UDC handstamps - Cossington, Curry-Rival, Temple Combe

Cossington had two undated circular handstamps issued - the example below, used on 2nd November 1850, is of the first handstamp which was issued on the 22nd May 1846 (the second was issued in May 1852).

Another example of the Curry-Rival serif handstamp, this time in black from January 1849 (I've already shown an example in blue from 1852 here).

An example of the late type, single-arc undated circular handstamp for Temple-Combe from 5th April 1858 (the handstamp is known used between 1st and 5th April 1858).

Christmas Day

Happy Christmas !

Here's an item that was delivered on Christmas Day in 1846, sent from Weymouth to Marlborough.

Still on a Christmas theme, in 1898 Canada issued the first Christmas stamp - here it is on a special commemorative cover, postmarked Berlin, Ontario.  The envelope was produced "According to Act of Parliament" to commemorate the inauguration of Imperial Penny Postage.

In May 1916 Berlin, Ontario changed its name to Kitchener (this was just after Great Britain's Minister of War, Lord Kitchener, was killed in action off the Orkney Islands) as the original name was seen by some as unpatriotic during WW I.  The change of name did not have the support of the wider community but they were not given the opportunity in the referendum to reject a change of name.  Less than 900 people voted in the referendum out of a population of over 15,000.

Some Taunton acquisitions

A fairly random selection of Taunton related handstamps, presented in date order - first a "TAUNTON / 161" handstamp from 1808.

Next a Taunton Penny Post item with a "No.12" handstamp (North Curry) from 1842.

Moving on to 1857, here is a Taunton sideways duplex cancel.

And finally a postal stationery card with a "EAST.REACH / TAUNTON" cancel, soon after East Reach (a mile east of Taunton centre) opened as a Money Order & Savings Bank office.

Bristol Penny Post - Horfield, Congresbury, St George's Somerset (Easton-in-Gordano), Cross Hands

Horfield, a few miles north of the Bristol centre was Receiving House No.55.

Congresbury was Receiving House No.62.  The unboxed handstamp is known used between 1837 and 1845.

St George's Somerset, or Easton-in Gordano, was Receiving House No.68 (not to be confused with St George to the east of the city centre in south Gloucestershire which was Receiving House No.34).

Cross Hands in south Gloucestershire was Receiving House No.70.  This is the highest Bristol Receiving House number.

Bristol Penny Post - Abbots Leigh, Winterbourne, Downend, West Town

Abbots Leigh was Receiving House No.28.  The entire below from a MP of Bristol is franked "TO PAY 1D ONLY" which was for the Bristol Penny Post - an MPs postage was free in the General Post until 1840.

Winterbourne in south Gloucestershire was Receiving House No.31.

Downend in south Gloucestershire was Receiving House No.38.

West Town was Receiving House No.45.

Bristol Penny Post - Wrington & Langford

Wrington was Receiving House No.25, with a boxed handstamp from 1827 to 1832 and unboxed handstamps thereafter.  The first entire below has the small framed "BRISTOL / PY POST / date" handstamp that was only in use from July 1829 to January 1830.

 

 

Langford was Receiving House No.26, with a boxed handstamp from 1826 to 1835 and then an unboxed handstamp from 1837 to 1841.  There is also a more ornate unboxed handstamps that was in use from 1847 to 1850.

 

 

 

Bristol Penny Post - Pensford & Chew Magna

The entire below has the No.14 Receiving House handstamp of Pensford from June 1827 - this is an early use of the No.14 handstamp as Pensford was No.13 until some time in 1827 (when Brislington became No.13).

The following entires have the No.17 Receiving House handstamp for Chew Magna, all three from 1847.

 

 

Bristol Penny Post - Long Ashton & Brislington

Here is an entire with the No.12 Receiving House handstamp for Long Ashton.  It is dated from 6th May 1840 but was prepaid with cash so unfortunately is not a 1d black FDC !  The 1d black postage stamp was issued on the 6th May but offices away from London took some time to get them.

The next series of entires from 1830 to 1840 is for Brislington, which had the No.13 Receiving House handstamp from 1827 (No.13 was Pensford before then).

  

Bristol Penny Post - Kingsdown, Bitton & Keynsham

Carrying on in order of Receiving House number, Receiving House No.5 was Kingsdown.

Receiving House No.9 was Bitton in South Gloucestershire.  Bitton was also in the Bath Penny Post.

Receiving House No.10 was Keynsham in North Somerset.  The contents of the first entire is a genealogical pedigree.  The two entires show both boxed and unboxed Receiving House handstamps.

Also from Keynsham is this entire from 1823 with a "TOO LATE" cachet.