Discuss stamps and Postal History of Tonga in the 19th Century

[David Benson]

I have changed the note wnich states my preference of Auction Houses when the time comes to sell,

David B.

[tonga2]

I was thinking the same thing.

[tonga2]

For those interested, Lot 8657 shown below sold for 7,500 Swiss Francs plus 22% commission plus 7.5% VAT for European buyers (or 10% GST for Australian buyers) plus shipping, insurance etc., bringing the cost to the winning bidder up to just under 10,000 Swiss Francs. The estimate was 3.500 Swiss Francs.

The lot was described as follows:-

"1896 (May): Type-written "Half- / Penny-" in violet on 7½ d. on 2 d. pale blue, additionally surcharged in Tongan reading down in black, perf. 12 x 11, an unused corner marginal horizontal pair from upper left of sheet, each stamp with variety "Hafl" and "Penny Omitted", rice paper backing on fine part og. Small thin at base of right hand stamp of no significance on a wonderfully fresh positional multiple. A rarity of the issue. Cert. BPA (2021) Gi = £ 11'000+."

.

[David Benson]

Greg,


and a pair from the top right of the sheet showing sheet #,

and a single with Hyphen over Comma,

and a corner Sheet # block of 12 all with HAFL PENNY, top row of 4 with corrected spelling,

David B.

[Global Admin]

David these images are near totally meaningless without realisations. Did they invoice for $50 apiece or $5000 apiece?

[David Benson]

They are from my collection, not from the sale,

David B.

[Global Admin]

Ha!

Some nice pieces there.

[David Benson]

Glen,

Thanks,

They are all unique,

David B.

[tonga2]

I picked up this Tonga 1896 typewriter overprint stamp a while ago

There appear to be vertical lines under each of the letters in "Half". These lines can only be seen faintly on the back

Does anyone know what these vertical lines could be?

.

[David Benson]

Greg,

Presumably ink smudges,

David B.

[Fraenk]

Excuse my question which obviously is placed at the wrong location... but you may be able to answer it:

Is ist possible to receive a piece of mail sent from Niuafo'ou today, showing that it was sent from there?

As far as I could find out, today there is the only one postal agency in the Niuas on Niuatoputapu but not on Niuafo'ou.

On the other side it sounds strange to me if stamps of Niuafo'ou are sold but not one sole postmark of that island exists (or maybe just one in the philatelic bureau of Nuku'alofa...)

I am collector of postcards, sent written and stamped from origin. I would love to design a card on my own, send it with Niuafo'ou stamps to the island and receive it back somehow, possibly with a postmark showing Niuafo'ou. But I have no idea how that could work...

Any suggestions? Thank you very much!

Frank

[tonga2]

There's not much in Niuafo'ou - I just did a Google search to see if I could find any hotels or places of accommodation you could send a postcard to, but I did find a Mormon Church. The address is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Tongamama'o, Tongamama'o, Niuafo'ou, Tonga - maybe if you enclosed a postcard addressed to the church, someone there might post it back to you.

[tonga2]

Do a Facebook search for Niuafo'ou - I just did, and found there is a high school on Niuafo'ou - you could send a letter there too.

[Fraenk]

Thank you tonga2!
Two postcards are designed and one set of stamps (2016 WWF Birds) arrived.
So I will start my experiment to get a card from a place with own stamps but without a post office

[Johann]

Hello Mr Benson,

Could we have a chat about these covers? Where can I buy or bid for a cover with the typewritten overprinted stamp? Any idea or suggestion. Thx in advance for your help.

kind rgards
Johann

[David Benson]

As far as I know there are only 5 covers known.

Four are philatelic to Captain Herrold in Auckland. I have two of them.

The other is a Registered cover to USA with a pair of the typewritten overprints to make up the rate as well as a provisional made by the Postmaster and other values.

If anyone knows of any others, let me know,

David B.

[tonga2]

Phrag99's entire collection was sold via auction a few years ago by David Feldman, Switzerland.

[Global Admin]

Have merged 2 similar 19th Century Tonga discussions into one thread - a valuable resource.

Glen

[Global Admin]

David,

Thanks for all this information. This has really helped. I have always assumed that there were no Tonga postal items extant before the arrival of John Thomas and James Hutchinson on 28th June, 1826.

I was disingenuous in my question as it is me that has 2 covers from Hutchinson dated "June, 1826". I have another from him dated May, 1828 and 1 from John Thomas dated 30/06/1828.

None of these bear transit marks of any description. I have a cover dated January 1839 from Stephen Rabone which bears a transit marking - a Sydney Ship Letter oval (That came via Cork), and another from him dated June 1848 that bears a small blue double circle that I think reads "OUTRE-MER" and a similar orange d/c on the front.

Finally I have a cover from York to a Rev Lythe on Vavau, dated 25/06/1838 that bears a Sydney General Post Office oval.

Phrag99 (Alan Slater)

Added for the records here, Corinphila invoiced this one ex Dubois (Hugh Wood) 3 weeks back for about 1250 CHF after fees-

1829: Large part entire letter from Sydney to the Weslayan Missionary Society, London endorsed 'Single', struck with fine octagonal framed "SYDNEY / POST PAID" in red with unframed circular "SYDNEY / N.S.W / D 10 / 1829" despatch in blue below. Reverse with framed "INDIA LETTER / KINGSBRIDGE" in black (Robertson 1n.1) and faint red London arrival where charged '1/3d.' due to pay (4d. for India letter and 11d. Inland). The cover missing some internal pieces but the letter concerns Hihifo and the Tongan Chief Ata on conversations with the Missionary Mr. Thomas, whereby Ata states "It is very good for you to attend to your God, and I will attend to mine". Fine strikes and a scarce cover.rnProvenance: Collection F. Chadwick, RL, London, 15 April 1975, lot 1128; Collection Brian Peace, Prestige, Melbourne, 27 July 2009, lot 1018.

https://corinphila.ch/en/_auctions/&action=showLots&auctionI ... s=1&page=1