Christmas Island - Central Pacific Cocoanut Plantations Ltd. Locals
Local covers in the first years.
23 September 2024: 72 covers
& some part covers.
1st issue used AUG 31 1916
Earliest know use: snippet with 1. issue used 31 AUG 1916 with CL1, extra date cancel nad Papeete postmark 25 SEPT 16.
I think that these 31 AUG 1916 stamps are from letters Rougier prepared on his first institutional visit on the eisland to be sent to philatelic magazines and stamp papers.
Contemporary papers wrote that the stamps were in use 1916. (image source: seller "tazzmann30" on Ebay.)
1st issue used AUG 31 1916
Earliest know use: 1. issue used 31 AUG 1916 with CL1 and extra date cancel
the AUG 31 1916 postmarks
Comparison of the two postmarks: yes, they are identical.
So far this date is the first known date of use of the Christmas Island Local.
11. January 1918 #MA01
Local letter #MA01
Seen on an auction site
11. January 1918 #MA01
Local letter #MA01 - reverse
11. January 1918 #MA02
Local letter #MA02 - (David Gillis coll.)
11. January 1918 #MA03
11. January 1918 #MA04
(new 22 July 2024)
Local letter #MA04
11. January 1918 #MA05
Local (letter) #MA03a - 5c on piece.
According to the three upper parts of the address this piece was part of a letter to "Mademoiselle Rougier de Rochegonde" too.
(Image thanks to Spink London)
Who are the addressees of these covers?
Emmanuel Pierre, Joseph Rougier (this is his full name) had (at least) two siblings: Félix Benoit Rougier 1859-1938 and
Stanislas, Paul, Benoit Rougier 1868-1941.
The second wife of Stanislas Paul Rougier was Anna Jeanne Emma de la Rochette de Rochegonde.
They had at least four daughters, a son and a stillborn child. Marguerite Rougier, 1897 - 1977, Jeanne Louise Berthe Rougier 1899-1988, Louise Marie Alice Rougier 1901-1989,
Marie Mélina Yvonne ROUGIER 1904-1993 and Paul Emmanuel Rougier. 1902-1953.
Alice, with the name "Rougier de Rochegonde" was the addressee here and Berthe got her letters later.
Two nieces of Emmanuel, Marguerite and Alice, travelled with Father Emmanuel together with Marthe Pugeault, came to Ellis Island, New York in
1915 and were at Christmas Island too. Berthe arrived in Ellis Island on 29 April 1918 and was at Christmas Island later.
His nephew Paul Emmanuel inherited the Cocoanut Company and the Island after Father Emmanuel's death on 16 December 1932.
All other 1918 local covers - with the exception of the ones to Joe B English - had local labourers as addressees.
1918
This was Motu Manu at the time. Joe English writes under his photo: "Motu Manu Settlement and Flag Pole. All are Coconut Palms"
Image thanks to Marc English, credit to Joe English at Christmas Island in 1916-19.
15. January 1918 #MA06
15. January 1918 #MA07
Local cover to Cerii tane Rapa Christmas Island #MA07
15. January 1918 #MA08
Local cover #MA08
15. January 1918 #MA09
Local cover to Moututatu. This could be a small islet (length 500m, width 140m) in the lagoon about 5 km southeast of "London" #MA09
Accordingto a map from E. Rougier, Moututatu was an island in the lagoon. Kaihau may have been the place at the southern point of the entry to the lagoon, later named Paris
and Tarawa may have been a place at the north of the entry, later namen London.
15. January 1918 #MA10
Local cover to Kaiau. #MA10.
15. January 1918 #MA10
reverse #MA10
15. January 1918 #MA11
Local cover #MA11
15. January 1918 #MA12
15. January 1918 #MA13
Local cover #MA13
15. January 1918 #MA14
(new 09/2024)
Local cover to Motutabuu. #MA14.
1918
This was Christmas Island main harbour : a dock at the time. Joe English writes under this photo: "The famous dock at Christmas Island"
Image thanks to Marc English, credit to Joe English at Christmas Island in 1916-19.
14. February 1918 #MA15
Local letter #MA15
14. February 1918 #MA15
reverse
14. February 1918 #MA15
stamp blow-up
14. February 1918 #MA16
Local letter #MA16
14. February 1918 #MA17
Local letter #MA17
14. February 1918 #MA18
Local letter #MA18
14. February 1918 #MA19
Local letter #MA19
14. February 1918 #MA19
Local letter #MA19
14. February 1918 #MA20
Local letter #MA20
14. February 1918 #MA21
14. February 1918 #MA22
14. February 1918 #MA23
(new 22 July 2024)
Local letter #MA23.
15. February 1918 #MA24
Local letter #MA24
Thanks for the image to Regency Superior Auctions
I found this cover offered in the October 1995 Christies Auction for an estimate of AU$350-450 - realised: 220.
15. February 1918 #MA25
15. February 1918 #MA25
Blow-up of stamp and cancel. Pos 1,2 I think
15. February 1918 #MA25
Reverse: the copy of the postmark here shows that there was kind of a mass production of these covers.
15. February 1918 #MA26
Joseph English of Medford near Boston was one of the three men marooned on the island in 1918
21. February 1918 #MA27
Joseph Bannister English 1919
Joseph English, "Press", New Zealand, 27 October 1919
More of the J. English story in menu "Literature"
Clipping thanks to Papers Past, NZ
Joseph English 1957
Joseph English in 1957
Article in "Malden Evening News", June 6, 1957
More of the J. English story in menu "Literature"
Clipping thanks to Jane Resture
21. February 1918
Postmark reüroduction of this date
21. February 1918 #MA28
Local letter #MA28
Contribution of a Christmas Island collector.
21. February 1918 #MA28
Reverse
21. February 1918 #MA29
Local letter #MA29
21. February 1918 #MA30
Local letter #MA30
Four covers here addressed to one of the two nieces of Father Rougier - Jeanne Louise Berthe Rougier de Rochegonde - who were at Christmas Island in 1918 together
with Emmanuel Rougier.
21. February 1918 #MA31
Local letter #MA31
21. February 1918 #MA32
Local letter #MA32
21. February 1918 #MA33
21. February 1918 #MA34
Local letter #MA34
21. February 1918 #MA35
(new 22 July 2024)
Local letter #MA35
The three principal settlements are called London,
Paris & Poland, named by Father Rougier. Kaiau is the native name for Paris. Paris is deserted in 2015.
12. March 1918 #MA36
12. March 1918 #MA37
12. March 1918 #MA38
Local letter #MA38
12. March 1918 #MA398/H3>
Local letter #MA38
12. March 1918 #MA --
Local letter #MA --
A snippet from the Harmers of London 15 October 1985 auction of the F.B.Howard-White Pacific Islands
collection. This cover has not been seen during the last years
12. March 1918 #MA --
Local letter #MA --
The auction text
12. March 1918 #MA39
Local letter #MA39
12. March 1918 #MA40
Local letter to Tiarau Tane, Motumanu #MA40
12. (March ?) 1918 #MA41
Local letter, Christmas Island. #MA41
12. March 1918 #MA42
Local letter, Christmas Island. #MA42
12. March 1918 #MA42
12. March 1918 #MA43
12. March 1918 #MA44
31. March 1918 #MA45
Local letter #MA45
31. March 1918 #MA46
31. March 1918 #MA47
31. March 1918 #MA48
(new 22 July 2024)
Local letter to Joe B. English, Manager. Kaiau #MA48
31. March 1918 #MA49
(new 22 July 2024)
Local letter to Joe B. English, Manager. Kaiau #M49
31. March 1918 #MA --
Local letter #MA --
A snippet from the Harmers of London 15 October 1985 auction of the F.B.Howard-White Pacific Islands
collection. This cover has not been seen during the last years
13. March 1918 #MA --
Local letter #MA --
The auction text
1. April 1918 #MA50
1. April 1918 #MA51
Local letter #MA51
1. April 1918 #MA52
Local letter #MA52
1. April 1918 #MA53
1. April 1918 #MA54
Local letter to tanakii tane at Motumahu, Christmas Island. #MA54
1. April 1918 #MA55
1. April 1918 #MA56
Local letter #MA56 to Teiva Tane at Kaiau, Christmas Island (Janot coll.)
1. April 1918 #MA57
1. April 1918 #MA58
Local letter #MA58 to Tanata Tane at Kaiau, Christmas Island (Janot coll.)
1. April 1918 #MA59
Local letter #MA59 to Terii Tane at Motumabu, Christmas Island (Janot coll.)
1. April 1918 #MA60
(new 22 July 2024)
Local letter #MA60 to Terii Tane at Motutabu, Christmas Island
1. April 1918 #MA --
Local letter #MA --
A snippet from the Harmers of London 15 October 1985 auction of the F.B.Howard-White Pacific Islands
collection. This cover has not been seen during the last years
1. April 1918 #MA --
Local letter #MA --
The auction text
1. April 1918 #MA61
Local letter #MA61 to Lanakii Tane at Motumatu, Christmas Island.
1. April 1918 #MA--
Image of a stamp - on cover possibly - ("5c of the first issue - no wmk, perf. 12½ - used for delivery only - January 1918")
Image thanks to "London Philatelist", January 1969, page 15
The Royal Philatelic Society London
3. April 1918 #MA62
Local letter #MA62
3. April 1918 #MA63
Local letter #MA63
3. April 1918 #MA64
Local letter #MA64 - Image in Stamp Collector May 29, 1993
3. April 1918 #MA65
3. April 1918 #MA66
Local letter #MA66 - Seen at Hadersbeck Auktionen, Germany
3. April 1918 #MA67
Local letter #MA67
9. April 1918 #MA68
22. April 1918 #MA69
Local letter #MA69
22. April 1918 #MA70
Local letter #MA70
22. April 1920 #MA71
Local letter, most likely APR 22 1920+. #MA71
Motu (=islet) Cook is a tiny islet at the entrance of the lagoon of Christmas Island.
22. April 1920 #MA72
A piece from the same kind of letter - most likely APR 22 1920. #MA72
Seems to be the same writing. (David Gillis coll.)