Taunton used a number of Skeleton (or Traveller) handstamps in the 1840s. These temporary handstamps were brought into use when there was a problem with the normal handstamps, for example if the normal one was being updated or replaced, or perhaps sometimes when it got mislaid.
The first skeletons (a plain "TAUNTON", no code) were from 1841, firstly in March, and then a second similar one in August. The alignment of the lettering with the date is different between the two. As "TAUNTON" has seven letters it has to either be slanted to the left or to the right compared to the date (it can't be symmetrical). The March skeleton is to the right, the August one is to the left.
A "TAUNTON / +" skeleton was then in use in March 1842.
The next skeleton ("TAUNTON / 2") known was used in August 1846.
The final skeleton currently known used at Taunton in the 1840s is in a different format, a blue "TAUNTON / 7" single ring, known in February 1849.
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