Miscellany again, part 1 - Watchet, Temple Cloud, Littleton-upon-Severn (G), Eastover

I'm using up the remaining few covers that I have to show at the moment (hopefully I'll find some more material at MIDPEX on 5th July), these are roughly in date order, starting with an entire from Watchet to Stogumber in September 1868.  The entire refers to sending paperwork by Book Post which started in 1848 at the suggestion of Rowland Hill.  It became 'halfpenny packets' in January 1904 and 'Printed Papers' (or 'Printed Matter') from January 1916

The entire below was sent from London to Messrs Rees-Mogg & Davy in Temple Cloud in May 1884.  The stamp bears a "GR&C" perfin from Gregory, Rowcliffe & Co., Solicitors at 1 Bedford Row, London WC.

The piece below is a quick dive off into my Bristol interests with an example of the "LITTLETON- / UPON-SEVERN / BRISTOL" Climax rubber cancel from April 1897.  Bristol has some useful map websites from which one can sometimes find where Post Offices used to be. 

Finally, here is a bit of ephemera associated with Eastover Post Office, Bridgwater dated November 1900.

 

Watchet (1843), Shepton Mallet (1888) and Frome (1897)

This clear example of the Watchet Penny Post handstamp was used in January 1843, three years after the end of the local penny posts.  It also has a Taunton Penny Post dated handstamp.

This Shepton Mallet single ring cancel was used in January 1888, thirteen years after the cancel was issued.

These Frome items were sent in September 1897.  The first is marked as Book Post but could have been overfranked at 1d.

The second item from Frome, sent six days later was not franked so incurred 2d postage due.

Watchet 'Dulwich', Wellington charge mark

Watchet's 'Dulwich' cancel (double circle double-arc, a type first introduced at Dulwich) was in use from at least 1959 to 1971 - I think it is the same cancel for the whole of this period.

The postcard below was franked with a halfpenny stamp in 1928, at least 10 years since the Postcard Rate was a halfpenny.  It has got a 1d charge mark from Wellington.  The postcard is advertising the Taunton Historical Pageant in 1928.

 

Watchet - West Somerset Railway

This philatelic cover commemorates the West Somerset Railway, sent from Minehead to Watchet on the WSR in March 1989.

Skeletons (4) - Portishead, Street, Watchet.

This skeleton from Portishead is currently the latest known example, dated 18th June 1918.

Here is an example of the "STREET SO / SOMERSET" skeleton, known from June to August 1907.

And an example of the "WATCHET / TAUNTON" skeleton from 26th May 1923, the first day of its known usage.

Taunton Penny Post

Here are a couple of items from the Taunton Penny Post, starting with and entire written at Combe Sydenham and going in the Taunton Penny Post in 1826.

At that time there were only three Receiving Houses in the Taunton Penny Post - Gore Inn (Bishop's Lydeard), Monksilver and Torre. There was also Dunster which was still in the Taunton Fifth Clause Post.  Combe Sydenham is two miles south of Monksilver so is very likely to have been posted there (and then received the "TAUNTON / Penny Post" handstamp on receipt in Taunton).  There is no receiving house handstamp on the entire - examples of the boxed "No.2" receiving house handstamp are extremely rare, the only ones I have found so far are from 1818/1819 when it was still in the Fifth Clause Post.

The second item from 1845 has a "Watchet / Penny Post" handstamp as well as a dated Taunton Penny Post one.  Watchet's receiving house was established in 1839.

Skeletons: Glastonbury, Horsington, Watchet and Wellington

A mixture of Skeletons, starting with Glastonbury from June to July 1911 - both these examples are from 13th June 1911.

Next a modern skeleton from Horsington, near Templecombe - this one was mispelt "HORSINGTON TEMPCELOMBE" in October to November 1974.

Then one from Watchet in June 1909.

And finally a lovely clear strike of the "WELLINGTON / * / S  O" skeleton, known used on 14th & 15th April 1844.  The "S  O" is widely spaced.  The skeleton was altered to "WELLINGTON / * / SOM" when it was used from 15th to the 26th April.