New Hebrides postage stamp year 1910 1 Fr. New Caledonia Stamp Overprinted

Historical Context & Issue Details

• Territorial Arrangement
  The New Hebrides (now Vanuatu) were governed under an Anglo–French Condominium from 1906 to 1980. During that time, the French postal authority issued stamps by overprinting New Caledonia stamps for use in the New Hebrides.
• 1908 vs 1910 French Overprints
  • In 1908, stamps simply bore the overprint “NOUVELLES HÉBRIDES”.
  • By 1910, the designation “CONDOMINIUM” was added, yielding the full overprint “NOUVELLES‑HÉBRIDES CONDOMINIUM”—addressing British concerns over omission.
• Overprint Characteristics & Print Figures
  • The 1 Franc New Caledonia stamp was overprinted in this series.
  • Two printings existed:
    • The first had the word “Condominium” misaligned;
    • The second corrected the layout with proper symmetry.
  • Total printed: 10,250 units.
  • Distributed to Vila: 2,000 units.
• Technical Specs
  • Perforation: Approximately 14 × 13½.
  • Watermark: None.
• Catalog Listings
  This issue appears as Scott 10, with equivalents in the Yvert (19) and SG (F10) catalogues.

Summary Table