Skeletons - Bourton (Dorset), Bruton, Dulverton, Fivehead, and Lydeard St Laurence (Lawrence)

A skeleton postmark is a circular datestamp made up from loose metal type. Skeletons are brought into use when an office's handstamp is damaged, mislaid or being updated, usually for a short period, then returned to the Post Office stores for reuse.  

Here are a few skeletons, starting with a "BOURTON / WINCANTON SO" skeleton used in February 1909.  Bourton is in Dorset but came under Wincanton.  The skeleton is known in use from 9th February to 20th March 1909.

The "BRUTON / SOMERSET" skeleton below is known used between 31st August and 25th September 1926.
 

The "DULVERTON SOMERSET" skeleton below is only known used on 26th May 1911.

Skeletons were normally metal (with removable type) but there are also skeleton climax rubber cancels, as shown in the example below from Fivehead.  This skeleton cancel is only known used on 1st and 2nd November 1907.

Here is another rubber skeleton cancel, from Lydeard St Lawrence - the cancel is mispelt as Laurence.  The cancel is only known used on 11th December 1913.

Fivehead Climax rubber skeleton, 1913

Climax rubber skeleton cancels are quite rare - here is a "FIVEHEAD / TAUNTON" cancel dated 13th December 1913.

Fivehead had a previous climax rubber skeleton cancel in November 1907.

Climax Rubber Handstamps - Taunton sub-offices (2)

Fitzhead had a "FITZHEAD / TAUNTON" Type Ib handstamp issued in April 1900.  The example below is from August 1912.

Fivehead had two "FIVEHEAD / TAUNTON" Type Ib handstamps, the first issued in April 1900 and the second known used in August 1918.  In November 1907 a mis-spelled "FIVFHEAD / TAUNTON" Type 3 skeleton is known used in November 1907. A later "FIVEHEAD / TAUNTON / SOMERSET" Type 2 handstamp is known used from December 1925.  The first example below is from November 1908, followed by one from February 1910, both being of the first handstamp.  The last example below from November 1925 is of the last Type 2 handstamp.

  

 

Halse had a single "HALSE / TAUNTON" Type Ib handstamp issued in November 1899.  The example below is from December 1905 (as are all the other known examples).