PISC Discussion Forums

The May 1965 eclipse that was visible from Manuae resulted in two distinctly different fist day covers being issued. Please tell me which was issued by the New Zealand Post Office, and which by the Manuae Development Co-operative Society Ltd.
I assume as follows:
One of the covers (presumably the cover prepared by the New Zealand Post Office) had the words “COOK ISLANDS / FIRST DAY COVER” with a preprinted drawing of palm trees on a beach in green on the left hand side of the front of the cover. The other cover had the words “SOUVENIR COVER FROM THE COOK ISLANDS COMMEMORATING THE SOLAR ECLIPSE”.
Thank you!!

I have consulted our member David Foot, who will be giving a display relating to solar eclipses around the Pacific at our Zoom meeting on 15th June. He says "I will be showing THREE Cook Is eclipse stamp cacheted FDCs in my talk, the two you describe and an additional, harder to find, cover with Janos (God is Gracious) in the cachet. I believe that the "green palm tree" FDC was issued by the NZPO. It comes in at least three sizes. The cachet on the second cover mentioned is, I believe, a Fred Boric (1923-2000) design and I presume was produced by his Ae-Te-A-Roa stamp company. I am unaware of a cachet produced by the Manuae Development Co-operative Society Ltd, although would not be at all surprised if one exists as they were very involved with the eclipse arrangements (housing, etc) on Manuae. Perhaps it is one of the non-NZPO cachets I will be showing.

I hope that this quick reply provides some help to our member."

Thank you for the information! I have the following information which I might add:

During the scientists’ visit, a Post Office was set up on Manuae to issue the special 6d stamp. The Manuae Development Co-operative Society Ltd., which leased Manuae on a 99-year term from the Crown on the 5th January 1962 to produce copra, was the sole agent for this special Post Office.

The April 1965 edition of the Pacific Islands Monthly reported on page 13 that the Manuae Development Co-operative Society Ltd. was ready to receive applications for first day covers containing either the 6d or 1/9 stamp. “Those interested should send the equivalent in the New Zealand currency of the value of the stamps (sixpence or 1/9) plus threepence for the cover to: S.D. Heather, Secretary, Manuae Development Co-operative Society Ltd., P.O. Box 100, Rarotonga, Cook Islands”.

I've seen covers with no cachet but the Eclipse CDS. Also one of the second cachet but a Rarotonga CDS instead of the Eclipse cancel. That would probably tend to support that is the more local one that was continued to be used after the event.

Besides the variations of the cachets, I've got a cover where the ink is not the standard black but a dark purple.