BALLANDE & FILS.

The flag on a 1914 book cover has vertical blue–red–blue stripes in approximately 1:4:1 proportions, with a white lozenge on the red stripe bearing black “B & F”. Rosanoski notes that the FOTW rendering incorrectly extends the lozenge to the flag’s sides relative to the book, while also questioning the accuracy of the book itself.

The family’s maritime business originated in Bordeaux. Armand Ballande sent his first ships to Port-de-France, later Nouméa, in 1863. His son Louis obtained a colonial resupply contract in 1887 and operated mixed passenger-and-cargo sailing vessels between Bordeaux, Papeete and Nouméa. The family later invested in New Caledonian nickel mining as well as vineyards. A separate account describes earlier business in Chile before expansion into Asia and the Pacific.

Ballande developed maritime subsidiaries including Société des Voiliers de Nouméa and Compagnie Navale de l’Océanie. Accounts describe parts passing to Messageries Maritimes in 1930 and Ballande & Fils coming under Société Anonyme Calédonia in that year, followed by Société Le Nickel by 1933. Hauts Fourneaux de Nouméa was associated; a connection with Comptoirs Français des Nouvelles Hebrides is only assumed from livery similarity.