Great Barrier Pigeongram:
VP 4 - "Pigeongram"
Great Barrier Pigeon Post
1898 - 1904
VP 4 - 'Pigeongram' Stamp
VP 4 the Pigeon Gram
VP4 was actually the 7th Pigeongram stamp issued, the day after the first Marotiri overprint which was overprinted on the Blue green SPECIAL POST. The design was pretty much the same as VP2 but with the words SPECIAL POST replaced by the words PIGEON GRAM. The printing was done in more of a light blue colour and on poor quality paper with a buff colour (no watermark). However the whole production process had to be repeated and so 6 carvings were used to prepare 6 moulds in wax in which copper electrolytes were made.
This time the printing plate was three across and two deep, and each plate was impressed twice on to the paper creating sheets of 12.
This was the most commonly used Service stamp with 4,650 being printed. This is a strange number and one would be well within their rights to challenge this but for the existence of the receipt from the printers Messrs. Wilson & Horton which clearly states the number to be 387 ½ sheets!
Six wax impressions of the carving were taken and used to create six copper electrolytes. Each was then fixed separately on a block in a 3 x 4 pattern to form the plate.
The images below are blown up from a ‘Posthumous’ proof printing from the original plates held by the Dominion Museum – now residing in Te Papa Tongarewa. One can see the light horizontal defacing scratches through the cliches so they can never be used again to print ‘authentic’ copies. The images are separate and have been placed together to create an image of the sheet. The six 'cliches' were mounted on a block, and each sheet was impressed twice by the block crating sheets of 12. A complete sheet of 12 with some selvedge can be seen below the cliches.
1899 (Aug.) fourth issue, 1/- posthumous 'proofs' printed from plates held at The Dominion Museum. Very useful for plating the stamps to recreate sheets.
1899 (Aug.) fourth issue, 1/- blue-green on buff, VP4, a complete unused sheet of 12, somewhat worse for wear, but a rare item none-the-less.
1899 (Aug.) fourth issue, 1/- blue-green on buff, a reconstructed mint sheet of twelve affixed to white card, large part original gum; CP VP4
21 August 1900 from Great Barrier to Auckland. Flimsy sent to S. Howie asking for supplies "1 sack chaff & 1 bushel oats also 1 pair men's boots size 7 & oblige. yours sincerely P. Warren (the agent in Fitzroy.
21 March 1901 from Whangapara Great Barrier to Auckland. Flimsy sent to Ms K. Simmons from 'Dave' letting her know that he was coming to Auckland himself and don't meet Boat as she will be late.
Cancelled 31 December 1902 (New Year's Eve) from Whangapara Great Barrier to Auckland, butappears written on Dec 29. Scanned on white background to reveal message written in pencil. Note the other Agencies listed on the flimsy as being Whagapara, Port Fitzroy, Oroville, Marotiri, Port Charles and Whitford Park. Also the note that 'Birds accepted by Auckland Infantry Battalion. Manager is noted as one J.R. Howie
Cancelled 1 February 1903. A meassage to Dr. Bewes in Otahuhu (I had to google that!) about a mark coming up on Frank's arm, him having a restless night and his tongue being something and dry, and asking if he would come over. Not your usual house call!
1899 1/- blue green on buff used on 1905 complete flimsy, tied by undated 'walker service' (Type 7) cancellation and with other handstamps including 'great barrier/ the original/ pigeongram service' and 'the original/ great barrier pigeongram service/ marotiri syndicate pigeongram service'; the message reads "Dear Mr. Pitt, Just a line by pigeongram while in New Zealand, this is the only post of its kind in the world and therefore most interesting. A. H. Leonard"; a charming philatelic souvenir. R.P.S.N.Z. Certificate (2012). CP VP4
VP4 1899, 1/- Pale Blue, Pigeongram. Tied by perfectly struck violet “The Original Great Barrier Pigeongram Service JUL 9 1900” Type 4 cancellation. Sent from Port Fitzroy
Message reads:
“When you are next in Auckland you should try & get off for a week& come down here. I can guarantee to say that the you will have a great time. Goat shooting – pigeon shooting - & any amount of real good fishing. In fact the best in the colony. Hoping to see you down here soonTremain, Yours etc P Warren Port Fitzroy
Addressed to:
Mr. Arthur St. Binson(?) H.M.S. Royal Arthur
N.B. The H.M.S. Royal Arthur was the flagship of the Pacific Station from 1893-1896, before being refitted at Portsmouth in 1897. She then served as the flagship of the Australian Station from 1897 to 1904. She provided escort to the Royal Yacht Ophir during the Duke and Duchess of York’s visit in 1901 (the future King George V).
VP4 1899, 1/- Pale Blue, Pigeongram. Tied by perfectly struck violet “The Original Great Barrier Pigeongram Service FEB 19 1900” Type 4 cancellation. Sent from agent C. Werner
Message reads:
“
Addressed to:
VP4 1899, 1/- Pale Blue, Pigeongram. Tied by violet “The Original Great Barrier Pigeongram Service 3- JAN 1901” Type 6 cancellation. Sent from Port Fitzroy
Message reads:
“We are having a grate (sic) time cruising on the Rangitirai. We went first to Mercury Island then across to Tryphena then Whangaparapara and hear we have been further along the coast to where the Wairarapa was wrecked. We leave for Kawau tomorrow, then Mahurangi (?) and home on Sunday. Compliments of season to you Andrew and baby. From Jack Per S. Warren Port Fitzroy
Addressed to:
Mrs Andrew Gray, Woolcombe St., Wellington
VP4 1899, 1/- Pale Blue, Pigeongram. Tied by violet “The Original Great Barrier Pigeongram Service Type 3 circular with second strike at right and three-line handstamp Type 7 cancellation. Dated Feb 24 05 in manuscript and sent from Whagaparapara. Very few stamped flimsies exist after 1904. Provenance Ex Oded Eliashar collection.
Message reads:
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Addressed to: