Some Undated Circular handstamps (UDCs)

A few UDCs, from Bathford (under Bath), Bitton (under Bristol), Brislington (under Bath), North Cadbury (under Yeovil), and Street (under Glastonbury), all of the non-serif 25mm type

Bathford had two UDCs. The first, of which this is an example was issued in July 1849 and is known used between October 1849 (this cover) and December 1851; the second was issued in April 1857 and is not known used.

Bitton had a single UDC issued in January 1858, which is known used in blue from July 1849 (this cover) and March 1860, and in black from September 1856 to February 1860.

Brislington had a 29mm serif UDC issued in February 1841 and this UDC which was issued in December 1855. It is known used in black from July 1858 to November 1859, and in brown from December 1856 (this cover) to February 1857.

North Cadbury had a single UDC issued in September 1844 and is known used in red from September 1845 to June 1846, and in blue known only in June 1851 (this cover).

Street had two UDC issued, the first in January 1848 (known used between March and September 1848), and this second UDC which was issued in June 1849 and is known used in black from April 1854 to November 1859, and in blue known between September 1849 and December 1856.  The usage below falls in the middle of this period, in April 1852.

Bristol Penny Post - Long Ashton & Brislington

Here is an entire with the No.12 Receiving House handstamp for Long Ashton.  It is dated from 6th May 1840 but was prepaid with cash so unfortunately is not a 1d black FDC !  The 1d black postage stamp was issued on the 6th May but offices away from London took some time to get them.

The next series of entires from 1830 to 1840 is for Brislington, which had the No.13 Receiving House handstamp from 1827 (No.13 was Pensford before then).

  

More early serif UDCs - Bedminster, Brislington, Nailsea ....

Bedminster's UDC is not in the Steel Impression Book - it is known used from April 1840.  The example below may be the latest known usage from September 1848.

Brislington's UDC was registered in the SIB on 4th February 1841 and is known used from April 1841 to May 1854 in black, with a single example known used in blue in July 1846.  The examples below are from September 1843 and July 1844.

Nailsea's UDC was registered on 9th May 1843 and is known used from May 1843 to October 1850.  The example below is realatively late usage, being from July 1850.

Bristol Penny Posts (in Somerset)

As mentioned in my earlier post on Bristol, my reason for collecting Bristol material is the Penny Posts that were in Somerset.  I understand that the following Bristol Receiving Houses were in Somerset (corrections gratefully received !):

Receiving House Number	Boxed	Unboxed	Date Range	Assignment
7	1	1	1834 -	Pill
8	1		1815-1818	Bedminster
9	1		1818	Long Ashton
10	4	1	1826-37	Keynsham
11	3		1830-1843	Bedminster
12	1	1	1827-1842	Long Ashton
13	1		1823-1827	Pensford
13	2	2	1827 -	Brislington
14	2		1823-25	Templecloud
14	2		1827 -	Pensford
15	1		1823-1826	Old Down
15	1		1830-1839	Templecloud
16	1		1830-1838	Old Down
17		3	1836-1849	Chew Magna
22	1	2	1825 -	Flax Bourton
23	1	1	1826 -	Nailsea
24	1		1827	Cleeve
24	1	3	1828 -	Clevedon
25	1	5	1827 -	Wrington
26	1	2	1826-1850	Langford
27	1		1833-1836	Churchill
28	1		1826-1828	Weston-super-Mare
28		1	1838-1851	Abbots Leigh
34		2	1835-1840	St Georges
42	2		1829-1837	East Harptree
43	1		1830-1833	Chew Magna
45	1	1	1832 -	West Town
46	2		1830-1837	Walton
47	1?	1	1845 - ?	Tickenham ?
48	1		1829-1830	Oakhill
49	2	1	1835-1848	Cleeve
52		1	1837	Portbury
53	1	1	1830-43	Portishead
61		1	1834	Yatton
62		1	1837-45	Congresbury
64		1	1846	Winford
65		1	?	Ston Easton ?
67		3	1834-38	Lower Clevedon
68		1	1835-47	Easton-in-Gordano
69		1	1840	Stanton Drew

If the above is correct then there are some 40 different Receiving House numbers in the Somerset portion of the Bristol Penny Post, and some 77 different Receiving House handstamps - I'm just starting at this so I've only got 6 !  At least there is plenty of room to progress.

So firstly Keynsham with one example from before the use of Receiving House handstamps, and one with an unboxed "No.10":

 

And an example with a faint unboxed "No.13" from Brislington: