Bristol Packet Cancels part 3

Back to the Packet Cancels, this next set are "BRISTOL / BATH TAUNTON" with code numbers (1-80) at the bottom.  This post illustrates a large number of examples with different code numbers in this range.

 

Bankruptcy Affadavit, Frome to Swindon in February 1880

The Bankruptcy Affadavit below went from Frome to Swindon in February 1880, with a "FROME / 306" 3-bar vertical oval duplex cancel, time in code.  Frome was issued with four such cancels, and I think this is an example of the second one.

Here is a scan of the contents:

Stoke under Ham J19 3-bar vertical oval duplex cancels

Stoke-under-Ham had a "J19" duplex cancel, firstly with time in code as shown in the example below from September 1903, possibly the latest known example ....

 

.... and secondly with time in clear as shown below in May 1904 and December 1906.

 The "STOKE UNDER HAM / J19" duplex cancel was not registered in the Proof Books and is first known used in February 1888.

Bristol Packet Cancels part 2

Next on the list are Packet Cancels with an "*" and no code ....

.... and a plain cancel with "BRISTOL", no code and no "*".

Next are a series of cancels with "BRISTOL" and a code but nothing else.  The code goes up to 75.

Were handstamps assigned to individuals ?  Is that why the code numbers range up to 75, because there were a lot of people working to cancel the packets (multiple teams, multiple shifts) ? 

 

Bristol Packet Cancels part 1

As this blog has been running since July 2011, I'm beginning to run out of items to post up, so interspersed in the next few posts will be ones about Bristol Packet cancels.  These are plain circular cancels with a variety of lettering ("BRISTOL", "BRISTOL, TAUNTON", "BRISTOL / BATH & TAUNTON" plus others) and often with a range of code numbers.  A catalogue of these cancels can be seen here.  I'm going to be posting up relatively modern examples (1970s onwards).

This first set I'm showing here have "- * -" at the bottom with a variety of sizes of "BRISTOL" at the top.  As "Packet Cancels" the cancels have been collected on piece.   

The next set also have "-*-" at the bottom but also have a code number in the range of 1 to 48 or 50, so there are a lot of examples to collect, or maybe accumulate is a better word.

 

 

Bristol Meter Mail, 2002 - Beginning with Begonias

Here is an item of meter mail from Bristol in November 2002, sent from Blackmore & Langdon, Pensford to Weston-super-Mare.  The horticultural firm started in 1901 with begonias and delphiniums - see https://www.blackmore-langdon.com/history/ for more detail on their history. 

Those with a background in Bristol Postal History may also recognise the addressee. 

Bagborough Skeleton 14th September 1908

The "BAGBOROUGH / TAUNTON" skeleton below was previously ony known used on 10th August 1908 - this example is dated 14th September 1908.  It appears to be the same skeleton so one assumes that it was in use in the intervening period.

The postcard depicts one of the Great Western Channel Islands fleet.

I do have another example of this skeleton but it is only dated August, no day of the month.

The two cancels match well when cleaned up.

 

Missent to Minehead and to Taunton, 1861

The envelope below from London is addressed to Ninehead but was missent to Minehead and to Taunton in December 1861.  It received firstly a manuscript "Missent to Minehead" and then a "MISSENT-TO / TAUNTON" cachet, currently known used 1858 to 1861.  Ninehead is under Wellington rather than Minehead or Taunton.