Loose Ship Letters, Paquebot etc.
Ship Mail
MORINDA
Burns Philp & Co. steamer MORINDA. Image thanks to the book "The Main Line Fleet of Burns Philp" by Wilkinson / Willson, Camberra 1981
MULIAMA
Burns Philp & Co. steamer MULIAMA. Image thanks to the book "The Main Line Fleet of Burns Philp" by Wilkinson / Willson, Camberra 1981
TAHITIEN
MÉLANESIEN
Messageries Martimes' steamer MÉLANESIEN. Image thanks to Philippe Ramona.
The Melanesien was built as Indrapoera in 1926 for the Rotterdam Lloyd Line,
renamed Asuncion in 1956, renamed Bianca C in 1957 and renamed Melanesien when chartered by Messageries Maritimes in 1957/58. Scrapped in 1963.
(Source: www.derbysulzers.com)
POLYNÉSIE
Messageries Martimes' steamer POLYNÉSIE at Vila harbour. Image thanks to Philippe Ramona
CALÉDONIEN
INAHA
INAHA
Picture and text from an advertisement for the sale of the ship in a 1960 copy
of the Pacific Islands Monthly Magazine: Inaha was a 256-ton twin-screw steel
motor vessel built in 1923 by Coaster Construction Co. Ltd in Montrose, Scotland
and formerly owned by the Taranaki Shipping Company. She was purchased by Kiwi
Shipping Co. (Lew Graham) in November 1959 and then offered for about £NZ13,000.
After refurbishment she was sold to the New Britain Electric Co. (owned by Mr A. Avenal) in mid-1960. She sailed for
Rabaul on 3 July 1960 (Capt. M. Calder), calling at Vila, where she had earlier
been registered as a vessel of the Vila Shipping Co. These covers were posted on
board during that voyage and were delivered to the Vila Post Office on arrival.
ORIENTAL QUEEN
M.V. ORIENTAL QUEEN ex KANIMBLA. The ship had been launched as MV KANIMBLA and was famous as Australian coastal
liner and mobile radio station and for it's military career in the Australian Navy named HMAS KANIMBLA. In 1961 sold to Asia and renamed "ORIENTAL QUEEN",
the in Japanese posession and sold for scrap in 1973. (Source of the image unknown)
SAGAFJORD
M.V. SAGAFJORD.(Source of the image unknown)
ORONSAY
M.V. ORONSAY. The Oronsay was one of the post-war P&O Orient Line ships and sailed line voyages between England and Australia.
VIENNE
The "Vienne" was built in 1964, 1977 transferred to new Cie Generale Maritime, 1979 sold to Panama renamed Char Kang,
in 1983 to Saudi Arabia and renamed WAHEED and in 1984 renamed LARGISH N°2 and scrapped. Image thanks to Philippe Ramona
ARCADIA
SEA PRINCESS
SEA PRINCESS (former "Kungsholm", bought by P&O in
1979 to replace the "Arcadia" and renamed "Sea Princess", later renamed "Victoria", "Mona Lisa" and "Occeanic II" and retired in 2010.)
Image thanks to simplonpc
21 December 1945 - The Vanikoro Manuscript Cancellation:
1945 envelope from Peu, Vanikoro Island
via the New Hebrides to Sydney. Franked triple rate with 6d BSI stamps and
cancelled with manuscript "Vanikoro/ 26 11 45 + initials (SSB)" and violet
PCH type 11.
It is very likely that the initials "SSB" stand for Samuel S. Boye, who was
the Manager of the Kauri Timber Company on Vanikoro.
The Vanikoro P.O. had closed on 24 Oct. 1944 as it only served
five European residents. The cover was carried from Peu to the New Hebrides on the
schooner "Quand Même" (="All the same") owned by Fred Louis Jones, a local trader and from there to
Australia by the monthly Burns Philp & Co. Ltd. service. (Yeomans coll.)
Fred Louis Jones was born in England in 1902. He arrived in Port Vila in the mid 1920s.
He may have worked as District Officer in the British Solomon Islands Protectorate for a
brief time in the 1920s. About 1930 he purchased a trading schooner, Quand Même, in
Port Vila, and then established a trade store in Vanikoro. Fred Jones developed a broad
interest in aspects of Santa Cruz culture, see for example, H.G. Beasley and F.L. Jones,
‘Notes on Red Feather Money from Santa Cruz Group, New Hebrides’, Journal of the Royal
Anthropological Institute (Vol.66, Jul-Dec 1936). He later purchased an Island in the Banks
Group, Vanuatu, where his son, Jimmy, also lived. Fred Jones retired to Australia and died
in Sydney in 1987. (Source: Pambu News
Image thanks to the book "The Main Line Fleet of Burns Philp" by Wilkinson / Willson, Camberra 1981
21 December 1945
21 December 1945
Quand Même
21 December 1945
21 December 1945
Another Vanikoro Manuscript Cancellation: 1945 envelope from Peu, Vanikoro Island
via the New Hebrides to Sydney. The rate had gone from up from 1½ pence to 2 pence
and obviously Mr. Young only had 1½ pence stamps on hand at the time. The
cover has no backstamps. It is cancelled too with manuscript "Vanikoro/ 26 11 45 + initials (SSB)" and violet
PCH type 11. (Aore coll.)
21 December 1945
Wrong colour display to show the handwriting (Aore coll.)
19 June 1946
John Leslie Mitchell was an Anglo Australian who was born in 1884 and ran the
Ranon plantation for many years.
Cancelled INTER-ISLAND NEW HEBRIDES 19 JUNE 46, transit SAN FRANCISCO REGISTERED
SEP 21 1946, LOS ANGELES TERMINAL ANNEX SEP 24 1946 and arrival LOS ANGELES OB
SEP 25. US customs markings, LETTER PACKAGE COLLECT TEN CENTS ETC. ("JGI" coll.)
9 April 1947
(new 2/2019)
45cg on a cover to U.S.A. Cancelled PM9B. Overpaid 15 cg.
21 June 1947
(new 3/2020)
30cg on a surface cover from Ranon, Ambrym to the U.S. cancelled with PM9B pay correctly the non-colonial letter rate.
Carried by MORINDA. (Klinger coll.)
23 June 1947
(new 3/2020)
Ex "Morinda" : 40c in French stamps on an air mail cover to New Zealand. Cancelled
with PM9B the "INTER-ISLAND" cancel. Backstamped Norfolk Island on 9 July 1947. Morinda left Sydney on 3 June 47 and returned on 14 July 1947.
Colonial letter rate was 10cg, air surcharge to NZ was 10cg per 5g so this franking is o.k. for a 10g-15g letter.
I wonder why this cover is backstamped on Norfolk Island. (Klinger coll.)
23 June 1947
Backstamp
29 September 1947
Ex "S.S. Muliama" : A 10cg stamp paying the correct letter rate to Australia,
cancelled in Sydney with the PAQUEBOT cds. ("Aore" coll.)
27 October 1947
Letter to Hobart, Tasmania. The British 1938 10c stamp is cancelled with
PCH type 90. This letter was carried to Sydney by the Burns Philp & Co. Ltd. steamer MULIAMA.
She made six trips to the New Hebrides for the MORINDA which was in Mort's dock for some time.
She left Sydney for this run on 29 September 1947 and came back on 15 November 1947. (Treadwell coll.)
7 July 1948
Image thanks to
Auktionen Gaertner, Germany.
Here is the original auction write-up:
"1948 (7.7.), shipmail cover bearing two Norwegian stamps with fine 'N-HEBRIDES / PAQUEBOT'
cancels adressed to USA, single-line 'POSTED AT SEA, Jul 4-1948' and double-oval
'M/S THOR I / SANDEFJORD' (whaling ship!) markings on front, unusual and scarce!"
"Thor I" was a whaler earlier but this here was "Thor I" (2) and also was owned by Bryde & Dahls Hvalfangerselskap but was no whaler.
For more info see here
30 January 1948
(new Feb 2018)
Maritime mail POSTED AT SEA on board M/S THOR 1 on JAN 25 1948 to URMSTON England.
The 10 öre Norwegian stamp tied by GK type PM12A on JAN 30 1948. ("SeSi" coll.)
21 December 1948
Air mail letter to Los Angeles California USA. A strip of three 50cg with the imprint
"Bradbury,Wilkinson & Co Ld New Mulden, Surrey,England" in the margin,
cancelled with the SYDNEY PAQUEBOT cancel . Backstamped DEC 27 1948 with private cachet on arrival .
("SeSi" coll.)
19 October 1949
Paquebot letter from unknown boat. Bearing a 2½d Norfolk Islands stamp with a
dummy handstamp, PCH type 14. (Klinger coll.)
2 July 1951
Ship mail posted on ship " THOR 1 " to New York USA.
The Norwegian stamp tied by GK type PM17. ("SeSi" coll.)
2 July 1951
(new 11/2019)
Ship mail posted on ship " Thor 1 " to to Martinez, California.
The US stamp tied by GK type PM17 and nice PM17 aside. ("SeSi" coll.)
2 July 1951
(new 4/2020)
Ship mail posted on ship " Thor 1 " to Martinez, California.
The 3c US stamp tied by GK type PM17 and nice PM17 aside. (Klinger coll.)
17 July 1953
(new 11/2020)
Cover posted on board M/S THORSISLE to Portland Oregon USA.
The Norvegian 20 öre stamp tied by VILA PAQUEBOT PM17. Imprint from the cover producer: "Drukwerk Prints Trysack Imprimes Stamps".
("SeSi" coll)
23 July 1953
This letter was posted on the Maiden Voyage of the Messageries Maritimes ship
Tahitien, launched 4. October 1952. On 4.05.1953 she started on the service
Marseille - Martinique - Panama - Tahiti - New Caledonia - New Hebrides - Sydney.
Operated exclusively on this service together with sister ship Caledonien.
23 July 1953
23 July 1953
12 April 1954
"TAHITIEN" paquebot cover to England. 8F French stamps cancelled with GK type PM17. (ex Millet colll.)
18 March 1955
Cover to the U.S. The French stamps cancelled with the Port Vila PAQUEBOT cancel. Handstamped CALÉDONIEN.
(coll. Petit)
18 March 1955
18 March 1955
2 November 1955
Printed matter cover from the POLYNÉSIE to the U.S. The 2 French 3Fr stamps cancelled with GK type PM17 with PCH type 16. (ex Millet coll.)
5 November 1955
Cover to England, the total of 30cg 1938 British issue cancelled with PCH type 16. Cachet of the Messageries Maritimes
ship "TAHITIEN".
18 December 1958
Shipmark "MÉLANESIEN" des MM, last voyage to Marseilles, cds Papeete, Tahiti,
and straightline PAQUEBOT mark (reported 1949 - 1975). The Melanesien was built as Indrapoera in 1926 for the Rotterdam Lloyd Line,
renamed Asuncion in 1956, renamed Bianca C in 1957 and renamed Melanesien when chartered by Messageries Maritimes in 1957/58. Scrapped in 1963.
(Source: "www.derbysulzers.com/shipindrapoera.html", Image thanks to Philippe Ramona)) ("Aore" coll.)
4 January 1959
This letter was posted on the Maiden Voyage of the Messageries Maritimes ship
Tahitien, launched 4. October 1952. On 4.05.1953 she started on the service
Marseille - Martinique - Panama - Tahiti - New Caledonia - New Hebrides - Sydney.
Operated exclusively on this service together with sister ship Caledonien.
24 April 1959
Cover to the U.S. The French stamps cancelled with the Port Vila PAQUEBOT cancel. Handstamped CALÉDONIEN.
(coll. Petit)
5 June 1959
Shipmark PAQUEBOT CALEDONIEN Posté en mer des Mesageries Maritimes, cds PAPEETE
ILE TAHITI 5 - 6 - 1959 and straightline PAQUEBOT mark. ("SeSi" coll.)
5 July 1959
Shipmark "CALÉDONIEN" des MM, cds Papeete, Tahiti,
and straightline PAQUEBOT mark. ("Aore" coll.)
dd mm 1960
A paquebot cover posted on board the Inaha on her one and only trip
through the New Hebrides. Tied by Type 97 1960 Vila Paquebot cancel. (Treadwell coll.)
dd mm 1960
A paquebot cover posted on board the Inaha on her one and only trip
through the New Hebrides. Tied by Type 97 1960 Vila Paquebot cancel. (Klinger coll.)
4 April 1960
(new 4/2020)
Cover from Santo to Australia. The two New Caledonia stamps "cancelled" with the thumbscrew on the side of the postmark device, a complete cancel impression at
the side of the address, PM28A. Cie. des Messageries Maritimes "POLYNESIE" cachet. ("Aore" coll.)
27 April 1960
Shipmark "TAHITIEN", rectangular mark "TROUVÉ À LA BOÎTE",
straight line mark "PAQUEBOT", which was the French omnibus type at the time.
Backstamped PAPEETE 27 April 1960. ("Aore" coll.)
27 June 1960
Letter to Westwood NJ USA . The Australian 4d stamp cancelled with the Santo black circular
obliteration used for paquebot mail . PCH type 41 Santo 27.6.60--1 on front and backstamped
PCH type 21 Port-Vila 28.6.60 -2 in transit (only one dash between the year 60 and the 2)
("SeSi" collection)
27 June 1960
Letter to Westwood NJ USA . The Australian 4d stamp cancelled with the Santo black circular
obliteration used for paquebot mail . PCH type 41 Santo 27.6.60--1 on front and backstamped
PCH type 21 Port-Vila 28.6.60 -2 in transit (only one dash between the year 60 and the 2)
("SeSi" collection)
8 July 1960
(new 4/2020)
Cover from Santo to Australia. The two New Caledonia stamps "cancelled" with the thumbscrew on the side of the postmark device, a complete cancel impression at
the side of the stamps, PM29A. "Paquebot Caledonien Posté en mer" cachet. ("Aore" coll.)
21 July 1960
Shipmark "CALEDONIEN", cds Papeete 21 July 1960, straight line PAQUEBOT mark,
"TROUVÉ À LA BOÎTE" mark indicates irregular handling of a ship
letter. The MM service from Sydney to Marseille with these liners ceased in 1970. ("Aore" coll.)
21 August 1965
(new 4/2020)
Ship postcard with cachet "CALEDONIEN", cds Santo 21 August 1965, postmark PM28A, overpaid 10cg.
21 August 1965
(new 4/2020)
picture of the CALEDONIEN
28 March 1966
Shipmark "CALEDONIEN", PM30A Vilae 28 March 1966 - Barber cover. (Klinger coll.)
30 June 1966
Souvenir letter of the 1966 South Pacific cruise of the M.V. Oriental Queen.
Two 6d Fiji stamps cancelled with the Vila paquebot cancel. The ship had been launched as MV KANIMBLA and was famous as Australian coastal
liner and mobile radio station and for it's military career in the Australian Navy as HMAS KANIMBLA. In 1961 sold to Asia and renamed "ORIENTAL QUEEN",
the in Japanese posession and sold for scrap in 1973. (Klinger coll.)
30 June 1966
Souvenir letter from the same cruise:
The four British 1d stamps cancelled with the Vila paquebot cancel. (Klinger coll.)
30 June 1966
(new 4/2020)
Souvenir letter from the same cruise:
The NZ stamp cancelled with the Vila paquebot cancel. (Klinger coll.)
23 March 1970
(new 17-3-2020)
PAQUEBOT covers delivery slip from the Captain of CALÉDONIEN to the Vila Postmaster. ("SeSi" coll.)<
10 March 1967
Paquebot letter with three Norwegian 30 Øre stamps
cancelled in Vila, March 10, 67.
The 1965 French built Sagafjord (later Gripsholm and now Sagarose) was a
Norwegian America Line cruiser at that time.
I'm a bit in doubt if the rules for paquebot mail were correctly applied here:
It is most unlikely that the last visited harbour before Port Vila was a Norwegian
one. (Treadwell coll.)
13 September 1968
(new 2/2020)
Ship letter from the Matson Line S.S. Monterey from Vila to California. Non colonial letter rate was 25cg and air surcharge to the U.S. was 30cg
so the cover is overpaid 15cg. Cancelled with PM31A. (Klinger coll.)
13 September 1968
(new 2/2020)
Matson handstamp on reverse
23 March 1970
Shipmark "PAQUEBOT CALÉDONIEN MESSAGERIES MARITIMES". Cover posted on
final MM Marseille - Sydney service. Vila datestamp GK type PM17 on French Polynesia stamps. ("Aore" coll.)
This paquebot Calédonien cover is described on the delivery slip at far left (1 to Australia) given to the Postmaster in Vila.
23 March 1970
(new 17-3-2020)
Shipmark PAQUEBOT CALEDONIEN MESSAGERIES MARITIMES
with Anchor on a cover posted at sea to Marseille France.
The French stamp Philibert de l'Orme tied with the NH paquebot cancel GK type PM17 on 23MR70. ("SeSi" coll.)
7 June 1971
New Hebrides and French stamps cancelled Vila GK type PM31B on a TAHITIEN cover to France. (ex Millet coll.)
14 July 1971
New Hebrides cancelled Sydney. Paquebot cover ex CALÉDONIEN. ("Aore" coll.)
In PACIFICA (the Pacific Islands Study Circle's quarterly) No. 9 1971 Roger Wells reports that the PAQUEBOT postmark was withdrawn from use on 15 October and has not been replaced.
26 May 1975
Aerogramme used as "ORONSAY" paquebot letter to England. Cancelled Goyns-Klinger type PM30B. (Klinger coll.)
4 August 1977
Air letter posted on board of S.S. ARCADIA to England. The english 11p stamps canelled with PM17. (coll. Fred Petit)
19 July 1980
Australian aerogramme from s/s Sea Princess to Australia cancelled with GK type PM17 Vila-
paquebot 19JY80 (a speedy way to reach Australia!) ("SeSi" collection)
2 November 1972
New Hebrides cancelled Sydney. Paquebot cover ex SALAMAUA. ("Aore" coll.)
15 November 1972
Ship mail posted on the British P&O ship SS HIMALAYA to Mr Hosking, Oxted England.
The British stamp tied by the French Port - Vila GK type PM31B. This should be noted: the Queen's face hidden with a dumb cancel . (Pandemonium spirit ?) ("SeSi" coll.)
19 April 1973
New Hebrides cancelled Ocean Island - GEI
An unusual cover showing the British 1971 New Hebrides Christmas stamps used out of period - April 1973 - and, more unusually cancelled Ocean Island
- Gilbert and Ellice Islands colony-cancel type. ("JGI" coll.)
2 May 1973
(new 4/2020)
New Hebrides Vila cancel on NZ stamp. P&0 S.S. Arcadia. (Klinger coll)
30 July 1973
Letter to Carlton South, VIC, Australia. The Papua New Guinea stamp is cancelled with the normal Port Vila town cancel instead of a Paquebot cancel
PCH type 27. Handstamp of M.V. SALAMAUA and Master's signature. Another Port Vila cancel with the same date on reverse. Sorry, no image of the
ship available as SLAMAUA was a very small ship I think. There is only one entry in Google for this ship in an obituary for a Captain Frank Buluini Gorohu of
Papua New Guinea, who served on the SALAMAUA in the 70s. (Klinger coll.)
19 February 1975
(new 4/2020)
NZ stamp cancelled in Vial - SS "Northern Star. (Klinger coll.)
27 May 1975
Paquebot mail with a Great Britain stamp cancelled in Vila,
May 27, 75. (Klinger coll.) The Oronsay was one of the post-war P&O Orient Line ships and sailed line voyages between England and Australia.
6 August 1975
Paquebot mail with a New Hebrides stamp cancelled in Sydney ex M.V. Port de France. ("Aore" coll.)
24 March 1976
(new 5/21)
Paquebot letter to Paris 04 France. The Noël 1975 stamp tied by
3 red wavy lines, aside PAQUEBOT in red and a nice postal cachet KEELUNG 24.3.76 ( Taïwan ). ("SeSi" coll.)
15 October 1976
(new 2/2019)
S.S.Arcadia cancelled Vila - the rather scarce PM48 PAQUEBOT handstamp.
17 January 1978
(new 2/2020)
Paquebot cover from ss Arcadia to Sale (Cheshire) England. The 15 FNH stamp Christmas 1977 tied by rectangular handstamp PAQUEBOT
Suva-Fiji-2 17JA78 cachet aside. ("SeSi" coll.)
11 October 1978
(new 11/2021)
Cover posted on board SS ARCADIA with a Great Britain stamp QEII 6p to Sweden.
The stamp tied in Vila with the Burns Philp meter mail mark SJ201 type PP5
but with the name and the postal address of the company.
The postage-paid square *40 corresponding to the 40 FNH rate for a 10g air mail
letter to Europe.
A scarce and unusual use. ("SeSi" coll.)
19 June 1979
Shipmark M.V MOANA cds Nouméa and straightline NAVIRE on New Hebrides Christmas 1974 stamp.
To be noted: compagne instead of compagnie and Villa instead of Vila. ("SeSi" coll.)
18 July 1979
Two French stamps cancelled with PCH type 28. A handstamp "VIENNE" of CGM at left, a successor of
Messageries Maritimes. (Klinger coll.)
7 August 1979
A 1975 New Hebrides 35c stamp cancelled in Nouméa and handstamped "NAVIRE".
Ships handstamp of M. V. "Sea Princess" (former "Kungsholm", bought by P&O in
1979 to replace the "Arcadia" and renamed "Sea Princess", later renamed "Victoria", "Mona Lisa" and "Occeanic II" and still runs). (Klinger coll.)
18 October 1980
Maybe the last regular uses of New Hebridean stamps: Shipmail cancelled in
Burnie, Tasmania, Australia on October 1980 and in Launceston, Tasmania,
Australia on 26 November 1980, a couple of months after the
Independence of Vanuatu on 30 July 1980.
These covers were given to me as a thank you for my work on the New Hebrides
Stamps and Postal History. Many Thanks, "SeSi" - Roland Klinger
26 November 1980
Maybe the last regular uses of New Hebridean stamps: Shipmail cancelled in
Burnie, Tasmania, Australia on October 1980 and in Launceston, Tasmania,
Australia on 26 November 1980, a couple of months after the
Independence of Vanuatu on 30 July 1980.
These covers were given to me as a thank you for my work on the New Hebrides
Stamps and Postal History. Many Thanks, "SeSi" - Roland Klinger
