"WELLS-S / 129" Circular Mileage Mark, 1824

 The "WELLS-S / 129" circular mileage mark was known used from 1825 to 1829.  The example below from November 1824 brings the earliest date known forward.

Wiveliscombe 2d Rate

From December 1837 to January 1840 there was a new rate in the General Post of 2d for up to 8 miles.  Previously the minimum official rate in the General Post was 4d for up to 15 miles.  The cover below is from Wiveliscombe to Wellington, a distance of 7 miles, sent in March 1838 and showing a postal charge of 2d.

"GLASTONBURY" 23mm & 20mm single ring datestamps, 1873 & 1883

Here are a couple of single ring datestamps from Glastonbury, the first from August 1873 is 23mm in diameter, while the second from 1883 is 20mm in diameter.

This first entire was addressed to Shapwick, Glastonbury but by the time of the entire Shapwick had been transferred to come under Bridgwater.

This second example seems to have been mis-sorted at Somerton, going west to Langport rather than directly north to Glastonbury.

Pensford "001." 3VOS cancels on 1884 letter to France

The envelope below from Pensford to France in November 1884 bears multiple "001." 3-bar vertical oval cancels.  This cancel was issued to Pensford on 21st September 1878 and is recorded used from March 1883 to August 1886.  The envelope is franked with 2½d of stamps, that being the UPU overseas rate from 1st July 1875.

 The envelope has an impressed address of "FARMBOROUGH RECTORY, BATH" on the reverse.  Farmborough is about four miles from Pensford.

Bristol Receipt October 1909 - J.H. Mogg Dealer in Works of Arts, Antiquities, Paintings, Furniture &c. at 3 Park Street

 A sideline that I've been increasingly dabbling with during Lockdown is that of commercial Invoices or Receipts that have a fancy billhead, as shown in the item below from J.H. Mogg whose premises were at 3 Park Street.

Axbridge in the Wells Penny Post, 1825

A pair of covers from September and December 1825 sent from Axbridge to London, going via the Wells Penny Post.  Axbridge had a boxed "No.5" receiving house handstamp but mainly used the straight-line "AXBRIDGE" handstamp.  It as also receiving house "No.1" in the Cross Penny Post.

Taunton Maltese Cross with Eye of Providence seal

Here is another example of a black Taunton Maltese Cross from February 1841 (the same date as the second cover on the previous sheet).  This wrapper is distinguished by the small seal which bears the all seeing Eye of Providence. 

This symbol has been part of masonic iconography from 1782 and appears on the reverse of US dollar bills at the top of a pyramid.

 

Penny Blacks with Taunton Maltese Crosses in Red 1840 and Black 1841

Here are two wrappers, one from September 1840 and the second from February 1841.  Both bear Penny Black stamps, the first with a red Maltese Cross cancel and the second a black cancel.

In February 1841 the 1d red was introduced and the colour of the cancels was changed from red to black.

Both entires also have a "TAUNTON" double-arc datestamp, the first without a code letter and the second with one.  The code letter was introducted early in 1841.

Glastonbury Penny Post 1838, "No.5" receiving house handstamp from Butleigh

 Here is a nice cover from 1825, sent from Butleigh ("No.5" in the Glastonbury Penny Post) to Pontefract, with receiving house, penny post and town handstamps.