4. Issue
Information: Keith Fitchett: "The Gilbert and Ellice Islands and its Philately, Part 5" - Pacific Islands Study Circle 2004.
It is supposed that Father Rougier was the designer of this stamp.
The stamp shows the company schooner "Ysabel May" (of 135 tons) which is greeted by a Bosun Bird while approaching Christmas Island.
Used from 25 December 1934 until 25 Dezember 1935 and later philatelicly. -- 10c greenblue, yellow, red, green and black, value blue.
4. issue double sheet
no watermark, line perf 11¾
big scan (click & click "X")
4. issue cancelled sheet (left)
4. issue double sheet
4. issue double sheet
(new Jan 2018)
4. issue double sheet - cancelled 13 January 1939
4. issue double sheet
(new Dec 2018)
4. issue double sheet
(new Dec 2018)
4. issue double sheet
4. issue double sheet
(new Feb 2018)
4. issue double sheet
(new April 2020)
4. issue double sheet
(new July 2020)
4. issue left block
4. issue right block
4. issue left block
4. issue left block
4. issue right block
(new 5/2020)
4. issue right block
(new 1/2020)
4. issue left block
(new 11/2021)
4. issue 10c double perf
4. issue double perf
4. issue right block of four
4. issue vert. pair
(new 01/22)
13-09-36 scarce date
20-7-38 - day slug at top
13-01-39 - day slug at top
28 May 1936
28 May 1936
(new 5 March 2019)
28 May 1936
(new Feb 2018)
28 May 1936
(new 01/23)
28 May 1936
(new 03/23)
It is quite interesting that nealy all these canceled singles or pairs have nearly bullseye cancels whereas all Big Palm cachet
cover and normal covers with the date 28 Mai 1936 have the cancel applied only half on the stamp.
Maybe there were sheets cancelled on demand?
21 July 1936
(new Sep 2018)
1936
(new Feb 2018)
6 July 1937
(new Feb 2018)
8 July 1937
20 June 1938
(new Feb 2018)
20 June 1938
(new Feb 2018)
Here is an interesting article written by Christian Beslu in June 2004 for the revue "Le Cagou", Nouméa, New Caledonia.
(translated French --> English): (You can see that in 2004 Christian Beslu had not so much knowledge about this issue as we
have now - especially by means of better communication via Internet.)
The philatelic treasure of the Marquesas
A preview for the followers of "Cagou"
All enthusiasts of Grand Pacific philately know the history of the stamps of Father Rougier and a great number of these collectors own one or two of the Christmas "special covers". But the number of owners is much lower who were able to acquire the first three issues either as singles or in sheets of four as they had been printed.
The fourth issue, which was issued in 1938 by the nephew of he Father who had taken over the business after his death in 1932, had been printed in sheets of eight arranged in two blocks of four. The last covers which showed up on the market are cancelled on 25 December 1938 and even if some collectors do have single unused stamps of this issue, complete sheets seem to have not surfaced up to now on the market.
But a short time ago a person on Marquesas Islands who had nothing to do with philately, opened on old suitcase left behind by some distantly related ancestor long ago dead, and found between other items about 30 of these sheets partly eroded by cockroaches and termites from which he could nevertheless extract about twelve complete sheets (unfortunately all interleaving separator sheets were completely adherent to the stamps sheets).
Some of these wonders will surely show up soon in international sales at prices from US$500 upwards and we have the pleasure to present one of these "chopin de luxe" on a pre-premiere to the faithful clients of the revue "Le Cagou".
Mahina [Tahiti], 21 June 2004
C. Beslu
Christian Beslu (+2020)
4. issue: The flaws
They help to identify the plate position of single stamps. Please make sure that your stamp is a 10c stamp wth blue value numbers
The main flaws
It is rather difficult to find real plate flaws as there are many printing randomnesses too like little red dots etc.
When you try to identify a position with this issue you can look at the following images - maybe they can help you.
sail pos 1,2
left
sail pos 1,2
right
sail pos 1,1
all
sail pos 2,1
all
sail pos 2,2
all
Wide gap between top of right sail and mast: pos. 1,2. Compare with the same part at the other positons.
Remember: you can click all images and place the blow
ups side by side with the mouse so you can compare
better.
green
pos 1,2 left
green
pos 1,2 right
green
pos 1,1 all
green
pos 2,1 all
green
pos 2,2 all
Here another constant plate flaw for pos. 1-2: there is more green to the left and right of the right wing of the bird. Easy to see when you have all plate positions together but not so easy on a single stamp. Maybe these pictures will help.
pos 1,1 left
#1: Red dash below left small palm and horizon: the stamp is from left or right pos. 1,1. Red dot between U & T then right block -- else go to #2.
pos 1,1 right
pos 1,1 right
pos 1,2 left
#2: dot on A of COCOANUT: the stamp is from left pane pos. 1,2. Wide gap between top of left sail and mast but no A-dot: stamp from right pane pos. 1,2 (sail applies to left pane 1,2 too) -- else go to #3.
P.S. The dot is not sure, needs to be investigated.
pos 1,2 right
pos 2,1 left
#3: dot below the right leg of the last "A" in PLANTATIONS
left pane only
#3a: dot below left wing of bird: the stamp is from pos. 2,2 (both panes).
pos 2,1 right
pos 2,2 left
#4: dot above head of bird: the stamp is from pos. 2,2 (both panes).
pos 2,2 right