Frome

Here is an interesting item - it has a "FROOME" straight line handstamp that is not in the BCC, unless it is the top line of SO 493 "FROOME / 115" that is rarity Z (archives only).  It also bears a London Free mark and an Inspector's mark because (a) it was addressed to an MP (Thos Everett MP) but (b) he had died and been replaced by his son so that the entire was no longer addressed to an MP.

Next a Free Front from Frome in 1838 with an unboxed "No.2" receiving house handstamp.

And finally a postcard from Frome in 1952 with a red diamond census mark.

Dulverton, Dunster & Fishpond[s] (Bristol)

First here are two examples of the "DULVERTON / 187" mileage mark, from 1801 and 1815.

Here is an interesting cover from Dunster in 1827, with a boxed "No.4" receivig house handstamp and a "DUNSTER / 183" handstamp.  Dunster remained in the Taunton Fifth Clause Post until the Taunton Post was reorganised in 1828.  Because it was a 5th Clause Post and not a Penny Post the franked letter was free (it would have been subject to the 1d charge under a Penny Post).

And finally a skeleton handstamp for Fishponds, with the final "S" missing - "FISHPOND / BRISTOL" from the end of 1920.

Cross Penny Post

A few examples of Receiving House handstamps in the Cross Penny Post, starting with the boxed "No.1" from Axbridge from 1831.  This also has straight-line "AXBRIDGE" and framed "Cross / Penny Post" handstamps.

Next a boxed "No.2" from Weston-super-Mare from 1836, with an unframed "Cross / Penny Post" handstamp.

And finally a boxed "No.10" from South Brent from 1841.

Crewkerne from 1784 to 1829

Here are a few handstamps from Crewkerne, starting with an example of the early mileage mark from 1784.

Next is an example of a two-line mark from 1789.

... and then a straight line handstamp from 1799 (only known used in 1799).

And next what appears to be a straight line "CREWKERN" without mileage from December 1822 (not in the BCC), prefixed by a manuscript "Missent to".  It is probably a copy of "CREWKERN / 134", maybe with the "134" removed or masked, but has been used as a missent mark after the introduction of the "CREWKERNE / 135" handstamp.

And finally another straight line handstamp (with the mileage removed) from 1829.

Chard examples from 1781 - 1843

A selection from Chard, starting with a straight line "CHARD" from 1781.  The entire was addressed to Nether Stowey near Taunton, but Nether Stowey came under Bridgwater so the entire received a straight line "TAUNTON" when it had to be resorted into the Bridgwater bag.

Next another straight line "CHARD" from 1796.

Then from 1830 a circular "CHARD" with mileage erased - this is a year later than recorded in the British County Catalogue.

This entire is undated but has the framed "Chard / Py Post" handstamp, known in use 1830-1839, and a boxed "No.1" receiving house handstamp from Thorncombe.

Finally a "CHARD" traveller skeleton from 10th November 1843, used as a receiving mark.

Bristol Selection 1770 - 1830

Four Bristol handstamps starting with a large "B / RIS / TOL" handstamp from 1770.

Then a two-line "BRISTOL / date" handstamp from 1804.  Only the last digit of the year is showing.

Then a circular "BRISTOL / 122" handstamp, with only two digits showing for the year (1825). There is also a "TOO LATE" handstamp to indicate that it was posted too late for the mail.  The entire had been transported from Ireland before being put in the post at Bristol.

And finally an entire from Bristol to London in 1830 with a 25mm "BRISTOL" single arc handstamp.

Bridgewater Penny Post

Some examples from the Bridgewater Penny Post, first from Stowey which had been assigned the boxed "No.1" handstamp, from 1825 and 1828

And then some examples of the boxed "No.2" handstamp, assigned to Cannington.  This first example, from 1819, is an albino strike which may not show up well in the image.

 The next example is from 1822, still with the early unframed "BRIDGEWATER / PENNY POST" handstamp.

And finally a later, but undated, example with the framed "Bridgewater / Py Post" handstamp, known 1834-1830.

Bridg[e]water

A few handstamps from Bridgewater (or Bridgwater depending on when the handstamps are from), starting with a two-line handstamp from 1755.

The entire is written in beautiful copperplate, being a plea for more pairs of stockings.

Next from 1785 is a mileage handstamp, of the early form with the mileage first.

And finally from August 1844 is an early example of the Bridgwater "123" numeric obliterator cancel and an early example of the "BRIDGEWATER" single arc handstamp with code letters.

A Couple of Bath Town Offices

The next lot of posts are going through some fairly recent acquisitions (in alphabetical order starting with "BATH").  Firstly here is circular receiving mark for "CLEVELAND.PLACE / BATH" from 1878, on a letter going to Bristol.

And secondly here are two registered covers from Widcombe Parade, Bath - the first of which from 1897 has a manuscript "Widcombe Parade" written across the registration fee.

The second cover has a steel "WIDCOMBE PARADE / BATH" single ring cancel.  According to the proof books there were four Widcombe Parade single ring cancels issued between 1871 and 1893.