Gilbert and Ellice Islands: Early Letters: 1895 (Mar.) envelope from Paul Dolch on Butaritari to a relative in Meissen, Germany, showing his framed handstamp "P. Dolch/Butaritari/Gilbert Islands/Pacific Ocean" in blue on reverse, taken by ship to Sydney where New South Wales 21/2d. and 5d. were added and cancelled "697" barred ovals with Walton Street Mar. 25 1895 c.d.s. alongside. Reverse shows same day Sydney and Apr. 29 arrival datestamps, some creasing and slightly stained, the cover a little foreshortened at left. Paul Dolch had been shipwrecked on Butaritari in 1887 and had become the harbour master, piloting ships within the lagoon. He returned to Germany but came back to Butaritari with wife Joahnna, settling on the atoll until around 1905. Photo. (Image1)

Gilbert and Ellice Islands: Early Letters: 1899 envelope from Paul Dolch on Butaritari to his mother-in-law in Meissen, Germany, showing his framed handstamp "P. Dolch/Butaritari/Gilbert Islands/Pacific Ocean" in blue on reverse, sent via the German Marshall Islands where 1897 "Marschall-Inseln" overprint 20pf. added and cancelled by "JALUIT/MARSCHALL/INSELN/2 2/99" c.d.s. with additional strike alongside and Apr. 23 arrival datestamps on reverse. Paul Dolch had been shipwrecked on Butaritari in 1887 and had become the harbour master, piloting ships within the lagoon. He returned to Germany but came back to Butaritari with wife Joahnna, settling on the atoll until around 1905. In 1949, aged 84, Frau Johanna Dolch (n̩e Busse) claimed that only three letters were sent to the Busse family from Butaritari. Photo. (Image1)

Gilbert and Ellice Islands: Early Letters: 1905 envelope from a German missionary of the Sacred Heart Mission in Abaiang (ms. endorsement on flap) to the Deutsche Seewarte institute in Hamburg, Germany, bearing Deutsches Reich 10pf. tied by "DEUTSCHE SEEPOSTR/JALUIT-/LINIE/22/9/05" c.d.s. in violet and with Nov. 4 arrival datestamp on reverse. Photo. (Image1)

Gilbert and Ellice Islands: Early Letters: 1906 (Sept.) real photographic picture postcard of tramline "ON THE LINE/OCEAN I.", sent by George "Will" Cozens, to Northern Wairoa, New Zealand, with personal message dated "20-9-06", bearing New South Wales 1/2d. and 1d. cancelled by Oct. 15 1905 Sydney duplex. In 1892 Cozens had been the sole passenger on board the brigantine "Ryno" wrecked off Flint Island in in 1892, leaving him and the crew shipwrecked on the island. After the discovery of rich guano deposits on Ocean Island George William Washington Cozens of the Pacific Islands Company and Capt. Peter Theet had been employed to supervise the building of deep sea moorings and jetties. In 1907 Cozens was appointed mooring superintendent at Ocean Island, a position he held until 1920. Photo. (Image1)

Gilbert and Ellice Islands: Early Letters: 1906 (Dec.) coloured picture postcard of the "Postdampfer Germania" with missionary's message in German on picture side headed "Butaritari 20/12/06", addressed to the Sacred Heart Mission in Rome with New South Wales 1/2d. and 1d. cancelled by Jan. 29 1907 Sydney duplex overstruck by Mar. 27 1908 arrival c.d.s. Photo. (Image1)

Gilbert and Ellice Islands: Early Letters: 1908 envelope from Tarawa to Charlottenburg, Germany, with sender's endorsement on flap "Abs. Loucke Tarawa/Gilbert-Inseln/Ì_ber Australien", bearing Marshall Islands 1901 10pf. tied by fine "DEUTSCHE SEEPOST/JALUIT/LINIE11/11 B/08" c.d.s. with "16 12/08" arrival backstamps. Photo. (Image1)

Gilbert and Ellice Islands: Early Letters: 1909 (May) Caroline Islands 10pf. stationery card to Capt. Teschke in Ponape, with message in German headed "Butaritari I. 1 Mai 1909", cancelled by fine "DEUTSCHE SEEPOST/JALUIT-/LINIE/15 5 b/09" c.d.s. Photo. (Image1)

Gilbert and Ellice Islands: Early Letters: 1910 (Feb.) Deutsches Reich 10pf. stationery card to Michigan, U.S.A. headed "S.S. Germania/Feb. 20th 10", cancelled by fine "DEUTSCHE SEEPOST/JALUIT-/LINIE/21 2 b/10" c.d.s., "Am just coming back from two months, mostly in the Gilbert Islands." Photo. (Image1)