WINTER 2013

P O S T S C R I P TTHE SOCIETY OF POSTAL HISTORIANS

Volume 63: No.4 (Whole No.274) Winter 2013

Interned/POW Seamen of the Graf Spee (see page 210)

CONTENTS PAGESecretary’s Notes 171Eldwick Meeting, 27 July 2013 173

Polish SO Marks in the Polish Sector of East Silesia Peter Chadwick 174Foreign Post Offices in Palestine Rod Unwin 178The Austrian Netherlands 1714 to 1794 Nick Martin 182Carlisle Rural Post Mike Mapleton 184The Early Days of Milnthorpe Post Office Peter Rooke 186Trieste and the Adriatic Mails 1800 to 1870 Hans Smith 187

Sindlesham Meeting, 4 September 2013 191The British Levant Tony Stanford 192Bremen Exchange Control 1918 to 1923 Robin Pizer 196Sweden Postal Stationery Cards Geoff Lovejoy 199The German Post in the Levant 1870 to 1914 Hans Smith 202Angola and South-West Africa Border Troubles Chris Oliver 205Great Britain Incoming Express Mail Phil Kenton 205

Sherborne Meeting, 13 October 2013 208Gold Coast Inward Mail Jeremy Martin 208Return to Sender WW2 Ingrid Swinburn 209Interned/POW Seamen of the Graf Spee Reg Gleave 210The Bechuanalands 1885 to 1932 Tony Stanford 212Beyond GB James Grimwood Taylor 214

Manuscript Endorsements Malcolm Ray-Smith 215Italy – The Internal Printed Paper Rate Andy Harris 218

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It is with regret that we have to announce the death of one ofour Life Fellows and former President

Joan Harper

A FEW WORDS FROM THE PRESIDENT – Susan McEwen

It is a great honour to become President of this Society, and I thank mypredecessor Richard for this privilege. Several people have asked me if Iam the first Lady President – but no I am not. Susan Oliver was the firstand Joan Harper was the second. I am the third and am following in augustfootsteps. I look forward to the year and our wide range of meetings,starting at Waltham in February, and hope to meet as many SPH membersas possible during the year.

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT – Mike Roberts

The end of the year is always a good time to take stock and decidewhether the pluses of the previous twelve months outweigh the minusesand to speculate about what may be around the corner. From a personalpostal history point of view I have achieved very little (other than a fewnice purchases which will help to ensure that the dealers can live the lifeto which they have become accustomed) but at least I haven’t started anynew collections! The highlight of the year was undoubtedly my firstcrossing of the Equator en route for the Melbourne Show where ourAustralian members were tremendous hosts (I write this on the morning of a 381 run defeat atthe Gabba so this is very difficult for me). What was immediately apparent is that our hobby isbecoming more international in nature, in terms both of attending philatelic events andparticipation via the web and internet, although the latter may be producing generations ofcollectors who will never experience the company of postal historians other than virtually.

As we never tire of reminding ourselves we are a Society of active collectors and our Rules requirea minimum contribution (which is not too onerous). Occasionally I have to write what RobertJohnson christened a letter of encouragement to those of our members who have not produced whatis required of them. I appreciate that for overseas members attending meetings and givingdisplays is not easy (although it would be wonderful if from time to time a trip to the UK couldbe made to coincide with Conference or President’s Weekend!) but all of us have an interestingcover or two we could share via Postscript. Please help me to achieve my ambition of no LOEsin 2014.

At the AGM I explained the procedures of the Membership Sub Committee in deciding whoshould be invited to become Associates of the SPH. We are always on the lookout for newmembers and I would encourage all of us to think whether we know of any of our friends whowould enjoy membership and contribute to our unique club. Bring them along to one of ourcountry meetings to show them (and us) what they (and we) are missing.

Finally my thanks to the officers of the SPH who have provided me with support over the lastyear and my best wishes to our worldwide membership for a philatelically interesting 2014.

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GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY MEMBERSHIP

Our warm and hearty congratulations go to Denis Vandervelde who hasnow achieved the remarkable milestone of 50 years membership of ourSociety. We wish him many more enjoyable years with us.

SECRETARY’S NOTES - Philip Longbottom

New Officers Announced at the AGMAt the AGM in Llandrindod Wells, the following new officers were electedor announced:

President: Susan McEwenTreasurer: Paul WatkinsPresident Elect: Max SmithWebmaster: Andy GouldConference Secretary: Stephen Parkin (after April 2014)Accounts Examiner: Mike Fulford

At the AGM the Chairman on behalf of the Society expressed sincere thanks to all those retiringfrom office especially the retiring Treasurer, Mike Fulford, after ten years service including beingon the Membership Sub-Committee. Mike Fulford will now become the new AccountsExaminer (formerly called the Auditor), after Nigel Gooch had to step down because of pressureof other commitments. In addition Richard Farman intimated that he would be stepping downas Conference Secretary after Conference at Redditch in April 2014. His twenty years servicewas acclaimed by all attending the AGM. The Executive Committee have appointed StephenParkin to be Richard Farman’s successor after April 2014. Andy Gould has been appointedWebmaster by the Executive Committee replacing Frank Walton who was praised for his workin setting up the website (see also note below). It was agreed by the AGM that the Webmasterwould be a member of the Executive Committee.

Resignation Andrew Cheung has resigned his membership of the Society.

Elevations and new Associates announced at President’s Weekend 2013To Fellow: Martyn Cusworth, Geoff Lewis;To Member: Kevin Darcy, Peter Rooke;Invited to become Associates: Francis Kiddle, Edward Proud, Bjorn Sohrne.

Address Changes etc (in order of notification)David Gurney New address 4 Kingscote, Tree Lane, Plaxtol TN15 0QAGavin Fryer New address & tel 5 Trinity Road, Knaphill, Woking GU21 2SY

01483 486460Michael Manning New address & tel 3 Lovers Walk, Wells, Somerset BA5 2QL

01749 939573Margaret Morris New address, tel 30 Hilltree Court, 96 Fenwick Road, Giffnock

& email Glasgow G46 6AA; 0141 6371443M382morris@btinternet.com

David Stirrups New address, tel 152 The Rowans, Milton, Cambridge CB24 6YX& email 01223 470335; beggloops@gmail.com

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Graham Mark New address Oast House West, Hauling Way, WiveliscombeTA4 2PP

Denis Vandervelde New email vdvpratique@aol.com

Awards to SPH membersCongratulations are due to the following members for their awards. If I have inadvertently omittedanyone, please let me know and the omission will be corrected in the next Postscript.

Awards at Autumn Stampex (Classes:- PH = Postal History; Trad = Traditional; Lit = Literature)Name Exhibit Class AwardGraham Booth The Rise and Fall of the Liverpool Forwarding Agents 1807-57 PH GoldRon Brown German Occupation of the Channel Islands PH L. SilverKen Clark The Village, Town and Port of Liverpool PH L. VermeilMartyn Cusworth Chile - 1904 Stamp Shortage and overprinting of Telegraph Stamps Trad GoldRex Dixon Germania Vol 48 (2012) Lit L.VermeilBob Galland GB: The Franking System and Official Mail from QEI to 1840 PH L. GoldEdward Klemka BSRP Journal 2012 Lit L. VermeilHans Smith The Austrian Post Offices in the Levant Lit L. Vermeil

Awards at Brasiliana 2013 (Classes:- PH = Postal History; Trad = Traditional; Lit = Literature)Name Exhibit Class AwardGraham Booth Spoon Cancellations of Great Britain PH GoldMartyn Cusworth The Italian South Atlantic Air Service (L.A.T.I.) PH L. SilverMartyn Cusworth The Italian South Atlantic Air Service (L.A.T.I.) Lit SilverRex Dixon Postal Rates and Services in Germany Dec 1923 - May 1945 PH GoldMalcolm Groom A Postal History Study of Australia’s External Airmail 1922-1945 PH L. VermeilBill Hedley Postal Service in the Hasburg Kingdom of Hungary to 1900 - PH Gold

with Special Reference to Pozsony and its EnvironsGeoff Kellow Sierra Leone: The Postal History of the King George VI Period PH Vermeil

1937-1956Geoff Lewis How the 1836 Anglo-French Postal Treaty Made it Easier to Send PH L. Gold

Mails WorldwideRobin Pizer French Restrictions on Civil Mail 1918-1925 in Recovered or PH Gold

Occupied Areas along the RhineMike Roberts Falkland Islands - A Postal History until 1945 PH Gold(of Ilkley)

Frank Walton Chinese International Airmails 1931-1945 PH L. Vermeil

SPH Website (www.societyofpostalhistorians.org.uk)Those members who have not yet registered to use the Society’s website, are urged to do so.Besides information about current members, officers and programmes, it contains otherinformation including copies of Postscript from 2006, copies of some collections and Societyarchival information. Recent journals and copies of collections are in colour. Members canregister by emailing the Webmaster, Andy Gould, at gouldphilatelic@aol.com to request aninitial password. Once on the site, members are able to change the password as they wish.

Andy Gould is responsible for the overall running of the website, but others are responsible forupdating the information on the website. The Secretary, Philip Longbottom, is responsible forall member and officer information and the programme. Any errors in and corrections tomembership information should be notified to the Secretary. If you have scanned copies of partor all of your collection and you would like to make it available to other members of the SPH viathe website, please contact Andy Gould in the first instance.

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SUBSCRIPTIONS – A note from the (new) Treasurer – Paul WatkinsThe dreaded word subscriptions comes round at this time of the year. Notification of the 2014subscriptions for those who have not already paid are enclosed with this Postscript and I know Iwill receive the usual SPH response, i.e. payment by return. I would be delighted if any of youwould like to change over to paying by standing order. If so please fill in the bottom portion ofthe subscription notice and take it to your own bank. Or, alternatively, and probably muchsimpler: if you use internet banking why not pay direct to the SPH bank account. HSBC A/cNo. 90769509, sort code 40-05-20. I will e-mail all our overseas members individually as thereare various methods of payment. If you do not receive a notification, do not think I haveforgotten you. It will be because you either pay by standing order or you paid Mike Fulford atthe President’s weekend - not forgetting the new associates who have also already paid

ELDWICK MEETING, 27 JULY 2013 – Convenor : Max SmithThe new Yorkshire venue at Eldwick, near Bingley, was very well supported by 35 members andguests. Messrs Max Smith, Edward Klempka and Richard Wheatley combined resources toshow a small range of material from the locality, which was followed by displays from:

Tony Stanford Early Gulf airmailsDuncan Crewe Croydon Airport postmarksKeith Brandon* Austrian – Italian treaty mailDouglas Armitage WW1 Indian Expeditionary Force in MesopotamiaMaurice Porter GB to India by P&OWilf Vevers BSAATed Proud* Post-UPU combination coversSteve Parkin Peter Williamson’s Penny PostEdward Klempka Batum 1917 to 1921Yvonne Wheatley London and Brighton South Coast RailwayMike Rego* Paris District destination mail 1863 to 1876Nick Martin Belgium 1714 to 1792Peter Kelly Aspects of Type SageHans Smith Austrian ship mail from TriesteTony Pumbe Biafra postage paidsMike Mapleton CarlislePeter Rooke Milnthorpe’s vital role in the South Lakes postal serviceRobert Jack The Taliban effectGerald Marriner Falklands War 1982John Jackson Netherlands 1940 issueMike Roberts (I) Postal History of the Orkney IslesPeter Chadwick Polish ‘SO’ marks in the Polish sector of East SilesiaGavin Wood SarkChris Hitchen The Paris Head PO from 1876Peter Maybury Corsica – Bateaux à vapeurMartyn Cusworh Chile and Pacific Steam Navigation CoMike Roberts (H) Pakistan partition postal stationeryRod Unwin Foreign POs in Ottoman PalestineRichard Wheatley Egypt Hotel mailRichard Farman Early changes of GB postage rates

* = guestAlso attended: Andrew Norris, Susan McEwan, Max Smith, Sue Smith*, Heather Porter*

Postscript 63/174

POLISH SO MARKS IN THE POLISH SECTOR OF EAST SILESIAPeter Chadwick

In 1919 and 1920, the new nations of Poland and Czechoslovakia had a border dispute,sometimes violent but mainly falling short of a war, over a strip of land, formerly part of Austria,centred on Teschen (Tesin, Ciesyn), which Poland thought should be part of (Polish) Silesia, andthe Czechs thought should be part of Moravia. This area was christened East Silesia. The wisemen of Versailles despatched a couple of peace-keeping diplomats to sort it out and if necessaryto have a referendum. The peace-keepers drew a demarcation line which was largely ignored.By early 1920, a referendum was planned, both sides started propaganda (with violence) andissued stamps overprinted SO, Silesie Orientale, for use in the area. In the event the referendumnever occurred and both sides agreed to abide by a decision of the peace-keepers.

The Czech Philatelic Society of Great Britain has issued an excellent monograph on the postoffices and postmarks of the Czech SO stamps, but there is no comparable Polish work. Icertainly do not have the knowledge OR the skill to attempt to compile the needed publication.But, Burda in Czechoslovakia auctioned in April 2013 an exceptional collection of 34 items ofmail using Polish SO stamps and I tried to analyse these. Mu results are tabulated below. Somewere beautiful covers where every mark was as clear as day. Others were smudged or hard toread, much as you would expect from a random sample of mail after 93 years. Where I couldnot identify a mark, I have shown simply question mark.

From this my only conclusions are:1. In my sample of 34, 19 are Teschen, seven are Bielitz and eight come from all other

locations. My guess is that the world population is at least 60% Teschen, 20-25% Bielitz,and no more than 10% from all other locations.

2. The following codes definitely exist:Teschen1 b,i,2a,2b,3d also g,3bTeschen 2 b,cBielitz 3aBielitz 1 3a also 3BBielitz 2 a;sp 3aUstron aOber Kurzwald a

3 A study of Polish SO offices and postmarks, comparable to the Czechoslovak one, bysomeone who knows what they are doing, would be really valuable!

The Plebiscite areas in 1920

I. East Silesia (Teschen Area)I. OravaIII. Spiš

Postscript 63/175

BIELITZ 1

6 August 1920. Old Austrian language bridge-style canceller, Bielitz, Osterr.Schles.1/3a, frankingregistered letter to Mahrische Ostrau (Moravska Ostrava) with 1k SO stamp and four not overprinted 25hPolish stamps. Bielitz is at the northern end of the disputed territories, and mixed frankings from Bielitz arenot uncommon. Handstamp code 3a

Postscript 63/176

East Silesia – Polish Sector: Cieszyn 1

6 April 1920 A philatelic piece, probably never postally used, with all the currentPolish East Silesia stamps cancelled to order at Cieszyn 1. Handstamp code 3b.

18 May 1920. 15f postal stationery card, uprated to 70f by the addition of four SO adhesives, postally usedto Munich. The text of the card refers to the plebiscite but not the franking: it may be not philatelic.Handstamp code g.

Postscript 63/177

Polish SO items sold in Burda 2013 auction

Lot no From To Date Code Postmark*1934 Teschen2 Lwow 29.3.20 c Teschen2/Cieszyn21935 Teschen1 Vienna 20.3.20 ? Teschen1/Cieszyn11936 Teschen1 Mor.Ost 26.8.20 3d Teschen1/Cieszyn11937 Teschen1 Prague 2.4.20 2b Teschen1/Cieszyn1 philatelic1938 Konska Karwinne 2.4.20 none handwritten1939 Bielitz1 Mor.Ost 27.3.20 ? ? poss.phil1940 Teschen2 Innsbruck 7.7.20 c Teschen2/Cieszyn21941 Teschen1 Vienna 14.8.20 2a Teschen1/Cieszyn1 poss.phil1942 Bielitz(?1) Vienna 5.4.20 3a special BOS1943 Bielitz1 Mor.Ost 6.8.20 3a special BOS1944 Bielitz(?1) Moravia 20.5.20 ? ?1945 Teschen1 Bielitz 1.8.20 3d Teschen1/Cieszyn11946 Teschen2 Mor.Ost 18.4.20 ? Teschen2/Cieszyn21947 Bielitz1 Reichenberg 23.3.20 ? special BOS

Dombrova Czecho 30.5.20 ? special Dom1948 Bielitz1 Vienna 23.7.20 3a special BOS1949 Teschen2 Lodze 12.6.20 c Teschen2/Cieszyn21950 Alt Bielitz Germany 27.7.20 none special Alt1951 Teschen1 Basel 19.5.20 i Teschen1/Cieszyn1 philatelic1952 Teschen1 Vienna 23.4.20 3d Teschen1/Cieszyn1

Teschen1 Moravia 15.5.20 3d Teschen1/Cieszyn1Teschen? Croatia ? ? ?

1953 Skotschau Vienna ? ? ?Ustron ? ? a Ustron/UstronUstron Moravia ? a ?Nieder Bielitz Vienna ? ? ?

1954 Teschen1 Jaromer 12.6.20 2a Teschen1/Cieszyn11955 Teschen1 Teschen 4.4.20 2a Teschen1/Cieszyn1

Teschen1 Teschen 10.4.20 b Special Tes1956 Teschen2 Vienna ? b Teschen2/Cieszyn2

Teschen2 Prague 15.6.20 b Teschen2/Cieszyn2Teschen2 Vienna 21.5.20 c Teschen2/Cieszyn2

1957 Bielitz Prague 10.4.20 3a special BOS 2 philatelic

1958OberKurzwald Vienna 30.7.20 a oberkurzwald/ gorn….

All postmarks are bridged double rings, except the specialsSpecial BOS is a bridged double ring, with Bielitz Oesterr Schlesien in the upper sector, and thecode in the lower sectorDombrova is a bridged double ring, with Dombrova in the upper sector and a code(undecipherable) in the lower sectorAlt Bielitz is a single ring, with Alt Bielitz in a circular arc within the top of the ring, and a three-line date in the rest of the ringSpecial Tes is a double ring, Teschen above, Cieszyn below, with the three-line date in the centreSpecial BOS2 is a bridged double ring, with Bielitz in the upper sector, Oesterr.Schlesien in thelower sector, code to the left, date in the bridge

In addition, I have in my own collection:Teschen 1 code 3b Teschen 1 code gBielitz 1 code 3b Bielitz 2 code 3a

Postscript 63/178

FOREIGN POST OFFICES IN PALESTINE – Rod Unwin

During the Ottoman period in the territory later known as Palestineseveral major towns had foreign post offices operating undercapitulation treaties. The background to the creation of thecapitulations is well explained by Hans Smith in his recently publishedbook on the Austrian Post Offices in the Levant (Ref..1). These postoffices being in competition with the local offices were not popular withthe Ottoman Government who tried to close them down. Not beingsuccessful the Ottomans offered a discount on postage stamps tocorrespondents and traders posting mail abroad. Eventually at theoutbreak of WW1 the Ottomans were able to close all the foreign post offices.

Jerusalem, Jaffa and Haifa had foreign post offices and this display illustrated picture post cardsusing the :

Austrian Post Office in Jerusalem, Jaffa and Haifa.German Post Office in Jerusalem and Jaffa.French Post Office in Jerusalem.

The picture postcards were mainly sent from visitors doing the Grand Tour. By the late 1880sthe Austrian Post Office was fully functional in Jerusalem and was privileged to be situatedwithin the old city walls opposite Thomas Cook’s office. Figure 1 shows a postcard to Bavariahaving a violet cancellation dated 31 October 1898. The lower part of the cds readsOESTERREICHISCHE POST which is quite a mouthful. The view side celebrates the visit ofthe Kaiser to the region in 1898. As the card contains no message it was sent at the imprime rateof 10 paras. The card shown in Figure 2 is from the Austrian Post Office in Jerusalem toYorkshire dated 1 December 1903 where the lower part of the cds shows a shorten version ofAustrian Post. Also this card has the cachet in violet of the Grand New Hotel Jerusalem whoseowner was Morcos. Public opinion at the time was that the hotel was neither grand or new(Ref..2).

Fig. 1 Picture postcard from Austrian Post Office in Jerusalem to Bavaria, 31 October 1898.

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Fig. 2 Picture postcard from Austrian Post Office in Jerusalem to Yorkshire,1 December1903.

Another card from Jerusalem to the USA dated 20 December 1908 is shown in Figure 3. As inthe previous cards the portrait on the stamp is that of the Emperor Franz- Joseph of value10 centimes. This postage stamp celebrating the 60th anniversary of his accession was used in allAustro-Hungarian post offices in the Turkish Empire in which French currency was accepted.The message on the card mentions the 101 guns celebration of the first day of the newparliament which opened on 17 December 1908. The re-establishment of the constitutionfollowed the overthrow of the autocratic power of Sultan Abdul-Hamid II by the ‘Young Turks’on 25 July 1908. After a group of ‘Young Turks’ gained power in 1913 Turkey entered WW1 asan ally of Germany.

Fig. 3 Picture postcard from Austrian Post Office in Jerusalem to USA, 20 December 1908.

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Other postcards from the Austrian Post Offices are shown in Figures 4 and 5. The card from atourist in Jaffa addressed to Yorkshire is dated 15 April 1903 and franked 20 paras. The cardfrom Haifa (Caifa) is addressed to Belgium and is franked a total of 10 centimes. This card leftHaifa on 21 March 1908 and was received at Hoboken on 30 March.

Fig. 4 Picture postcard from Austrian Post Office in Jaffa to Yorkshire, 15 April 1903.

Fig. 5 Picture postcard from Austrian Post Office in Haifa to Belgium, 21 March 1908.

An example of the German Post Office in Jerusalem is shown in Figure 6. The card bearing a20 paras Germania design stamp sent to Bavaria on 8 October 1903 was received on 18 October.The postcard from the French Post Office in Jerusalem bearing a Levant issue stamp cancelled14 May 1913 is shown in Figure 7. The brief message was sent at the imprime rate of 5centimes, arriving in Brussels on 26 May. The circular handstamp containing the number 11 is apostal marking applied in Belgium.

Postscript 63/181

Fig. 6 Picture postcard from German Post Office in Jerusalem to Saxony, 8 October 1903.

Fig. 7 Picture postcard from French Post Office in Jerusalem to Belgium, 14 May 1913.

References1. Hans Smith, The Austrian Post Offices in the Levant, Published by the Austrian Philatelic

Society, 2013. ISBN 978-0-900118-09-8.2. W. D. McCrackan, The New Palestine, Jonathan Cape, 1922.

Postscript 63/182

THE AUSTRIAN NETHERLANDS 1714 TO 1794 – Nick Martin

The period of the AustrianNetherlands, is often regardedas being relatively lacking ininterest to postal historians, andwhilst the literature on the Tourand Taxis period in general isquite profuse, there is very littlededicated specifically to theAustrian Period.

26 August 1714 : Dinant to Anwerp. Until recently unrecorded de dinan

In early 1714 the Austrian EmperorCharles VI accepted the sovereignty ofThe Netherlands after the Treaty ofUtrecht which had ended the War of theSpanish Succession. The period was oneof relative peace, with the exception ofthe interlude of the War of the AustrianSuccession (1740-1748). The Tour andTassis family regained control of theposts in 1725 and not surprisingly thelack of war allowed the stabilisation andsome growth in the postal network.Eighteen new post offices were opened.

17 June 1734 : Malinas to Ypres. Unrecorded manuscript de MalThe first manuscript origin marks had started appearing in the mid-1690s, with the first handstruck town marks brought into use during the occupation of three southern towns by theFrench between 1695 and 1698. During the early part of the Austrian Period there wererelatively few towns marking the origin of letters but more towns gradually began to usemanuscript town marks.

The War of the Austrian Succession (1740-1748) seemed to interfere little with therunning of the posts although the countrywas almost entirely occupied by theFrench. A French appointee, Leon Pajotwas appointed Master of the Posts. ThePrinces of Tour and Taxis left theNetherlands for good to live inRegensburg, although they did regaincontrol of the posts after the defeat of theFrench. The first hand struck markingsstarted appearing again during the 1740s,particularly in towns which were occupiedby the French. Inevitably military markingsare also to be found on mail.

17 February 1744 : CHARLEROY to Brussels

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After the War, the use of hand struck markings became more generalised, and most were straightline. But there are several examples of unusual and rather idiosyncratic designs of postmarks –white on black (MONS and GAND),changed letter sizes (TRNAY), or theunusual pre-paid mark of YPRES.Several examples of these marks weredisplayed.

The War of the American successiondid not take place on Netherlands soil,but mail to france was forbidden, andwas routed via Brussels, receiving thecircular D’AB (d’Anglettere parBruxelles) transit mark. Two coastaltowns, Nieuport and Ostend alsoreceived French garrisons. 24 October 1746 : BRUXELLES to Paris

14 November 1746 : MONS to Gand. Used only during theFrench Occupation

20 May 1748 : AM DEFLANDREI – Humbeke to Agen froma soldier billeted with the Prince de Latour Taxis

Postscript 63/184

28 December 1781 : London to Paris.D’AB transit mark used on mail to Francevia Brussels. Addressed to de Beaumarchais,author of the Figaro plays used by Mozart

18 June 1789 : TURNHOUT to Gent.Unusual initials TH postmark

CARLISLE RURAL POST – Mike Mapleton

This registered letter was displayed almost as a postscript to a display of Carlisle material.Originally bought as an example of the early How Mill rubber datestamp, the feature which wasoverlooked at the time of purchase was the pencilled note above the address, by Cumrew Messenger.In order to give some context for our members at Bingley, a quotation was offered from a bookon Lake District life in Edwardian times:

Rural postmen covered long distances, and besides delivering letters and parcels, acted as a kindof peripatetic post office, selling stamps, weighing parcels, accepting registered letters andobtaining postal orders for the immobile. They knew all that went on in their areas and wereusually welcome callers to farmers and especially their wives, isolated in remote hamlets.

(Family Album - Edwardian Life in the Lake Counties - John Satchell, p.34).

All of these duties and more can be found listed in a General Post Office publication, Rules forPostmen Employed on Rural Duties. The 1931 edition has no fewer than one hundred and forty onesections under general headings including the handling of mail, protection of letters and parcelsagainst loss or theft, delivery and collection, station service (railway) and mounted post.Registered post is covered in sections 85 to 105. Section 102 offers advice on how to register

Postscript 63/185

packets. There are nine sub-sections including number vii which informs the rural postman that,he must write his initials across the line where the flap is fastened to the envelope to show that he has satisfiedhimself of the security of the packet at the time when he accepted it.. In the case of the illustrated envelope,our man has written his pencilled note across the flap though it is not clear whether his initialsare included.

Fig. 1 Registered letter posted at How Mill on 20 January 1905

How Mill was a station on the Newcastle to Carlisle line and a succession of Kelly's Directoriesfor Cumberland indicate that the station master was also the sub-postmaster. ContemporaryOrdnance Survey large scale maps indicate that the post office was housed in the stationbuilding. Letters arrived from Carlisle on the early train and were collected in the evening. Therural postman would have taken his bag south to Cumrew from How Mill. There may well havebeen a postman's hut at Cumrew where he would have eaten his 'bait' (lunch), read hisnewspaper and possibly had a snooze before setting out on the return journey which probablytook in the village of Hayton. Here, he would have gathered the Hayton post (including theillustrated registered letter) prior to returning to How Mill. All this would amount to a roundtrip of ten to twelve miles. The letter could have been collected at any point on this walk.

Fig. 2 Hayton, Carlisle

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THE EARLY DAYS OF MILNTHORPE POST OFFICE – Peter Rooke

The Post Office at Milnthorpe, established in 1794, became more influential with the closure ofthe Oversands Route for mails between Lancaster and Ulverston in 1807, because of concernsabout the safety of the mails whilst crossing the sands of Morecambe Bay, which were subject tofast moving tides, quicksands and frequent channel changes. A mail gig was instituted betweenBurton and Milnthorpe and then from Milnthorpe to Ulverston, which led to the developmentof the Milnthorpe Penny Post system, connecting the south lakes area to the London to Carlislemail route via Burton-in-Kendal. Lancaster to Ulverston via the Sands was about 22 miles,depending on the channel shifts but the route via Burton, Milnthorpe, Levens Bridge, Lindaleand Newby Bridge was 34 miles - a small extra mileage to guarantee the safety of the mails.

In 1750 the Lancaster to Kendal road via Carnforth and Burton had been turnpiked and in 1759the Kendal to Milnthorpe road had been turnpiked. However there was no turnpike connectionbetween Milnthorpe and Carnforth until 1818 nor between Levens Bridge and Greenodd until1820. In 1857 the Lancaster to Ulverston Railway opened rendering the mail gigs redundant.

An 1830 entire sent from Cartmel to Lancaster, dated internally May 14th.Boxed No 1 applied at Cartmel plus 1d postage due Cartmel to Milnthorpe.

Boxed Milnthorpe / Penny Post applied at Milnthorpe 1 deleted 6 added,making a total of 6d., the 20 to 30 miles 1812 rate.

Boxed No 1 in use here 2 years before previously recorded in county catalogue.

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Stuart Rossiter Trust ChangesRecently the Stuart Rossiter Trust announced two new Trustees. We now announce theretirements of Robin Pizer and Gavin Fryer from the Trust. Both are Fellows of the SPH andboth have served the SRT very well, and for many years. Their fellow trustees thank them andwill miss them. SMcE

TRIESTE AND THE ADRIATIC MAILS 1800 to 1870 – Hans Smith

Trieste has been a port from the earliest times. It passed to Austrianjurisdiction in the 13th century but its importance as a port increasedsignificantly during the period of Napoleonic occupation at the start of the19th.

The Austrian post office was using local navigation as a means offorwarding the mails to and via Corfu and other Adriatic ports at least fromthe start of the 19th century but was greatly inhibited by the British blockade while Austriaremained an ally of Napoleon. Only on the departure of the French forces at the end of 1814was the municipal port authority able to handle traffic and even then had to take steps includingcostly protection by the Austrian Navy, until the 1820s to protect the mails from pirates whowere active in the southern Adriatic. The Post Office despatched the mails whenever a ship wasavailable to carry them under contract, a somewhat haphazard procedure (except for the mail runto Venice, initially in the hands of the British John Allen company). Complications arose on thesouthern Adriatic route since treaty obligations permitted the Corfu mails and the Greek mails toenjoy special privileges. To facilitate the procedure, mail from Corfu was stamped ‘DA CORFÙ’on arrival at Trieste (Fig. 1). A somewhat confusing process since much mail came from theGreek islands but did not necessarily pass through Corfu and the scarcity of the markingprobably indicates some indecision on the part of the Austrian authorities, until 1834, when two,more explicit handstamps were introduced, to be applied at Trieste, the one reading GRÈCE tomark mail from the Greek ports (Fig. 2), the other reading Iona (Fig. 3), for mail from the IonianIs. (Note the use of French for Greek origins, then still the correct, diplomatic language for astate whose status was uncertain.)

The situation was greatly improved by 1837 with the formation by the Austrian Lloyd insurancegroup of an incorporated maritime division with the support of a number of Triestineshipowners (the Lloyd’s ‘Divisione II’). The new corporation quickly established a number ofshipping lines, principally to Venice and Corfu, with onward sailings to the Levant. The ‘Lloyd’acquired monopoly rights from the Austrian government to carry the Austrian mails and in duecourse signed similar contracts with foreign states such as Greece. Mails posted at the Lloydagency in Trieste and from and between the Austrian ports were cancelled with a large boxedhandstamp, indicating the port of departure and the date (without the year, as customary in theAustrian service) both details being indicated by slugs inserted in the canceller (Fig. 4).

As the volume of mail increased between Trieste and Corfu (the latter mainly for onward transitto and from Constantinople or Alexandria), the Lloyd decided in the later 1860s to rationalise thesystem with the introduction of a set of shipmail cancellers indicating the voyage and the ship’sorigin. The original intention seems to have been two routes, No. 1 for mail from Trieste toCorfu and No. 2 for mail from Corfu to Trieste. A route No. 3 was subsequently introduced forthe Trieste-Cattaro run, No. 4 for the route to Prevesa (Albania), and No. 5 for the Durazzo

Postscript 63/188

(Albania) route. No. 6 was a later idea for the route between Constantinople and the Black Seaport of Varna but a No. 6 canceller was never adopted in practice since the complexarrangements then existing were superseded by the formation of the Universal Postal Union in1865, which rendered route markings of the type under discussion obsolete. The No. 2 routeposes something of a conundrum. As it became clear to the Lloyd, who were still at theplanning stage, that only one ship was plying the Trieste-Corfu route and the new cancellerwould in any event show Trieste or Corfu interchangeably by means of inserted slugs, theproposed No. 2 route would be pointless. Apparently, a No. 2 route was then debated betweenTrieste and the off-shore Austrian islands (the so-called slow route to Corfu) but this provedotiose. What precisely was decided, and why, is not known as the Lloyd company minute booksare missing for this period, but eventually, common sense prevailed and a single No. 1 cancellerwas issued in 1868 with the interchangeable slugs for Triest and Corfu (Fig. 4).

Problems then apparently arose with the design of the canceller since the slugs did not fitsmoothly into the stock, so complete strikes of the cancel are consequently rare. The Lloydevidently tried to remedy the situation in 1871 (?) by using a smaller slug for both Triest andCorfu but there was little improvement and the cancellers on all routes were eventually replacedin 1872 with a catch-all LETTERE ARRIVATE PER MARE (Shipmail Arrivals) for mails viaCorfu and more specific cancellers for the other ports, if still required after the Postal Uniontook effect. One unexpected result of the dysfunctional slug was that an unscrupulous dealer inVienna gathered together a number of stamps and covers with the defective cancellations andcarefully inserted a 2 where the No. 1 had not shown and sold them, even to seasoned collectors,as bearing a genuine No. 2 strike. Throughout this period, the uncancelled mails carried on theLloyd’s ships (or posted in the ships’ mailboxes when the government permitted these to befitted on board ships, in 1871) were cancelled not, as one might imagine, on board the vessel butat the shore post office after the ship’s arrival at Trieste or Corfu respectively.

On the other routes where shipmail was cancelled with a numbered canceller indicating the portof posting (routes No. 3, 4 and 5), the upsurge in uncancelled mail, whether posted on board orin the ship’s mailbox, after 1871 made changing the nameslugs a time-consuming process andthe postal clerks saved time by not using the designated canceller but undated straight-lineadministrative cachets instead. Worse still, the Post Office required mail from unscheduled portsopportunistically collected en route to have the name of the port of posting written on the missivein ink. The situation was largely remedied by the authorities installing travelling post offices withtheir own staff – which had proved effective on the railways – on all the busier routes as fromthe late 1880s. Mails were then cancelled where necessary with a distinctive oval canceller withthe ship’s name and the date of posting. These cancellers also showed the name of the company(in its current version) but this is misleading since responsibility for the mails from thesetravelling post offices lay fully with the Austrian Post Office and no longer with the Lloyd.(Cards and these covers are widely collected, but it is arguably wrong to refer to them as Lloydshipmail!)

Apart from actually carrying the mails – and on the routes between Trieste and Corfu or Cattarostill using specific Lloyd cancellers – the Lloyd from 1908 or so virtually withdrew from thegame of playing at post offices and in any event – with a sigh of relief one suspects – handedover all its responsibilities to the newly created Italian-owned Triestino Lloyd in 1918. However,when Trieste was ceded to Italy in 1919, the port lost its link with the Austrian trade and theLine never regained its former supremacy.

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Fig. 1 Entire letter Xante to Corfu 6.12.1827 via Trieste, a very roundabout route. Xante post office circular handstampwith the postal charge of 1s.6½d. – not the date – entered centrally by hand. Austrian postal charges added at Trieste:20kr. Shipmail + 3kr. local charge. Disinfected in transit at Trieste (wax seal).

Fig. 2 Entire letter Nauplion (Greece) 24.2/8.3.1837 to Ancona via Corfu (18.3/30.3), arrival mark illegible.Forwarded from Corfu on 18.3/30.3. Ionian transit charge 4 oboli, Austrian charge 6kr. Shipmail + 2kr. Disinfection,together with the postal charge to Ancona (30kr) = 47kr. Sorted at Ferrara (handstamped ALTA GERMANIANORD) where the original charge of 1.76 baioch was more than doubled to 3.59. The double weight indication (top left)was probably applied at Ferrara; the AT transit mark at Trieste.

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Fig. 3 Entire Letter Syra 10.2.1838 to Venice. Arr/ 21.2; rebagged at Trieste, where the Grèce mark was applied.Opened for disinfecting at the San Carlo Quarantine in Trieste and closed again with the Quarantine’s wax seal. Chargedthe basic postage rate of 14kr. plus 3kr. Triestse local landing fee.

Fig. 4 Entire 19.10.1854 to Trieste, arr. 21.10. Posted on ship after leaving Zara. The canceller had moveable type, thelast port being shown till the next port was reached. The smaller and earlier of two cancellers. V.L.A. = Vapore LloydAustriaco : Austrian Lloyd Steamer.

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SINDLESHAM MEETING, 4 SEPTEMBER 2013 – Convenor : Patrick Reid

Some forty two members and guests came to this new venue, which is convenient for severalmotorways, but has a rather tricky last couple of miles to find it!

The keynote display was given by Tony Stanford, who showed British Levant

After a viewing break, there were four rounds of member/guest displays:

Rob Galland A small selection of Wreck and Crash MailWilf Vevers Special postcards of the Pacific Steam Navigation CompanyMaurice Porter Interrupted Mail in North America from 1926Chris Rainey British East Africa TPOsGerald Marriner The 1982 Falklands WarDane Garrod The Beatrix Nursery for Waifs and StraysAndy Harris The Italian internal Printed Paper RateColin Tabeart The early Orient LinePeter Kelly French Railway CancelsSue Hopson Man’s very best friendRobin Pizer Bremen Exchange Control 1918 to 25Rob May Nigeria underpaid mail.John Scott Official mail from the 1970s and 1980sClaire Scott Death by PostFrancis Kiddle* Postage Due countries A to C (Algeria to Cape Verde).Susan Oliver Faeroes mail to different destinationsChris Oliver* South West Africa and the Angola conflictGeoff Lovejoy Swedish Postal StationeryMichael Elliott Finland during WW1Malcolm Ray-Smith Tudor Letters and DocumentsSteve Jarvis Transatlantic Air Mail Rates from Jamaica to GB and Europe.Hans Smith German Post Offices in the LevantDenis Vandervelde Post and Hotels in the Holy Land.Keith Brandon* Misdirected Mail of the Austrian EmpirePhil Kenton Great Britain Incoming Express MailRichard Farman Donington Camp in WW1Eddie Spicer* Effects of WW2 on North Atlantic MailRon Brown Bradshaw Advice Cards during the German Occupation of GuernseyJames Podger* Cayman Islands Postal StationeryChris King Denmark in WW1Birthe King* Denmark’s involvement in the Korean War.Patrick Reid Postage Due Markings of Western Australia (outgoing mail only)* = Guest

We were blessed with a beautiful day, good food and good company. The bar and buffet queueswere a bit long at lunch, but we all got fed and watered. I look forward to arranging the nextmeeting here in 2015, when better directions will be available.

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THE BRITISH LEVANT – Tony Stanford

This display featured mail going in and out of the British Post offices (BPOs) in the Levant. A British Army PO had been opened at the BritishConsulate in the Galata district of Constantinople to service the bulk ofmail from the British troops during the Crimean War of 1853 to 1856.After the troops had returned, the Army PO was closed and then reopenedin the Summer of 1857 as the British Post Office in Constantinople. InDecember 1859 a new Post Office by the Galata Quay was opened with asplendid view across the mouth of the Bosphorus from the rooftop tower, enabling a look-outto spot the approach of a mailboat and raise a flag to signal its imminent arrival.

The display featured a selection of Crimean mail and continued with mail going both into andout of the Constantinople Office and later the Smyrna Office which opened in 1872 and theBeyrout Office opened in 1873.

The British Government decided that from 1 August 1885 the stamps sold in the British PostOffices in the Levant must be surcharged in Turkish Piastres. This was done because of thefalling value of the Turkish Piastre and the fear that speculators might purchase stamps inPiastres and then sell them back for sterling. The display showed the use of these surcharges atall the British Post Offices in the Levant, including the Salonica office opened in 1900 and theStamboul sub-office opened in 1884, featuring a wide variety of the rates and handstamps usedat those offices.

Unoverprinted low value GB stamps continued to be available for use on post cards and printedmatter and the higher values were used at the Levant offices for packets and parcels. Ofparticular note was a parcel label from Smyrna and a selection of sample labels.

The KEVII part of the display showed a wide variety of postal rates and particularly illustratedthe ways in which the 1907 change in postal rates was accommodated with fractional issues. Allthe BPO’s in the Levant were closed at the outbreak of WW1, and the final frame showed use ofthe KGV overprints during that final period. A customs parcel form issued by the British PostOffice and franked with Ottoman revenue stamps to pay the customs costs was of great interest.

After the War, the Smyrna office was re-opened on 1 March 1919 and remained in use until thecity was destroyed by fire in September 1922. A frame showed the variety of mail from theSmyrna Office during this period, including scarce uses of the pre-war overprints. The BPOs inBeyrout and Salonica, then in Greece, were not re-opened.

In Constantinople an Army Post Office was opened for civilian mail on 4 February 1919, and re-opened as a British Post Office Office on 29 July 1920. The final frames displayed out-goingmail from both of these periods, during which there were short-lived changes in rates.

After they re-opened in 1919, both the Smyrna and Constantinople offices were supplied withunoverprintd GB stamps, which the Smyrna Office continued using until it finally closed.However, in August 1921, because of the depreciation in the value of the Turkish currency inConstantinople, all unsurcharged British stamps were withdrawn and a new series of surchargedBritish stamps was issued for the new postal rates which were introduced at that time and whichremained in force until the Constantinople Post Office was closed on 27 September 1923.

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Fig 1 1870 lettersheet from Constantinople to Edinburgh franked with GB 2d blue plate 13 and pair of 1867 6d mauveplate 8 all tied with Constantinople C in barred oval. On the reverse is a BRITISH POST OFFICECONSTANTINOPLE dispatch mark dated 17 June 1870 and an Edinburgh receiving mark dated 24 June. The1s/2d franking was insufficient for the double 8d per half ounce required for the normal route to London via Constanta,Vienna and Paris and received an INSUFFICIENTLY PREPAID handstamp at the Constantinople Office. On arrivalin Britain, the cover received an oval MORE TO PAY handstamp and was taxed 6d in manuscript.

Fig 2 An 1885 cover from Constantinople to the USA franked with QV 2½d lilac surcharge 40 PARAS cancelled withthe small barred oval C. The British Post office Constantinople dispatch mark dated 1 August 1885 was applied in redto the front of the cover and there is a New York receiving mark dated August 15 on the reverse. This is the only recordedexample of a cover dispatched on the day of issue of the first stamps surcharged for use in British Levant.

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Fig 3 KEVII Registration Envelope size G surcharged REGN. FEE 1 PIASTRE dispatched from Constantinople toGöttingen in Germany franked with 1 PIASTRE surcharge to pay the first 20 gram step and 1½d LEVANT overprint topay the ¾ Piastre for the additional 20 grams all tied with single ring BRITISH POST OFFICECONSTANTINOPLE cds dated 6 January 1909. The ¾ Piastre additional step rate was introduced on 1 October1907 without any stamps surcharged with fractional values being issued to support these rates until November 1909.

Fig 4 1914 cover from Smyrna to Leeds franked with KGV 3d violet surcharged 1 ¼ Piastre tied with single ringBRITISH POST OFFICE STAMBOUL cds dated 5 May 1914. It is believed that the additional ¼ Piastre paid abovethe standard 1 Piastre rate covered a local collection charge.

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Fig 5 On 4 February 1919 the Army Post Office in Constantinople was opened for civilian use and this is an earlycommercial cover to Belgium using an Armed Forces issue registered postal stationery envelope with 2d registration chargeembossed stamp and bearing 2½d blue King George V definitive and provisional registration etiquette, all cancelled withAPO - SX3 handstamp dated 24 April 1919. The cover has the seal of the Société des Tramways de Constantinopleacross the front flap and red CENSORED BY MILITARY AUTHORITY handstamp with code 3. On the reverse is aPASSED BY CENSOR label and Brussels receiving mark dated 15 May.

Fig 6 1922 Cover from Constantinople to Sofia franked with a pair of KGV 1d reds surcharged 1½ PIASTRES andsingle 3d violet surcharged 4½ PIASTRES making the 7½ Piastres foreign rate. In August 1921, because of thedepreciation in the value of the Turkish currency, all unsurcharged British stamps were withdrawn from the Constantinopleoffice and a new series of surcharged British stamps was issued.

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BREMEN EXCHANGE CONTROL 1918 TO 1923 – Robin Pizer

During the 1914 to 1918 war there was at Bremen an Examination Officefor Business Mail (Prüfungsstelle für Geschäftspost) to whichbusinessmen could take their mail unsealed for on the spot censorship inorder to expedite its delivery. One examiner was Lt Col v.Wilm whosigned the mail he examined. This Examination Office was probably atone of the counters within the Bremen 1 post office because aftercensorship, the censor sealed the mail. The mail was then passed directly by the censor to a postoffice clerk probably at the next counter who accepted the postage, added a Bremen 1registration label where required and then put the item into a mail bag to go for postmarking andsorting. It is assumed that Bremen 1 was at the Head Post Office in Bremen.

After the war, this Examination Office was retained to undertake on the spot exchange controlexaminations. Von Wilm remained as an examiner until August 1920 when his signaturedisappears from covers. During 1919 the Exchange Control Offices were numbered inalphabetical order so that Bremen became office number 2.

From 5 January 1920 a Supervision Office (Postüberwachungsstelle - PÜ) was set up in Bremento which the post office brought sacks of mail for examination. This was set up at or near theBremen 5 post office as shown by an official letter from the Supervision Office postmarked atBremen 5 and by many letters being backstamped with the Bremen 5 postmark. This may wellhave been at the main railway station. In January 1920 the Bremen PÜ only examined mailaddressed to the Netherlands from the Head Post Offices of Bremen, Hamburg, Kiel andOldenburg and the area north of the Hanover to Berlin railway excluding Berlin itself and areasfurther east of Berlin. A cover was shown postmarked Hamburg on 5.1.1920 addressed toAmsterdam which was opened at Bremen and resealed with an unnumbered standard labelinscribed (in German) Opened on the grounds of the law of 15 November 1918 (Government Gazette page1324). The label was marked in manuscript with 11111 where the first two 1s were crossed out(see illustration). This may signify the inspector's number 23. By February 1920 each inspectorwas issued with a trapezoidal cachet with a numeral in the middle. The highest numeral seen is26 indicating a low volume of work compared to the larger Supervision Offices where hundredsof inspectors were employed.

Later in 1920 the labels used at Bremen bore the office number 2. Then in January 1922 an extrasentence was added to the label explaining that the examination was in the interests of taxationand for business reasons and was signed off by the Government Ministry of Finance. This wasdone as the Post Office had previously got the blame for delays in the mail due to theexaminations. Later as the use of the port of Bremerhaven for ships to the USA developed, thework of the Supervision Office was extended to cover mail travelling by ships betweenBremerhaven and New York to or from North, Central and South America and the Far East viaNorth America.

The second cover illustrated is postmarked Bremen 1, 13.11.1922 (Monday), and is addressed toBasel in Switzerland where it arrived on 14 November 1922. The reverse bears a sealing labelwith the extra sentence and printer's imprint 11.22. 100m. 523. The label is tied by the circularBremen PÜ eagle cachet and the trapezoidal cachet number 24. Further the label had the wordOpened (Geöffnet) deleted and the word Checked (Geprüft) inserted above in manuscript.Another cover was shown postmarked Bremen 1 on 16.11.1922 (Thursday) addressed toHouston, Texas bearing a similar amended label, eagle cachet and tied by cachet number 4. Sowere these examined at Bremen 1 PP or Bremen 5 PÜ ?

Postscript 63/197

As the Supervision Office at Bremen 5 did not inspect mail to Switzerland and the twoinspectors pedantically crossed out the word 'Opened' and replaced it with the word 'Checked', itis suggested that for a few days perhaps a week they were moved from the Bremen 5 SupervisionOffice to the Bremen 1 Examination Office for Business Mail to cover for the absence of thenormal staff at the latter. They took with them a supply of sealing labels, an eagle cachet (fivevarieties of this cachet are known) and their personal cachets. Then after they had received theunsealed letter brought in by the sender, they checked it and sealed it up in the presence of thesender and automatically applied the label as they would normally do in Bremen 5 but suitablyamended. It would help if further examples of the use of this amended label could be found.Inspections at Bremen ceased from 1 December 1923.

Hamburg 051020 via Bremen PÜ with label to Amsterdam.b

Postscript 63/198

Bremen PP 131122 to Switzerland label with geprueft modification b

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SWEDEN POSTAL STATIONERY CARDS – Geoff Lovejoy

The display began with the cards issued when Sweden joined the UPU, issued in 1879 at a costof 10 öre for foreign mail although there is one used internally when the rate was 6 öre.

The next issue in 1880 was for 6 öre in lilac with a similar imprinted oval stamp followed by a5 öre in green in 1885.

Two specials were issued in 1885 and 1897 the second for King Oscar’s 25 year Jubilee.

In 1897 a new design was issued at 5 öre with a heavier border printing and slightly largerlettering. This was followed in 1889 with a 10 öre in red with the same heavier bordercontaining SVERIGE-SUÈDE at the top.

There were a number of official cards of a narrower type and double cards even smaller.

Fig. 1 10 öre card issued in1879. Sent from Stockholmon 18 January 1883 toOscarshamn with TPOPkxP No. 17. Correct ratewas 6 öre.

Fig. 2 Sent fromFinspong on 28 June1886, but cancelledPinspong, to Berlin.

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Fig. 3 Kalmar,12 May 1880to Oscarshamn.

Fig. 4 Stockholm, 27 January1882, to Hamburg. Upratedwith 4 öre adhesive to pay the

foreign card rate.

Fig. 5 5 öre card issuedin 1885. The rate wasintroduced 1 January1885. Sent fromLinkoping on11 September 1885.

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Fig. 6 5 öre card sent on28 July 1886 fromWingarer to Boxholm.

Fig. 7 öre green cardfrom Stockholm, 28September 1897, toCopenhagen. Not

cancelled in Swedenbut cancelled by

Fra Sverige/L inCopenhagen on

arrival.

Fig. 8 5 öre card issuedin 1897 for the 25 yearJubilee of Oscar 11.

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Fig. 9 A new design ofthe 5 öre card was issuedin 1897, with largerprint and a differentframe.

Fig. 1010 öre card

issued in1889 in rose

carmine.

THE GERMAN POST IN THE LEVANT 1870 TO 1914Hans Smith

A succession of bombshells (literally) in the latter part of the 19th centuryleft the known world changed to a degree that no one would have believedpossible barely a hundred years earlier. The violent settlement of theSchleswig-Holstein Question in 1864 followed by the Prussian victories overAustria in 1866 and over France in 1870 to 1871 left Prussia in a dominantposition in mainland Europe. Not surprisingly, the result for Prussia wasone of political hubris that led rapidly to the creation of the GermanEmpire as a political unit in 1871. One of the Great Power trappings that Prussia had acquiredwas the opening by the Prussian-dominated North German Confederation of an extra-territorialpost office in Constantinople in 1870.

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It is generally admitted that there was no pressing economic need for the German states (or theEmpire) to provide postal services in the Levant but, once established, the Office functionedsmoothly, and with the development of the railways, it soon became less dependent onassistance from the Austrian shipping lines for communications with the home country. TheNorth German office, which was opened in the Pera district of Constantinople on 1 March1870, functioned for barely a year before its attributes, staff and premises were transferred, on 1May 1871, to the German Imperial Postal Service (Reichspost).

Pera was, however, an essentially residential area and in 1877 a new – chief – office was openedin Galata, the commercial and business centre of the city, being called Constantinopel I. Abranch office had already been established in the Stambul district the previous year (1 January.1876), which became Constantinopel II, but functioned only intermittently. A third branch wasopened in the former Pera office in 1900 and was denominated Constantinopel III. During thesummer months the German embassy moved to premises in the outer – cooler – suburb ofTherapia and was given a postal facility using an old, unnumbered canceller from 1884 to 1888.The canceller used at Pera was distinguished by a small circle above the date as from 7 July 1873,but this canceller was then employed at Galata from 1 October 1877. A canceller was used atStambul distinguished by a small star, from 1 January 1876. (This was then used as a spare atGalata from September to December 1883, but with the star removed.) All cancellers in use atthe two German offices were replaced by date stamps with large Arabic numerals in 1883 (No. 1and 2.); a similar canceller (No. 3) was then also in use at the Pera office from 1900 (No. 3). Butthe 2mark adhesive (used chiefly for financial transactions – see also Fig. 3) continued to be pen-cancelled.

A letter and newspaper post was available as from the opening of the North German office in1869, using adhesives of the North German Confederation (Fig. 1). These were replaced by thenew standard issues of the German Empire in 1872 (Fig. 2), expressed in the North Germangroschen/dollar currency until 1875 and in the all-German pfennig/mark currency thereafter. Aparcel service were introduced in 1881, using the German parcel card system (Fig. 3). Overprintsof the Turkish currency on the German adhesives were used as from 1883. An issue withcentimes overprints was introduced in 1908 to compete with similar facilities offered by theAustrian and French offices in the Levant.

Postal stationery was introduced in 1870, comprising initially North German and then Germanpostal envelopes. These and postal cards were overprinted with the Turkish currency, as for theadhesives, from 1889. Newspaper wrappers were added in 1900, again with overprints.Centimes overprints were also available from 1907 for postal cards and in the following year forenvelopes and wrappers.The Offices in Constantinople – as well as those subsequently opened in Beirut, Jaffa andSmyrna – were closed in consultation with the Turkish authorities on 30.September 1914. AGerman fieldpost service operated in Turkey from 1916 to 1918, serving the German andAustrian units attached to the Turkish armed forces.

***

A number of works exist on German philately dealing with the Levant as an aspect of officesabroad but confined almost entirely to stamps, i.e. the postal adhesives, and to a lesser extent topostal cancellations. Oddly, most of these do not even mention postal stationery. None appearsto exist confined specifically to the postal history of the German Levant.

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Fig. 1 Entire letter 28 July 1871to Leipzig, arrived 2 August 1871via Varna. Despatched fromConstantinople through theAustrian post, the charge comprises1 gr Levant rate, 1gr Austriantransit, 1gr German domestic rate.

Fig. 2 Entire letter from1 May 1874 to Wattwyl,

Switzerland, arriving 6May 1874 via St Gall6 May 1974. Marked

franco to prevent thestamps from being

purloined before cancelling.

Fig. 3 Cardaccompanying a parcelcarrying two woodencases, 12 September1891 to Hallbestadt,Germany, arriving17 September 1891 viaVienna and Myslowitz(border station,16 September 1891).

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ANGOLA AND SOUTH-WEST AFRICA BORDER TROUBLES – Chris Oliver

Chris Oliver gave a seven page display of specimen cachets and censor marks used by the SouthAfrican troops between 1976 and 1988 during the unrest on the border between Angola andSouth-West Africa (Namibia). The display concluded with two pages of used examples of thesecachets, one of which is illustrated below.

GREAT BRITAIN INCOMING EXPRESS MAIL – Phil Kenton

On 1 August 1892, the arrangements for the delivery of correspondence by express messenger,originally confined to the Inland Post, were extended to our postal relations with as manyforeign countries as have been found willing to conform, wholly or in part, to the regulations ofthe Union or in respect of this special service. These countries include nearly all the states ofCentral, Western, and Southern Europe, with some parts of South America and the Far East.

In every instance the primary fee payable in England for express delivery has been fixed at 3d –the fees payable on destination remote from a post office varying with the local conditions.Express letters received from abroad are delivered by special messenger, free of charge within adistance of a mile from the office of delivery.

Beyond that distance the charge is 3d per mile for one letter, with a further charge of 1d on each additional letteraddressed to the same person. (Extract from General Post Office Notice No. 36, 26 July 1892. ByCommand of the Postmaster General.)

Over the following years most Nations joined the Express Mail system. For when each countryjoined see Post Office guides. Last day of Incoming Express Mail was 12 October 1980.Swiftair service started on 13 October 1980.

Table of Express fees.Date GB rate Date GB rate01 August 1892 3d 01 July 1971 20p13 June 1921 6d 24 June 1974 40p01 January 1956 1s 0d 29 September 1975 60p03 October 1966 2s 0d 20 August 1979 80p15 January 1971 10p 04 February 1980 £1.00

For International Postage Rates 1890s to 1957, see book by Michael Furfie. ISBN 978-0-9522208-2-4.

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Fig. 1 Incoming Express, Netherlands 1915. Express postcard from Zutphen dated 14 June 1915, received in London16 June 1915. Charged 5cents, postcard rate (1 April 1889 to 28 February 1921). 15cents Express fee (1 October1905 to 28 February 1921). Equivalent to 3d express fee paid.

Fig. 2 Incoming Express, Germany 1924. Flugpost card from Berlin dated 17 March 1924 to London, received19 March 1924 (backstamp). Postage 20 pfennig (1 October 1924 to 31 December 1924). Express fee 10 pfennig(1 December 1923 to 31 December 1924). Equivalent to 6d express fee paid.

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Fig. 3 Incoming Express, Italy 1961. Express letter from Italy dated 22 August 1961. No Leeds markings.Postage 95 lire. Express fee 75 lire. Equivalent to 1s 0d. Express fee paid.

Fig. 4 Incoming Express, Switzerland 1964. Express from Chesseres, Alps Vaudoises, dated 12 May 1964.Manuscript note on reverse saying Received 14 May 1964. Postage 80 centimes. Express fee paid 5 centimes,underpayment of 45 centimes, equivalent 11d underpaid. Hence British Post Office has applied a boxed cachet:EXPRESS FEE PARTIALLY PAID. Charge of 11d to be collected on delivery.

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SHERBORNE MEETING, 13 OCTOBER 2013 – Convenor: Wilf Vevers

Displays:Geoff Amos* Transpacific MailDavid Ashby Toulmin Packet MailColin Baker East African George VI MailBrian Cropp Transatlantic Mail from Canada 1840 to 1875Kevin Darcy Standing Display – St Helena Boer POW Censored MailColin Faers Aerolloyd Iguassu/VaspRichard Farman Staffordshire RailwaysJohn Forbes-Nixon Ships with StoriesReg Gleave Maritime POW and InterneesJames Grimwood-Taylor Beyond GBPat Grimwood-Taylor North DevonGordon Hardy Romania United Principalities 1862 to 1872Alan Harley Christiana in the Second Anglo Boer WarNick Harris Siege of LadysmithBarry Hobbs BoliviaRobert Johnson Disruption of Postal Services in and out of Germany after May 1945Peter Kelly Aspects of Type Sage Issue of FranceCharles Leonard Russian International Letter Rates 1866 to1875Graham Mark Greece World War 1Jeremy Martin Inward Mail to the Gold CoastBash Orhan Italian Post Offices in ConstantinopleBill Pipe Dorchester POW Camp MailMaurice Porter Boer WarMax Smith Indian District PostsTony Stanford British BechuanalandIngrid Swinburn Return to SenderColin Tabeart Royal Navy Victorian Mail

Others attending: Rodney Frost; Tony Swinburn*; Bob and Judith Viney = Guest

GOLD COAST INWARD MAIL – Jeremy Martin

This display included covers from the Belgian Congo to the State of Victoria. My favourite is a1901 illustrated envelope from London to Axim arriving 29 December 1901. The caption on thepicture reads:

Is anything the matter with that egg Mr Smiff that you examine it so closely?No madam, I was merely looking for the wishbone.

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RETURN TO SENDER WW2 – Ingrid Swinburn

The vagaries of war meant that there were many times when letters could not or would not bedelivered to their destination. This could be for very trivial reasons, such as not putting thesender’s name and address on the back, or that the card was not the right size.

Most could not be delivered because the war had overtaken the mail. Countries had declaredwar on each other while the letters were in transit. Many of the sheets show the progress of theGerman army as it occupied half the countries of Europe. Other letters were held up by theJapanese invasion of the Far East.

The towards the end of the war the mails show the Allies progress as they freed the formallyoccupied countries. There was much damage to roads and railways that made a hard job evenharder.

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INTERNED/POW SEAMEN OF THE GRAF SPEE – Reg Gleave

On 17 December 1939 the Admiral Graf Spee was scuttled in the River Plate. The seamen onboard were taken to Montevideo and then on to Argentina where they were held for the durationof the war in nine camps. By the end of the war most of the officers and many of the crew hadescaped by various means and returned to Germany. When the crew arrived in the Argentinethey were classified as internees as there was no state of war with Germany.

Letter postmarked 8.4.40 fromLimbach to an engine room artificervia the Germany Embassy inBuenos Aires. Forwarded fromthere to Cordova where there wasone of the main internment camps.

Letter from SteurmannsmaatSiegfried Kasper, posted at Martin

Garcia on 11 May 1940

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Letter posted 11 Feb1941 from ObergefreiterHoffschneider held on theisland of Martin Garcia

Argentina declared war on Germany and Japan on 27 March 1945, the internees were declaredPOW on 2 April 1945.

Letter from Alfred Niemann atthe Rosario camp to his future

wife on 8 May 1945

Letter from ErikaGroskopf de Niemann,on 27 November 1946to her husband Alfred(ex POW)

Crewmen who married in Argentina were not allowed to stay but were sent back to Germany inFebruary 1946. Alfred Niemann was not allowed to return to Argentina until 1947/48.

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THE BECHUANALANDS 1885 TO 1932 – Tony Stanford

On 30 September 1885 the area of land comprising Stellaland and otherterritories, which lay North of Cape Province and South of the MolopoRiver, was constituted the crown colony of British Bechuanaland and at thesame time a large area North of the Molopo River and South of theZambesi River and West of Rhodesia was proclaimed the BritishProtectorate of Bechuanaland.

Because of the small quantities required, the stamps and postal stationery, initially of the Cape ofGood Hope and later GB, were overprinted ‘British Bechuanaland’ for use in both territories.On 16 November 1895, British Bechuanaland was annexed to the Cape of Good Hope andceased using its own stamps and postal stationery, which continued to be used in theBechuanaland Protectorate.

Figure 1 illustrates the use of the ‘British Bechuanaland’ overprinted stamps and postal stationerythroughout the Bechuanalands and Figure 2 shows the use of these and the various‘Bechuanaland Protectorate’ overprints within the Bechuanaland Protectorate until they weresuperseded by the Baobab & Cattle issue in December 1932.

Fig. 1 The 1884 first issue of Cape of Good Hope one penny postal stationery card overprinted BRITISHBECHUANALAND used locally with BARKLY G.W. cds dated 3 September 1887.

These early one penny cards were only valid for use within the colony and Southern Africa.Barkly was situated within the Griqualand West Province in the North of the Cape Colony andSouth of the British Bechuanaland Border. Early mail from Bechuanaland was dispatched fromBarkly and the cancel is occasionally found on Stellaland stamps and Methuen covers of the'Warren Expedition' and the early British Bechuanaland issues can be found with the barred ovalnumeral 232 of Barkly.

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Fig. 2 An example of the GB Jubilee ½d vermilion overprinted BRITISH BECHUANALAND and provisionallysurcharged Protectorate Fourpence on a cover addressed to Waterberg in the South African Republic tied with aKANYE cancellation dated AU 12 1890. The cover was routed through Mafeking with a transit mark dated 13August. Four pence was the normal rate for letters addressed within Southern Africa.

Fig 3 A 1913 Registered cover from Gaberones Station to Germany with mixed franking of QV and KEVII overprintsall tied with GABERONES STATION cds dated 1 March 1913 and bearing the Gaberones Station registrationhandstamp in violet ink. The pair of QV 2d paid the 4d registration fee and the strip of three KEVII 2½d paid the triple20 grams foreign rate. On the reverse is a Schönebeck receiving mark dated 23 March. This late use of the QV 2d showsthere was little use of this value, which did not correspond to a rate and for which no KEVII overprints were produced.

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BEYOND GB – James Grimwood-Taylor

My two-frame display was entitled Beyond GB, as I have finally realisedthat there is a good deal of interesting Postal History out there that is notfrom Great Britain. I showed a few items from each of my two newcollections; Early covers of the world, and Worldwide First Issue covers used duringthe first 12 months after their issue (one for each country where possible).

Items shown from the first collection included a 2050 BC Sumerianmessenger text (a small clay tablet from Iraq with a cuneiform message); the 1419 Calais cover toAntwerp from the three English Ambassadors (illustrated in the RL Encyclopaedia, vol. 1, exRobson Lowe himself and ex John Levett); a 1594 letter sent within Peru, and a 1633 entire letterfrom India to GB There was also a page with two 1846 letters written inside the AustralianJenolan Caves (!) posted on the same day to GB, that I had only recently realised were bothcarried by the Toulmin Packet ship the Eweretta - one at single 1/- rate and the other at thedouble, 2/- rate). I have always enjoyed very early letters and this has introduced a healthyinternational flavour to what was previously a purely GB study. There are no rules for me tofollow, as I do not intend to show these competitively.

The second collection - the 1st Issue covers (1840 to c.1864; the cut-off date being chosen tominimise the number of philatelic covers that can be included) is designed to follow the progressof stamp designs as they spread around the world following the success of 1d Black. Some ofthese are hard to find, so today I included a colour photo of the famous 1847 Post OfficeMauritius 1d+2d cover to France, and a laughably forged cover with a very fake Basel DoveBlock of Four! The genuine 1st Issue first-year covers included one from each of USA (1842;see illustration); Spain (1850); France used in Algeria (1849, the earliest known stamped coverfrom Africa??); Finland (1845 Postal Stationery envelope); Western Australia (1854 4d to GB);Jamaica (1861); US Confederate States (1861); Queensland (1861), and Greece (1861 seeillustration). I think this collection will take more than 100 years to complete, but it is proving tobe an enjoyable challenge.

This [13 Feb. 1842] fancy embossed Valentine envelope was sent locally in New York by the newly formed City DespatchPost to the well-known citizen Miron Barrett (whose address was obviously easy to find!); it was prepaid 3c with a CITYDESPATCH POST first Issue (the first stamp issued in the entire western hemisphere, and only the third to appearanywhere in the world (after Britain’s 1840 and 1841 issues), which is tied by a light strike of the red boxed FREEmark. Covers with this stamp are seldom seen because it was only in use from early February to August 1842.

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This 16 Nov. 1861 letter sent from Patras was prepaid the full 75-lepta rate (20l domestic Greek rate + 45l Ship Letterrate + 10l Trieste rate) to Trieste (7 December backstamp) via Athens (16 November backstamp) and so is franked byGreek first-Issue Paris printing Large Hermes Head 5l + 10l + 20l + 40l all tied by the 9 Patras Dotted DiamondNumerals matching the 2-ring HATPAI cds (which also further ties one stamp). This is a remarkable four colourfranking showing four of the five values of the Hermes Heads used during only the second month after their issue.

MANUSCRIPT ENDORSEMENTS– Malcolm Ray-Smith

Manuscript endorsementsI started collecting stamps as a boy of 7, collecting all the world but gradually narrowed this tojust Great Britain. About the age of 20 I conceived the idea of collecting stamps on theiroriginal envelopes and this lead me to discover postmarks – and then to realise that British postalmarkings are far older than stamps. Over more than fifty years I have been collecting old lettersand came slowly to grasp that manuscript endorsements by postal workers are often significant.Two types of endorsement concern early town marks and early ship letters and I have taken aninterest in both.

Ship LettersSpecial markings to identify letters brought into the United Kingdom, or leaving it, by ships(other than those owned or chartered by the Post Office) were needed to protect the collectionof revenue. Initially introduced in Ireland they were later issued to larger ports in other parts ofthe UK in the 1760’s, with the smaller ports generally receiving SHIP LETTER marks in laterdecades. Places not having a hand stamp relied on the local postmaster to mark the maritimeitems with manuscript endorsements and I attach a list of those of which I am aware, indicatingthose in my own collection.

Inland Town MarksHand struck provincial town markings in England and Wales are unknown before 1700 and arevery rare before 1705. But before this there was a requirement for postmasters to show theplace of posting and the amount prepaid on letters going overseas which had all to be sent viaLondon. Failing prepayment at least to London the letter had to be returned to the receivingoffice for the correct postage to be collected. A number of towns are known to have endorsedthe place of posting before the issue of hand struck marks and a few examples are known after

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such marks had been adopted. I attach a list of the towns of which I am aware where suchmanuscript endorsements are recorded. Since it is not clear if all the editors of the County listsincluded manuscript marks it seems very likely that other marks may exist. I would be grateful ifcollectors would let me know of items in their collections, especially those of which I amignorant. Provided I receive sufficient responses to justify redrafting the list then an updatedversion will be produced. My summary shows the destination and or the place of writing wherethis varies from the endorsed post town.

If other collectors are aware of items which are omitted from my list I shall be glad to hear fromthem so that a revised list can reflect as full a picture as is practical.

Manuscript Endorsements of Ship, Ship Lre or Ship LetterDate Illustration in

RobertsonM R-S Example from Comment

Ashburton 1811 E.10/ABervie 1798Bowmore 1829-1842 E.18/BCarnarvon 1776Chichester 1774 Jamaica 29/09/1774 Sole exampleChristchurch 1799 New York 2/08/1799 Sole exampleClough 1811 (two)Dawlish 1828Donegal 1797 Philadelphia 15/02/1797 Sole exampleDunfanaghy 1816 E.74/B Bahamas 19/09/1816 Sole exampleGirvan 1811 Charleston 17/07/1811 Sole exampleHaverford West 1765 Grenada 04/10/1765 Sole exampleHayle 1830 E.114/A Trichinopoly 27/01/1830 One of TwoHelstone 1780Irvine 1788 St. Vincent 17/05/1788 Sole exampleKenmore 1822 D.1 New Orleans 7/11/1821 Four knownKilheel 1837Leith 1733Leven 1768Maryport 1814 E.206/B Corunna 2/07/1814 Sole exampleMontrose 1760 Charleston 13/02/1760 Sole exampleMontrose 1796 HMS Coromandel off

Flekkeroy Is. 14/04/1796Sole example

Newport, Co. Mayo 1817 Tabbeart p.234 New York 23/08/1817 Two knownPort Patrick 1799 E.240Queensborough 1796 E.250/A HMS Venerable at sea arrived

24/04/1796Sole example

St. Ives 1812 Corunna 1/02/1812 Sole exampleSt. Mawes 1825 At Sea nr Cowes 11/03/1825 Sole exampleSidmouth 1824 E.272 Arcot, India 5/01/1824 Sole exampleStonehaven 1811 Lerwick 26/07/1812 Sole exampleTeignmouth 1812Ulverstone 1816Whitehaven 1774

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Manuscript Town Marks of England and Wales

County Place BCC No. From To M R-S DestinationFrom To

Bedford NoneBerks. NoneBirmingham NoneBristol NoneBuckingham NoneCambridge None OthersChannel Islands None KnownCheshire NoneCornwall Falmouth Fal 3 Unlisted 1704 PlymouthCumberland Cockermouth Cockermo/uth Unlisted 1717 LiverpoolDerby Tideswell 1743 UnlistedDevon Plymouth Plymth Unlisted 1707 Ex FalmouthDorset NoneDurham NoneEssex Ongar EX323 1742 1760 1742 London ex StaplefordGloucester NoneHants. NoneHerford NoneHertford Royston Unlisted 1708 London ex MeldrethHuntingdon NoneIsle of Man NoneLancaster Lancaster Lasncr LA567 1701 1707

Wigan Wigan LA1254 1701 1701 ChesterLincoln Horncastle Unlisted 1704 Cambridge

Post Witham From Post Witham Unlisted 1662 1662 1662 LondonLiverpool NoneManchester NoneMiddlesex NoneNorfolk NoneNorthants NoneNottingham NoneOxford NoneRutland Uppingham Uppingham RU22 1711 1711 North CrawleyShropshire Oswestry Unlisted 1712 London

Shrewsbury Salop SH546b 1707Somerset NoneStafford NoneSuffolk NoneSurrey NoneSussex NoneWales Can Office W460 1832

Pwllheli W2008 1775 1776 1775 LondonWarwick NoneWestmorland NoneWiltshire NoneWorcester NoneYork Doncaster Doncafter, doncafter Unnumbered 1689 1694 1689 1695 Hamburgh

Ferrybridge Fferebrig Ferribrigge Unnumbered 1682 1688 1687 1711 Hamburgh, CastletonHull Hull Unnumbered 1784 1789 1778 BristolThorne Thorne Unlisted 1737 LondonYork Yorke Unnumbered 1700 1700 1698 Amsterdam

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ITALY – THE INTERNAL PRINTED PAPER RATE – Andy Harris

There are various sources for Italian Postal Rates, ranging from a few notes inseveral stamp catalogues to the 284 page volume published by the AICPM(Association of Italian Collectors of Military Post). However, the definitive sourceis the Le Tariff Postali Italiane 1862-2000 published by Vaccari in multiplevolumes running to over 2,200 pages. These books contain the text of all theGovernment Decrees (Laws) in which the postal rates are defined.

I have been trawling through this labyrinth trying to unravel some of the mysteries buriedtherein. In particular I have been looking at material that was allowed through the post at areduced rate (that is to say, at less then the normal letter rate).

In the Postal Regulations that came into effect on 1 January 1863, there are twelve articles(nos.44 - 55) under the heading “Giornales e Stampe” (Newspapers and Printed Matter) defining thematerial and conditions under which items can be sent at this postal rate. (I have already dealtwith newspapers in a previous display and so here I am looking at other types of Printed Matter.)

Who were the main users of this rate? By observing the mass of material available, it is clear thatthe two main groups of users were commercial (advertising and conducting business) and public bodies(for the dissemination information). Apart from a short period between 1905-1919 (when picturepostcards without messages could be sent at this rate) little use was made by the general public.

So, what exactly qualified as “Printed Matter”. One might assume that if an item containedhandwriting, then surely it could not be considered as “Printed”. However, this was not so.There were many circumstances in which handwriting was allowed. The main point that theregulations tried to get across wasthat any handwritten element wasnot of a personal nature.

But first, let’s look at the rates(shown in the table shown on the right).

For the first nearly 60 years, therate was fixed at 2c. This was a realbargain because during the sameperiod the letter rate variedbetween 15c and 20c.

With such a big saving it must havebeen very tempting to try to slip apersonal message through at theprinter paper rate.

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As mentioned above, the regulations did allow a limited amount of hand written content incertain circumstances. This example is an invitation to renew a Fire Insurance Policy for aproperty in Ferrara. The main body of the document is printed but with spaces left for the dateand customer specific details to be written in by hand. In this case the date is 27th May 1863with a renewal premium of L44.10 due on 15th June.

The document was sent without an envelope, foldedover and posted on 30th May 1863, franked with a2c stamp. (The yellow 2c stamp was issued on 1st May1862 to replace the black Sardinian 2c stamp which waseasily confused with the 1c value.)

Here is example of “printed matter” in which the majority of the item is actually hand written. Itwas posted in Venice on 6 February 1867 to Molfetta (on the Adriatic coast near Bari).Backstamps show that it went via Foggia on 7 February arriving in Molfetta on the 8th.

The document is a schedule of commodity prices from aVenetian wholesaler. The list contains a diverse range ofgoods including Oil (presumably Olive Oil) from Puglia,Corfu and Ragusa, Almonds, Mustard, Aniseed, Figs,Carobs, Oats, Barley and Semolina.

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The introduction of official stamps in 1874 did not lead to the expected economies, and thestamps were withdrawn at the end of 1867. Huge stocks remained and in 1878 they were allover-printed 2c and re-issued for general use on printer matter.

A reissued official stamp is used here on a pro forma letter from a publisher in Verona to the“Honourable Town Council” of Ponzano, posted on 29 April 1879. It is a demand for 25 lire inrespect of the annual subscription to a newspaper, and it expressly requires payment by postalorder.

In another experiment, in 1884 a set of stamps was issued exclusively for use on parcels. In 1888they were replaced by the Parcel Dispatch card and the surplus stocks were reissued in 1890overprinted 2c for use at the internal printer mater rate.

A reissued parcel stamp is usedhere on 14 April 1891. Thecard is blank on the reverse,and the printed message on thefront is a notice from awatchmaker in Turin, to anaddressee in Palermo, Sicilyadvertising a forthcoming visit.

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On 1 March 1919, after over 60 years unchanged, the Internal Printed Paper rate rose by anunprecedented 250% to 5c. (By comparison, on the same day the letter rate rose from 20c to 25c).

This card was sent from a company in Alessandria to a small rural community, Isola del Cantone,about 20km north of Genoa. It was posted on 8 August 1920 and the printed message informsthe recipient that the company’s travelling representative, who has full powers to transactbusiness, will be calling, and that any orders will be very welcome.

On 1 February 1921, less then two years after the last rate increase, the Internal Printed Paperrate doubled to 10c. This began a new period of stability lasting for the next 23 years.

This item is a private wrapper, marked “stampe”, posted on 21 Feb 1924 and franked with anobsolete 1c stamp from 1901, reissued in 1923 overprinted 10c.

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On 1 October 1944 the rate for Internal Printed Paper doubled to 20c. This was the first in aseries of six very quick rises with this rate lasting for only six months.

This item contained a visitingcard without any handwritteninscription. (With an inscription itwould have been liable for the 40cvisiting card rate).Naples was under the control ofthe Allies at this time and thestamp used was overprinted bythe Allied Military Government(issued 10 Dec. 1943).The item was unsealed and waspassed by the allied censor(A.C.S.mark)

On 1 April 1945 the rate doubled again to 40c, a rate that lasted 10 months.

This item is a circular sent on 14 August 1945 to the Mayor of Magnacavalio by the“Associazione Nazionale Famiglie Caduti Mutilati e Invalidi Civili per Bombardamenti Aerei”(loosely translated as the “National Association for Civilians Injured by the Bombing”.)

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On 1 February 1946 the rate more than doubled again to 1 lira. This rate survived 13 months.

This item, posted on 7February 1946 is a formsetting out the compensationdue to a war victim.

It is franked with the 1 liraImperiale series stampreissued without the fascistemblems that had featured inthe original design.

On 25 March 1947 the Internal Printed Paper rate doubled yet again to L2. This was the ratewith the shortest duration lasting for only 4 months and 1 week.

This item, posted on 7 May 1947, is from the “Italian Association of Spa Owners”. It is frankedwith stamps from the first post-war issue known as the democratic series.

It reports on negotiations that they have had with the “Ministry of Industry and Trade”concerning the allocation of coal and fossil fuel oil to companies operating spas. The outcome isthat for coal, the current conditions of supply from abroad do not allow assignment for heatingspa water. It says that given the low degree of temperature needed for water treatment, poorquality domestic fuel should be used instead until the supply situation improves.

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On 1 August 1947 the Internal Printed Paper rate rose to L3. On this occasion the rateremained unchanged for a year and ten days.

This item, posted on 23 December 1947, is from the “National Institute for Insurance AgainstDisease” (Provincial office at Cagliari.) (In other words, Health Insurance).

The document explains to employers that the validity of the insurance booklets issued to theiremployees for 1947 have been extended for six months and advises them that it is necessary thatthey must send the booklets to the relevant office for endorsement. It says that failure tocomply with this requirement will cause their workers to be excluded.

On 11 August 1948 the rate for the Internal Printed Matter rose again, this time to L5, at whichvalue it remained for just over eleven years. In other words, stability returned at last.

In 1950 a second set of post-war definitives was issued, known as “Italy at Work”. The 5 lirevalue, depicting a potter against a back-drop of Florence, is used here on 9 October 1951 on acircular to the local priests.