Christmas Island - Central Pacific Cocoanut Plantations Ltd. Locals
Local covers in the first years.
22 February 2022: 62 covers
& 6 cancelled singles.
1st issue used AUG 31 1916
(new 2/2021)
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
(new 10/2018)
Earliest know use: 1. issue used 31 AUG 1916 with CL1 and extra date cancel
the AUG 31 1916 postmarks
(new 2/2021)
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 #MA03a
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
(new 23 Feb 2023)
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 #MA04
15. January 1918 #MA05
Local cover to Cerii tane Rapa Christmas Island #MA05
15. January 1918 #MA06
Local cover #MA06
15. January 1918 #MA07
Local cover to Moututatu. This could be a small islet (length 500m, width 140m) in the lagoon about 5 km southeast of "London" #MA07
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 #MA08
(new 1/2019)
Local cover to Kaiau. #MA08.
15. January 1918 #MA08
(new 1/2019)
reverse #MA08
15. January 1918 #MA09
Local cover #MA09
15. January 1918 #MA10
(new 8/2019)
15. January 1918 #MA11
(new 1/2020)
Local cover #MA11
1918
(new 23 Feb 2023)
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 #MA12
Local letter #MA12
14. February 1918 #MA12
reverse
14. February 1918 #MA12
stamp blow-up
14. February 1918 #MA13
Local letter #MA13
14. February 1918 #MA14
(new 1/2020)
Local letter #MA14
14. February 1918 #MA15
(new 1/2020)
Local letter #MA15
14. February 1918 #MA16
Local letter #MA16
14. February 1918 #MA16
Local letter #MA16
14. February 1918 #MA17
Local letter #MA17
14. February 1918 #MA18
14. February 1918 #MA19
(new 8/2018)
15. February 1918 #MA20
Local letter #MA20
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 #MA21
15. February 1918 #MA21
Blow-up of stamp and cancel. Pos 1,2 I think
15. February 1918 #MA21
Reverse: the copy of the postmark here shows that there was kind of a mass production of these covers.
15. February 1918 #MA22
(new 14 Dec 2018)
Joseph English of Medford near Boston was one of the three men marooned on the island in 1918
21. February 1918 #MA23
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 #MA24
(new 12/2018)
Local letter #MA24
Contribution of a Christmas Island collector.
21. February 1918 #MA24
(new 12/2018)
Reverse
21. February 1918 #MA25
Local letter #MA25
21. February 1918 #MA26
Local letter #MA26
21. February 1918 #MA27
Local letter #MA27
21. February 1918 #MA28
(new 14 Dec 2018)
21. February 1918 #MA29
Local letter #MA29
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 #MA30
12. March 1918 #MA31
12. March 1918 #MA32
Local letter #MA32
12. March 1918 #MA32
Local letter #MA32
12. March 1918 #MA --
(new 2/2019)
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 #MA33
Local letter #MA33
12. (March ?) 1918 #MA34
Local letter, Christmas Island. #MA34
12. March 1918 #MA35
Local letter, Christmas Island. #MA35
12. March 1918 #MA35
12. March 1918 #MA36
12. March 1918 #MA37
(new 2/2021)
31. March 1918 #MA38
Local letter #MA38
31. March 1918 #MA39
31. March 1918 #MA40
(new 14 Dec 2018)
31. March 1918 #MA --
(new 2/2019)
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 #MA41
1. April 1918 #MA42
Local letter #MA42
1. April 1918 #MA43
Local letter #MA43
1. April 1918 #MA44
1. April 1918 #MA45
Local letter to tanakii tane at Motumahu, Christmas Island. #MA45
1. April 1918 #MA46
1. April 1918 #MA47
Local letter #MA47 to Teiva Tane at Kaiau, Christmas Island (Janot coll.)
1. April 1918 #MA48
(new Jan 2018)
1. April 1918 #MA49
Local letter #MA49 to Tanata Tane at Kaiau, Christmas Island (Janot coll.)
1. April 1918 #MA50
(new 2/2020)
Local letter #MA50 to lerii Tane at Motumabu, Christmas Island (Janot coll.)
1. April 1918 #MA --
(new 2/2019)
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 #MA51
(new 2/2022)
Local letter #MA51 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 #MA52
Local letter #MA52
3. April 1918 #MA53
Local letter #MA53
3. April 1918 #MA54
Local letter #MA54 - Image in Stamp Collector May 29, 1993
3. April 1918 #MA55
(new 8/18)
3. April 1918 #MA56
(new 9/19)
Local letter #MA56 - Seen at Hadersbeck Auktionen, Germany
3. April 1918 #MA57
(new 12/20)
Local letter #MA57
9. April 1918 #MA58
22. April 1918 #MA59
Local letter #MA59
22. April 1918 #MA60
Local letter #MA60
22. April 1920 #MA61
Local letter, most likely APR 22 1920+. #MA61
Motu (=islet) Cook is a tiny islet at the entrance of the lagoon of Christmas Island.
22. April 1920 #MA62
A piece from the same kind of letter - most likely APR 22 1920. #MA62
Seems to be the same writing. (David Gillis coll.)