The Nauru “Ship” Series: The Post-War Printings

[This letter has not been seen – GNK]

“It is desired to forward a supply of these stamps to Nauru by a boat leaving Melbourne by about the middle of October.

“Mr Cartledge of this Department, whose specimen signature is attached, will call on you on about the 16th of October to collect portion of the stamps held by you. He is authorised to indicate the quantities desired and give a receipt therefor.”

The General Manager (W.C.G. McCracken) replied on 16 October, providing a list of the quantities of Nauru stamps handed over:

“Referring to your letter of 9th October, 1945, No. K.848/1/2, we wish to advise that acting in accordance with a telephonic request received today from your department (Mr Cartledge) we have delivered to the Department of War Organization of Industry, 2nd Floor, Wentworth House, Collins Street, Melbourne, the stock (listed hereunder) of Nauru stamps held by us.

“We were requested to continue to hold the chest of stamps sent to us for safe keeping at the outbreak of war (see table 1).”

Table 1.

Nauru Postage Stamps (in sheets 120 on)
1d	104	6d	109
1½d	94	9d	90
2d	99	1/-	119
2½d	49	1/6	79
3d	84	5/-	59
4d	74	10/-	84
5d	99

This “chest of stamps” must represent the stock of stamps on Nauru evacuated prior to the Japanese invasion. It cannot be any stock held by the Note Printing Branch to supply future orders, since this would never have needed to be sent to the Branch for safekeeping. That such a stock existed can be proven from the size of the final pre-war printings of February 1939 and July 1941 (see Philately from Australia, December 1999, pages 160-161). There is no mention of this stock in the file, and it seems that it was either (i) destroyed at some stage, or (ii) added to the “chest”, which therefore contained the combined quantities of both the island and Melbourne stock.

There is no indication of what went wrong at this point, but something must have, and the stamps were returned to the Note Printing Branch. This is because the next letter on record is from the Department of External Territories dated 29 July 1946, which again refers to the stamps being held by the Note Printing Branch:

“With reference to previous correspondence concerning Nauru stamps, I should be glad if you would kindly arrange for despatch to the Administrator, Nauru, of the box of stamps which was lodged with your Branch for safe keeping on 8th May, 1942, and advise me when arrangements have been completed.

“The next sailing for Nauru will be about the end of August and details thereof may be obtained from the British Phosphate Commissioners, Phosphate House, 515 Collins Street, Melbourne.”

Subsequent correspondence indicates that the stamps were shipped on the S.S. Trienza on 11 September 1946. The date of their receipt on Nauru is not recorded, but was acknowledged in a letter from the Secretary of the Department of External Territories on 24 December. The quantities of each denomination supplied were presumably the same as those listed above.

In the same letter the Secretary goes on to say “…As all stocks of Nauru stamps previously held by you have now been drawn by the Nauru Administration, the question of further printings will soon have to be considered and in this connection it has been suggested that the time might now be opportune to make preliminary arrangements for the introduction of a complete new issue of Nauru stamps, covering possibly several designs illustrating scenes or events associated with Nauruan life…”

The matter of a new issue was to take a considerable time and would not come to fruition until 1954.

Twelfth Reprint – March 1947
The first order requiring a new printing accompanied a letter from the Secretary of the Department of External Territories dated 29 January 1947:

“The Administrator of Nauru has requested the early supply of 500 sheets each, 120 on, of the following denominations of Nauru Stamps:-

“2d, 2½d, 3d, 4d, 5d and 6d

“and I should be glad if you would kindly arrange accordingly.

“Official Order No. 4043 covering supply is enclosed herewith.

“It is expected that a vessel will sail from Melbourne for Nauru about 20th February, and It would be appreciated if the stamps could be printed in time for despatch by that vessel. I will advise you further in this connection as soon as the exact date of sailing is known.”

Continuing the numbering from the pre-war printings, this represented the twelfth reprint of the “Ships” stamps.

The paper accountancy record (RBA NP-R-8) shows the following issues of paper for these printings. All are described as “Nauru Postage Eureka Art 16” x 11” – the same paper as had been used for pre-war printings (see table 2).

Table 2.

Date	Order No.	Denomination	Sheets Issued to Printer
4 February 1947	135	2d	550
4 February 1947	136	2½d	550
4 February 1947	137	3d	550
4 February 1947	138	4d	550
4 February 1947	139	5d	550
4 February 1947	140	6d	550
4 February 1947	141	3d	550

The order numbers, it will be noted, continue the numerical sequence from the pre-war printings. The Strongroom Register (RBA NP-IS-14) shows the following records of plate movements related to these printings (see table 3).

Table 3.

Instrument	Instr No.	Issued from Strongroom	Returned to Strongroom
2d Steel Plate (120 on)	36	3 February 1947	24 February 1947
2½d Steel Plate (120 on)	25	3 February 1947	24 February 1947
3d Steel Plate (120 on)	26	3 February 1947	25 February 1947
4d Steel Plate (120 on)	27	3 February 1947	24 February 1947
5d Steel Plate (120 on)	28	3 February 1947	24 February 1947
6d Steel Plate (120 on)	29	3 February 1947	24 February 1947

On 6 February 1947 the Secretary of the Department of External Territories wrote advising that the Triona would sail for Nauru on 20 February. This was apparently not practicable, but there is nothing further on file until McCracken writes on 4 March to advise that the stamps were being despatched per the Trienza which was expected to sail towards the end of that week. The quantities despatched (sheets of 120 stamps) were:

2d 500 sheets 4d 500 sheets
2½d 475 sheets 5d 483 sheets
3d 460 sheets 6d 525 sheets

These quantities presumably the total of “good” sheets printed, the differences between these quantities and the paper issued being spoils. There must have been a problem with the 3d and a fresh printing was needed, as indicated by the two issues of paper for this value. Presumably the first print was unsatisfactory and destroyed, but there are no available records to confirm this.

Thirteenth Reprint – July 1947
This printing, of ½d stamps, is dealt with very briefly in the file. Official Order No. 4066 from the Department of External Territories, dated 23 May 1947, was for 500 sheets of ½d stamps. The paper accountancy record (NP-R-8) shows that 600 sheets of paper (order no. 142) were issued to the printer for this purpose on 4 June 1947, and the Strongroom Register (NP-IS-14) shows that the ½d printing plate 120-on (official no. 31) was issued on 5 June 1947 and returned to the strongroom on 13 June. On 28 July McCracken advised that 525 sheets of ½d stamps had been forwarded for sailing on the Triona leaving 30 July.

The philatelic evidence, and subsequent correspondence, shows that this printing was perforated 14. All previous printings of all denominations had been line perf. 11.

Fourteenth Reprint – July 1948
This order was for a further quantity of ½d stamps, and is covered by a letter from Secretary of the Department of External Territories dated 4 June 1948:

“The Administrator of Nauru has requested the early supply of a further fifty thousand (50,000) of the half-penny denomination of Nauru stamps, printed from existing blocks and I should be glad if you would kindly arrange accordingly. The Administrator particularly desires that perforation fourteen be used to match current half-penny issue.”

The paper accountancy record (NP-R-8) shows that 500 sheets of paper (order no. 143) were issued to the printer for this purpose on 3 June 1948, and the Strongroom Register (NP-IS-14) shows that the ½d printing plate 120-on (official no. 31) was issued on 10 June 1948 and returned to the strongroom on 15 June. On 8 July McCracken advised that 319 sheets of ½d stamps had been forwarded for sailing on the Kelvinbank leaving 9 July.

This seems a very low yield for the 500 sheets issued, and wastage was high for some reason. The printing was presumably perforated 14 as requested. It is likely that this further ½d reprint was required because that of June 1948 had been rapidly depleted by philatelic orders due to the use of different perforation gauge.

Fifteenth Reprint – February 1950
The next order from the Secretary of the Department of External Territories was dated 16 January 1950:

“I have received a request by radio from the Administrator, Nauru, for the urgent supply of the following Nauru postage stamps:-

“50 sheets stamps @ 1/-
50 sheets stamps @ 2½d

“Enclosed herewith is our official order, number 29/50, to cover the supply of these stamps, and I should be glad if you would act accordingly…”

The paper accountancy record (NP-R-8) shows that 100 sheets of paper were issued for each denomination (order nos. 144 and 145) to the printer for this purpose on 25 January 1950, and the Strongroom Register (NP-IS-14) shows that the 2½d and 1/- printing plates 120-on (official nos. 25 and 32 respectively) were issued on 25 January 1950 and returned to the strongroom on 9 February 1950. On 28 February McCracken advised that 45 sheets of 2½d stamps and 50 sheets of 1/- stamps had been forwarded for sailing on the Trienza leaving 4 March.

It should be noted that these stamps, and all future orders, reverted to using the 11 line perforation.

Sixteenth Reprint – June 1950
The small order of February 1950 seems to have been quite inadequate, and on 31 March 1950 a further order for the same two denominations was received:

“I have received a request by radio from the Administrator, Nauru, for the supply of the following Nauru postage stamps:-

“400 sheets stamps 2½d
400 sheets stamps 1/-

“Enclosed herewith is our official order, number 66/50, to cover the supply of these stamps, and I should be glad if you would act accordingly…”

The paper accountancy record (NP-R-8) shows that 500 sheets of paper (order nos. 146 and 147) were issued for each denomination to the printer for this purpose on 18 April 1950, and the Strongroom Register (NP-IS-14) shows that the 2½d and 1/- printing plates 120-on (official nos. 25 and 32 respectively) were issued on 18 April 1950 and returned to the strongroom on 26 April. On 2 June 1950 McCracken advised that 420 sheets of 2½d stamps and 400 sheets of 1/- stamps had been forwarded for sailing on the Eastgate leaving 5 June.

Seventeenth Reprint – May 1951
Another order for ½d stamps was advised by the Secretary of the Department of External Territories on 17 April 1951:

“It would be appreciated if you would supply to this Department as early as practicable the following Nauru Postage Stamps:-

“100 sheets stamps @ ½d

“official order No. 4029 for which is enclosed.

“It should be particularly noted that these stamps are to be delivered to this office, not to the Administrator as is customary.”

This printing was probably needed to supply outstanding philatelic orders for which the Post Office on Nauru did not have sufficient supplies. The paper accountancy record (NP-R-8) shows that 150 sheets of paper (order no. 148) were issued to the printer for this purpose on 20 April 1951, and the Strongroom Register (NP-IS-14) shows that the ½d printing plate 120-on (official no. 31) was issued on 26 April 1951and returned to the strongroom on 2 May 1951. The stamps (100 sheets) were despatched to the Department in Canberra on 22 May 1951.

It is believed that this printing, as well as the subsequent ½d printings, all reverted to the 11 line perforation. The multiplicity of ½d orders, up to this time and subsequently, was almost certainly to satisfy frequent large orders from stamp dealers, buying the lowest denomination for supplying stamp packets.

Eighteenth Reprint – August 1951
Yet another order for ½d stamps was sent by the Secretary of the Department of External Territories on 10 July 1951:

“I have received a request by radio from the Administrator, Nauru, for supply of the following Nauru postage stamps:-

“200 sheets stamps at ½d

“Enclosed herewith is our official order No. 146/51, to cover supply of these stamps, and I should be glad if you would act accordingly…”

The paper accountancy record (NP-R-8) shows that 500 sheets of paper (order no. 149) were issued to the printer for this purpose on 16 July 1951, and the Strongroom Register (NP-IS-14) shows that the ½d printing plate 120-on (official no. 31) was issued on 17 July 1951and returned to the strongroom on 31 July 1951. The stamps (200 sheets) were despatched to the Department in Canberra on 28 August 1951.

It is clear from the quantity of paper supplied for printing that the Note Printing Branch was tiring of the repeated small orders and produced sufficient stamps to create a surplus stock. Indeed, it seems likely that all orders from the beginning of 1950, for which the exact quantities ordered were generally supplied, had a surplus that was kept in stock. However, since there is no stock record available for this period, the actual numbers of “good” sheets being produced for each printing is unknown.

Nineteenth Reprint – June and August 1952
This order was complex as it involves two overlapping orders treated as one by the Note Printing Branch, the second one of which was subsequently amended. The first order was advised by the Secretary of the Department of External Territories on 21 March 1952:

“I have received a request from the Administrator, Nauru, for supply of the following Nauru postage stamps.

“50 Sheets Ninepence Nauru Postage Stamps
100 “ Three pence “ “ “
100 “ One Penny “ “ “
100 “ Half Penny “ “ “

“Enclosed herewith is our official order No. RU.295, to cover supply of these stamps, and I should be glad if you would act accordingly…”

A further order was received on 15 April 1952:

“I have received a request from the Administrator Nauru for supply of the following Nauru postage stamps.

“200 Sheets Halfpenny Nauru Postage Stamps
200 “ One penny “ “ “
200 “ Penny halfpenny “ “ “
200 “ Three pence “ “ “
200 “ Nine pence “ “ “

“Enclosed herewith is our official order No. RU.309, to cover supply of these stamps and I should be glad if you would act accordingly…”

A notation on the second order indicates the totals required for the two orders, and shows that these are to be supplied partly from stock. The paper accountancy record (RBA NP-R-8) shows the following issues of paper for these orders.

The Strongroom Register (NP-IS-14) shows the following records of related plate movements.

A first consignment of stamps was sent on 4 June 1952, but on 7 August 1952 an “Amendment to Purchase Order for Supplies” was sent to the Note Printing Branch, altering the quantities required in fulfillment of Order No. RU.309. These quantities became:

140 sheets of ½d 200 sheets of 1d
50 sheets of 1½d 50 sheets of 3d
50 sheets of 9d

The stamps were shipped in two consignments, on 4 June 1952 for shipment per S.S. Tynebank leaving 6 June, and on 13 August 1952 for shipment per S.S. Triona sailing the same day. (See table 7 for the quantities sent.)

A comparison of these totals with the quantities of paper issued for printing, shows that portion of the ½d stamps supplied must have come from stock on hand.

Twentieth Reprint – February 1953
On 3 September 1952 a formal order for printing the new definitive issue was sent to the Note Printing Branch. At that stage, however, only the designs had been finalized, and the dies and printing plates were not yet ready. Reprints therefore continued to be made of the “Ship” stamps as required. The next order was for a further supply of ½d stamps, dated 15 January 1953:

“I attach official Order No. 4060 for the supply of 34,000 Nauru ½d postage stamps.

“Will you please arrange for 10,000 of these stamps to be forwarded to this department as early as practicable for transmission to New York.

“The balance of 24,000 stamps to be despatched to:-

“The Administrator of Nauru
C/- British Phosphate Commissioners
515 Collins Street,
MELBOURNE”

The order (the equivalent of 2831/3 sheets) was amended by telephone on 28 January for 22,000 stamps to be sent to Canberra and the remainder to Nauru. The paper accountancy record (NP-R-8) shows that 400 sheets of paper (order no. 158) were issued to the printer for this printing on 19 January 1953, and the Strongroom Register (NP-IS-14) shows that the ½d printing plate 120-on (official no. 31) was issued on 19 January 1953 and returned to the strongroom on 26 February 1953. On 12 February 1953 McCracken advised that 184 sheets (22,080 stamps) had been despatched to the Department in Canberra, and 87 sheets (10,440 stamps) delivered to the British Phosphate Commissioners.

Twenty-first Reprint – June 1953
Another order was sent on 31 March 1953, for ½d and 1½d stamps:
Enclosed is Official Order No. 4061, on behalf of the Administration of Nauru, for the supply of the following Nauru postage stamps:-
450 sheets @ ½d

On 10 June 1953 there was a telephonic request asking for an additional 83 sheets of ½d stamps to be supplied to Canberra. The paper accountancy record (NP-R-8) and Strongroom Register (NP-IS-14) entries for this printing is:

Date	Order No.	Denomination	Sheets
8 April 1953	159	½d
8 April 1953	160	1½d	100

Instrument	Instrument No.	Issued from Strongroom	Returned to Strongroom
½d Steel Plate (120 on)	31	9 April 1953	16 April 1953
1½d Steel Plate (120 on)	24	9 April 1953	16 April 1953

On 18 June 1953 McCracken advised that 125 sheets of ½d stamps had been despatched to the Department in Canberra, and 305 sheets of ½d stamps and 74 sheets of 1½d stamps delivered to the British Phosphate Commissioners.

Twenty-second Reprint – June 1953
On 25 August 1953 the Note Printing Branch advised the Department of External Territories that printing of the new definitive series had been completed and was ready for despatch. The first supplies were despatched from the Note Printing Branch on 28 August for forwarding to Nauru. Nevertheless, there was one final order of the “Ship” stamps, again the ½d denomination, and almost certainly required to fill philatelic orders. Official Order No. 6045, dated 15 December 1953, asked for 25,000 ½d stamps, to be supplied to the Department in Canberra. The paper accountancy record (NP-R-8) shows that 300 sheets of paper (order no. 161) was issued to the printer for this printing on 4 January 1954, and the Strongroom Register (NP-IS-14) shows that the ½d printing plate 120-on (official no. 31) was issued on 4 January 1954 and returned to the strongroom on 8 January 1954. On 4 February 1954 190 sheets (22,800 stamps) were despatched to the Department in Canberra.

This was the final printing of the Nauru “Ship” definitives. There are no available records to indicate what surplus stocks were still held at the Note Printing Branch after the completion of this order, but if any, these must have been destroyed at a later date.

Summary
The following table summarises the printing consignments of the Ship series between 1947 and 1954. The dates given are, as accurate as possible, those of despatch from the Note Printing Branch in Melbourne, and the quantities are those despatched. All printings were made on Eureka Art paper (shiny, surfaced, white paper). There were no post-war printings of the 2/6d, 5/- and 10/- denominations.

Published by kind permission of the author
First published in Philately from Australia (December 2005)