New Hebrides – French issues

under construction

New Hebrides is an an island group between the Coral Sea and the Pacific Ocean, now known as Vanuatu. The islands were colonized by the British and the French under a shared agreement called a condominium. Each used its own currency and soon shared stamp designs in each currency, then in both currencies. Eventually, stamps were denominated in the artificial currency of gold centimes, with stamps sold at the equivalent in whichever real currency was used to buy postage.

Following are the French issues for New Hebrides.  File:New Heb FR first 10c.jpg|1908 10c overprint File:New Heb Fr 2nd ovpt.jpg|1910 25c CONDOMINIUM overprint File:New Heb Fr 50c.jpg|1911 50c value File:New Heb fr first surch.jpg|1920 10c surcharge File:New Hebrides dual.jpg|1925 5f (4/-) dual currency File:New Heb fr beach.jpg|1938 50c beach definitive with specimen perfin File:New Heb fr France Libre.jpg|1941 15c France Libre 
 * In 1908, then-current stamps of neighboring New Caledonia were overprinted NOUVELLES / HEBRIDES or NOUVELLES-HEBRIDES.
 * In 1910 four New Caledonian stamps were overprinted as above with an additional CONDOMINIUM.
 * In 1911, the first country-specific stamps were issued denominated in centimes and francs. These were watermarked both in the British multiple crown CA and French RF sheet watermark.
 * In 1920, various surcharges in centimes were issued.
 * In 1925, the previous design was modified showing each currency, with the French denomination on the right side.
 * In 1938, definitives showing a beach scene were issued.
 * In 1941, those definitives were overprinted France Libre.

In 1977, the currency was changed to New Hebrides Francs ("FNH") with some of the previous definitives surcharged in two different printings.  File:New Heb fr UPU.jpg|1949 50c UPU File:New Heb fr 1957 Port Vila.jpg|1953 1f drinking woman File:New Heb fr 1966.jpg|1965 3f honeyeater File:New Heb fr 1977 surch.jpg|1977 25FNH on 25c surcharge (Paris print) File:New Heb fr island.jpg|1978 35FNH islands definitive File:New Heb fr Concorde.jpg|1978 40FNH Concorde 
 * In 1949, the UPU set was the first of the omnibus issues released by both New Hebrides post offices.
 * In 1953, new definitives were issued, inscribed CONDOMINIUM / NOUVELLES HEBRIDES.
 * In 1957, engraved definitives showing Port Vila and other scenes were issued.
 * In 1963-67, new definitives in various designs were issued inscribed CONDOMINIUM / NOUVELLES HEBRIDES or NOUVELLE HEBRIDES / CONDOMINIUM.
 * Most commemoratives after that were issued in both English- and French-inscribed versions.
 * Not long after, inscriptions became "CONDOMINIUM DES NOUVELLES HEBRIDES".
 * In 1980, the New Hebrides became independent and renamed Vanuatu.

Postage due
 File:New Heb fr dual curr due spec.jpg|1925 20c (2d) value with specimen overprint File:New Hebr beach Libre due.jpg|1941 20c France Libre File:New Heb fr last due.jpg|1957 40c value 
 * In 1925, then-current dual currency definitives were overprinted with a small CHIFFRE TAXE.
 * In 1938, then-current definitives were similarly overprinted.
 * In 1941, France Libre overprints were also similarly overprinted.
 * In 1953, the then-current definitives were also similarly overprinted.
 * In 1957, the definitives issued that year were overprinted TIMBRE-TAXE.