New Hebrides: Airmails: 1929 (July 17) Naval Catapult Attempt, cover to M. Auriot on board the "Tourville" at Noum̩a bearing mixed franking of French issue 5c. pair, 10c., 30c. and 1f. with British issue 5s. each with "PAR AVION" handstamp and cancelled Vila July 16 c.d.s's, Noum̩a July 20 backstamp. Also an unused photographic card of the "Tourville". On the occasion of the French cruiser "Tourville" 's visit to Port-Vila, the opportunity for the first New Hebrides airmail arose as the cruiser carried planes, one of which arrived at Port Vila on July 15. The next day around 800 covers bearing 1925 issues were produced, the stamps overstruck by "PAR AVION" rubber handstamp. Only fifteen examples of some high values of can exist, this being the number of complete sets handstamped. The "Tourville" proceeded to Noum̩a and it has been claimed that the plane was deployed en route, landing at Norsup on the island of Malekula, although this was denied in a 1931 letter from the Assistant Postmaster in Vila, asserting that the seaplane had broken down. An element of doubt remains. The covers were subsequently backstamped on arrival in Noum̩a. Photo. (Image1)

New Hebrides: Airmails: 1929 (July 17) Naval Catapult Attempt, envelope to Paris bearing mixed franking of French issue 5c. (2), 25c., 30c., 40c., 75c., 1f., 2f. with British issue 1d., 2d., 5d. (3, two sharing single handstamp), 1s. and 5s., each with "PAR AVION" handstamp and cancelled Vila July 16 c.d.s's, Noum̩a July 20 and Paris Customs backstamp, minor creasing . Also an unused postcard of the "Tourville". Ex Gregson. Illustrated as fig. 17-1 in "The New Hebrides: Their Postal History and Postage Stamps" by Hals & Collas (1967). On the occasion of the French cruiser "Tourville" 's visit to Port-Vila, the opportunity for the first New Hebrides airmail arose as the cruiser carried planes, one of which arrived at Port Vila on July 15. The next day around 800 covers bearing 1925 issues were produced, the stamps overstruck by "PAR AVION" rubber handstamp. Only fifteen examples of some high values of can exist, this being the number of complete sets handstamped. The "Tourville" proceeded to Noum̩a and it has been claimed that the plane was deployed en route, landing at Norsup on the island of Malekula, although this was denied in a 1931 letter from the Assistant Postmaster in Vila, asserting that the seaplane had broken down. An element of doubt remains. The covers were subsequently backstamped on arrival in Noum̩a. Photo. (Image1)

New Hebrides: Airmails: Selection of mainly later covers on leaves incl. incoming from U.K. 1938 and 1939 'All Up' covers, 1955 early use of boxed "AERIAL SERVICE/COMPLETED SYDNEY", 1948 Sydney-New Hebrides, also 1931 Noum̩a-Voh cover baering New Caledonia and New Hebrides issues, etc., good to fine. (28 items)

New Hebrides: Airmails: 1940 (June 5) to France, 1941 (Aug. 25), two censored airmail envelopes from Port-Vila, the first registered but delayed, arriving in Valence only on Sept. 9, the second endorsed "By PANAIR" and twice censored, bearing "France Libre" 5c. and 15c. pairs, 10c. single (one 10c. detached), one of only five known PAN-AM covers from the New Hebrides. (Image1)

New Hebrides: Airmails: TRAPAS (Transports A̩riens du Pacifique Sud) flights, 1947 (July 16, 19) Noum̩a-Santo first flight cover and return, both with cachet, 1950 (Apr. 25) Port Vila-Paris first flight cover franked 65c. and card bearing 25c. (further adhesive detached, both with cachet. (4 items) (Image1)