Commemorative Covers from Larkhall and Bathampton

Another couple of commemorative covers, from Bathampton (Australia Bicentenary - 1988) and Larkhall, Bath (Brains Surgery - a pub, in 1999).

FDCs from Bath and Claverton

Two more First Day Covers with cancels from Bath (100 years of the UPU in 1974) and Claverton (200 years from American Independance in 1976).

Couple of FDCs, Brean and Bridgwater

Here are a couple of First Day Covers with postmarks from Brean and Bridgwater.  The first one from Brean celebrates Human Achievements with a cover showing the Severn Barrage project, something which has yet to be properly undertaken.

Wincanton, September 1904, with an incorrect postmark

Wincanton went between being a post town, a sub-office and being under Bath.  The postmarks did not always catch-up with the latest status.

From 1875 it was under Bath, then it became an independant Sub Office in August 1904, then came back under Bath in November 1904, becoming a Sub Office / Post Town again in November 1906. 

The postcard below is dated September 1904 (when it should be an independant Sub Office) but is cancelled with a "WINCANTON / BATH" cancel.

North Coker UDC, 1858

Below is currently the only recorded example of the "NORTH-COKER" udc, on a printed form sent from North Coker to the Bishop of Salisbury, dated January 1858.

The North Coker post office was previously called East Coker, up until 1857, so the letter dates from just after it was renamed.

Montacute in the Yeovil Penny Post, 1839

The wrapper below went from Montacute (based on the filing note) in the Yeovil Penny Post and then to London in August 1839.

Montacute is thought to have had the boxed "No.1" receiving house handstamp in the Yeovil Penny Post but no clear examples have been recorded.  It is also thought to have been in the South Petherton Penny Post.  It is shown in the 1838 Post Office Accounts as having an annual income of 7s-11d against South Petherton so examples will be extremely rare.

Furley in Devon, under Chard, with a locally produced "FURLEY / CHARD" handstamp, in 1914

Furley in Devon is six miles SW of Chard, which was its Post Town until the Furley post office closed in 1920.  The postcard below is wrongly addressed to "Furley, Membury, Nr. Axminster" and was redirected from Axminster with what looks like a violet home-grown "FURLEY / CHARD" cachet.

Bruton 1797

Here is another example of the "BRUTON" straight line handstamp known in use 1797-1798 (see here for previous post).

POW Mail from Goathurst near Bridgwater, Camp 44

The undated envelope below is from Camp 44, Goathurst near Bridgwater to the Steglitz area of Berlin. 

Steglitz was in the US zone in the south-west of Berlin and the envelope has red machine cancels from the "US CIVIL CENSOR / BERLIN / PASSED".