Gilbert and Ellice Islands: World War II, U.S. Forces, 1942 to 1944, eleven covers to various U.S.A. addresses, eight being 6c. airmail envelopes with one uprated for registration by added 15c. from member of VD-3 Navy photographic squadron (with registered receipt), the others franked 6c., from a range of naval and army units identified by endorsement, A.P.O. 240, 242, 459, 914, 915 despatch datestamps, etc., good to fine.

Gilbert and Ellice Islands: Aranuka: A selection, comprising undated ‘Walker’ envelope to Seattle bearing Key Plate 1/2d. (perf. imperfections at lower right), 1d. and 11/2d. tied by three fine impressions of scarce type 11 cancellation in blackish violet (Ex Taylor and Smith), envelope addressed to Sydney with two good to fine strikes of scarce type 11 cancellation in black, late state with “I” of “ISLAND” missing, tying Key Plate 1/2d. pair (marginal) and 1d. (ex Smith), type 17 undated cancellation two fine strikes tying Key Plate 1/2d. and strike on 1938 envelope to Betio franked by 1/2d. pair (ex Smith), and 1946 registered ‘Baldwin’ cover to Sydney franked by 1939-55 2d. and 3d. cancelled by two strikes of type 28 with date “MY 18/46” inserted by ms. in red ink (the the earliest date of use recorded by Vernon). Photo. (Image1)

Gilbert and Ellice Islands: Arorae: 1931 (ca.) envelope at 3d. rate to Seattle with Key Plate 1/2d. and 21/2d. tied by fine early strikes of scarce type 11 handstamp in violet-black with further strike at left and 1946 ‘Thompson’ envelope registered to Sydney bearing 1939-55 1d., 2d. and 21/2d. each cancelled by improvised circular ms. “GILBERT AND ELLICE ISLANDS COLONY/ISLAND/ARORAE/ISLAND” (three variations), the latest recorded use, with Tarawa ms. registration marking, backstamped Tarawa type 26 c.d.s. “16/JAN/1946” and Mar. 19 arrival datestamps, both ex Smith. Photo. (Image1)

Gilbert and Ellice Islands: Beru: Two undated envelopes showing type C1 censor cachet with “Beru” added in ms., one (c. 1941) to the London Missionary Society in London bearing uncancelled 1939-55 1/2d. and 11/2d., resealed at left by red on white “OPENED BY CENSOR.” (single impression) label, the other (ca. 1943-44) to Wellington, New Zealand franked 2d. cancelled by indistinct type 27 “CUSTOMS OFFICE” handstamp, 1941 envelope to Wellington bearing 1939-55 1d. cancelled by very indistinct type 12 handstamp and with circular ms. “GILBERT AND ELLICE ISLANDS COLONY/BERU/ISLANDS/22.9.41” improvised alongside due to the poor state of the handstamp, with violet type C1 censor’s cachet below (Ex Smith), 1941 envelope to Suva, redirected to Auckland, bearing 1939-55 1d. pair cancelled by very poor type 11 handstamp with additional strike at left and type C1 censor’s cachet below endorsed “Beru”, backstamped Suva “14 OCT 41” and with Bank of New Zealand’s receiving straight-line “1NOV 1941” (Ex Smith) and undated envelope to Auckland franked 1939-55 2d. cancelled by fine strike of type 27 “CUSTOMS OFFICE” handstamp and with type C2 censor’s cachet No. 8 (located at Tarawa) cut-down (ex Smith). Photo. (Image1)

Gilbert and Ellice Islands: Butaritari: A selection, comprising 1911 Overprint set of seven each cancelled on piece by type 1 c.d.s. in violet dated between “21 JAN. 1911” and “12 AUG. 1911”, the 1/2d. in a horizontal pair, 1911 (May 17) envelope to London bearing Overprint 1d. pair lightly cancelled by type 1 datestamp in violet, and 1911 (Sept. 12) envelope to Jaluit, Marshall Islands, bearing Pandanus 21/2d. (2) cancelled by three strikes of type 1 datestamp in violet. Photo. (Image1)

Gilbert and Ellice Islands: Christmas Island: Undated ‘Roessler’ cover to U.S.A. bearing First printing 5c. at left tied by type 55 handstamp with French Polynesia 1c. tied by Papeete c.d.s. (date indistinct) and 1918 ‘Reinhard’ envelope registered to Switzerland with First Issue 5c. cancelled type 55 in blue-black and additionally tied by violet ink from “REGISTERED” straight line alongside, with French Polynesia 30c. cancelled at Papeete Oct. 31 1918 with additional strike, black handstruck “R” and number in ms. (2 covers) Photo. (Image1)

Gilbert and Ellice Islands: Fanning Island: 1913, four envelopes to Cheshire (three addressed to ‘Davies’), one bearing New Zealand 1882-1900 1/2d. with 2d., one with 1d. and the others with 2d., cancelled by very fine strikes of type 21 c.d.s., each with Warrington transit backstamp, 1939 (Oct. 31) early censored commercial cover to Adelaide showing scarce manuscript “Passed by Censor” and initials in red at upper left, franked by 1939-55 11/2d. tied by fine type 23 c.d.s., and 1943 (Dec. 6), 1944 (Oct. 23) and 1945 (Feb. 17) three censored covers each with sender’s endorsement by a member of the Cable & Wireless Station, fine type 23 c.d.s. cancellations and showing type C2 censor cachet No. 1, the first to San Francisco with 1939-55 11/2d. (2) and traces of U.S. clear resealing label (cellulose detached), the second to Pennsylvania franked 3d., the last to Auckland with 1/2d. and 11/2d. (8)

Gilbert and Ellice Islands: Maiana: 1944 censored cover to “Captain Davey/Aboard A.P.C./No. 108 Tarawa” franked 1d. cancelled fine Tarawa type 25 handstamp in violet, with C2 censor cachet No. 8 in black and resealed, the cover’s origin revealed by enclosed letter from a Sister at the Sacred Heart Mission dated “25/3/44”. Ex Smith. Photo. (Image1)

Gilbert and Ellice Islands: Nonouti: Type 11 undated handstamp in purple tying Key Plate 1/2d. pair to 1938 ‘Ross’ cover to Ocean Island with additional strike at left, type 28 tying 1938-55 1d. and Victory set to 1948 registered cover to Grimsby with Tarawa registration marking, type 35 tying 1d. and 2d. to commercial cover (slight creasing) to Abemama and 1/2d. and 6d. to 1953 registered cover to Australia, also 1946 (Apr. 15) stampless envelope to the Central Medical School at Suva, with type 28 c.d.s and ms. “Paid 2d” in blue. The latter ex Smith. (5)

Gilbert and Ellice Islands: Ocean Island: 1907 (Oct.) envelope to San Francisco, endorsed at top “Per Mandasan Maru” and “Posted at Ocean Ils 8/10/07”, franked by Japan 10s. (3), lightly cancelled by Yokohama datestamps. Photo. (Image1)

Gilbert and Ellice Islands: Ocean Island: 1911 (Oct. 24) long O.H.B.M.S. envelope registered to Connecticut, franked by 1911 Overprint 5d. pair with Pandanus 1/2d. to pay triple foreign rate + registration, cancelled type 2 and with type R1 registration label, transit and arrival backstamps. An exceptional item. Ex Smith. Photo. (Image1)

Gilbert and Ellice Islands: Onotoa: 1934 ‘Conus’ envelope to Switzerland with two typically worn impressions of scarce type 16 handstamp in violet cancelling Key Plate 1/2d. and 21/2d., with Tarawa type 2 “4 SE/1934” c.d.s. (year in ms.) alongside, also stampless inter-island envelope endorsed “O.H.M.S.” addressed to the Administrative Officer for the Central and Southern Gilberts at Betio, showing a typically worn large part impression of the handstamp. Photo. (Image1)

Gilbert and Ellice Islands: Tarawa: A selection of covers, incl. 1911 ‘Reinhard’ envelope to Switzerland, bearing Overprint 6d. cancelled fine type 1 in violet (ex Smith), 1911 larger ‘Reinhard’ envelope to Switzerland, bearing Overprint 1s. cancelled by fine type 1 in violet (ex Smith), 1912 three envelopes addressed to Rev. Thompson of the London Missionary Society in London, bearing Pandanus 1d. with 2d., Pandanus 2d. and Pandanus 1d. respectively, each with type 1 cancellations in blue, 1932 (Feb. 10) a scarce commercial envelope registered to Chicago, bearing 6d. tied by type 2a c.d.s. without year slug, with type R18 registration handstamp and negative straight line “REGISTERED” in purple at left (Ex Smith), 1938 stampless envelope with ms. endorsement “O.H.M.S.” addressed by an islander to Commissioner Maude on Beru with very fine type 7 c.d.s., 1945 (May 28) cover to a member of the Gilbert & Ellice Is, Coy. at A.P.O. 709 (Guadalcanal) and (June 17) to an islander on Funafuti, franked 2d. and 1d. respectively cancelled type 26 with cut-down type C2 censor cachets nos. 8 and 5 respectively, 1945 envelope to a native corporal Robuti at the Headquarters of J Company, Gilbert & Ellice Islands Company at A.P.O. 709, franked 1d. pair tied by type 26 c.d.s. of “30/APR/1945” and with fine strike of partially cut down type C2 censor cachet No. 8, and 1946, two commercial covers with type 28 cancellations, the first (May 4) franked 1939-55 2d., addressed to a nurse at Nuku Hospital on Rabi, the second (Dec. 20) registered to London franked 5d. with type R8 straight line registration marking. (14)

Gilbert and Ellice Islands: Tarawa: Commercial envelope to the Western Pacific High Commission at Suva, redirected to the District Commissioner at Fiji, franked 1939-55 1d. (2) cancelled by type 25 handstamp in violet, with type C2 censor cachet No. 8 and Raki Raki arrival of July 14 1944 at left, both in black, and showing Suva (July 11) and Lautoka (July 13) datestamps on reverse. Ex Smith. Photo. (Image1)