Some information about the SFdNH stamps: Journal des Philatélistes, 31 December 1908
Document thanks to "SeSi", France
Lemaire:
July 1902
The Journal which Morache (Vila) and Labreaux (Noumes) edited.
22 September 1902
An article Morache wrote in "Le Journal des Nouvelles-Hebrides" about the upcoming issue of these "stamps".
Arthur Maury 1903
(new 4/2020)
Arthur Maury's announcement of this local issue in "Le collectionneur de timbres-poste" in December 1903
about 1905
A "stamp" offer of Morache in a Paris stamp journal.
Here are some comments on this issue documented in the French stamp journal La Circulaire Philatélique" (La C.P.) in 1909. English
translation only by Google as I'm short on time....
Source 1 - March 1909
Source 2 - June 1909
Source 3 - July 1909
Source 4 - October 1909
"...In September, 1903, the Syndicat Français des Nouvelles Hébrides reestablished
an inter-island postal system on similar lines to that previously maintained by
the old Australasian New Hebrides Company. In connection with this service
they caused to be issued four values of adhesive postage stamps, embodying two
separate pictorial designs. They were of an even more restricted availability
than the first local stamps of the British firm, and could be used only upon mail
matter conveyed on board of the Company's vessels between any two points within
the group itself, and were not accepted even by the post office at Nouméa, which
taxed as unpaid all correspondence franked solely with these stamps. It was announced
that the proceeds of the sale of these stamps would be devoted to the maintenance
and improvement of the postal service of the group...
Apparently, the postal authorities at Nouméa regarded the issuance of these stamps
as an infringement of their rights, for, after they had been in circulation for
slightly over one month, they were suppressed by order of the Governor of New
Caledonia, and the existing stocks confiscated.
It has been freely asserted in Continental journals that these stamps were entirely
of a bogus nature, and were never nearer to the New Hebrides than Nouméa.
The facts of the case, as I have been able to obtain them, are, however, as above."
from: New Hebrides by Single CA. (D.B. Armstrong), The Postage Stamps Handbooks
edited by Fred. J. Melville, W. H. Peckitt, 47 Strand, WC, London, (about 1909)
Hubert Goron, who supported these New Hebrides pages very generously, said the following:
"The Syndicat Français Locals were printed in France by order of Mr. Laubreaux,
an editor in Nouméa. He was the printer of the "Journal des Nelles Hébrides".
Mr. Émile Morache was the representative of SFNH in Vate (Vila) and the owner of
the newspaper Mr. Laubreaux printed. The connection between the paper and the company does not
'lie in the mist' as Colas says."
The number of copies printed is unknown.
Original artist's drawing in indian ink
artist's drawing
Inscription on left sheet: "Bon pour exécution en gravure" (good for the engraving) - (Treadwell collection)
artist's drawing
Inscription on left sheet: "Bon pour exécution en gravure" (good for the engraving) - (Treadwell collection)
Comparison with issued design:
comparing the 15c/25c
15c design - 25c as issued (design: ex HGL Fletcher - now Treadwell coll.)
comparing the 1F
1F design - 1F as issued (design: ex HGL Fletcher - now Treadwell coll.)
The SFNH stamps as issued
SFNH 5C
Syndicat Français des Nouvelles Hébrides - 5c
SFNH 15c
Here is what Alain Millet wrote: "Oblitération NLLES HEBRIDES PT.HAVANNAH 15 DEC 6. Timbre à
date non officiel créé dans un but philatélique pour annuler les vignettes émises par le
Syndicat Français." (Millet coll.)
Syndicat Français des Nouvelles Hébrides - 15c
SFNH 25c
Syndicat Français des Nouvelles Hébrides - 25c
SFNH 1F
Syndicat Français des Nouvelles Hébrides - 1Fc
And here you can enjoy some multiples from the Treadwell collection.
SFNH 5c
A 5c triple
SFNH 15c
A 15c triple
SFNH 1F
Strip of four 1F stamps
SFNH 25c
A 25c triple
And a 15c block of 4 from the F. Petit collection.
And a 15c top left row of 4 (ex Millet coll.)
SFNH 15c
A 15c block of four
SFNH 15c
A 15c top left row of four
A column of 5 c stamps (ex Millet coll.)
Part sheet of 5 15c stamps (ex Millet coll.)
SFNH 1c
A 5c column of five
SFNH 25c
A 25c part sheet
SFNH 15c -- (new 1/2019)
The French PORT VILA cancel (GK Type PM2) on SFNH stamps
GK Type PM2
GK Type PM2
7 January 1903
(new 3/22)
This is without doubt a postmark with the date "7 / JANV / 03" and looks genuine. I have no idea if this is a backdated
postmark or a real time one.
The postmark looks good but the date is astonishing:
7 January 1903 !!
The 5c, 15c and 25c stamps are cancelled in the correct time in
September 1903 when usage was possible. The following dates are known to us:
31 AUG 03 --- 8 SEPT 03 --- 15 SEPT 03 --- 17 SEPT 03 --- 26 SEPT 03
and outside the correct time: 18 OCT 03.
8 September 1903 -- (new 3/22)
15 September 1903
Syndicat Français des Nouvelles Hébrides - 5c
15 September 1903
(new 1/2019)
Syndicat Français des Nouvelles Hébrides - 5c. From my 2014 archive.
15 September 1903
Syndicat Français des Nouvelles Hébrides - 15c
15 September 1903
Syndicat Français des Nouvelles Hébrides - 25c
15 Sept. 1903
(new 1/2019)
Syndicat Français des Nouvelles Hébrides - 15c. From my 2014 archive.
26 September 1903
Syndicat Français des Nouvelles Hébrides - 5c
26 September 1903
Syndicat Français des Nouvelles Hébrides - 15c
17 (SEP)T 03
Syndicat Français des Nouvelles Hébrides - 25c
26 September 1903
Syndicat Français des Nouvelles Hébrides - 1F
(18) October 1903
Syndicat Français des Nouvelles Hébrides - 1F
21 Jan. 1904
(new 1/2019)
Syndicat Français des Nouvelles Hébrides - 5c. From my 2015 archive.
24 Jan. 1904
(new 1/2019)
Syndicat Français des Nouvelles Hébrides - 15c. From my 2015 archive.
24 Jan. 1904
(new 1/2019)
Syndicat Français des Nouvelles Hébrides - 25c. From my 2015 archive.
24 Jan. 1904
(new 1/2019)
Syndicat Français des Nouvelles Hébrides - 1F. From my 2015 archive.
GK Type PM2
GK Type PM2
In 1903 and 1904 this cancel was a maritime cancel and was then transferred to
the agency in Vila. The first known use on these locals is from August 31, 1903.
(Hals/Collas, p 145)
Imperforated, it has large margins left/right but the height is not so great
that you can definitely say it's not a cut perforated one.
unknown date
Syndicat Français des Nouvelles Hébrides - 1F
The PORT SANDWICH cancel (GK Type PM3) on SFNH stamps
GK Type PM3
GK Type PM3
26 September 1903
GK Type PM3 The "Port Sandwich" cancel, used on SFNH locals. It was used on board
the SFNH vessels, the "Né Oblie;" and "La Pérouse" at the beginning, and later
on the "Paçifique" of the Messageries Maritimes. (Goron coll.)
19 October 1903
(new 1/2019)
GK Type PM3 The "Port Sandwich" cancel, used on a 15c SFNH local. The 3 year slug inverted. (Klinger coll.)
11 June 1905
(new 1/2019)
GK Type PM3 The "Port Sandwich" cancel, used on a 15c SFNH local. The date slug inverted. (from my 2014 archive)
17 (SEP)T 03
GK Type PM3 The "Port Sandwich" cancel, used on SFNH locals. It was used on board
the SFNH vessels, the "Né Oblie;" and "La Pérouse" at the beginning, and later
on the "Paçifique" of the Messageries Maritimes. (Goron coll.)
8 June 1906
(new 1/2019)
A nice copy! (Klinger coll.)
S E N H !
(new 1/2019)
The wrong character "E" on the roof! (Klinger coll.)
27 October 1906
(new 1/2019)
5c with PM3 (from my 2012 archive)
27 October 1906
(new 1/2019)
25c with PM3 (from my 2012 archive)
27 October 1906
(new 1/2019)
25c with PM3 (from my 2012 archive)
27 October 1906
(new 1/2019)
5c with PM3 (from my 2012 archive)
The NLLES HEBRIDES PORT HAVANNAH cancel (GK Type PU6) on SFNH stamps
GK Type PU6
GK Type PU6
15 December 1906
Here is what Alain Millet wrote: "Oblitération NLLES HEBRIDES PT.HAVANNAH 15 DEC 6. Timbre à
date non officiel créé dans un but philatélique pour annuler les vignettes émises par le
Syndicat Français." (Millet coll.)
15 December 1906
Here is what Alain Millet wrote: "Oblitération NLLES HEBRIDES PT.HAVANNAH 15 DEC 6. Timbre à
date non officiel créé dans un but philatélique pour annuler les vignettes émises par le
Syndicat Français." (Millet coll.)
15 December 1906
Here is what Alain Millet wrote: "Oblitération NLLES HEBRIDES PT.HAVANNAH 15 DEC 6. Timbre à
date non officiel créé dans un but philatélique pour annuler les vignettes émises par le
Syndicat Français." (Millet coll.)
15 December 1906
Here is what Alain Millet wrote: "Oblitération NLLES HEBRIDES PT.HAVANNAH 15 DEC 6. Timbre à
date non officiel créé dans un but philatélique pour annuler les vignettes émises par le
Syndicat Français." (Millet coll.)
GK Type PU6: The "Port Havannah" cancel, very scarcely used on SFNH locals. The history of this cancel is unknown.
As it was seldom used and later never again: could it have gone down with a ship maybe? In our cancel study (Goyns-Klinger) it
is classified as unauthorized postmark PU6.
21 October 1904
Another 5c stamp with the Port Havannah cancel. (coll. Petit)
15 December 1906
(new 1/2019)
Another 5c stamp with the Port Havannah cancel. (Klinger coll.)
15 December 1906
(new 1/2019)
Another 5c stamp with the Port Havannah cancel. (Klinger coll.)
15 December 1906
Another 15c stamp with the Port Havannah cancel. (Klinger coll.)
15 December 1906
Another 15c stamp with the Port Havannah cancel. (coll. Petit)
GK Type PU6: The Ukrainian collector Borys Rovinsky sent me this stamp. Is has a Pt. Havannah cancel (see the image with changed colors) and
carries on the reverse a copy of the cancel from another stamp it was placed upon. The mirrored and color changed image shows this. This can only
happen when the stamps are canceled as loose stamps - not on a cover. To sell them to collectors I think.
PU6
(new 1/2019)
25c with PU6
PU6
(new 1/2019)
25c with PU6
PU6 reverse
(new 1/2019)
25c with PU6 reverse
PU6 reverse
(new 1/2019)
25c with PU6 - mirrored and color enhanced
The "Franceville cancel"
For quite a time at the end of the 1890s the French settlers tried to establish the independent town of "Franceville"
in Port-Vila. This cancel may have been produced by the settlers who still had this idea of independence. It is more a product of fantasy than a forgery.
28 October 1903
Postcard addressed to Monsieur Laubreaux, the former printer of
the "Journal des Nelles Hébrides" in Nouméa (until 1906). It can be
possible that either Mr. Émile Morache or Mr. Fernand Largeau, the representatives
of SFNH in Vate (Vila) and owners of the newspaper Mr. Laubreaux printed, wrote this card.
It is rather probable that one or more of these three were not only responsible for the
private stamps but for this cancel too. (Goron coll.)
28 October 1903
Franceville cancel - maybe it was made by French settlers to support their intention to create Francevile
as capital of the New Hebrides.
28 October 1903
Postcard "Nouvelles Hebrides.--Groupe indigenenés
sur l'ilot de Melé" (Group of natives on the isle of Mele) with SFdNH 5c stamp
cancelled with the 1903 Franceville cancel. (Goron coll.)
28 October 1903
A SyndicatFdNH 5c stamp
cancelled with the 1903 Françeville cancel. (réf F. PETIT)
28 October (1903)
(new 1/2019)
A SyndicatFdNH 25c stamp cancelled with the 1908 Françeville cancel. (from my 2014 archive)
28 October 1903
(new 1/2019)
Franceville cancel on a 5c SFdNH stamp. From my 2015 archive)
28 Oct. 1903
(new 1/2019)
Franceville cancel on a 15c SFdNH stamp. From my 2015 archive)
28 October 1903
(new 1/2019)
Franceville cancel on a 25c SFdNH stamp. From my 2015 archive)
28 Oct. 1903
(new 1/2019)
Franceville cancel on a 1F SFdNH stamp. From my 2015 archive)
28 Oct. 1903
(new 1/2019)
Franceville cancel on a 25c SFdNH stamp. From my 2015 archive)
28 October 1903
(new 1/2019)
Franceville cancel on a 5c SFdNH stamp. A 15c part sheet. Image thanks to Grosvenor Auctions
28 Oct. 1903
(new 1/2019)
Franceville cancel on a 15c SFdNH stamp. A 15c part sheet. Image thanks to Grosvenor Auctions
28 October 1903
(new 1/2019)
Franceville cancel on a 25c SFdNH stamp. A 15c part sheet. Image thanks to Grosvenor Auctions
28 Oct. 1903
(new 1/2019)
Franceville cancel on a 1F SFdNH stamp. A 15c part sheet. Image thanks to Grosvenor Auctions
The "SERVICE MARITIME" cancel (GK Type PM5A) on SFNH stamps.
A rarity: The PORT VILA ANHCo cancel 26 SEP 02 on a
15c SFdNH stamp.
Image thanks to Borys Rovinsky, Ukraine.
GK Type PM5A
GK Type PM5A
Service Maritime
"SERVICE MARITIME" cancel on the 5c and 25c locals - date illegible. (Treadwell coll.)
Service Maritime
"SERVICE MARITIME" cancel on the 5c and 25c locals - date illegible. (Treadwell coll.)
ANHCO postmark
ANHCO Port Vila postmark
ANHCo cancel
(new 8(2018)
"PORT VILA POST" 26 SEP 02 (Borys Rovinsky coll.)
