Shapwick UDC

The "SHAPWICK" undated circular handstamp (UDC) was also issued on the 8th January 1849 under Glastonbury.  It is also known in black and in blue, but I don't have any examples in blue.

The contents of the top letter are interesting:  "Mrs GH Templar will thank Mr West to send her by return of Post Five Dozen Stamps as they are not to be had in the Country Offices"

Ashcott UDC in black and in blue

The "ASHCOTT" undated circular handstamp (UDC) was issued on 8th January 1848 under Glastonbury.  It is known used in black and in blue.

 

Wincanton mileage mark, 1817

Here is an example of the "WINCANTON / 118" mileage mark used in 1817, not brilliant but the first example I've managed to acquire.

Wells Registered Letter, 1849, 6d in cash

Registration was introduced in 1841 with a fee of 1s which had to be paid in cash.  On 28th March 1848 the registration fee was reduced to 6d, still required to be paid in cash.  From June 1850 Postmasters were instructed to affix stamps to letters to denote the paid Registration Fee.

Yeovil Penny Post: Boxed "No.2" in 1837, and blue cds (1849)

Stoke [-sub Hamdon] had the boxed "No.2" receiving house handstamp in the Yeovil Penny Post.  The example below is dated March 1837.

While we're on Yeovil, here is an example of the Yeovil cds (SO 1064) in blue from 1849.

Cross Penny Post: Boxed "No.4" in c.1838

The Receiving House at Cheddar used the boxed "No.4" handstamp firstly in the Wells Penny Post from 1816 and then in the Cross Penny Post after it was established in 1827.  The undated item below went in the Cross Penny Post from Cheddar ("No.4") to Banwell (which had the boxed "No.3" handstamp).

Because the "Cross / Penny Post" is in blue/green, the piece must date from 1837-1839.

Bridg(e)water Penny Post: Unboxed "No.3" in 1843

The unboxed "No.3" receiving house handstamp in the Bridg(e)water Penny Post is thought to have been at Highbridge, and the handstamp is known in use from 1842 to 1845.  The example below is to Bristol in February 1843.

Bath Penny Post: Boxed "No.3" in 1830

The boxed "No.3" receiving house handstamp was used at Walcot/Grosvenor.  The first recorded use was in 1816, it is then known from 1823 to 1830, and finally in 1840.  It may have been in continuouse use through this period but not too many examples are known.

The entire below is from 17 Beaufort Buildings to Westminster in May 1830.

20th century Bishop's Lydeard

Bishop's Lydeard, six miles north-west of its post town, Taunton, was in the Taunton Fifth Cluase Post from 1808 and then the Penny Post.  This post covers some 20th century cancels.

The first sheet below has a postcard cancelled with a single ring from 1907 and a curious double circle cancel from 1935.

This next sheet has two different 'Dulwich' cancels (double circle double-arc cancels first issued to Dulwich), the first from 1927 predating the bottom cancel on the sheet above, and the second on two letter cards from 1980.

Lynton in the Minehead Penny Post

The cover below is one of the "missing links", with a "LYNTON" undated circular handstamp on a cover in the Minehead Penny Post going to London in 1837.  It has been known that Lynton was in the Minehead Penny Post and covers from Lynton (or Lynmouth) in the Minehead Penny Post have been found, but this is the first cover recorded that has an identifiable Lynton handstamp on it.

I'm looking for covers from the 1832-1835 period when the "LYNTON" udc is known in use, to see if these are also in the Minehead Penny Post.  Unfortunately the only one I have found so far, from June 1835, does not have a recognisable UDC, but does have a circular "smudge of approximately the right size. 

If you have an example of the Lynton udc on cover, then please do send me a scan.