The New Hebrides Condominium with David Moss

We were treated to a display from David Moss on The New Hebrides, which, in a wide-ranging talk, covered a period lasting from 1906 until 1980, when New Hebrides gained its independence as the Republic of Vanuatu. The talk covered its discovery and subsequent naming, the various claims to ownership, and of course, its geographical location, handily noted on a large map.

The postal history included some of the earliest items of mail from the island through to the final sets of stamps issued in 1979. We saw various uses and treatments of different types of mail, postmarks, watermarks, and registration labels to name a few.

The entire evening was peppered with stories and anecdotes, concluding with a frame of inter-island and unusual mail items.

The vote of thanks was given by Bryan Lythgoe on behalf of the Northwich Philatelic Society, and some images of the evening and the display are shown below.