Rabaul

At the June 24, 1946, opening of the civilian post office in Rabaul, two Australian army military postal cancellers were drawn into use: Field Post Office 042 and Field Post Office 102.

Both date stamps were withdrawn in July 1946.

From July 1946 until October 1947 the Relief dater PMG's DEPT D4 came into use.

13.07.1946
18.02.1947

As of July 17 the was also a town date stamp ready for use.

17.07.1946

Besides two additional date stamps, one also finds a few provisional date markings.

The single-line relief stamp PO RABAUL is only known used on a few examples as a transit marking on registered mail. There is always an additional single-line date stamp added. Such use is only known for the months of March and April.

01.04.1947
26.04.1947

From October 1947 until September 1948 the Relief date stamp No. 5 came into use.

05.03.1948
27.05.1948

Between 1948 and 1951 the use of two further provisional date stamps had been proven. The situation deals with oval rubber date stamps with the text "POST OFFICE".

The difference between the two is found in the lower part of the date stamp. On the one the text is "RABAUL", while on the other it is "RABAUL PNG".

25.09.1950 RABAUL
19.09.1951 RABAUL PNG

In 1949 we note a date stamp inscribed "MONEY ORDER OFFICE RABAUL" used as a transit stamp on the back side of registered mail. Cancellation of stamps with this dater is only known on a "per favour" basis. The correct use was not cancelled by the Sohano post office.

30.07.1949
12.01.1949

In Rabaul, from time to time, no registration labels were available.


As a short term back-up airmail labels were used.

 

07.06.1950
05.09.1950
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