Ship Of State
Stamp Magazine|December 2019
Recess-printed, lithographed, typographed and overprinted, the attractive Lakatoi issues of British New Guinea and Papua are a complex series with myriad varieties
Nicholas Oughton
Ship Of State

The postage stamps of British New Guinea and Papua have enjoyed great popularity over the years, and much of this can be attributed to the territory’s earliest issues, the so-called Lakatoi series.

With their exotic, colorful portrayal of a Papuan scene, so very different from the drab designs of many other countries in the early years of the 20th century, the Lakatos created excitement among collectors from the moment they were released.

Having remained in use for more than three decades, they offer a wealth of material for collection, study, and display.

Postal services

Having established the territorial claim to British New Guinea in 1883, the colony of Queensland was responsible for providing basic amenities, including an embryonic postal system.

The annual report of its Post & Telegraph Department in 1885 stated that ‘Arrangements were made in August for the exchange of mails with Port Moresby’, and that ‘Correspondence from New Guinea…would bear Queensland stamps’. The postage rate for a letter was to be 2d per ½oz.

In 1886 a contract issued to Burns Philp & Co provided for a monthly shipping service from Sydney in New South Wales, via Cooktown in Queensland, to Port Moresby in British New Guinea.

In 1888 the records show that 5,721 letters were received and 934 dispatched from BNG, and new post offices began to be established.

Stamps from various issues of Queensland were used to pay for postage. Up to 1891, they are most often found canceled with the ‘NG’ eight-bar obliterator used at Port Moresby.

Lakatoi design

This story is from the December 2019 edition of Stamp Magazine.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the December 2019 edition of Stamp Magazine.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM STAMP MAGAZINEView All
Ship Of State
Stamp Magazine

Ship Of State

Recess-printed, lithographed, typographed and overprinted, the attractive Lakatoi issues of British New Guinea and Papua are a complex series with myriad varieties

time-read
7 mins  |
December 2019
The Finest Cuts For This Year's Christmas Fare
Stamp Magazine

The Finest Cuts For This Year's Christmas Fare

Royal Mail’s Christmas stamps, released on November 5, take a religious approach this year, featuring classy biblical scenes created by paper-cut artists Hari & Deepti.

time-read
1 min  |
December 2019
Roaring Success?
Stamp Magazine

Roaring Success?

The first stamp issue for Kenya, Uganda & Tanganyika in 1935 might have united three postal administrations, but its design and printing were far from uniform

time-read
2 mins  |
December 2019
Man Of Peace
Stamp Magazine

Man Of Peace

Karl bickel not only transformed and rejuvenated Swiss stamp design in the mid-20th century but also built a monument to peace in his spare time

time-read
3 mins  |
December 2019
‘Oh Help! Oh No! It's A Gruffalo!'
Stamp Magazine

‘Oh Help! Oh No! It's A Gruffalo!'

A Royal Mail stamp issue on October 10 marked the 20th anniversary of the publication of The Gruffalo, the popular children’s picture book written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler.

time-read
3 mins  |
December 2019
Day Of Reckoning
Stamp Magazine

Day Of Reckoning

However painstakingly compiled, your collection is destined to be broken up and recycled. It’s not a question of if, but when, and how?

time-read
2 mins  |
December 2019
Beasts Of Burden
Stamp Magazine

Beasts Of Burden

Animals harnessed for postal purposes have come in all shapes and sizes. Some of the choices and some of the scenarios might surprise you

time-read
9 mins  |
November 2019
King And Kaiser
Stamp Magazine

King And Kaiser

Johann Kaiser engraved only three stamp designs, but they were the first issues of the Netherlands and Dutch colonies, so his place in philatelic history is secure

time-read
3 mins  |
November 2019
Whisper Of Wilberforce
Stamp Magazine

Whisper Of Wilberforce

A centenary with particular resonance for Sierra Leone inspired one of the finest colonial issues of the 1930s, even if the key protagonist was barely acknowledged

time-read
2 mins  |
November 2019
Try, Try Again
Stamp Magazine

Try, Try Again

With the rugby World Cup currently underway in Japan, what better time to investigate the growing potential for a rugby union thematic collection?

time-read
7 mins  |
November 2019