NEW HEBRIDES (NOUVELLES HEBRIDES)

Condominium of France and Great Britain

Neue Hebriden

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Note: on my website many of the pictures can not be seen! They are of course present in the cd's;
contact me if you want to purchase them: evert@klaseboer.com.

I have seen some stamps of New South Wales (2 1/2 p 1891 and 2 1/2 p blue 1897 issue) used in New Hebrides.

Stamps of Fiji and New Caledonia overprinted 'NOUVELLES HEBRIDES' or 'NEW HEBRIDES'

1908 French issue, stamps of New Caledonia overprinted

Overprinted 'NOUVELLES HEBRIDES'

Cagu bird

  5 c green
  10 c red

Harbor of Noumea

  25 c blue (surcharged red)
  50 c red on orange

Sailship

  1 F blue on green (surcharged red)

Surcharged

  '5 c.' on 50 c red on orange

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

Overprinted 'NOUVELLES HEBRIDES CONDOMINIUM'

Cagu bird

  5 c green
  10 c red

Harbor of Noumea

  25 c blue (surcharged red)
  50 c red on orange

Sailship

  1 F blue on green (surcharged red)

Surcharged

  '5 c.' on 50 c red on orange
  '10 c.' on 25 c blue

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

Are the following stamps bogus issues?

1908 British issue, stamps of Fiji overprinted

Overprinted 'New Hebrides CONDOMINIUM', 'N' 'H' and 'C' larger

  1/2 p green
  1 p red
  2 p lilac and orange
  2 1/2 p blue on blue
  5 p lilac and green
  6 p lilac and red
  1 Sh green and red

In the values from 2 p onwards, the old countryname has a bar on it in the colour of the value indication.

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

Overprinted 'NEW HEBRIDES CONDOMINIUM'

  1/2 p green
  1 p red
  2 p grey
  2 1/2 p blue
  5 p lilac and green
  6 p lilac and violet
  1 Sh black on green (red overprint)

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

1911 Arms

British issue, inscription 'NEW HEBRIDES':

  1/2 p green
  1 p red
  2 p grey
  2 1/2 p blue
  5 p green
  6 p lilac
  1 Sh black on green
  2 Sh purple on blue
  5 Sh green on yellow

These stamps have watermark 'Multiple CA Crown' and perforation 14. The values 1 p, 2 p and 6 p were also issued with watermark 'Multiple Script CA Crown' in 1921.

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

Surcharged

  '1 d.' on 1/2 p green
  '1 d.' on 5 p green
  '1 d.' on 1 Sh black on green
  '1 d.' on 2 Sh purple on blue
  '1 d.' on 5 Sh green on yellow
  '3 d.' on 1 p red
  '5 d.' on 2 1/2 p blue
  '10 c.' on 5 p green

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

French issue, inscription 'NOUVELLES HEBRIDES'

  5 c green
  10 c red
  20 c grey
  25 c blue
  30 c brown on yellow
  40 c red on yellow
  50 c olive
  75 c orange
  1 F red on blue
  2 F violet
  5 F red on green

These stamps have watermark 'Mutiple CA Crown' or sheet watermark 'RF' and perforation 14.

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

Surcharged

  '2 d.' on 40 c red on yellow
  '5 c.' on 40 c red on yellow
  '10 c.' on 5 c green
  '20 c.' on 30 c brown on yellow
  '30 c.' on 10 c red
  '50 c.' on 25 c blue

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

1925 Arms, value in british (pence) and french (centimes) on the same stamp

Inscription 'NOUVELLES HEBRIDES'

  5 c, 1/2p black
  10 c, 1 p green
  20 c, 2 p grey
  25 c, 2 1/2 p brown
  30 c, 3 p red
  40 c, 4 p red on yellow
  50 c, 5 p blue
  75 c, 7 1/2 p brown
  1 F, 10 p red on blue
  2 F, 1 Sh 8 p lilac
  5 F, 4 Sh red on green

These stamps have sheet watermark 'RF' and perforation 14.

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

Inscription 'NEW HEBRIDES'

  5 c, 1/2 p black
  10 c, 1 p green
  20 c, 2 p grey
  25 c, 2 1/2 p brown
  50 c, 5 p blue
  60 c, 6 p lilac
  1.25 F, 1 Sh black on green
  2.50 F, 2 Sh purple on blue
  6.25 F, 5 Sh green on yellow

These stamps have watermark 'Multiple Script CA Crown' and perforation 14.

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

Some of these stamps exist with overprint 'CHIFFRE TAXE' or 'POSTAGE DUE' to serve as postage due stamps (issued 1925).

1938 Local view near sea with huts and palmtrees, values in Gold Francs

Inscription 'NEW HEBRIDES'

(Reduced size)

  5 c green
  10 c red
  15 c violet
  20 c red
  25 c brown
  30 c blue
  40 c green
  50 c lilac
  1 F red on green
  2 F blue on green
  5 F red on yellow
  10 F violet on blue

Inscription 'NOUVELLES HEBRIDES', overprinted 'France Libre'
  5 c green
  10 c red
  15 c violet
  20 c red
  25 c brown
  30 c blue
  40 c green
  50 c lilac
  1 F red on green
  2 F blue on green
  5 F red on yellow
  10 F violet on blue

1949 UPU issue (design similar to many other British colonies)

For stamps in a similar design, but for another British colony, click here

Inscription 'NOUVELLES HEBRIDES RF POSTES UNION POSTALE UNIVERSELLE'
  10 c orange
  15 c violet
  30 c blue
  50 c lilac

Inscription 'NEW HEBRIDES UNIVERSAL POSTAL UNION'
  10 c orange
  15 c violet
  30 c blue
  50 c lilac

1953 Various designs

Boats
  5 c green
  10 c red
  15 c orange
  20 c blue

Man carving statue
  25 c green
  30 c brown
  40 c black
  50 c violet
  
Local people, sitting on the floor
  1 F orange
  2 F lilac
  5 F red

1953 Coronation of Queen Elizabeth, inscription 'CORONATION JUNE 1953 NEW HEBRIDES CONDOMINIUM'

For stamps in a similar design, but for other British colonies, click here

  10 c red and black

1956 Inscription '1606 1956 NEW HEBRIDES CONDOMINIUM'

Ship and map
  5 c
  10 c red

People and mask
  20 c blue
  50 c violet

1963 Freedom from hunger, design identical to many other British colonies, inscription 'NEW HEBRIDES CONDOMINIUM', face of Queen Elizabeth II in upper left corner

For stamps in a similar design, but for another British colony, click here

  60 c green

1963 Red Cross issue, inscription 'NEW HEBRIDES CONDOMINIUM'

For stamps in a similar design, but for many British colonies, click here

  15 c black and red
  45 c blue and black

These stamps are very similar to the ones issued by many British colonies, but the portrait of Queen Elizabeth is replaced with 'EIIR and 'RF'.

1965 ITU issue, inscription 'NEW HEBRIDES CONDOMINIUM'

For stamps in the same design, but for another British colony, click here

  15 c olive and red
  60 c red and blue

These stamps are very similar to the ones issued by many British colonies, but the portrait of Queen Elizabeth is replaced with 'EIIR and 'RF'.

1965 International Co-operation Year, inscription 'NEW HEBRIDES CONDOMINIUM'

For stamps in the same design, but for another British colony, click here

  5 c blue and brown
  55 c violet and green

These stamps are very similar to the ones issued by many British colonies, but the portrait of Queen Elizabeth is replaced with 'EIIR and 'RF'.

1966 Churchill issue

inscription 'NEW HEBRIDES CONDOMINIUM'

For stamps in a similar design, but for other British colonies, click here

  5 c blue, black, gold and red
  15 c green, black, gold and red
  25 c brown, black, gold and red 
  30 c violet, black, gold and red

Inscription 'CONDOMINIUM DES NOUVELLES HEBRIDES'
  5 c blue, black, gold and red
  15 c green, black, gold and red
  25 c brown, black, gold and red 
  30 c violet, black, gold and red

These stamps are very similar to the ones issued by many British colonies, but the portrait of Queen Elizabeth is replaced with 'EIIR and 'RF'.

1966 WHO new headquarters building, 'EIIR RF' in upper left part

For stamps in a similar design, but for another British colony, click here

  25 c green, blue and black
  60 c lilac, orange and black

1966 World Cup Championship England 1966, inscription 'NEW HEBRIDES CONDOMINIUM EIIR RF'

For stamps in a similar design, but for other British colonies, click here

  20 c lilac, violet, orange and green
  40 c lilac, grey, orange and blue

Instead of the head of Queen Elizabeth II as in most British Colonies, the symbols 'EIIR RF' were placed at the upper right corner of these stamps.

1966 20th anniversary of Unesco, inscription 'NEW HEBRIDES CONDOMINIUM EIIR RF'

For stamps in a similar design, but for another British colony, click here

  15 c grey, orange and red
  30 c olive, orange and blue
  45 c lilac, black and orange

Instead of the head of Queen Elizabeth II as in most British Colonies, the symbols 'EIIR RF' were placed at the upper right corner of these stamps.

Postage Due Stamps

1925 Stamps of 1925 overprinted 'POSTAGE DUE' or 'CHIFFRE-TAXE'

'POSTAGE DUE'

  10 c, 1 p green
  20 c, 2 p grey
  30 c, 3 p red
  50 c, 5 p blue
  1 F, 10 p red on blue

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

'CHIFFRE-TAXE'

  1 p, 10 c green
  2 p, 20 c grey
  3 p, 30 c red
  5 p, 50 c blue
  10 p, 1 F red on blue

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

1938 Postage stamps of 1938, overprinted 'POSTAGE DUE'

  5 c green
  10 c orange
  20 c red
  40 c green
  1 F red on green

1953 Postage stamps of 1953, overprinted 'POSTAGE DUE'

Boats
  5 c green
  10 c red
  20 c blue

Man carving statue
  40 c black
  
Local people, sitting on the floor
  1 F orange

Forged cancels

The Alavoine Fake (information obtained with permission from http://ro-klinger.de/NH/ made by Roland Klinger)

A jeweller from Sydney, named Alavoine made a forged cancel 'PORT VILLA NELLES HEBRIDES 16 NOV 11'. Stamps cancelled with it were sold by a dealer. On the above mentioned website examples can be found on stamps of Fiji, Victoria, New South Wales and the 'Syndicat Francais' stamps. The best criteria to identify the fake are the malformed P of "PORT", the out of the circle dash left of the S of "HEBRIDES" and the date "16 NOV 11".

Local stamps

Locals stamps; inscription 'The Australasian New Hebrides company limited Port villa Interisland postage' (1897), two values exist 1 p red and black and 2 p brown and blue. The other 3 stamps in the first image and the stamp in the second image have the inscription 'POSTE LOCALE SYNDICAT FRANCAIS'. They were issued in 1903.

(Reduced sizes)

In 1892, the Australasian New Hebrides Company, took on the responsibility for handling mails for the NSW Postal Agency, the local manager being appointed postal agent. In 1896, it issued their its own commercial notes. By 1897, because of changes in trade and increased competition by the French and their well-subsidised shipping, the Company decided to charge for delivering letters between the islands, Vila and Sydney.The NSW government objected to this last, as the Company was already receiving a subsidy for delivering mail between Vila and Sydney, but left the question of charging delivery for inter-island letters up to the Company. Two stamps had already been printed for the purpose. They were issued on 17 March 1897. The Company eventually failed, with Burns, Philp & Co. Ltd. taking over its assets, including the remainders of the stamps, on 30 September 1897. On 1 September 1900, Burns, Philp & Co. Ltd. took on a 10-year subsidised agreement to carry cargo and mail, and the use of the locals was specifically forbidden under the terms of the subsidy. The Government of the Commonwealth and the Presbyterian Mission both contributed a subsidy. The remainders of the locals (140,000 1d, 94,000 2d) were sold by tender in 1913 to T.H. Nicolle, a Sydney stamp dealer. There is no doubt that these locals were genuinely issued to prepay postage. However, there are relatively few used singles bearing cancellations dated prior to August 1897, and no commercial covers are known. Copies dated after 30 September 1897 are likely to be philatelically used."The islands called at were Anietyum (Aneityum), Aniwa, Aoba, Aurora, Epi, Erromanga, Futuna, Mai, Nguna, Pentecost, Tongariki, Tonga (Tongoa), Sandwich and Vannaleva (Vanna Luava), also at times other islands, notably in the Santa Cruz, Banks' and Torres' groups.

Sources: "Billig's Philatelic Handbook", Volume 04, page 205, the names in brackets are those Hals/Collas use on page 39. and: "All about Burns, Philp & Company, Limited, Their Shipping Agencies, Branches & Steamers. John Andrew & Company, Sydney, for Burns, Philp & Co. Ltd., 1903.

After The Australasian New Hebrides Company stopped its services many of the remaining stamps were sold to stamp collectors. Forgeries do not seem to exist. Cancelled to order stamps of this company and manipulated letters do exist.

(Genuinly used stamp?)

The 'Syndicat Francais' stamps were forbidden by the government and the remainders were confiscated (source: http://ro-klinger.de/NH/)

Websites

http://ro-klinger.de/NH/ (made by Roland Klinger, Germany, webmaster New Hebrides Stamps and Postal History); excellent website with much information!

Copyright by Evert Klaseboer