NWPI HISTORY. AUSTRALIAN FORCES landed at Herbertshohe, a settlement on the island of New Britain, on 11 SEPTEMBER 1914. By the end of the following two weeks, all of the German colonies in the neighbourhood were effectively occupied. A military administration was set up, with headquarters at Rabaul, under a military Governor (appointed in November 1914). This new government continued until May 1921 and through that time, transitioned from a military regime to a ‘mandatory’ of the ‘League of Nations”. During this time, the territory was called NEW BRITAIN, from the name of the Island on which the chief settlement stood. In May 1921, when a civil administration was set up for the first time, it was announced that the new name of “TERRITORY OF NEW GUINEA” was to be used. At no time was the area known as N.W. PACIFIC ISLANDS. Interestingly, the stamps of the Commonwealth overprinted “NWPI” were never meant to describe use in New Guinea. The major part of the territory is not an Island and no part of the group is North of the Equator.
The new military Governor took the overprinted stamps with him to Rabaul in Late 1914 and they were placed on sale for the first time in January 1915. The first stamps included 10,080 1d Red Kangaroos and 8,160 of the 2½d Indigo value. The overprinted stamps continued through to the Spring of 1925 when they were withdrawn and replaced by the first 'permanent issue' for Papua.
This 2nd Watermark Kangaroo was overprinted NWPI in TYPE C (PURPLE) for use in the Islands. It is beautifully centered with very fine perforations. I would rate this one in the area of $100-$150...