"CREWK / ERN" handstamp from 1782

The "CREWK / ERN" handstamp below is used in September 1782.  Measuring 26½ x 12 mm, it is either a new handstamp for the British County Catalogue, a late usage of SO 385, 26x12 mm, in use 1759-1761, which has previously only been known in Archives, or an early use of SO 395, 27x12 mm, in use 1788.

From 1740 to 1761 there are three "CREWK / ERN" handstamps that are all only known in Archives.  The first two are both known in 1740 (29x12 mm, 27x13 mm) and the third is SO 385 (26x12 mm), known in use 1759-1761.

Given the clarity and crispness of the handstamp illustrated above, it seems unlikely that it is a late use of one of these early Archive-only handstamps.

Unfortunately I do not currently have an example of SO 395 (known in  1788) to compare to the 1782 handstamp illustrated above to check if the handstamps are same or if the one above is new.

As a further twist to the list of early Crewkerne handstamps, between 1782, when the above handstamp was applied, and 1788, when SO 395 is known, there are three handstamps in the British County Catalogue:

• SO 389, 38x16 mm, in use 1783-1784,
• SO 391, an early mileage mark, in use 1784-1785, and
• SO 393, 38x16 mm, in use 1788.

It appears very likely that SO 389 and SO 393 are the same handstamp, either being brought back into use after the mileage mark, or in use throughout the period from 1783 to 1788.  When overlaying an example of SO 389 on an example of SO 393 they match very well (with the later example showing signs of wear).