Wednesday 28 June 2017

A couple of modern errors

A couple of very recent counter self-inking date stamps from Somerset (note spelling) with surprising errors, for which thanks to Norvic (of Norvic Philatelics):

Street, Somerset - with an extra 'M', SOMMERSET - 5 JU 17 (date not clear)


And the village of Long Sutton, Langport, Somerset has 'Sutton' instead of 'Somerset' - 14 JU 17



Sunday 25 June 2017

Bridg(e)water

Bridgwater has oscillated between not having an "E" in the middle and having one.  Here is a two line handstamp from c.1721-1739 where there is no "E" ("BRIDG / WATER").

In 1783 the handstamp had a middle "E", "BRIDGE / WATER", as this example from December 1783 shows.

The Handstamps continued to have a middle "E" apart from three skeleton cancels used in 1844, 1846 and 1849.  In 1850 the circular datestamp still had a middle "E" as shown in the envelope below, missent to Bridgwater in December 1850.

Wednesday 21 June 2017

Wincanton

A trio of items associated with Wincanton, starting with a Mulready envelope with an oily red Maltese Cross cancel from February 1841.

Next are a couple of items from the US Army Postal Service APO 253, which was at Wincanton from September 1943 to July 1944.

Finally a cover from January 1967 where the Wincanton Krag cancel missed the stamp so it was cancelled with a violet "WINCANTON / Somerset" cancel (using a John Bull printing set ??).

Sunday 18 June 2017

Miscellany - Burnham, Chard, Chilthorne Domer, Radstock, Twerton, Walton !

Herewith a miscellany of acquired items, starting with a colourful envelope from the Burnham Gas Company, sent in August 1930.

The next item is a Parcel Label with undated "CHARD" target cancels from c.1887-1897.

... a "CHILTHORNE DOMER / YEOVIL" climax rubber cancel from September 1912, currently known in use from this date to August 1914.

Going back to the heating theme, here are a couple of advertising meter marks from the Coal Board from 1960-61.

... a Post Office receipt with a "TWERTON-ON-AVON" datestamp from August 1885 ...

... and finally a non-postal receipt for money from the Somerset Floods Relief Fund from Walton in 1892.

Wednesday 14 June 2017

Red boxed "No.9" in Cross Penny Post

Wedmore had the boxed "No.9" receiving house handstamp in the Cross Penny Post.  Here is an example from November 1840 in red.

Sunday 11 June 2017

Yeovil cursive "Too Late" handstamp, 1843 ?

Cursive "Too Late" handstamps were in use in Somerset at Chard, Ilminster, Shepton Mallet, Wincanton and Wiveliscombe, the last two only known in archives.

Does the wrapper below have a previously unrecorded example from Yeovil ?


Wednesday 7 June 2017

New Frome Traveller, March 1852

The cover below has a previously undiscovered skeleton (or traveller) handstamp from March 1852, in blue.  The Frome "306" 4-bar horizontal oval cancel is also in blue, and is an example of the 4HOS handstamp that was issued in January 1849.

Sunday 4 June 2017

Wells Missent and Wells Skeleton

Wells had a unique circular "MISSENT TO WELLS" handstamp in use from 1820 to 1840.  Here is an example from 1838.  Most examples are blurred to some extent.  The letter should have gone via Glastonbury rather than via Wells.

Wells used a Skeleton cancel from July to September 1918; here is a clear example from the end of August 1918.