The Postal History of PNG - Vols I & 2

The Papuan Philatelic Society has recently published two handbooks by M. J. Garwood and R. A. D. Heward about The Postal History of Papua New Guinea 1945 to 2000.

(a) Volume I:- published in 1999 includes details and illustrations of all known Relief, Postage Paid, and Dead Letter Markers and Late Fee cancellations from 1945 to 1998.
It is priced at £15 plus-
Postage and packing: £1.60 UK. £2.50 to mainland Europe and £2. 60 North America surface mail.

(b) Volume I parts 1 & 2 published in 2000 and 2001 is a comprehensive study with illustrations and location maps of all known Post Markers used at post offices Abau to Yomba from the end of World War II on 16th August, 1945 to 31st December to 2000.

It is priced at £47.50 (for the two parts) plus:
Postage and packing £3.20 UK; £5 mainland Europe and £5.20 surface mail to North America.

Orders from members in Europe and North America should be sent to the Hon. Treasurer, Papuan Philatelic Society, Mr M. J. Garwood, 129 Pickhurst Rise, West Wickham, Kent, BR4 0AG.
Payment only by sterling cheque on a UK bank payable to Papua Philatelic Society OR currency notes in U.S. / Canadian Dollars, Euros or Pound Sterling.

Orders from members in Australasian should be first checked for costs with Gary Watson Premier Philately PTY LTD., P O Box 126, Belgrave, Victoria 3160, Australia.
Internet site: www.premierphilately.com
E-mail: info@premierphilately.com

Payments can also be made through PayPal (send an e-mail to the website for further details)

Here's a review of this work:

BOOK REVIEW

THE POSTAL HISTORY OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA 1945-1998
Volume 1 Part 2 - The Post Offices:- MADANG - YOMBA
ISBN 1 90293102 5

Soft cover plastic comb bound A4 size (295 x 210mm), 160 pages (approx.)
A definitive reference work, Part 2 lists Post Offices MADANG -YOMBA. Contents also include an addendum, updating all Post Office information to year 2000, and two appendices dealing with Military Post operations and maps of the country.
Companion books are -
Vol 1: Part I: The Post Offices ABAU- LUMI - published 2000
Vol 2: Post Paid Markers, Relief Postmarkers....published 1999.
Part 2 completes the revision and updating of Vern Rutherford's "The Postal History of Papua New Guinea 1945 - 1984" by long time and enthusiastic Papuan Philatelic Society members Michael Garwood and Rad Heward.
This much awaited book continues on from Part 1 with the same easy to use format. Introductory pages are repeated. With one or two minor exceptions, all postmark illustrations are excellent. One should be reminded here of the many different types and colours of "postmarking" ink now in general use throughout Papua New Guinea. Collectors/researchers will note varying degrees of incompatibility of these inks with the "rubber" postmarkers (eg North Waigani/page 32) and/or even with the stamp surface itself. Readers may be confused with the dual listing of SNS Waigani, where the information is described under Waigani SNS. It would appear that the public too are confused, as the Post Office which is still located in the same shop has just been renamed Hohola .…. the suburb in which it is located.
In the addendum, 22 pages are given to postal updates to year 2000. This covers all Post Offices. We see, for example, that 31 new postmarkers have been put into service at Boroko in the space of two years. Additional blank pages allow for further updates. This practical approach would be an excellent method to have the book updated by the society, in which only the addendum and revision notes need replacement.
An important and welcome inclusion is Appendix C, a combined listing of all Military Post Offices in operation from August 1945. Postal Units from Australia, United Kingdom, New Zealand and the United States of America are listed. Previously, much of this information could have only been separately sourced from a number of books; The Bibliography lists these books if further research is required; Postmark illustration is limited to a single copy of each type. An excellent summary is provided of the recent Australian Field Post Office operation during the restoration of peace
following the failed secession bid on Bougainville Island.
Appendix D contains maps showing locations of all civilian Post Offices. It is a pity, however, that the map inserts for both Port Moresby and Lae have numerous minor, but noticeable, location errors.
This book is a goldmine of information and is to be used together with Volume 1 Part 1 and Volume 2. I can only restate what has been said in the review of Part 1 that anyone with interest in Papua New Guinea's modern postal history should have this and companion books. Thank you for a job well done.

Highly recommended.
RM

Members of the The Papuan Philatelic Society receive a quarterly magazine up dating these handbooks. Subscriptions for 2002 / 2003 are £13 UK; £14.50 mainland Europe; £16 North America Australasian and South Africa.
There is a joining fee of £5 .
Members are also entitled to a special reduction for back numbers of our magazine Papua New Guinea Calling.
Application forms are attainable by post from our Hon Sec Derek Ashton 71 Lowerside, Ham, Plymouth, Devon PL2 2HU.
The form may also be obtained by e-mailing the society via the website.