Papua New Guinea - First Day Covers 1952-1969

This article provides a listing of first day covers (FDCs) issued by Papua New Guinea (PNG) from 1952 through to 1969, with an emphasis on use of the official generic covers utilised prior to 1965. The various covers issued by private firms during this period are not referred to. Philatelic sales are a significant source of revenue for the Pacific Islands, and this was recognised by Australian postal authorities who had administrative control of Papua from 1884 and New Guinea from 1914. Official first day covers are rare for this pre World War II period. Following the cessation of hostilities between Japan, Germany and the Allied Forces in 1945, the Territory of Papua and New Guinea was created in 1949, with ongoing administration by Australia leading up to the granting of independence in 1975. A detailed history of the development of its postal services prior to 1970 can be found in Mark Franklin's Guide to the Stamps of Papua and New Guinea (1970). Though it contains a wealth of information on the various stamp issues, including design history, release dates and printing numbers, the subject of philatelic postal stationary is not dealt with in any great detail. For that, reference can be made to his Guide to Australian First Day Covers (1969) which contains information on date and issue and preliminary valuation of Papua New Guinea first day covers up to that date. Franklin's numbering system therein is not applied throughout this blog, due to its non-chronological idiosyncrasies (e.g. the 1960 Pictorial series stamps (3) are allocated PNG4, whilst the 1959 surcharge issue (1) is given PNG5) and the omission of reference to known reprint variations and the fiscal Stamp Duty and Postal Charges releases.

Official covers - first day of issue, air mail and souvenir - were an early part of the Territory's philatelic program. Beginning with the release of its initial series of definitive stamps in 1952 - printed by the Australian Note Printing Branch in Melbourne - the Papua New Guinea Philatelic Bureau produced FDCs with prominent wording to clearly identify them to collectors. The first such cover - issued on 30 October 1952 - was quite spectacular, featuring a black and white photograph of a Highlands man fully regaled in headdress and nose ornaments, alongside a colourful panorama of fifteen stamps bearing values from half a penny up to one pound £1. Though an official cover, there was nothing specific either on the front or rear to indicate that, and this would largely continue to be the case through to the 1970s. Since 1952 the Philatelic Bureau has released both specific event (e.g. first day of issue of a new stamp or stamp series) and general purpose FDCs. Many FDCs also bore the text Air Mail / Airmail and as such served a dual function as FDCs and airmail / air mail covers (AMCs). The general purpose FDCs were utilised for the twenty three identified stamp releases up to the end of 1964, at which point individual, stamp-specific covers became the norm. In some instances, the only available / known cover in on an ordinary, non-official envelope, as opposed to a an official or commercial first day cover, registered letter or aerogramme. It should be further noted that the PNG stamp issuing programme often featured overprints and surcharges on, and reprints of, previous issues, thereby necessitating the creation of related first day covers, though there status can be dubious due to the lack of official release dates.

First Day Covers

Papua New Guinea first day covers are listed below chronologically according to date of issue, with a specific number allocated to each issue event. A brief description of the stamps and related covers is also included, along with the relevant Stanley Gibbons stamp catalogue numbers. In some cases, such as with surcharged, overprinted or reprinted stamps, the precise date of issue is not always known and therefore the earliest identified postmarked cover is listed. As would be expected, the condition of the early (circa pre 1965) covers can vary, as a large number of these mostly philatelic covers passed through the post en route to countries overseas including the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Australia and New Zealand. Some have been cut open or damaged, and as Franklin noted in his book on Australian and Territories covers, many have subsequently been destroyed over time as collectors sought to highlight the used stamps, not placing any value on the covers themselves. With time, the development of a coterie of postal history collectors, and the increasing rarity of some of the early covers from prior to the 1970s, this practice has diminished. Between 1952 and the end of 1969 there were 51 stamp issuing events which generated first day covers.

1952

[1] * 30 October 1952 - Definitives, set of 15 stamps, 1/2d to £1 (SG1-SG15), in sheets of 72 for the small and 36 for the large. Issued on an extra large (wide) generic first day cover (#1a) featuring a black and white photograph of a Papuan Highlands man (same as on the 2 1/2d stamp) in headdress and ornaments, along with descriptive text and Port Moresby postmark. The cover illustrated below also features an air mail sticker - in black, not the traditional dark blue - and a Port Moresby registration label, with distinctive red lines on the cover to indicate its status.

A small generic first day cover (#1b) identical to #1a (above) was also made available for those unable to afford the £2.7.0+ price of the complete set of stamps. This cover could accommodate individual stamps or groups of stamps (e.g. blocks of four) from the series, rather than the complete series.

A third official cover was produced, with reference to the United Nations provisional administration of Papua and New Guinea. Additional commercial covers also appeared at the time, by firms such as Dominion and Wesley Cover Service.

1956

[2] * 6 November 1956 - Definitives - Reprint of 6 1/2d Chief's House stamp, changing the colour from a darkish dull purple (SG7) to a lighter maroon (SG7a). The earliest known cover - a plain envelope - is illustrated below with a Wewak postmark. It is unclear whether this is actually the first day of issue of the reprint and if it was publically announced and released on this date, though the address may indicate its philatelic significance. Reprints such as this were not usually allocated first day of issue status.

1957

[3] * 29 January 1957 - Definitives - Surcharges 4d on 2 1/2d and 7d on 1/- (SG16-SG17). Issued on a generic first day cover (#1b). Note that this cover has been officially overprinted as well as the stamps, with this the only known instance of such overprinting.

[4] * 11 October 1957 - Definitives - Stamp Duty - 1d on 6 1/2d. This overprinted stamp was used for normal postage early in 1958.

[*] Though not a first day cover, an official Telegram envelope is known from 1957, issued by the Papua & New Guinea Post & Telecommunications department. The example below was sent to the Reverend Voyce, and included a cutting from a 1938 letter with two New Guinea stamps attached. The telegram envelope was postmarked Buin, 30 April 1957.

1958

[5] * 2 June 1958 - Definitives - set of 5 stamps, ranging from 3 1/2d to 5/- (SG18, SG20, SG6a, SG22, SG24). Issued on both small and large generic first day covers (#2a & #2b) featuring a red and black drawing of a Highland man in headdress and ornaments. The series includes a reprint in black of the 3 1/2d headdress stamp of 1952 (SG6a).

It should be noted that the rear of this cover included a world map with Papua New Guinea highlighted in red. This was a pointer to its official status.

1959

[6] * 1 December 1959 - Definitive - Surcharge 5d on 1/2d stamp from the 1952 series (SG25). Issued on a generic first day cover (#2b).

1960

[7] * 1 March 1960 - Definitives - Postal Charges overprint - set of 6 stamps (SGD1 - 6d on 7 1/2d double overprint, SGD2 - 1d on 6 1/2d, SGD3 - 3d on 1/2d, SGD4 - 6d on 7 1/2d single overprint, SGD5 - 1/3 on 3 1/2d, and SGD6 - 3/- on 2 1/2d), including two different overprints of the original 1952 7 1/2d Kiriwana Yam House (SG8). SGD1 is Papua New Guinea's rarest stamp (800 printed) and the first day cover the most valuable of all such covers, having sold at auction in 2012 for Aus$1,250. Whether it is the rarest is open to debate, as numbers of first day covers created for any individual stamp issue are not available, and other covers bearing the stamp have sold for a premium (see below). Known first day of issue covers include:

1) a generic aerogramme which includes 5 stamps from the set, including the 6d on 7 1/2d double overprint (SGD1) but not SGD4;

2) an official generic first day cover (#2a) with 2 stamps, including the 6d on 7 1/2d postal charges double overprint (SGD1) and an ordinary 1952 2 1/2d (SG3).

Identified auction sales include an aerogramme with a similar set of stamps and dated 28 March 1960 which sold for $750; a commercial cover dated 17 March 1960 with three items from the set (SGD1, SGD2 and SGD3) which sold for $4,400; another aerogramme dated 4 March 1960 which sold for $3,000; and a cover dated 1 June 1960 bearing five stamps apart from SGD1 which sold for $260. No first day cover with the complete set of 6 stamps has been identified. One interesting cover, dated 10 March 1960, includes both the 6d on 7 1/2d Kiriwana Yam House double overprint (SGD1) and the single overprint (SGD2), indicating that they were contemporaneous.

Though not a first day cover as such, it does contain the complete set of six postal charges and is the earliest - and only - known cover in this regard. It was originally posted to Port Moresby from Konedobu (date unclear), and the postal charges and a tax stamp were added upon arrival there. They also include an uncatalogued double overprint on the 6 1/2d stamp (SGD2).

[8] * 10 November 1960 - Definitives - set of 3 stamps, 5d to 2/5 (SG19, SG21, SG23). Issued on both small and large generic first day cover (#2a-b), with first day of issue postmark (?the initial instance of this). These stamps were upgrades of three stamps previously issued in 1958, with new denominations and colours.

1961

[9] * 22 January 1961 - Commemorative - Native Headdress & Dancers - set of 4 stamps, 1d to 2/- (SG29-SG31). Issued on a generic first day cover (#2b) with first day of issue postmark.

[10] * 10 April 1961 - Commemorative - Legislative Council Building - 2 stamps, 5d and 2/3 (SG26-SG27). Both the large (#2a) and small (#2b) generic first day covers were used. A copy of the Wesley Cover Service WCS cover is also included, bearing the official Philatelic Bureau First Day of Issue postmark. This stamp issue was also the first to include an official Information Leaflet with the FDC.

1962

[11] * 7 April 1962 - Commemoratives - The World United Against Malaria - set of 3 stamps (SG33-SG35). Issued on a large (wide) generic first day cover (#3) featuring a drawing of a Yam House and descriptive text, plus first day of issue postmark.

This is second first day cover to include an information booklet / brochure describing the stamp issue. These brochures have been produced through to the present day. Initially they came out of the PNG Department of Post and Telegraphs, mostly likely via the Philatelic Bureau which had been in place since at least 1956.

[12] * 8 July 1962 - Commemorative - 5th South Pacific Conference - set of 3 stamps, 5d, 1/6 and 2/6 (SG36-SG38). Issued on generic first day covers (#2b) and (#3).

[13] * 5 September 1962 - Definitive - Traffic Policeman - 3/- stamp (SG32). Issued with a specific first day cover, and also known with a generic cover (#2b) and a first day of issue postmark. This is the first specific FDC, and would not be repeated until 1964.

[14] * 24 October 1962 - Commemorative - Commonwealth Games - set of 3 stamps (SG39-SG41). Issued on generic first day cover (#3).

1963

[15] * 3 January 1963 - Definitive - £1 stamp (SG45). Issued on a small generic first day cover (#4) with first day of issue postmark. Printed in yellow and black featuring a drawing of a Highland man in headdress and ornaments, plus descriptive text.

[16] * 13 February 1963 - Definitives - Rabaul - 10s (SG44). Issued on generic first day cover (#4) and on new generic first day cover (#5) printed in brown and teal blue and featuring a drawing of a Highland man in headdress and ornaments fishing with a bow and arrow, plus descriptive text and with first day of issue postmark.

[17] * 27 March 1963 - Definitives - Native Animals and Birds - 5d and 6d stamps (SG42-SG43). Issued on generic first day cover (#5).

[18] * 1 May 1963 - Commemorative - Red Cross Centenary - 5d stamp (SG46). Issued on generic first day cover (#5). However, an 'official' cover was also released.

[19] * 5 May 1963 - Definitives - 8d and 2/3 (SG47-SG48). Issued on generic first day covers (#5) with first day of issue postmark.

[20] * 14 August 1963 - Commemorative - First South Pacific Games Suva - 2 stamps, 5d and 1/- (SG49-SG50). Issued on generic first day cover (#4) with first day of issue postmark.

1964

This is the final year in which generic first day covers were used for both definitives and commemorative stamp releases.

[21] * 5 February 1964 - Masks - 4 stamps (SG51-SG54). Issued on generic first day cover (#4) with first day of issue postmark.

[22] * 4 March 1964 - Commemorative - First Common Roll Election - 2 stamps, 5d and 2/3 (SG55-SG56). Issued on a generic first day cover (#6) of a drawing of flowers, printed in two colours with first day of issue postmark.

[23] * 5 August 1964 - Commemorative - Health Services - set of 4 stamps, 5d, 8d, 1/- and 1/2 (SG57-SG60). Issued on generic first day cover (#6).

[24] * 28 October 1964 - Definitives - Birds - set of 4 stamps - 6d, 8d, 1/- and 10/-. Issued on generic first day cover (#6).

1965

This is the first year in which generic first day covers were no longer used for new stamp releases, apart from a single instance with the Sixth South Pacific Conference stamps, and a possible Carvings issue.

* [25] 20 January 1965 - Definitives - Birds - set of 7 stamps, value from 1d through to 5/-. Issued on a special first day cover featuring a black and white line drawing of two Birds of Paradise. This does not appear to have been available for the October 1964 Birds release.

* [26] 24 March 1965 - Definitives - Crocodile Carvings - set of 4 stamps. Issued on both a large and a small generic musical instrument (drum) first day cover / air mail cover with first day of issue postmark. This is the first official cover to state both Air Mail and First Day Cover.

* [27] 14 April 1965 - Commemorative - ANZAC 1915-1965. Issued on a small special cover with a first day of issue postmark. This may not be an official cover, as there is no reference to First Day Cover or Air Mail as was the norm.

* [28] 7 July 1965 - Commemorative - Sixth South Pacific Conference, Lae - issue of two stamps 6d and 1/-. Issued on the small version of the generic drum cover first seen with the Carvings release.

* [29] 13 October 1965 - Commemorative - International Co-operation Year - issue of 3 stamps, in collaboration with the United Nations. Special first day cover / airmail cover with first day of issue postmark. This looks like some of the embossed covers issued by the Wesley Cover Service, and not like the official covers issued by the PNG Philatelic Bureau up until that date.

1966

* [30] 14 February 1966 - Definitives - Decimal Currency - Butterflies - set of 12 stamps. Issued on a special first day and air mail cover containing a photograph of a 10 cent Australian coin, with first day of issue postmark. This coincided with the Australia conversion from £.s.d to decimal currency. Papua New Guinea would later adopt its own currency.

* [31] 8 June 1966 - Definitives - Myths - set of 4 stamps. Issued on a special first day of issue / air mail cover, with first day of issue postmark.

* [32] 31 August 1966 - Commemorative - Second South Pacific Games, Noumea - set of 3 stamps 5c, 10c and 20c. Issued on a special first day of issue / air mail cover.

* [33] 12 October 1966 - Definitives - Butterflies - single 12c stamp. Issued on a generic first day of issue / air mail cover featuring a painting of a yellow flower.

* [34] 7 December 1966 - Definitives - Flowers. Issued on a special first day of issue / air mail cover, with first day of issue postmark.

1967

Only five commemorative first day of issue / air mail covers were issued during 1967 [#35-#39], and no definitive stamps were issued.

* [35] 8 February 1967 - Commemorative - Higher Education - set of 5 stamps. Issued on special FDC / AMC.

* [36] 12 April 1967 - Definitives - Insects - set of 4 stamps. Issued on special FDC / AMC.

* [37] 26 June 1967 - Commemorative - Carvings and hydro power - 4 stamps. Issued on special FDC / AMC.

* [38] 30 August 1967 - Commemorative - 25th Anniversary of the War in the Pacific. Issued on special FDC / AMC.

* [39] 29 November 1967 - Definitives - Birds - set of 4 stamps. Issued on special FDC / AMC.

1968

* [40] 21 February 1968 - Definitives - Headdress - set of 4 stamps. Issued on special FDC / AMC with first day of issue postmark.

* [41] 24 April 1968 - Definitives - Frogs - set of 4 stamps. Issued on special FDC / AMC with first day of issue postmark.

* [42] 26 June 1968 - Commemorative - Human Rights - set of 4 stamps. Issued on special FDC / AMC with first day of issue postmark.

* [43] 28 August 1968 - Definitives - Shells - set of 5 stamps. Issued on special FDC / AMC with first day of issue postmark.

* [44] 30 October 1968 - Definitives - Shells - set of 5 stamps. Issued on special FDC / AMC with first day of issue postmark.

1969

From 1969 a number [#45-#51] of first day covers were issued with descriptive pamphlets describing the stamps.

* [45] 29 January 1969 - Definitives - Shells - 4 stamps.

* [46] 9 April 1969 - Definitives - Myths - 2 stamps.

* [47] 25 June 1969 -Commemorative - Third South Pacific Games - 3 stamps.

* [48] 27 August 1969 - Definitives - Flowers - 4 stamps.

* [49] 24 September 1969 - Commemorative - Fiftieth Anniversary International Labour Organisation ILO 1919-1969 - 1 stamp.

* [50] 24 September 1969 - Commemorative - Introduction of Stamp Vending Machines - 1 stamp.

* [51] 29 October 1969 - Definitives - Musical Instruments - 4 stamps.

1970

[52] February - National Heritage

[53] May - Birds.

[54] July - Planes

[55] July - Planes

[56] 19 August 1970 - ANZAAS

[57] 28 October 1970 - Bowls

1971

[58] January - Native Dwellings

[59] March - Animals

[60] April - Bird

[61] June - Games

[62] August - Primary Industry

[63] October - Dancers

1972

[64] January - Constitutional Development

[65] January - South Pacific Commission

[66] March - Animals

[67] June - Aviation

[68] National Day

[69] October - Missionaries

1973

[70] January - Telecommunications

[71] January - Telecommunications

[72] March - Birds

[73] June - Folk Culture

[74] June - Folk Culture

[75] October - Stamps

[76] December - Self Government

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Last updated: 2 January 2023

Michael Organ, Australia

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