post by pilot on May 21, 2020 0:39:05 GMT
The 1932 Pictorial SeriesA 5/- olive brown and black stamp issued on 14 November 1932 depicted Sergeant Major Simoi, a native Papuan then of the Armed Native Constabulary (Papua) also variously known as the Armed Native Constabulary (ANC). Simoi, the son of Gidau, was born c. 1877 at Katatai Village, Kiwai Island, at the mouth of the lengthy Fly River in the Western District. He joined the BNGAC in 1899 as a Constable on a pay scale of 10/- (ten shillings) with rations a month, followed the following year by a raise to £1.0.0 (one pound) p.m. In 1901 he was a Lance Corporal and soon promoted to Corporal. He took part in many interior expeditions in which he was wounded by arrows on many occasions amongst numerous headhunting and very primitive tribes and, showing outstanding courage, was quickly promoted to Sergeant, this then being the highest rank available for a Papuan. In 1905, together with another Papuan Constable, he was commended for a remarkable feat of bravery in saving the life of the Administrator (Captain F.R. Barton), Judge Hubert Murray and other Europeans when their whaleboat capsized in treacherous heavy seas off Vailala in the Central Gulf of Papua. In my opinion there can be no justification for the issue of such high value stamps of 5/- (10/- and £1.0.0 in the same series) when it cost around 1d (one penny) for letter postage. Clearly these high value stamps were designed to create revenue at the expense of philatelists. Consequently not a great number of these high value stamps were issued and, being rated exceedingly rare to rare in much later years, commanded a very high price (Set of 16 selling for AU $660.00). SG143
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brightonpete
Departed
Rest in Peace
On a hike at Goodrich-Loomis
Posts: 5,110
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Post by brightonpete on May 21, 2020 1:37:46 GMT
Great scans & stories of these stamps, Barry ( pilot) I always liked PNG & wished I had started on them when I started collecting. Thanks for all that info on them, maybe now I'll see about starting.
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Post by pilot on May 22, 2020 1:38:36 GMT
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Ryan
Member
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Posts: 2,721
What I collect: If I have a catalogue for it, I collect it. And I have many catalogues ....
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Post by Ryan on May 22, 2020 3:23:25 GMT
Wow, that's an expensive flight. According to the Wikipedia page on the old Australian pound, by 1931 it had by that time been devalued against the British pound sterling so that £1 Australian = 16 shillings British. So, £200 Australian would be £160 British. According to this old money value site, that's approximately eleventy-twelve thousand pounds today ... Ryan
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Post by pilot on May 22, 2020 3:38:11 GMT
Ryan the value of one ounce of gold in 1936 was $35, today $1726 per ounce. A Registered 47 pound .. about 20 kilo ... parcel of Gold cost £11. In fact I read recently that, in the 1920's/early 1930's, the Bulolo-Wau-Lae goldfields area had the same air freight total as the total combined world air freight usage at that time.
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Post by pilot on May 24, 2020 1:42:59 GMT
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Post by pilot on May 24, 2020 2:10:21 GMT
The Silver Jubilee Issue
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Post by pilot on May 25, 2020 0:16:24 GMT
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bobstew617
Member
Posts: 376
What I collect: Switzerland, Ireland, Scandinavia, Channel Islands, Hong Kong (British Admin), PNG, others...
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Post by bobstew617 on May 25, 2020 1:29:32 GMT
thanks, everyone--
the pictures, stories, postmarks, and history surrounding these issues are absolutely fascinating!!
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Post by pilot on May 25, 2020 22:46:22 GMT
The 1938 Airmail Issue
A commemorative set, inscribed 'AIR MAIL POSTAGE' was issued on 6 September 1938, depicting a D H Dragon Rapid over Port Moresby, with vignettes of King George VI and the old schooner Elsa. The stamps were withdrawn from sale on 6 September 1939. Papua 1938 (30 Dec) cover sent airmail to England with single franking KGVI 5d Jubilee Airmail tied PORT MORESBY / PAPUA datestamp paying the reduced Empire Airmail Scheme rate, carried by QANTAS to Australia with Townsville, Qld slogan cancel transit (31 Dec) on back and onwards by QANTAS / Imperial Airways service SW63 on Flying Boat Champion to Singapore and Corinna to England [the Empire Airmail Scheme was introduced on the Australia-England service in July 1938 and withdrawn on 1 September 1939 with the outbreak of World War 2 when the rate reverted to 1/6d per oz]. PAPUA 1938 Air set 5 on Registered cover to Ballarat SG 158/162
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Post by pilot on May 25, 2020 23:42:35 GMT
The 1939-41 Airmail Issue
A new, regular issue for airmail purposes, in five denominations, was released on 6 September 1939. The stamps depicted a Dragon Rapide flying over the Gulf of Papua, with native poling rafts in the foreground, as well as an inset full-face portrait of King George VI. On 2 January 1941, an additional denomination of 1/6 was introduced to the series and, as this stamp was on issue for only a little more than a year before withdrawal, is regarded as scarce. SG 163/168 1940 commercial airmail cover from Samarai to England with Pictorials 3d x3 & 6d plus 1939 Airs 3d and a complete example of the red/white 'OPENED BY CENSOR' label.
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bobstew617
Member
Posts: 376
What I collect: Switzerland, Ireland, Scandinavia, Channel Islands, Hong Kong (British Admin), PNG, others...
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Post by bobstew617 on May 26, 2020 0:45:45 GMT
Papua New Guinea is a very mountainous country, with isolated communities nestled in remote locations. Travel by air is one of the few ways to communicate within the country. Small airplanes have been featured quite frequently in PNG stamp issues, like this one:
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