New Guinea
The island of New Guinea is located about 160km north of Australia and was discovered in 1512 by the Portuguese navigator, d'Abreu. New Guinea is divided into three areas. The western section, formerly Dutch New Guinea (Annexed in 1828), was taken over by Indonesia in 1963 and renamed West Irian. The north eastern section and the neighbouring islands were annexed by Germany in 1884 and remained under German control until occupied by Australian forces in 1914. At the end of World War I, the administration of the area was given to Australia by the League of Nations and the area became New Guinea. Both New Guinea & Papua were invaded and occupied in 1942 by the Japanese, but were recaptured two years later by Allied forces.Following World War II both territories were administered by Australia.
Postal History
German New Guinea
When Germany annexed the nothern part of the island in 1884, post offices were opened and German adhesives were used, which were replaced in 1900 by the standard German colonial design. These stamps were used throughout the German colonies in the area including New Britain (then New Pomerania), New Ireland (then New Mecklenburg) and Western Solomon Islands. At the outbreak of World War I there were 17 post offices. Stock of the colonial stamps were seized when the islands were occupied, and overprinted 'GRI' with a value. They were first introduced in October,1914 and were used concurrently with the overprinted stamps of Marshall Islands in December. These two issues were replaced by the "North West Pacific Island" overprints in March,1915.
New Guinea
Stamps of North West Pacific Islands continued to be used until stamps for the new territory were issued in 1925. By the outbreak of the Japanese war in 1942 there were 20 post offices operating including three in the Solomon Islands.
The former territory of New Guinea and the colony of Papua were consolidated as an Australian trust territory in 1946. From 1945 to 1952 stamps of Australia were used (eg 1946 Victory issue). From 1952 the stamps of the consolidated territories designated "Papua & New Guinea.
• Sydney Philatelics • P.O. Box 122 Milton NSW 2538 •
• Phone: +61 (0)2 4455 4011 • Fax: +61 (0)2 8572 9911 •
• E-mail:info@stampsaustralia.com.au •
