Frome

Some items from Frome starting with two examples of the "FROME / 115" mileage mark, from 1816 (with a red London Inspector's mark) and from 1819.

 

Next, from January 1842, is a 1d pink postal stationery envelope with a Frome maltese cross cancel and a boxed "No.2" receiving house handstamp.  It is thought that the boxed "No.2" handstamp was in use at Beckington.

From 1923 and 1946 are two different red "PAID" handstamps, for ½d from 1923 and for 1d from 1946.

And finally an over-large postcard from September 1927 that was charged postage due as it was liable to the Letter Rate.

Bath

A wide ranging trio of items from Bath, starting with a "BATH" straight line handstamp from July 1775,  This handstamp, measuring 30x7 mm, is known used from 1772-1775.  A similarly sized handstamp, also 30x7 mm but with no serifs, is known from 1781-1782.

This envelope has a red Bath Clinic meter mark dated 20th June 1995 but has been caught by the Meter Quality Control team and handstamped as dated 21st June 1995 "NOT AS POSTMARKED".

And finally some undated Bath Scouts Christams Mail stamps, cancelled with framed "BATH SCOUTS" No.2, No.8 and No.1 troops.

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

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.

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 ??).

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.

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.

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 ?

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.

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.