North West Pacific Islands OS Punctured
Stamps and Covers
Contributer and Author - Robert Benoist
Introduction
Prior to 2001 the stamps of Australia overprinted N. W. Pacific Islands and perforated OS (other than the 1d Rosine (SGO16) did not appear in the Stanley Gibbons catalogue of Commonwealth and British Empire Stamps 1840-1952. They were, however, referred to in various publications such as the last edition of Bridger and Kay1 . No prices were attached to any of the issues other than the 1d Rosine Dies I and II.
The Royal collection has panes of 30 of most of the values perforated OS. These were generally sent directly to the UK by the stamp printers in Melbourne and not from Rabaul. Similarly, the Australian War Memorial Collection owns panes of the 1d (SGO3), 2d Orange (SGO18), 4d Violet (SGO20), the 6d Greyish Ultramarine Die 2 (SGO9)2 , the 1/- Emerald Die 2b (SGO11) and 1/- Pale Blue Green Die 2 (SG O11a).
There are, so far as is known, no panes in private hands and very few multiples. Unlike the general overprinted issues, the punctured stamps were not available for general sale and could not be ordered3 by collectors or supplied to the public. Government Departmental Mail should have been properly stamped with punctured OS stamps which were available from the Department of Trade and Customs, Rabaul4 , and a reminder was published in the New Guinea Gazette to this effect in 1921. Given that the OS punctures had, in some values, been available since April 1919, it may have been an exhortation to departments to use the punctured stamps as a number of OHMS covers appear during this period without OS punctures. These can be seen offered at the major auction houses and on internet sites with some regularity.
Covers bearing OS punctures are scarce and, in some values, extremely rare or non-existent. The Williams et al survey originally identified a total of 48 covers, the majority of which bore copies of the lower values. Their follow-up survey in 2006 showed only 3 previously unrecorded covers. Since 2006 fourteen covers have been discovered making a total of 65.
Mint copies of the issue are again, rare. That having been said, after the OS punctures were listed by Stanley Gibbons, several previously unknown copies, (mostly used and in the lower denominations) were discovered, most of which were found in collections in Australia.
About the Author
Robert Benoist began, as most collectors do, with a commonwealth general collection in his early teens, graduating to a specialisation in the pence issues of Ceylon. After finding that this collecting interest required much deeper pockets, and after a hiatus of a few years for marriage and children he began collecting the stamps of Australia overprinted North West Pacific Islands. Since the mid 1990’s he has published a large number of articles on these issues and on the stamps of Australia.
Robert is a past chairman of the Papuan Philatelic Society and a past editor of its journal. He has contributed regularly to the journals of the Papuan Philatelic Society, the British Society of Australian Philately, the Australian Commonwealth Collectors Club of New South Wales, Gibbons Stamp Monthly and others.
The OS Punctures are categorised as follows together with the SG number for the unperforated stamp.
SG03 (103) 1d Carmine Red – Relatively common both mint and used. Originally SG catalogued this stamp in both Die 1 and Die 2. Die 2 is no longer listed and it is unlikely that any panes bearing Die 2 units were punctured OS. Those identified in the Williams et al survey are likely to be Rosine. There are some 8 or so covers. The Royal collection is said to have a Die 1/Die 2 pair of SG103 but this has not been verified by inspection.
Date first issued February 1919
Numbers Printed 9,240 5
SG04 (104) Yellow Orange – Numbers exist of both mint and used although covers are extremely rare with perhaps 3 known. One copy of the 4d with ‘line through fourpence’ is known and was sold at a Spink auction in 2005. Its current whereabouts are unknown. A maximum of 10 copies could exist from the ten sheets printed.
Date first issued February 1919
Numbers Printed 1200
SG05 (105) 5d Brown – Scarce mint and used – This issue was the last of the KGV heads to be issued and covered the registration rate of 3d and the Empire postage of 2d. Mint copies are extremely rare with only two covers known.
Date first issued September 1921
Numbers Printed 1,080
SGO6 (106) 2d Grey – This value is the most common of the Kangaroo and Map punctures. It is only known in Die 1. Large used multiples exist. 7 covers are known, one with 2 copies affixed.
Date first issued February 1919
Numbers printed 2400
SGO7 (107) 2 1/2d Indigo - The smallest of the print runs with one early delivery to Rabaul. This remains an elusive stamp especially in mint condition. The block of four seen originally in 2001 has subsequently been broken up into single units. There is one cover known.
Date first issued February 1919
Numbers Printed 720
SG09 3d Olive – The 3d is an elusive value with 3 mint copies known and 2 covers.
Date first issued September 1921
Numbers printed 1540
SGO9 6d Ultramarine – very scarce mint with 3 od 4 known. Unknown on cover.
SG09a 6d Greyish Ultramarine – 4 mint examples are known but none on cover
SGO9b 6d Greyish Ultramarine Die 2 – more numerous used than the unpunctured variety but still scarce mint. 1 cover known.
Date first issued April 1921
Numbers printed 7080 for all shades – it is not known when each shade was sent other than that it is likely that the 6d Ultramarine were first in order given the EKD’s.
SGO10 9d Violet – A relatively small printing of this value of which few have survived. Very few mint copies exist and used are under-catalogued. No covers exist.
Date first issued September 1921
Numbers printed 3000
SG011 1/- Emerald Die 2 – In Williams et al the Emerald shade showed a more than usual number of Mint copies (10) and a reasonable number of used (17). There was no differentiation made between Die 2 and Die 2b. The author has 5 copies of this shade of which 3 units are Die 2b (2 mint and one used). Two used copies are Die2. The existence of Die 2b is not mentioned by Williams nor any previous authors, but it is obvious that they exist in both the deep emerald shade and the ‘normal’ shade. Further research is needed to ascertain the division of the Die 2 and the Die 2b copies.
SGO11a 1/- Pale Greenish Blue – as in the case with SGO11 it can be shown that Die 2 and Die 2b examples exist in this shade. The author has seen indisputable copies of Die 2. The Pale Greenish Blue pane in the Australian War Memorial Collection is certainly Die2b.
Date issued September 1921
Numbers printed 5040 It is not possible to differentiate the numbers of each shade and die that were printed.
SG012 2/- Brown – four mint copies are known. There is one cut down cover bearing a copy of the 2/-, a copy of the 1/- Pale Blue Green and the 3d Olive sent to London.
Date issued January 1922
Numbers printed 18,000 The numbers printed of this value is not reflected by the number of stamps which have been seen. It is possible that some were used for the payment of Stamp Duty which was first introduced in late 1921 but no evidence exists. A used strip of 5 has been seen on piece with two of the ‘Huts’ issue of 1925 overprinted OS. Fiscal documents from this period show high values attached but they are unpunctured.
SGO13 5/- Grey and Yellow – A large printing is not reflected in the numbers seen. One mint copy has been seen and about 25 used. No covers are known.
Date issued January 1922
Numbers printed 9,000
SGO14 10/- Grey and Pink – Only one used copy has been seen and none on cover
Date issued September 1921
Numbers Printed 1080
£1 Grey and Ultramarine – No copies mint or used have been seen and thus it is unlisted in SG.
Date issued September 1921
Numbers Printed 960
SGO16 and SGO16a 1d Rosine Die 1 and Die 2 – Although the numbers issued are unknown and must be part of the numbers stated for SGO3 it is believed that ‘a small parcel’ was delivered in 1923 and lasted a few weeks (Rosenblum). Rosenblum was writing this a few months after the ‘discovery’ of the rough paper OS puncture in 1925. This cannot be right as an example of O16 is known on cover dated April 1920 which tends to point to them being part of the delivery of the 19th of January 1920. There are 3 examples of the Die 1 mint and 1 example of the Die 2 mint. One cover of each die exists. Die 1 and Die 2 used examples are not common.
SGO17 1d Violet – Considerable numbers of this issue exist used although it is scarce mint with only a handful of examples. A very large number were printed. Very scarce on cover with only some 4 known.
Issue date March 1923
Numbers printed 96000
SGO18 2d Orange - There are some 20 mint examples known and some 13 covers. A larger print run than for most values. Common used. 13 covers are known.
Issue date April 1921
Numbers Printed 12720
SG019 2d Rose Scarlet - Used copies of the 2d Rose Scarlet (SGO19). In the Williams et al survey there were 112 known used copies of the 2d Rose Scarlet, two blocks of 12 on one piece. The author has some 27 copies and there are many more used copies appearing on internet sites. It must be the case that there are many more copies of these lower value stamps in circulation than was first thought. 9 covers are known.
SGO20 4d Violet – This value is relatively well represented with at least 13 mint copies although there are only 3 covers known. One copy of the ‘thin Four’ is known in a pair with normal.
Date Issued April 1921
Numbers printed 3000
SGO21 4d Ultramarine – As with all values extremely rare on cover with very few mint examples known.
Date issued September 1921
Numbers printed 5040
The value and scarcity of both mint and used stamps has become, unfortunately, a hunting ground for forgers. Many expertisers refuse to give certificates in respect of punctured issues (especially small OS of Australia) given the skill of some forgers, thus, as was ever the case, ‘Caveat Emptor’. This is one of the ‘raison’d’etres’ of the PCNZA whose sterling work in this field has identified many clever confections as the forger becomes more expert. The writer recently identified an extremely clever forgery of the 6d Ultramarine SGO9 on cover with other values. The CDS on all stamps was genuine but the 6d had been lifted, punctured and replaced on the cover. The item had been sold by an extremely reputable Australian auctioneer to an expert in NWPI OS issues. The only means by which the forgery was discovered was that the date on the CDS was two years before the issue of the stamp. The forgery was extremely dangerous and within the tolerances used by the expert committee!
1 Bridger and Kay Commonwealth Fiver Reigns Catalogue (1980)
2 The 2d Orange and 4d Violet panes can be seen on the AWM Website; awm.gov.au
3 Australian Philatelic Record, May 1921 p348.
4 The New Guinea Gazette 1st August 1921.
5 See The Numbers Game Parts 1 and 2 by the Author BSAP. Numbers are taken from the Stamp Printer’s Day Books held by the Commonwealth of Australia Bank Archives.
NWPI OS PUNCTURES RATED BY SCARCITY
| SG No |
Description |
Comments |
Mint |
Used |
On Cover |
Number Printed |
| SGO3 |
1d Carmine Red |
Thought to exist in Die 1 only |
D |
A |
D |
|
| SGO4 |
4d Yellow Orange |
2 covers known |
D |
C |
F |
|
| SGO4a |
Line through 4d |
Only 1 used copy identified |
Nil |
F |
Nil |
|
| SGO5 |
5d Brown |
2 covers known |
E |
C |
F |
|
| SGO6 |
2d Die 1 |
Large used multiples known |
D |
B |
E |
|
| SG07 |
2 1/2d Indigo |
1 cover known |
D |
D |
F |
|
| SGO8 |
3d Greenish Olive |
3 covers known |
F |
D |
F |
|
| SGO9 |
6d Ultramarine |
One cover seen auctioned in 2020 bearing 6d and other values |
F |
E |
F |
|
| SGO9 |
6d Pale Ultramarine Die 2b |
3 used copies known Yet to be assigned SG Number |
Nil |
F |
Nil |
|
| SGO9a |
6d Greyish Ultramarine Die 2 |
1 cover known with SGO17 (6d severely damaged) |
E |
C |
F |
|
| SGO0b |
6d Greyish Ultramarine Die 2b |
Surprisingly more examples of this exist than the unpunctured stamp. |
F |
C |
Nil |
|
| SGO10 |
9d Violet |
|
E |
D |
Nil |
|
| SGO11 |
1/- Emerald Die 2 |
1 large part cover known with SGO8 and SGO12; 1 with O20 |
E |
C |
F |
|
| SGO11 |
1/- Emerald Die 2b |
Yet to be assigned SG Number |
E |
E |
Nil |
|
| SGO11a |
1/- Blue Green Die 2 |
|
F |
E |
Nil |
|
| SGO11a |
1/- Blue Green Die 2b |
Yet to be assigned SG Number |
F |
D |
Nil |
|
| SGO12 |
2/- Brown |
1 large part cover – see SGO11 above |
E |
C |
F |
|
| SGO13 |
5/- Grey/Yellow |
1 mint copy known. |
F |
D |
Nil |
|
| SGO14 |
10/- grey/pink |
1 used example known |
Nil |
F |
Nil |
|
| SGO16 |
1d Rosine |
1 cover known and 3 mint singles |
F |
C |
F |
|
| SGO16a/b |
1d Rosine Die1/Die 2 se-tenant |
2 used pairs known. Possibly one pair in the Royal Collection. Block of 4 including 2 die 2’s, Block of 8 including 4 die 2’s. Block of 12 including 4 die 2’s. One strip of 4 including 1 die 2. |
nil |
F |
nil |
|
| SGO16a |
1d Rosine Die 2 |
1 cover known; 1 mint copy known. |
F |
C |
F |
|
| SGO17 |
1d Violet |
4 covers known (two with pairs) |
E |
B |
F |
|
| SGO18 |
2d Orange |
|
D |
B |
E |
|
| SG019 |
2d Rose/Scarlet |
|
D |
A |
D |
|
| SGO20 |
4d Violet |
3 covers known. Includes mint block of 15 |
C |
B |
F |
|
| SGO20a |
Thin letters |
1 copy known |
Nil |
F |
Nil |
|
| SGO21 |
4d Ultramarine |
4 covers known |
E |
C |
F |
|
Ratings: - A – 100-500; B – 51-99; C – 26-50; D – 10-25; E 5-9; F – 1-4.
The last comprehensive survey of the NWPI OS punctures appeared in the BSAP Bulletin of February 2005 and in the intervening years the numbers identified in both private collections and at auctions have increased, but not in the numbers which appeared in the years following listing in SG Part 1. Rather than be tied down by the absolute numbers stated by the late Patrick Williams, the late David Banwell and Hugh McMackin in the 2005 BSAP bulletin, the writer has adopted the approach of providing a range into which the numbers seen have been placed. This avoids the likely possibility of ‘double counting’ those items which have appeared multiple times at auction, or have been sold privately on more than one occasion. As pointed out in the Williams et al surveys, covers remain elusive with very few additions to the original list.
Important new finds can be summarized as follows:
1. A mint copy of the 5 shilling Kangaroo and Map was sold in a Prestige auction in Australia. It was said to have been found in an American collection. Although without certificate and slightly toned it was undoubtedly genuine.
2. Since 2005 two large used multiples of the 1d Rosine, SGO16 and SG16a have been seen (a block of 12, with 8 Die 1 and 4 Die 2 units and a block of 8 with 4 Die 1 and 4 Die 2 units). There are also two blocks of 4 with Die 1/Die 2 se-tenant, and a strip of three with 1 Die 2 unit and 2 Die 1. There are 2 used se-tenant pairs. All multiples of SGO16/16a seen have been cancelled at Talasea in 1923. It is unlikely that the two large blocks will be divided. Hitherto only one se=tenant pair was known.
3. A mint block of 15 of the 4d Violet (SGO20) was seen in 2006 offered by Pittwater. The block’s current whereabouts are unknown.
4. A used strip of 5 of the 2/-, SGO12 has been seen on piece with OS 1d ‘Huts’.
5. A block of 6 of SGO8, used at Bita Paka appeared in a local auction in Hampshire UK and is illustrated in Powell.
6. Surviving covers tend to be almost exclusively used from the Treasury in Rabaul to satisfy orders for stamps and are addressed to collectors or dealers. There seems to have been double counting of the 2 1/2d (SG07) in the Williams list. One cover has been seen displaying the Treasury Cachet and addressed to Paris. Other ‘new’ covers include a unique registered combination cover bearing copies of the 3d Olive (SGO8) and 4d Ultramarine (SGO21) sealed on the reverse by the selvedge of a ‘Huts’ issue with the word ‘Treasury’ handwritten and initialled, and also a further unique cover with the 2d Orange (SGO18) in combination with an unpunctured 6d greyish ultramarine (SG110a). Some 54 covers have been identified, most numerous being SGO3, SG06, SGO18 and SG019. A cover to Transvaal bearing 5 single copies of SG03 has also been seen.
7. Although it was originally reported that there is a pair of Die 1/Die 2 of the 1d Carmine Red (SGO3) in the Royal Collection, this has not been seen and is believed to be SGO16/O16b. No 1d varieties from the plates containing the Die 2 units have been seen and it is believed none were overprinted. SGO3b was withdrawn from the SG catalogue some years ago.
8. The 4d (with line through fourpence) was owned by the late Jim Dykehouse of Illinois who purchased it from a small local auction in Daventry UK in the early nineties and it was subsequently sold by Spink, first in the UK and then subsequently in the USA. Jim obtained a Holcombe certificate.
9. There was a large part OHMS cover in Tim Ryback’s sale bearing a 3d Olive, 1 shilling emerald and 2 shilling brown. The cover was marked OHMS and addressed to Ewens Colonial Stamp Market. Given the postage it would have most likely contained a quantity of New Guinea issues.
There are several values that exist in panes in institutional collections. The £1 was issued but only one pane exists in the Royal Collection. This would have been sent directly from the stamp printer in Melbourne, as was the normal procedure for ‘Stamps for the King’. Panes of most other values exist in the Royal collection as do mint panes of SGO3, SGO9a, SG11 (Die 2), SG11a (Die 2b) and SGO20 in the Australian War Memorial collection. These have not been included in the above table.
Forgeries of mint and used examples of all values to 2/- are offered for sale on the internet with regularity. It is strongly recommended that certificates should accompany any mint example and used examples from the 3d upwards. A recent survey of the OS punctures offered by E bay, Hip Stamps and Delcampe showed that forgeries outnumbered genuine items by a multiple of 5-1.
Compiled with the assistance of Gordon Towell (Australia), Andrew Turnbull (Australia), Rod Buchko (Canada), Hugh McMackin (USA), Andrew Loughran (UK) and members of the Papuan Philatelic Society. This list updates the papers written by the late Patrick Williams, the late David Banwell and Hugh McMackin, published in the Bulletin of the BSAP in 2001 and 2006. All online sales between 2006 to date have been the subject of a thorough search. Items from the two major auctions of OS punctures (Patrick Williams at Grosvenor and Stu Leven at Millennium are included).
NORTH WEST PACIFIC ISLANDS
1d ROSINE PERFORATED OS SG16
A short study
A mixed die pair of the KGV OS 1d Rosine on rough unsurfaced paper (Die 2/Die 1 in this case, SGO16a/O16) bearing the circular date stamp of Talasea (Powell 92). The Royal Collection is reported to have a Die 1/Die 2 pair of SGO3 (1d Carmine Red), although it is believed that no panes containing the Die 2 units were overprinted in that shade on smooth paper. It is possible that this reported pair is, in fact, Rosine
The 1d Rosine (SGO16) was, until the early part of this century, the only OS puncture listed in Stanley Gibbons British Commonwealth Stamps Part 1. It remains the only NWPI value punctured OS that does not have an equivalent un-punctured. In the two censuses carried out by Williams et al in 2001 and 2005 a small number of this issue was reported. Since 2005 more copies of the value have surfaced in both Die 1 and Die 2 used, but no further mint examples have been seen. 3 mint copies
of the Die 1 have been recorded and one copy of the Die 2. There are but two covers recorded, one with a Die 1 unit and the other a Die 2. There are probably 30-40 used examples of Die 1 and 20 or so Die 2. It remains an elusive stamp with a high catalogue value1. Originally it was thought that there was one used se-tenant pair only, however illustrated are multiples of 12 with 4 Die 2 units, 8 with 4 Die 2 units, two se-tenant pairs on piece and a strip of four, the first unit being Die 2 containing between them 9 potential Die 1 Die 2 se-tenant pairs. One other similar pair has been located since 2005. That having been said it is extremely unlikely that these iconic multiples will be broken up.
The Die 1 copies which have been seen are almost universally centred to the lower left and are seen cancelled at Rabaul, Talasea, Manus, Eitape and Kieta. The multiples containing the Die 2 units benefit from much better centreing.
Above are the usual lower left centreing on Die 1 Rosine (SGO16) of which some 24 copies were reported by Williams et al2
Above a single copy of a Die 2 cancelled with a faint Talasea cds.
A Die 2 unit cancelled at Manus
It is presumed that the Rosine shade was part of the March-July 1918 printings3 of the un- overprinted Australian stamp. All the Rosine printings sent to Rabaul were punctured OS and the first delivery arrived at Rabaul in January 1920. Earliest recorded use was on the 12th of April 19204. Interestingly in the Robson Lowe sale of New Guinea in 1964 an unpunctured 1d Rosine was offered although it has not been seen since and was in all probability mis-identified. The sale was important in having over 7,000 New Guinea GRI and NWPI stamps. The Multiple of 12, the two pairs on piece and the strip of four are in an Australian collection. The remainder are in the collection of the author.
The Talasea block of 12 with 4 die 2 units
The Talasea block of 8 with 4 die 2 units
The Talasea strip of 4 with one die 2 unit on OHMS piece
Two Die 1 Die 2 pairs on piece with Talasea CDS
The Die 2 copies illustrated here are remarkable in that 13 of these bear the Talasea circular date stamp (Powell 92) for 1923, whilst only one bears another town cancel - Manus (Powell 84).
One of the three known mint copies of the Die 1 1d Rosine (SG16) with usual lower left centreing
Matched pair of Australian un-overprinted 1d Die 2 Die 1 1d Rosine
1 SGO16 £1,200 mint, £200 used. SG16a £5,000 mint, £950 used. SG Catalogue values as at 2021.
2 New Guinea, Australian Stamps Overprinted North West Pacific Islands and perforated OS; Williams, Banwell and McMackin, supplement to the Bulletin of the British Society of Australian Philately April 2001 and June 2006.
3 The Australian Commonwealth Specialists’ catalogue: King George V, 2018, page 4/89 and 4/93.
4 See Footnote 1
