Samoa Davis' Private Post, Stationery Postal Card Sent On January 1-St, 1896 - New Year!

This a very rare card issued in the late 1895. by J. Davis' Private Post in Samoa... postmark 1/1/1896, Apia... arrived in Bonn (Germany) one month later, on 31.1.1896.

These issue of cards have been very fragile, and this is almost excellent preservance...

I am not sure about the how many cards of this type have been issued (this is a 1st issue, somewhere dated in 1895, and somewhere in 1896), but some catalogs references say only about 200-250 pieces.

Surely one of top ten pieces in my small collection :)

According to Odenweller in his work on Samoa there were 1,000 of the first printing of the normal card and 250 of the message-reply card. Your card appears to be from the first printing is it is in dark blue. The second printing of 2,000 cards was in a lighter blue. Your card is an early use as Odenweller notes that the EKU for the first printing is November 25, 1895.

Why do you call this a private post as Davis was the officially appointed Postmaster for Samoa?

Rarity aside, it is also a lovely piece.

Great penmanship, stamp in very good shape, clear postal markings.

Well done!

Cheers,

/s/ ikeyPikey

Thank you, IkePikey!

@wtcrowe - I didn't read the Odenweller book, so thank you for these specific info I didn't have. This is surely printing because the date of use also... 2nd printing was much later than 1/1/1896, if I have undersand that well.

I know that Wikipedia is not very accurate, but I have seen the term "Private Post" on the several places... however,

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Posta...ory_of_Samoa

Private issues

A private service was set up by J. Davis In 1886. Stamps designated "Samoa Postage" were issued between 1886 and 1899.

Similarly, the Michel Ganzsachen-Katalog Deutschland 1980 lists these cards under "Samoanische Privatpost von. J. Davis."

Beautiful card, filipo! I'm jealous!

Hey Erilaz, thank you for the info! I didn't have an idea that it is listed in the Michel Ganzsachen. Probably because German postal office already existed on Samoa in that time.

I just have checked my copy from 2003. an it was still listed... very highly valued (750 eur = 800 usd) for a stationery card.

Some info (in German)
https://www.philaseiten.de/cgi-bin/...192&CP=0&F=1

http://www.kolonialmarken.de/conten...en/Samoa.pdf

Thank you, perf12. On the first link is a Cancel-to-Order (CTO) postal card, which is the 2nd value in Michel catalogue (Mint -- CTO -- Used). I have seen several genuinely used cards on the sale on-line (usually from late 1896. or even later; no one even close to the early date as mine), but didn't see CTO cards on sale... not I can see that they has been made for the philatelic purposes.

It's a very nice cookie you have….