New Guinea

1925 Scott 2 1p yellow green "Native Huts"

Quick History
Initially, the territory was German New Guinea. 

German New Guinea

German New Guinea (Deutsch Neu-Guinea) was a German colonial protectorate from 1894-1914. German New Guinea consisted mainly of the area called Kaiser-Wilhelmsland in north-east New Guinea, and the nearby Bismarck Archipelago.  The Capital was Herbertshohe (Kokopo), and the population was 600,000 in 1913.

After the outbreak of WWI, part of the territory of German New Guinea ( Neu-Pommern Island ) was occupied by Australian troops in 1914, and called "New Britain". Overprinted ( G.R.I.) German New Guinea stamps were used. (Stamps of New Britain are rather expensive ( minimum $25), are not in Big Blue, and I elected not to do a post blog.) The Capital of New Britain was Rabaul.

Also, during WWI,  "North West Pacific Islands" stamps were produced by overprinting Australian stamps ( N.W. Pacific Islands)  for German New Guinea territories occupied by Australian troops. ( I will have a later blog post on the North West Pacific Islands stamps.)

After the Treaty of Versailles in 1919, German New Guinea (and all of the German colonies) ceased to exist. It then became the Mandated Territory of New Guinea under Australian administration until 1949. (The Japanese  occupied the territory during WWII.)

After 1949, the Territory of New Guinea was combined with the Australian territory of Papua to form the Territory of Papua and New Guinea. Finally, in 1975, Papua New Guinea gained independence from Australia, but remained a commonwealth country.

Trust Territory of New Guinea

The Capital of the mandated territory continued to be Rabaul on the north end of "New Britain" island. The population was 675,000 in 1940. 

1932 Scott 38 5p slate green 

"Bird of Paradise"

Into the Deep Blue
The 2011 Scott Classic Specialized  catalogue has, for New Guinea 1925-1939, 48 regular, 59 air post, and 33 official major descriptive numbers. Total = 140. Of those, 20 are CV <$1-$1+, or 14%. New Guinea stamps are moderately expensive for the WW classical collector.

A closer look at the stamps and issues
12 Pence = 1 Shilling
20 Shillings = 1 Pound

1925 Scott 1 1/2p orange "Native Huts"

The initial 1925-28 thirteen stamp issue featured a "Native Huts" pictorial- rather attractive. Six of the stamps are CV $2+-$5.

1925 Scott 9 1sh gray green 

Since the territory was mandated to Australia, one has a refreshing local pictorial, rather than commonwealth royalty.

1931 Scott 19 1 1/2p red "Bird of Paradise"

The "Bird of Paradise" pictorial stamps come in two major types.  The 1931 issue (13 stamps) has a "1921" and "1931" date scroll. (CV $1+-$5+ for 5 stamps.)

1932 Scott 42 2sh red brown 

Type of 1931 without date scrolls

The 1932-34 issue (15 stamps)- illustrated here- do not have the date scrolls. (CV <$1-$3+ for 7 stamps.)

1932 Scott 33 2p red "Bird of Paradise"

Considering the relative rarity of nicely postmarked specimens vs unused, how does one explain the CV 25c valuation of this stamp? ;-)

1937 Scott 38 2p salmon rose 

"King George VI"

Looking much like the 1936 Great Britain "Edward VIII" stamps, ( I wonder if they just substituted the visage?), this issue of four stamps of 1937 celebrated the Coronation of George VI. 

Air Post 1931 Scott C2 1p yellow green

Regular issues of 1925-28 overprinted

Actually, there are more air post stamps are in the catalogue than there are regular stamps. I suspect much mail was between the territory and the outside world, rather than within the territory.

The initial 1931 air post issue (13 stamps) used an overprinted version of the regular 1925-28 issue. CV is $1+-$3+ for nine stamps.

1931 Scott C14 1/2p orange

Type of regular issue of 1931 overprinted

The regular "Bird of Paradise" issue- with date scrolls- was also overprinted in 1931 on 14  stamps.  CV is $3+-$7 for seven stamps.

1934 Scott C34 3 1/2p magenta

Same overprint on Type of regular issue 1932-34 

Between 1932-34, the regular issue- without scroll- was also overprinted as shown on 16 stamps. 

1932 Scott C28 1/2p orange

"Rabaul" postmark

Showing a nice "Rabaul" postmark, in this case the used 1/2p orange is valued @ $1+, while the unused is <$1.

1939 Scott C46 1/2p orange

"Plane over Bulolo Goldfield"

The "Bulolo Goldfield" was an important gold dredging field by the Bulolo River. And yes, there is an air strip there.

The 1939 fourteen stamp issue has this scene. ( CV $3+-$4+ for four stamps.)

Update Note: The pound values of the Bulolo goldfields airs have been forged. See Alan's note in the comments section.

1931 Scott O13 1 1/2p red

Regular issue of 1931 overprinted

Official stamps are part of the output for New Guinea, and here is an example of the eleven stamp 1931 issue.

1932 Scott O24 1 1/2p violet brown

The 1932-34 regular issue was likewise overprinted for official use in 1932-34 on thirteen stamps. Both the 1931 and the 1932-34 official stamps carry a hefty CV: Most are in the $10-$50 range.

Deep Blue

1932-34 Air Post Issue in Deep Blue

The Deep Blue (Steiner) has ten pages for New Guinea, and includes spaces for all the major numbers.

1932 Scott C33 3p gray blue

Big Blue

The '69 Big Blue has two pages and 68 spaces for the Mandated Territory of New Guinea. Coverage is  a robust 48%.

Although New Guinea stamps are a bit expensive, BB only has six stamps @ CV $10+ in the album.

Checklist

1925-28
1,2,3,4,
5,(6),(7),(8),

1931
18,19,20,21,22,23,24,
25,26,

1932-34
31,32,33,34,
35,36,37,38,39,(41),

1935
46,47,

1937
49,50,51,52,

Next Page

Air Post
1931
C1,C2,C3,C4,(C6),
C14,C15,C16,C17,C18,C19,(C20),

1932-34
C28,C29,C30,C31,C32,C33,C34,
(C35),(C37),(38),

1939
C46,C47,
C48,C49,C50,(C52),

Official Stamps
1931
O12,O13,O14,O15,O16,O17,O18,

End

Comments
A) Expensive stamps ($10 threshold):
1925 (Scott 6) 3p deep blue ($10+)
1925 (Scott 8) 9p deep violet ($10+)
1934 Scott 36  3 1/2p magenta ($10+)
1939 Scott C50 3p dark blue ($10+)
1931 Scott O17 5p slate green ($10+)
1931 Scott O18 6p bister ($10+)
B) (     ) around a number indicates a blank space choice

1939 Scott C47 1p green 

"Plane over Bulolo Goldfield"

Out of the Blue

Obscure territorial changes after wars- and their subsequent stamp production- is one of the delightful surprises awaiting WW classical collectors.

Note: Maps appears to be in the public domain.

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