Postmark Theme, New, Old, How Or Why.

Very interesting postmark and stamp BeeSee! Thankyou!

Yes, very nice Collin,
a really enjoyable part of philately
It would be nice to see collections of the scarcer out posts,
I remember delving around stamps of the islands around Diego Garcia,
which brought up images of rusty tin bucket packets
delivering the mail, and unkempt unshaven images of Humphrey Bogart
as skipper.
They must have been interesting times.

Note to myself: must hunt up the DVD again of "The Caine Mutiny"
one of Bogart's best imho.

I have a small handful of Diego Suarez, but only overprints and Navigation and Commerces...I was just looking at a couple of the early lithos last night. I would like one of the France/Madagascar unity allegories, but it is down the list aways! I'm puzzling over one of the other French Colonies cancels...I'm off to the scanner...

I'm seeing Saigon Cochinchine on this one...thoughts? (I know, the stamp itself could be nicer.)



As long as we are talking about French outposts, here are a couple more...
Hoi Hao:



Peking, China:



Alexandria:



And one more for now, even though it isn't postmarked...



I'm a sucker for Zanzibar.

C.

Diego Suarez:
ramblings from an earlier time.

...and pre 1900 the packet steamer would call in at Saint Marie,
North past Diego Suarez around the tip of Madagascar
call in a Nossi Be, then to Mayotte before returning.

Regarding Diego Suarez.

Antsiranana, Madagascar (also known as Diego Suarez)

Diego Suarez, former French garrison town and capital of the north,
is the gateway to the northern reserves.

Map showing Saint Marie and Diego Suarez:
http://www.priori.ch/images/map26.gif

Detail map of Diego Suarez:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/isla...uarez_76.jpg

The capital of Madagascar's northernmost province, Antsiranana -
the name means 'port' - has one of the world's most beautiful
deep-water harbours. A ring of mountains surrounds the town,
which has a very diverse population of about 80,000 Sakalava,
Antakarana, French, Arabs, Chinese and Comoriens.

The town is the gateway to Montagne d'Ambre and Ankarana
national parks, and many visitors simply pass through
Antsiranana, ignorant of its charms. Those with the time
to linger and discover the decaying colonial architecture
(the old covered market and the former Hotel de la Marine
for seafarers are notable examples), the vibrant market
and the wealth of crafts workshops will find Diego
atmospheric and enjoyable. There is a variety of hotels
and restaurants in town, and at Ramena beach, about 18 km
to the east. There are baobab trees on the route between
Diego Suarez and Ramena.

Almost equidistant between Ramena and Diego is the
Montagne des Français. The ascent offers superb views
over the bay, and the prospect of good birding and
sightings of Sanford's brown lemurs. The cliffs
and caves attract rock climbers.

At the rock formation known as 'Windsor Castle',
you will find some tsingy and a variety of drought
resistant endemic plants. From the top, the panorama
stretches from Montagne d'Ambre in the south to the
remote Cap d'Ambre, the northern tip of Madagascar.

East of Ramena is a series of deserted bays:
Baie des Dunes, Baie de Sakalava, Baie des Pigeons

Bizarre post card from Diego Suarez:
MADAGASCAR - Diego Suarez : Execution of the murderer
of a white setler on 9th July 1911, the man who watched
the execution related the event and the reason why the
man was executed on the reverse of the postcard.

acknowledgement Blair: rcsd





..and my only hoi hao stamp. (looks a mite lonely on the page)

Yes, agree Collin.

I was surprised how few of my Diego Suarez have legible cancels. (Most aren't used to start with.) Here is one of the better ones, which isn't saying much...

Picked up a nice combination of postmark and stamp today...




...postal use of a Victoria fiscal. Should I be surprised that it was mailed on Boxing Day? I thought Boxing Day was a holiday in Australia...not a postal holiday?

Collin

The fiscal postal is very desirable Collin

They probably ran out of postage stamps.
Camperdown:
The town was named by Governor Charles LaTrobe in 1854 recognising Scottish naval hero, Lord Viscount Adam Duncan who was Earl of Camperdown.

rod-

I edited my note in the time it took you to reply...is the Boxing Day cancel unusual? Not a postal holiday?

Collin

I'm exposed :)
I have no idea Collin. 1893 I would expect a normal sort of day,
In those days there was a differing work ethic in Australia.
I have seen Christmas day cancellations as well, but don't ask me to find them.
This is the province of the specialist collector of Vic I should think.
But I shall keep my ears open.

The older stamps really have a very special charm of their own. I can not help but like these stamps very much and all the great information! Thanks for spending so much time posting.

Apparently these postmarks are forgeries in part because the stamps were never issued in St.Pierre et Miquelon and also because have never been seen canceled before?
Any thoughts...
Paul

Paul-

My first thought is that the dates are the same. Not a definite problem, but suspicious. A lot of the Vichy stuff never left France, as far as I know, though I don't know specifically about St.P&M.

Collin

A nice clear one & Ballina wouldn't be that common.