Boxed Mileage Marks - "BATH / 109" & "BRIDGEWATER / 150"

In 1784 the Post Office introduced handstamps with the mileage to London on them, to aid post office clerks in determining the postal charges. These handstamps had a limited life as the mileage to London changed as the postal routes altered and after about five years the Post Office stopped issuing them.
By the end of the 18^th century the Postmaster General had instructed John Cary, a map-maker, to prepare a survey of all the principal roads in the country under the supervision of the Superintendent of Mail Coaches. This was used in the issue of the second series of boxed mileage stamps from 1801.

Cat No	Type	Handstamp	Comments	Size (mm)	Colour	Dates	Rarity
SO 17	29	AXBRIDGE / 141		36x10	Black	1804	C
80	29	BATH / 109		19x10	Black	1801-04	E
224	29	BRIDGEWATER / 150		52x12	Black	1802-11	D
299	29	BRUTON / 142		25x10	Black	1802-09	D
320	29	CASTLE-CAREY / 145		52x11	Black	1804-22	E
444	29	DULVERTON / 187		36x10	Black	1801-16	C
488	29	FROOM / 115		22x10	Black	1802-07	D
490	29	FROOME / 115		25x11	Black	1803-04	D
537	29	ILCHESTER / 130		35x11	Black	1804-07	D
553	29	ILMINSTER / 143		35x11	Black	1801-21	D
591	29	LANGPORT / 140		34x11	Black	1805-46	C
603	29	MILVERTON / 169		35x11	Black	1801	H
604	29	MILVERTON / 172		39x11	Black	1805-33	C
624	29	MINEHEAD / 185		35x11	Black	1801-07	D
674	29	SHEPTON-MALLET / 135		55x11	Black	1801-10	D
703	29	SOMERTON / 135		35x11	Black	1804-11	D
783	29	TAUNTON / 161		35x11	Black	1802-14	D
860	29	WELLINGTON / 168		43x11	Black	1804-29	C-D
917	29	WELLS-S / 129		28x11	Black	1802-08	D
1019	29	WIVELSCOMBE / 175		56x12	Black	1805-29	C-D
1060	29	YEOVIL / 125		27x11	Black	1801-11	C

Unfortunately I do not (yet) have an example of the “AXBRIDGE / 141” mark.

“BATH / 109” 1801-1804

“BRIDGEWATER / 150” 1802-1811