As early as 1908, manuscript cancels were being applied to mail from the island of Kusaie in eastern Karolinen.  These items were then given to naval vessels — SMS Cormoran (MSP No. 8) or SMS Condor (MSP No. 60) — or the steamer Germania of the Jaluit Linie, which applied an MSP or Jaluit Linie cancel.

These items are philatelic creations sent from a philatelist on Kusaie to a relative, also a philatelist, on Ponape — though a single item dated 25 March 1914, with a subsequent MSP No. 8 cancel of the same date, is known to have been delivered to another relative in Belgium.  It is unknown if this item actually traveled through the mail or was delivered in some other manner.

Despite the improper manuscript cancels, Jaluit Linie cancels on these items were technically authorized prior to the opening of the Nauru post office on 14 July 1908.  Any subsequent applications of the Jaluit Linie cancel was contrary to the relevant postal regulations. 

Use of MSP cancels on these items was never authorized, as naval vessels couldn’t accept civilian mail.