The New York Sale
Auction 49 15 Jan 2020
View prices realized
► Sale information
Find similar lots
German New Guinea (1888-1914)
German New Guinea. Wilhelm II (1888-1918). Silver 5 Mark, 1894-A. Value and date within wreath. Rev. Bird of paradise on a bough (Dav 429; KM 7; J 707). In PCGS holder graded MS 63. Value $2,500 - UP
German New Guinea was the first colonial possession obtained by the German Empire after Otto von Bismarck reluctantly acceded to the popular German to enter the European race for colonies. On November 3, 1884, the Deutsche Neuguinea-Compagnie (German New Guinea Company) annexed northeastern New Guinea, which became known as Kaiser-Wilhelmsland after the reigning Kaiser Wilhelm I. The protectorate of German New Guinea consisted of this large island territory and a number of smaller neighboring islands groups. It proved impossible to annex a larger portion of the large island, because the Dutch had already claimed the western half of the island in 1828 and the British colony of Queensland leaped to annex the southeastern part of New Guinea when German plans for the island were discovered.
The colonial administration of German New Guinea established plantations and hosted Catholic and Lutheran missionaries hoping to convert the indigenous inhabitants, but few German settlers were dispatched to Kaiser-Wilhelmsland. Under Kaiser Wilhelm II, military campaigns were mounted to increase direct German control in the interior of Kaiser-Wilhelmsland and a policy of forced work was adopted throughout German New Guinea in order to keep the plantations in operation. New laws demanded corvée labor from the native tribesmen and imposed a head tax that could only be paid in cash. The only way for the indigenous people to obtain the money for the tax was to work for the plantation owners. The new and abusive policies led to a native rebellion on Sokehs Island in 1910. This was only put down by the arrival of four German warships and 745 troops.
As the outbreak of World War I held German attention in Europe, Australian forces took their chance to invade Kaiser-Wilhelmsland on September 11, 1914. At the price of six dead and four wounded, the Australians easily captured the largest part of German New Guinea. Meanwhile, the Japanese fleet was busy taking control of the smaller islands that belonged to German New Guinea. After a mere 34 years of existence, German New Guinea was no more.
German New Guinea. Wilhelm II (1888-1918). Silver 5 Mark, 1894-A. Value and date within wreath. Rev. Bird of paradise on a bough (Dav 429; KM 7; J 707). In PCGS holder graded MS 63. Value $2,500 - UP
German New Guinea was the first colonial possession obtained by the German Empire after Otto von Bismarck reluctantly acceded to the popular German to enter the European race for colonies. On November 3, 1884, the Deutsche Neuguinea-Compagnie (German New Guinea Company) annexed northeastern New Guinea, which became known as Kaiser-Wilhelmsland after the reigning Kaiser Wilhelm I. The protectorate of German New Guinea consisted of this large island territory and a number of smaller neighboring islands groups. It proved impossible to annex a larger portion of the large island, because the Dutch had already claimed the western half of the island in 1828 and the British colony of Queensland leaped to annex the southeastern part of New Guinea when German plans for the island were discovered.
The colonial administration of German New Guinea established plantations and hosted Catholic and Lutheran missionaries hoping to convert the indigenous inhabitants, but few German settlers were dispatched to Kaiser-Wilhelmsland. Under Kaiser Wilhelm II, military campaigns were mounted to increase direct German control in the interior of Kaiser-Wilhelmsland and a policy of forced work was adopted throughout German New Guinea in order to keep the plantations in operation. New laws demanded corvée labor from the native tribesmen and imposed a head tax that could only be paid in cash. The only way for the indigenous people to obtain the money for the tax was to work for the plantation owners. The new and abusive policies led to a native rebellion on Sokehs Island in 1910. This was only put down by the arrival of four German warships and 745 troops.
As the outbreak of World War I held German attention in Europe, Australian forces took their chance to invade Kaiser-Wilhelmsland on September 11, 1914. At the price of six dead and four wounded, the Australians easily captured the largest part of German New Guinea. Meanwhile, the Japanese fleet was busy taking control of the smaller islands that belonged to German New Guinea. After a mere 34 years of existence, German New Guinea was no more.