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PAPUA (New Guinea)

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GERMAN NEW GUINEA

Before the introduction of its own stamps, the stamps of Germany (2 M 1875 and 1880 and 1889 issues) were used in German New Guinea (from 1888 onwards), example:

(10 p forerunner used in Stephansort in 1895)

Stamps thus used are called 'forerunners' or 'Vorlaufer'.

1897 Stamps of Germany overprinted 'Deutsch-Neu-Guinea'

On numeral issue:

  3 p brown
  5 p green

On eagle issue

  10 p red
  20 p blue
  25 p orange
  50 p brown

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

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

Stephansort cancel

If I'm well informed some stamps exist cancelled to order with the following cancels: 1/11 01, 17/2 02 and 25/10 01.

These stamps have been forged. Example of Fournier forgeries (both stamp and overprint are forged, I've seen all values of this particular forgery):

Fournier offered these forgeries in his 1914 pricelist for 2 Swiss Francs (all 6 values). For more information on forgeries of the German colonies click here.

Forged 'Deutsch Neu-Guinea' overprints on genuine German stamps also exist, example:

(Forged overprint on genuine German stamp cancelled 'KESKASTEL', nowadays situated in Alsace, France)

1900 Ship of the Emperor

Small size

  3 p brown
  5 p green
  10 p red
  20 p blue
  25 p orange and black on yellow
  30 p orange and black
  40 p red and black
  50 p lilac and black
  80 p red and black on red

Large size

  1 M red
  2 M blue
  3 M violet and black
  5 M black and red

These stamps are peforated 14 and issued without watermark. Stamps with watermark were only available at the philatelic stamp office in Berlin (they could not be shipped to the colony due to World War I).

Value of the stamps
vc = very common c = common * = not so common ** = uncommon		*** = very uncommon R = rare RR = very rare RRR = extremely rare
Value	Unused	Used	Remarks
No Watermark
3 p	c	*
5 p	*	*	Inscription 'DEUTSCH-NEUGUINEA'
10 p	*	*	Inscription 'DEUTSCH-NEUGUINEA'
20 p	c	*
25 p	c	***
30 p	c	***
40 p	c	***
50 p	c	***
80 p	*	***
1 M	**	***
2 M	***	R
3 M	***	RR
5 M	R	RR	Inscription 'DEUTSCH-NEU-GUINEA'
With watermark 'Lozenges'
3 p	c	-
5 p	c	-	Inscription 'DEUTSCH-NEUGUINEA'
10 p	c	-	Inscription 'DEUTSCH-NEUGUINEA'
5 M	***	-	Inscription 'DEUTSCH-NEUGUINEA'

Fournier has made forgeries of the small ship design. For more information on forgeries of the German colonies click here.

(Fournier forgery)

1914 British occupation, stamps of 1900 surcharged with 'G.R.I.' and value

Small size
  1 d on 3 p brown
  1 d on 5 p green
  '1' on 2 d on 10 p red
  '1' on 2 d on 20 p blue
  2 d on 10 p red
  2 d on 20 p blue
  2 1/2 d on 10 p red
  2 1/2 d on 20 p blue
  3 d on 25 p orange and black on yellow
  3 d on 30 p orange and black
  4 d on 40 p red and black
  5 d on 50 p lilac and black
  8 d on 80 p red and black on red

There are two types of this overprint: Type 1: 3 1/2 to 4 mm between 'G.R.I' and the value or type 2: 3 1/2 to 4 mm between 'G.R.I.' and the value. All overprints are on stamps without watermark.

  'O.S. G.R.I. 1d.' on 3 p brown (Official stamp)
  'O.S. G.R.I. 1d.' on 5 p green (Official stamp)

Large size

  1 Sh on 1 M red
  2 Sh on 2 M blue
  3 Sh on 3 M violet and black
  5 Sh on 5 M black and red

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

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

Stamps of the Marshall Islands with similar overprints were also used in New Guinea.

Be careful with forged overprints on this issue!

Example of an obvious forgery:

(Forged overprint on a stamp with watermark and inscription 'NEUGUINEA' instead of 'NEU-GUINEA')

1914 British occupation, registration labels overprinted with 'G.R.I. 3 d.', with names of various cities; Deulon, Friedrich-Wilhelmshafen, Herbertshohe, Kawieng, Kieta, Manus, Rabaul and Stephansort

Value of the stamps
vc = very common c = common * = not so common ** = uncommon		*** = very uncommon R = rare RR = very rare RRR = extremely rare
Value	Unused	Used	Remarks
Rabaul	R	R
Friedrich-Wilhelmshafen	R	R
Herbertshöhe	R	R
Käwieng	R	R	2 types
Manus	RRR	RRR
Kieta	R	R

Stamps of Queensland used in British New Guinea

Some stamps of Queensland were used in British New Guinea, examples:

(barred oval 'BNG' cancel of New Guinea)

PAPUA

1901 Mabara river with native boat, inscription 'BRITISH NEW GUINEA'

  1/2 p green and black
  1 p red and black
  2 p violet and black
  2 1/2 p blue and black
  4 p brown and black
  6 p green and black
  1 Sh red and black
  2 Sh 6 p brown and black

These stamps have watermark 'Lotus Flowers' and are perforated 14. Specialists distinghuish between horizontal and vertical watermark.

Value of the stamps
vc = very common c = common * = not so common ** = uncommon		*** = very uncommon R = rare RR = very rare RRR = extremely rare
Value	Unused	Used	Remarks
1/2 p	*	*
1 p	*	*
2 p	*	*
2 1/2 p	***	***
4 p	***	***
6 p	***	***
1 Sh	***	***
2 Sh 6 p	RRR	RRR

Postal stationery in the same design exists, I've seen postcards in the values 1 p red and 1 1/2 p blue, examples:

(Reduced size)

A rare Sperati forgery exists of the 2 Sh 6 p value:

(Sperati forgery, reduced size)

It seems that Sperati only made two of these forgeries! Sperati only forged the frame of this stamp (not the center part). He chemically removed the outer frame from a low valued stamp, leaving the black center design intact. He then printed this high valued outer frame on the remaining genuine paper. Sperati only produced a few forgeries of this stamp.

(Front and backside of a photographic print of a Sperati forgery)

The above pictures are a photographic print of the Sperati Reproduction of the 2 Sh 6 p. The British Philatelic Association acquired Sperati's forgery stock and published a book on his work in the 1950's. The above reproduction was made since not enough forgeries were available to fill all the books. The BPA then used Sperati's actual negatives to produce prints such as the above one. The BPA handstamped this item 'Sperati Reproduction' at the back in violet.

A forger from Hialeah, Florida has made forgeries of at least the 1 Sh stamp (Hialeah forgeries). He has apparently used a computer scanner and printer and his forgeries are not very good. The perforation is very bad, the paper modern, the sizes often wrong and the finer details of the stamps are mostly lost.

(Hialeah forgery, reduced size)

1906 Stamps of 1901 overprinted 'Papua.'

  1/2 p green and black
  1 p red and black
  2 p violet and black
  2 1/2 p blue and black
  4 p brown and black
  6 p green and black
  1 Sh red and black
  2 Sh 6 p brown and black

This overprint exists in two types, one made in Port Moresby and one made in Brisbane (Australia).

Value of the stamps
vc = very common c = common * = not so common ** = uncommon		*** = very uncommon R = rare RR = very rare RRR = extremely rare
Value	Unused	Used	Remarks
1/2 p	*	*
1 p	*	*
2 p	*	*
2 1/2 p	*	*
4 p	***	***
6 p	***	***
1 Sh	***	***
2 Sh 6 p	***	***

1907 Native boat, inscription 'PAPUA'

  1/2 p green and black
  1/2 p olive and green
  1/2 p green
  1 p red and black
  1 p red
  1 1/2 p brown and blue
  2 p lilac and black
  2 p lilac
  2 p lilac and brown
  2 1/2 p blue and black
  2 1/2 p blue and green
  2 1/2 p blue
  3 p blue and grey
  4 p brown and black
  4 p olive
  4 p orange and brown
  5 p brown and grey
  6 p green and black
  6 p brown
  6 p lilac and violet
  9 p violet and black
  1 Sh red and black
  1 Sh yellow
  1 Sh olive and brown
  1 Sh 3 p blue and black
  2 Sh 6 p brown and black
  2 Sh 6 p red
  2 Sh 6 p red and lilac
  5 Sh blue and green
  10 Sh blue and green

Surcharged

(Reduced size)

  'ONE PENNY' on 1 p green
  'ONE PENNY' on 2 p lilac
  'ONE PENNY' on 2 1/2 p blue
  'ONE PENNY' on 4 p olive
  'ONE PENNY' on 6 p brown
  'ONE PENNY' on 2 Sh 6 red
  'TWO PENCE' on 1 1/2 p brown and blue
  '5 d. FIVE PENCE' on 1 Sh olive and brown
  '9 d. NINE PENCE' on 2 Sh 6 red and lilac
  1 Sh 3 d. on 5 Sh green and violet

Overprinted 'AIR MAIL' (1929)
  3 p blue and brown

Overprinted with aeroplane (1930)
  3 p blue and black
  6 p lilac and violet
  1 Sh olive and brown

For the specialist: this isssue exists with two types of the 'PAPUA' inscription: smaller or larger.

Value of the stamps
vc = very common c = common * = not so common ** = uncommon		*** = very uncommon R = rare RR = very rare RRR = extremely rare
Value	Unused	Used	Remarks
'PAPUA' small, watermark 'Crown A' (double lined 'A') Various perforations; 1907
1/2 p green and black	*	*
1 p red and black	*	*
2 p lilac and black	*	*
2 1/2 p blue and black	*	*
4 p brown and black	*	*
6 p green and black	*	*
1 Sh red and black	**	**
'PAPUA' large, watermark 'Crown A' (double lined 'A') 1907
1/2 p green and black	c	c
1 p red and black	*	*
2 p lilac and black	*	*
2 1/2 p blue and black	*	*
4 p brown and black	*	**
6 p green and black	*	*
1 Sh red and black	**	**
2 Sh 6 p brown and black	**	**
'PAPUA' large, watermark 'Crown A' (single lined 'A') 1911
1/2 p green	c	c
1/2 p olive and green	c	c
1 p red	*	*
1 p red and black	c	c
1 1/2 p	c	c	1925
2 p lilac	*	*
2 p lilac and brown	c	c
2 1/2 p blue	*	*
2 1/2 p blue and green	*	*
3 p	c	c
4 p olive	*	*
4 p orange and brown	c	c
5 p	*	*	1930
6 p brown	*	*
6 p lilac and violet	*	*
1 Sh yellow	*	*
1 Sh olive and brown	*	*
2 Sh 6 p red	**	**
2 Sh 6 p red and lilac	**	**
5 Sh	***	***
10 Sh	***	***	(1925)
3 p	*	*	'AIR MAIL' overprint
3 p	c	c	With aeroplane overprint
6 p	*	*	With aeroplane overprint
1 Sh	*	*	With aeroplane overprint
1 p on 1/2 p	c	c
1 p on 2 p	*	*
1 p on 2 1/2 p	*	*
1 p on 4 p	*	*
1 p on 6 p	**	**
1 p on 2 Sh 6 p	*	*
2 p on 1 1/2 p	c	c	1930
5 p on 1 Sh	*	*	1930
9 p on 2 Sh 6 p	*	*	1930
1 Sh 3 p on 5 Sh	*	*	1930
'PAPUA' large, watermark 'C of A'
9 p	*	*	1932
1 Sh 3 p	*	*	1932

The above stamps with overprint 'Stamp Duty' or similar are fiscal stamps. The following values exist:
Overprint 'Stamp Duty': 1/ 2 p green and black, 1 p red and black, 1 p red, 6 p green and black, 6 p brown and 2 Sh 6 p brown and black.
Overprint 'STAMP DUTY' straight: 1 p red and 6 p brown.
Overprint 'STAMP DUTY' curved: 1 p red and black

('Stamp Duty.' on 2 Sh 6 p )

OFFICIAL STAMPS

Some stamps were perforated with 'O S' (1909-1930) to serve as official stamps, later they were surcharged with 'O S' (1931).

AIR MAIL

1935 Aeroplane over New Guinea

  2 Pounds violet
  5 Pounds green

Neu Guinea Compagnie

I have seen an unused 'Parcel Adress' (Packetadresse) card of this company, with an imprinted value impression (lion with one front leg up) in the value 2 M red. I don't know when these cards were issued. The company was founded in 1884.

Copyright by Evert Klaseboer

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