Early Machine Cancellations and Trials

 

The next six items are examples of the Azemar Trial Machine.

 

Azemar First Trial Machine

153118.  1d Plate 123, filing crease, tied to a wrapper to Plymouth by

 the First Type of Azemar trial machine, with the date stamp not in line, for June 1st 1869.

The first trial only recorded in use for approx 8 weeks from the end of March 1869

and the example offered here is barely three weeks from the end of the trial. 

A rare item.

 Price: £145.00

 

Azemaar First Trial Machine

153119. 

1d Plate 111, fine, tied by the First Type of Azemar trial machine, with two ‘A1’s in bars to an entire to Edinburgh. 

The letter deals with a shipment to go on the ‘Earl of Southesk’: details and images of this ship are on the internet.

The dater is not clear but from the date of the letter and the date of the Edinburgh receiver on the reverse, it is June 11th 1869. 

This was less than two weeks before the eight week trial ended. 

A rare item in better condition than the scan suggests. 

Price: £150.00

Azemaar Second Trial: superb example

151568. 

1d plate 119:

 tied to a fine banking letter from Frogmorton Street, London

to the Royal Bank of Scotland, by a superb strike of

the second Azemaar machine trial, October 27th 1871.

The trial lasted from May 18th 1871 to December 1871.

Small Edinburgh receiving cds on the rear top flap for the following day.

Very rare so fine: Exhibition quality

Price: £215.00

 

Azemaar Trial Machine

153120. 

1d Plate 122, ‘MA-MB’: a fine pair, very small NE corner crease/wrinkle on ‘MB’. 

Cancelled by a complete Azemar trial machine ‘A1’ in bars

and very unusual to find a complete upright strike on a pair. 

An attractive and very scarce/rare item.

 Price: £48.00  SOLD

 

Azemar Trial Machine

153121. 

2d, SG 45 Plate 12, ‘JA’: very fine/fine with a very clean back

and showing a vertical guide line in the watermark. 

A very scarce stamp so fine in this scarcer plate, but made rare

by being cancelled by an Azemar trial machine double ‘A1’ in bars.

We cannot recall seeing this 2d plate thus cancelled. 

Gibbons prices Plate 12 at £140 with an ‘ordinary’ cancellation.

A rare item.  

Price: £68.00

 

Azemar Trial Machine

153122. 

6d SG122a, Plate 11, ‘SH’: fine used and cancelled by

an Azemar trial machine showing ‘A1’ in bars.

Very scarce to find this cancellation on a surface printed issue. 

Price:  £42.00

 

Wilkinson Machine Meter Trial: First Day

153114.  Wilkinson Machine Meter Trial:

a fine envelope used on the First Day of the trial, 25 January 1912, sent to Fulham.

The cds has a time of 12:15pm and the date is showing '25 Jan': see the next item.  

On the reverse is an offset of the red 1d Postage Paid.

It is considered to be the forerunner of meter mail which was finally introduced in 1922.  

Booth prices a First Day usage at £350.

 Price: £145.00 

NB: the scan suggests browning at the top left: this is a trick of the scanner

 

Wilkinson Machine Meter Trial: First Day

153115. Wilkinson Machine Meter Trial:

an envelope, some creasing, used on the First Day of the trial, January 25th 1912, sent to Leytonstone.

The cds has a time of 4:45pm and the date showing is 'JA 25': see the previous item.

It is considered to be the forerunner of meter mail which was finally introduced in 1922.  

Booth prices a First Day usage at £350. 

Interestingly the date in the cds is now at 4:45pm, reversed ie JA 25 . 

Why the change from 12:15pm?   

Price:  £120.00

 

Early Pearson Hill Machine Trial

152994. 

1d SG40, into on most sides, cancelled by a portion of  

the rare ’Opera Glass’ Pearson Hill Experimental Machine, PHX3.

The date is March 26th 1858: the EKD of usage is March 21st 1858

and this example is one of the earliest dates known. 

Despite the faults a rare item.

Price: £68.00

 

Early Pearson Hill Trial Machine

152995. 

1d SG40, corner fault, tied by a complete and upright, right side date stamp

of the ’Opera Glass’ Pearson Hill Experimental Machine, PHX3. 

This cancellation is recorded used between March 21st 1858 and April 23rd 1858.

The example here at March 27th 1858 is a rare March usage.  

Price: £85.00

 

International Machine ('Hey-Dolphin Machine')

152532v. 

A superb 1/2d brown postcard cancelled by a very fine strike of the 'Hey-Dolphin Machine' for September 6th 1893. 

This machine was trialled by the General Post Office, London between August 25th and September 14th 1893.

According to reports, this electrically operated machine worked well but it was rejected by the Post Office because of its need

for regular maintenance for letters of different thickness or size as well as its high rental cost.

During this period of tests, there were three Sundays and so the number of days of the trial were only 18.

It would seem that only about 10% of the items of mail franked were postcards. 

This card was sent from a Government Publishers as indicated in the interesting message.

A very scarce/rare item that would make an interesting display page.

Price:  £275.00

NB: a great deal of information is available on the internet re

the history of Eyre and Spottiswoode including examples of their printing.

This could be usefully incorporated into a display page for this item.

  

Rideout Number TWO Machine: a rare usage

152425.  4d SG66, fine/very fine except for a small area of light creasing at the right,

tied by an exceptional Charles Rideout number 2 trial machine on a wrapper to ORLEANS, France, April 11th 1859.

On the reverse are three other French transit marks via Paris.

A rare usage of this cancellation as seldom found on other than the contemporary 1d value

and the first example we have been able to offer of the first surface printed value on cover.

Gibbons prices SG66 at £225 on cover with an 'ordinary' cancellation.

Exhibition quality.

Price: £210.00 

NB: the wrapper in a finer condition than the scan suggests.

 

Rideout early usage of Number 2 Machine

153829. 

6d SG70: a fine example with a very fine Number 2 in bars of the second Rideout Trial Machine

overstriking a superb and complete dater portion of this cancellation.

The cds has the code ‘CR’ and a date of February 4th 1859.

The second trial machine’s dates of usages are

from December 27th 1858 to December 3rd 1859.

 Hence the example offered here is a very early usage.

These trials were largely on mail with the contemporary 1d stamp:

values other than this are rarely found and  

this is the earliest usage on any surface printed issue of the Number 2 machine

that we have been able to offer or indeed can trace.

A rare item. 

Price: £65.00

 

Rideout Number 2 Machine

152210. 6d 70 very fine used with the Number 2 Machine numeral.

Seldom found on values other than the contemporary 1d.

A very scarce/rare item.

Price: £45.00

 

Rideout Number Two Machine: a rare usage

152426.  1/- SG72, a fine wing margin example on a Front to NEW ORLEANS, USA.

The stamp is tied by a superb/very fine Rideout number 2 machine, November 24th 1859. 

The letter was posted in London and paid at the 1/- (24c):

on receipt in the USA the US postal service was credited with 5c for the inland postage.

On the front is a Liverpool receiver for November 25th, a type used for maritime mail. 

As per the m/s at the top, this item was carried on the Cunarder RMS 'PERSIA'. 

She sailed from Liverpool on November 26th 1859 arriving in New York on December 8th 1859

 and New Orleans on December 14th 1859. 

This is a rare item: Rideout machine cancellations are seldom found on values other than the contempoary1d

and this is the first example of the first surface printed value, other than on a stamp only, we have been able to offer. 

The transit marks are all nicely placed for display and do not overlap. 

SG72 is priced by Gibbons at £350 on stamp alone with an 'ordinary' cancellation.

Price: £150.00

NB: the item is in a finer condition than the scan suggests.

 

Item 152425 is to the original ORLEANS in France and Item 142426 to the NEW ORLEANS in America. 

These two items would make a superb display and with the 6d Item 152210 above, an exceptional and very rare trio.

 

Pearson Hill Trial Cancellations on Surface Printed Values

rather than on the usual contemporary 1d.

 

4d on 3PHT6

152380. 

4d SG66, cancelled by both the number 3 numeral portion of 

Pearson Hill Trial, 3PHT6, AND the dater portion of it for September 27th 1859. 

Parmenter notes that In September 1859, the day codes A-Z started to be used

 in a 2-5-5-2 bars arrangement which is clearly seen here.

No date is given in Setember when the change took place.  

This example offered here is 'AE' and hence a very early usage.

These codes replaced the codes 'AB' that were used previously from May 12th 1859. 

An  example on cover for September 13th 1859, see next item below, still has the codes 'AB' so the

change in codes may have taken place between September 14th 1859 and the item here at September 27th 1859.

Remarkable that the change of codes can be narrowed to taking place in a 13 day period.

A rare example used on this 4d issue and only the second example we have seen.

An Exhibition item.  

Price:  £95.00

 

4d with 3PHT 6 on a rare overseas usage.

 

1306.  Entire written in French, to France with a fine 4d pale rose, SG66. 

Tied by an exceptional strike of 3PHT 6 Die A for September 13th 1859. 

 Rare usage of this very scarce trial cancellation on mail to an overseas destination 

and especially so in such overall fine condition.    

Price:  £245.00  SOLD

 

4d with 3PHT 8 on very rare Internal UK Usage

152600. 

4d SG66, fine, on an entire which mentions enclosed cheques.

The 4d is tied by the Pearson Hill Trial, 3PHT 8, Die A, for March 6th 1860.

The dates of usage recorded by Parmenter are March 1st 1860 to October 22nd 1860 hence

this March 6th usage is extremely early and more than likely to be the earliest known on this value.

The rarity of this item is significantly enhanced by this very scarce cancellation

used on a value other than the contemporary 1d: the first example we have seen.

The item's rarity is also increased by this 4d being used on internal UK mail.

There is a Macclesfield date stamp on reverse for March 7th 1860. 

A superb and very rare/unique combination of features. 

Price: £175.00

NB: this is a recut of 3PHT 7 with thicker bars.

Gibbons prices SG66 on cover at £225.

 

4d with 4PHT 2 on a rare usage to France

152601.

4d SG66, fine, a few short perfs at left, on a commercial, entire written and printed, with a Corn Market Prices Report.

The 4d is tied by a very fine strike of the Pearson Hill Trial, 4PHT 2 Die B for October 17th 1859.

This duplex used from September 24th 1859 to February 8th 1860. 

A rare usage to an overseas destination.

Price: £185.00

NB: Gibbons prices SG66 on cover at £225.

 

4d with 4PH2 on a very rare Internal UK Usage.

152602. 

4d SG66, fine, on wrapper to Perth.

Stamp tied by the Pearson Hill duplex, 4PH2 Die D, for February 9th 1861;

in use from October 29th 1860.

Perth date stamp on reverse for SUNDAY February 10th 1861.

The first example of this cancellation we have seen on the 4d value.

The 4d used on internal UK mail rather than on the contemporary 1d

enhances considerably the rarity of this item.

A very fine item and very scarce/rare usage.

Price:  £125.00

NB: Gibbons prices SG66 on cover at £225.

 

4d with 6PH2 on a rare usage to France

152603.

4d SG66, fine, on wrapper to France, small peripheral fault at the top as in the scan.

Stamp tied by a very fine Pearson Hill duplex, 6PH2 Die F, for September 2nd 1861;

in use from October 25th 1860.

Rarely found on other than the contemporary 1d and this is the first such example we have seen.

Superb and attractive item.

Price:  £90.00

NB: the wrapper has been slightly folded at the left for display purposes.

NB. Gibbons prices SG66 on cover at £225.

 

6d with 1PH2 on a rare usage to France.

152048. 

6d SG70, fine, tied to a clean wrapper to France by a superb strike of the

1PH2 Die A cancellation for February 23rd 1861 and two transit date stamps

for SUNDAY September 24th 1861.

This cancellation in use from October 3rd 1860.

Rarely found on values other than the contemporary 1d and the

first we have seen on this 6d value. 

Very scarce item.

Price:  £125.00 

NB:Gibbons prices SG70 on cover at £240.

 

Earliest known usage to USA of 3PHT 6

1304.

Clean envelope, small part of the rear flap missing, to Rhode Island USA with a one shilling SG72:

top marginal with the inscription folded over the top of the envelope.

From the m/s note bottom left, this item was carried on the Cunarder, 'ASIA', which

sailed from Liverpool on May 14th 1859 and arrived in New York on May 26th 1859.

This is confirmed by the receiver paid cancellation in red on the front.

A few bluntish perfs on the wing margin but tied by a very fine/fine strike of 3PHT 6 for MAY 13th 1859.

 Extremely rare item and the earliest known example of this cancellation on mail to the USA.   

Price:  £295.00

NB: the stamp has been placed top left Contrary to Post Office Regulations.

 

Please scroll down to view other examples of the Pearson Hill Trials

 

First Day Usage of the World's First Duplex Cancellation

152179.  1d, 'TA', 3 margins, just clear to touched NW corner and a small scratch at the top: 

tied to a piece by a fine strike of the very first duplex '73' cancellation which was initially introduced in London, February 24th 1853. 

Only one example of this first day of usage is known on full cover.

It first appeared on the market in a 2006 Spinks sale and realised a figure of £2,470 inclusive of the Buyers Premium.

This cover has the London 73 duplex on a 3-margined 1d red, 'AJ', cut well in to at the right and only a partial strike of the ‘FE’ date. 

The example offered here has a totally clear date and also the same code 4 as the cover. 

From our researches, the full cover and the piece offered here, are the only known examples

of this historic cancellation used on its first day of usage.

The development of the London duplex was the forerunner of this type of canceller used not only within the UK but globally.

An important Exhibition item of historic significance in the development of cancellations.

Price:  £680.00  SOLD

 

Pearson Hill Second Trial: very rare usage

152090.  A very fine used 4d SG66 cancelled by a superb strike of the Pearson Hill Second Trial Machine. 

Code A was Afternoon Duty and the date at October 5th 1857 is an early usage as the EKD is September 21st 1857. 

This cancellation is usually found on the contemorary 1d and is rare on any other value. 

This is only the second example we have seen used on this 4d:

the other was on a cover, December 1857, and offered by a specialist dealer at £4,000 in 2011. 

On this stamp alone, it is extremely rare and the example offered here is of Exhibition quality and importance. 

An exceptional item.

Price:  £375.00  SOLD

 

Pearson Hill Trial: very rare Morning Duty usage.

15125. 1d SG40 tied to piece by the Pearson Hill second trial, February 9th 1858. 

This strike has Code ‘M’ identifying it as morning duty and

 is considerably rarer than Code ‘A’ the afternoon duty. 

Only TWO full covers are known with Code ‘M’ and this is the first example we have been able to offer.

Used on February 9th 1858, this is the penultimate day of the trial period. 

A rarity.  

Price:  £310.00 SOLD


Pearson Hill Trial: rare usage on a 2d value.

 
15126.  2d SG35 Plate 6, ‘FL’, very light NW corner wrinkle and one short perf at base, 

showing the catalogued variety Spec F7e – double letter ‘L’ illustrated in QV volume 1,

2011 Edition and one of only two double letter varieties on this plate.

Tied to small piece by the Pearson Hill second trial,

December 23rd 1857, Code ‘A’ for afternoon duty. 

This trial cancellation is very rarely found on other than the contemporary 1d value. 

A rare item. 

Price:  £195.00  SOLD

The next group of items are of the RIDEOUT Machine Trials

including usage of the dater as a backstamp.

 All are from an Award-Winning display.

 

Number 1 Machine

152208.  The first Surface Printed values issued:

4d SG66 (7bars), 6d SG70 (8bars) and 1/- SG72 (7bars) with the Rideout Number 1 Machine.

The 4d and 6d are very fine and the 1/- has toned perfs but very rare with this cancellation.

The 4d and 6d values are seldom found with any of these cancellations.

The 1/- is the only example we have seen with this cancellation:

it is also shows the perforation variety ‘short ‘A’ row’.  

A superb and rare trio which displays well.  

Price: £120.00

Number 2 Machine on 4d

152209.

4d SG66, very fine used with Rideout Number 2 Machine cancellation.  

Seldom found on values other than the contemporary 1d.

A very scarce/rare item.

Price: £48.50

 

Number 2 Machine

152211. 

4d SG66 very fine used cancelled by the Number 2 Machine

numeral and dater with code CR for May 30th 1859.

Seldom found on values other than the contemporary 1d.

A very scarce item.

Price: £46.00

Number 2 Machine on 6d

152210. 6d 70 very fine used with the Number 2 Machine numeral.

Seldom found on values other than the contemporary 1d.

A very scarce/rare item.

Price: £48.50

 

Number 1 Machine

152212. 

2d SG35 plate 6 very fine used with part red cancellation.

A rare usage of the Number 1 Machine (7bars) on this stamp.

Seldom found on values other than the contemporary 1d.

Price:  £49.50

 

First Machine: 2d Plate 7

152142.  2d SG45, 'AJ', Plate 7: fine example, one very short perf at the top, 

tied to a clean and uncreased legal entire to Wymondham by the First Machine.

Code HS with 7 bars at the top and bottom ie 2.7.7.2 bars, for December 17th 1858.

The stamp is tied by an additional partial second strike. 

Plate 7 is a scarcer plate with an estimated Gibbons price on cover

 in excess of £200 before allowing for the cancellation. 

We cannot recall seeing this 2d plate on cover cancelled by a Rideout Machine:

covers with a usage of these machines on values other than the contemporary 1d are rarely found.  

Very scarce/rare item. 

Price:  £95.00  SOLD

NB: the condition of the front of the entire is finer than in the scan.

 

First Machine: Exceptional strike on a 1d Envelope

 

152076. 

Very clean one penny pink envelope to Newport:

cancelled by an exceptional strike of the Rideout Number One Machine,

Code HS with 7 bars at the top and bottom ie 2.7.7.2 bars, for July 7th 1859. 

The finest strike we have seen and especially rare as such on a postal stationery envelope.

 An Exhibition quality item.

Price:  £225.00 

 

First Machine: Inverted S in Code HS

152065. 

1d SG40, fine example tied to a clean wrapper to Worcester by a very fine/superb strike of the Number One machine

for August 27th 1859, with 7 bars at the top and bottom  ie 2.7.7.2 bars. 

The code HS has the 'S' INVERTED: an UNRECORDED variety by Parmenter with this set of bars.

With the 2.8.7.2 bar arrangement he notes only one example inverted ie for July 16th 1858.

On the reverse top flap is a fine Worcester receiving cds for August 28th 1859,

a SUNDAY, which displays well when raised.

A very scarce/rare item.

Price: £125.00

 

Double Strike Number One Machine: Code HS with INVERTED S

152066.  Fine 1d SG40 tied to a wrapper, one side flap missing, to Edinburgh by very fine DOUBLE STRIKES of the Number One Machine

for September 10th 1859 with 7 bars at the top and bottom ie 2.7.7.2 bars.

The code HS has the S INVERTED: an UNRECORDED variety by Parmenter with this set of bars. 

On the reverse is a fine/very fine strike of an Edinburgh TPO for September 11th 1859 - a rare SUNDAY usage.

This TPO strike is recorded in use by Wilson from July 25th 1859 to May 28th 1862. 

Hence the example offered here is a usage within its first two moths. 

A rare/unique combination of features.

Price:  £170.00

 

Double Strike Number One Machine: Code HS with INVERTED S

152067. 

1d SG40, fine example tied to a clean wrapper to Glasgow by very fine DOUBLE STRIKES of the Number One Machine

for January 8th 1859 with 7 bars at the top and bottom ie 2.7.7.2 bars. 

The code HS has the S INVERTED: an UNRECORDED variety by Parmenter with this set of bars.

A rare and attactive item.

Price:  £155.00

NB: this item and 152066 are the only double strikes with the inverted S we have seen.

 

First Rideout Trial: the extremely rare Reversed Code 'SH'

152051. 

4d SG66, fine/very fine used, cancelled by a large part cds and part bars of the RIDEOUT first trial, Number 1 Machine. 

From the date, April 16th 1859, this has seven bars at the top: recorded in use from Oct 22nd 1858 to Dec1859.

The code normally used in this period was 'HS' but this example has the code REVERSED ie 'SH'. 

This reversed code has been reported used only on APRIL 16th 1859, by both the London Postal History Group (LPHG),

and by Parmenter in  'Early Experimental and Inland Branch Duplex Cancellations'. 

LPHG reported a pair of 2d plate 7 SG 45 with the reversed code 'SH' again used on April 16th 1859

 and that is the one in Parmenter's publication.

From our researches it would appear that the example offered here

is the only known reversed code on any surface printed value.

An Exhibition item of considerable rarity. 

Price:  £225.00

NB: the Number 1 Machine, with 8 bars at the top is known used with the 'SH' code but only on April 21st 1858.

 

 Rideout Machine Trial: an Unrecorded date of the Reversed Code 'SH'

152052. 

1d SG40, tied to a front and part rear flap by the extremely rare REVERSED Code 'SH' for the Rideout Machine Trial,

with 7 bars at the top and bottom: the normal 'HS' code recorded in use from October 22nd 1858 to December 1859. 

Previously the only other date recorded for the 'SH' code was April 16th 1859 - see item 152051 above.

This is an UNRECORDED date of usage for this extremely rare code. 

Superb Exhibition item. 

Price:  £285.00  SOLD

 NB: the Number 1 Machine with 8 bars at the top is known used with the 'SH' code but only on April 21st 1858.

 

Charles Rideout Trial: second machine


 
152077.  1859: 1d SG40, ‘GJ’, very fine example tied on a clean wrapper to Hull by a superb strike of the

CHARLES RIDEOUT TRIAL machine number 2, with codes ‘CR’, April 15th 1859. 

Lambs-Conduit St udc on top flap. 

Very hard to find this quality of strike on such a neat cover.  

Price:  £120.00

 

Rideout Trial Second Machine

152053. 

1d SG40 very fine, tied to a piece by a superb strike

Rideout First Trial Machine Number Two with Code 'CR'. 

A display-quality example.

Price: £38.50

 

Rideout Machine: Rare LATER TRIAL 1866.

152075. 

Fine envelope to Ledbury with a fine1d plate 98 tied by a very fine strike 

of the Rideout Number 2 Machine code ‘CR.’

Used on November 16th 1866 and early in this later trial period as

the Number 2 Machine was trialled sporadically between October 23rd 1866 and July 10th 1867. 

Examples from this trial are therefore rare. 

A very fine strike of this rarity and in fine overall condition.  

A Display item

Price:  £375.00

 

Rideout's later Trials

152054. 

1d SG43 Plate 95, fine:

cancelled by the Number 2 machine of the later trial

carried out in 1866 and 1867.

 Examples from this later trial are rare. 

Price: £42.50 

 

Later trial: Inverted Watermark.


151236. 

1d SG 43 plate 101:

trimmed perfs at top right BUT has an INVERTED watermark and

cancelled by the later trial of the Rideout Number 2 Experimental Machine. 

The SECOND TRIAL took place in 1867-68 and

Examples from this later trial are rare. 

Possibly a unique combination of the 1d

with this watermark variety and cancellation.

The only example we have seen or can trace with the

later trial on any value with this Watermark Variety.

Price: £48.50

 

The next seven items are with the dater portion of the Rideout duplex

used as a transit backstamp

 

Dater die from the First Machine

152068. 

1d SG40, cancelled by 882 numeral of Wimborne, on a neat and clean envelope to London, August 4th 1858. 

On the reverse is a very fine receiver strike for August 5th 1858 of the dater die from the First Machine Trial. 

Scarce and particularly in such overall fine condition. 

Price:  £55.00 SOLD

 

Dater die from the First Machine: Code HS with Inverted S

152069. 

1d SG40, fine on a clean entire from St Helens, Lancashire and tied by its 679 numeral, July 30th 1858.

This date extends the period of usage as recorded by Parmenter. 

On the reverse is a receiving cds: the dater die from the First Trial. 

The code HS has the S INVERTED, unrecorded by Parmenter, and as such is rare. 

This example together with the next item, are the only such examples

we have seen with this inverted code letter. 

Price:  £85.00

 

Dater die from the First Machine: Code HS with Inverted S

152070. 

Fine 1d SG40 tied by the sideways duplex of Hastings, November 23rd 1858,

to a clean and neat envelope with a White-Cross Place undated double arc. 

On receipt in London, the envelope received a very fine strike of the dater die, from the First Trial.

The code HS has the S INVERTED, unrecorded by Parmenter, and as such is very scarce/rare. 

This, and the previous item, are the only ones we have seen with the S inverted. 

Price:  £85.00

 

Dater die from the First Machine: a rare double strike

152072. 

1d SG40, rounded NE corner, on a clean wrapper from Darlington July 5th 1859.

On reverse is a very fine DOUBLE strike of the dater die from the First Trial. 

This is the ONLY example of a double strike of the dater die as a backstamp

that we have seen from any of the Rideout trials. 

A rare and attractive item. 

Price:  £75.00 

NB: the browning at the top left front of the envelope is paler than in the scan.

 

Dater die from the First Machine: very rare struck in BLACK

152071. 

1d SG40, perf faults at the top, on a clean and neat envelope to Worcester. 

On the reverse is a very fine strike of the dater die from the First Machine,

April 14th 1858, struck in BLACK. 

This dater die is usually seen struck in red and

we are aware of only one other example in black: March 6th 1858. 

A very rare item. 

Price: £160.00

 

Dater die from the Second Machine

152073. 

A fine1d SG40 on an envelope from Brighton to Colchester, fault at the top.

Stamp tied by a very fine Brighton sideways duplex for November 21st 1859. 

On the reverse is a superb strike of the dater from the Second Machine, Codes CR, for the following day. 

The second machine is recorded in use to December 3rd 1859 so the dater used here is close to the end of its usage.

From our researches we cannot find a later usage of this backstamp in the First Trial period. 

A rare item. 

Price:  £85.00

 

Dater die from the Later Trial in 1866 and 1867.

152074. 

Fine 1d SG40 tied to a clean wrapper to London by a Salisbury duplex for March 8th 1867. 

On the reverse is a superb strike of the dater die from the later Machine Number Two trial, March 9th 1867. 

This is the earliest usage we have seen of this backstamp. 

A very rare item. 

Price:  £145.00

NB: the Salisbury duplex and the backstamp show the two abbreviations of March ie MR and MA respectively. 

The Pearson Hill Trial Machines (PHT) reference numbers in the following items are from 

‘Early Experimental and Inland Branch Duplex Cancellations’ by Parmenter et al. 

 

Duplex Machine Cancellation with number 3 in a diamond. 

1301.

3PHT 2 Number 3 Die B recorded used 15th May 1858 to December 1858:

a unique TRIO of items showing usage and varieties of this rare/very scarce duplex with codes ‘BA’.       

 a.     Printed Invoice to Folkingham, 1d star tied by a fine strike of this cancellation for  August 16th 1858.

     

b.     Small neat entire from Dover to London, June 2nd 1858.  On reverse top flap an East      

Cliffe udc and as a receiver, a superb strike of the dater part of 3PHT for June 2nd 1858 IN BLACK.

This is an UNRECORDED usage of this dater cds and especially rare used in black rather than red ink.

      

c.    Wrapper to Kendal with 1d star tied by this 3PHT cancellation but with the code ‘A’ in ‘BA’ missing. 

Parmenter illustrates an example without code letters ‘BA’ for June 24th 1858

The example here has the code letter ‘A’ missing on June 21st 1858.

As seen in example b, the 'A' was present on June 2nd 1858 and 

so it went missing between June 2nd and June 24th 1858.

A remarkable item.

An exceptional grouping that would make a memorable display page.          

Price:  £475.00  SOLD

 

3PHT on 1d SG40

  1302. 3PHT  5 Number 3 Die A codes ‘AB’: recorded used  March 25th 1859 to May 20th 1859,

 superb strike for May 4th 1859 on a clean and un-creased envelope to Stroud. 

Recorded used over less than a two month period and

arguably one of the finest extant of this rare trial cancellation.           

Price:   £145.00  SOLD

 

3PHT: rare usage on 2d Plate 7

152049. 

3PHT 5 Number 3 Die A Codes 'AB': recorded used  March 25th 1859 to May 20th 1859. 

Very fine strike on a clean entire to Farringdon, MAY 6th 1859. 

A rare type as in use for less than 2 months. 

We have  previously only seen this cancellation used on the contemporary 1d and

here it is seen on a 2d SG 45 and from the scarcer Plate 7. 

A very rare combination of cancellation and stamp. 

Price: £245.00  SOLD

NB: In this early Die, the LONDON is narrow at 14.5mm which was replaced by a wider 16mm in 3PHT 6.

  

3PHT 6 Number 3 Die A has a wider,16mm, LONDON than in previous trials.

Recorded by Parmenter in use from May 12th 1859 to 19th December 1859. 

The
EKD mentioned is not illustrated.

Pearson Hill Trial 3PHT6:  EARLIEST DAY OF USAGE

 

       

152381.  1/-SG72, trimmed wing margin, tied to a clean wrapper to Constantinople

by a superb strike of the Pearson Hill Trial 3PHT6 for MAY 12th 1859:

the Earliest Known Date and believed to be the First Day of Usage.   

On the reverse is a superb strike of the Constantinople British Post Office Paid date stamp for May 21 1859. 

This is illustrated by Parmenter in 'GB Used Abroad Cancellations and Postal markings' and given the listing as 'CDS Paid'. 

This is the FIRST type of dated cancellation used in Constantinople from August 1857. 

A remarkable item of Exhibition importance

and would make a memorable display page. 

Price:  £420.00  SOLD

NB: believed to be one of only three known examples of 3PHT6

going to overseas destinations and all are offered here in the next few items.

 

Rare overseas usage of 3PHT 6.

 

 1303. Entire to Paris, written in French, 4d postage paid with four single 1d's:

two with faults, but used on MAY 13th 1858 and cancelled by FOUR strikes of 3PHT 6. 

Exceptionally rare overseas usage believed to be one of only three recorded:

and all are offered here.

This is  ONLY example with multiple strikes of this very scarce/rare cancellation.    

Price: £250.00

  

Earliest known usage to USA of 3PHT 6.

 

1304. Clean envelope, small part of the rear flap missing, to Rhode Island USA with a one shilling SG72:

marginal with the inscriptional folded over the top of the envelope.

From the m/s note bottom left, this item was carried on the Cunarder, 'ASIA', which

sailed from Liverpool on May 14th 1859 and arrived in New York on May 26th 1859.

This is confirmed by the receiver paid cancellation in red on the front.

A few bluntish perfs on the wing margin but tied by a very fine/fine strike for MAY 13th 1859 of 3PHT 6. 

 Extremely rare item and the earliest known example of this cancellation on mail to the USA.   

Price:  £295.00

  

Dater die of 4PHT 2: rare usage as a back stamp

 

152050.

4PHT 2: the dater portion used, November 12th 1859, as a receiver cds on

a very clean and uncreased envelope from Liverpool to London, fine missperfed 1d SG40. 

This is the first example we have seen of this dater used as a back stamp. 

A superb and rare item. 

Price: £95.00

 

Rare usage of the Cresswell Machine on 4d SG66

152188. 

Piece to France with a fine 4d SG66 tied by a fine/very fine '72' Cresswell Machine duplex for November 16th 1857. 

The LPHG records this cancellation in use in November and December 1857: Code 10 is unrecorded by them.

The use of this stamping machine ceased on December 31st 1857.

This duplex is rarely found cancelling a value other than the contemporary 1d. 

This example and Item 152047 are the only ones we can recall with a contemporary surface printed value. 

A rare item which displays well.

Price:  £48.50

NB: the staining around the dater portion of the duplex is nowhere near as pronounced as in the scan.

 

 Pair 4d SG66: very rare cancelled by Cresswell Stamping Machine

152047. 

4d SG66, fine/very fine pair tied to a clean envelope to Germany,

by the London CRESSWELL stamping machine impressions for Code 5 December 8th 1857. 

The envelope has on the front and back various non-overlapping transit marks. 

The Cresswell duplex is numeral '72' with the small,16mm, dater. 

This numeral duplex is only recorded in use only in November and December 1857 and Code 5 is unrecorded. 

The use of this stamping machine ceased on December 31st 1857.

The Cresswell duplexes are usually found on the contemporary 1d on cover and this is

the only example we can recall with a contemporary surface printed value. 

A multiple usage of such a value makes this a superb and attractive item.

Very rare and of Exhibition quality.

Price:  £230.00 

NB: the envelope is in much finer condition than the scan suggests.

   

Salsbury Trial Cancellation

152018.  3d Plate 6, SG 103, 'AL':

fine used, cancelled by the SALISBURY, '683', Official Trial Cancellation. 

Initially this type of trial cancellation had four central pins that pierced the stamp as well as cancelling it. 

The later trial had the pins removed and the item offered here has the pins removed.

A very scarce and fine example: the trial was abandoned.

Price: £110.00  SOLD

 

The First Bickerdike Machine: Earliest Known Date

151289. The EARLY TRIAL of the Bickerdike Machine V and R without serifs:

a superb strike on a clean piece with 1d lilac, October 4th 1897. 

This is a new EARLIEST KNOWN DATE for this rare cancellation,

the previous EKD was October 5th 1897.

Very little mail from this trial has survived. 

Price: £285  SOLD

NB: the apparent browning on the piece is a trick of the scanner.

 

The First Bickerdike Machine 1897 with Serifs: very early usage.

 

The First Bickerdike Machine 1897 without serifs: very early usage

 

151524.  Superb strike of the rare Die 1, non-seriffed letterings of V and R,

 on an envelope used locally in London, October 7th 1897. 

Envelope has a small peripheral fault at the top and on the reverse

where there is a partial offset of the cancellation. 

Very little mail was used or has survived from these trial machines. 

Before the discovery of the item listed above and the next, the recorded postmark examples were

from October 5th 1897 to November 26th 1897. 

The example offered here, used on October 7th 1897, is hence one of the earliest known. 

Superb and rare item. 

Price:  £885.00  SOLD

NB: the envelope is in better condition than the scan suggests.

 

Latest known usage: Bickerdike Trial Machine.

151525.

Piece with a 1d lilac tied by a strike of:

the Die 2 seriffed letterings of V and R.

Larger in size than the Die 1 type and dated November 29th 1897

which is the LATEST KNOWN usage of this rare cancellation. 

Price:  £245.00 

  

Boston Trial Machine 1898

151527.   

Very fine strike of this rare experimental machine cancellation:

on a clean 1d pink embossed envelope, opened at the bottom, to Ashford, Kent, September 20th 1898.

The previously recorded dates of usage for this machine are August 27th 1898 to September 30th 1898. 

This example has the dater die variety with the star point pointing upwards.

On the reverse is an Ashford Station Office cds for September 21st 1898.

Only 12 covers and cards are known with this trial cancellation.

A very rare item of Exhibition quality and importance.      

Price:  £895.00

NB: a few small age marks at the bottom of the envelope but the browning is a trick of the scanner.

There is a thin straight line indentation above the dater which appears to have been made by the machine.

 

Earliest Known Usage.

 

151528. 

Piece with a fine strike of the Boston Trial Machine on a 1d lilac. 

this dater die variety has the star point pointing downwards.

Dated August 26th 1898 this is the Earliest Known usage. 

A rarity.   

Price:  £250.00

NB: the browning to the right of the 1d lilac is not as pronounced as in the scan.

 

Boston Trial Machine: a very early usage.

151529. 

A neat and clean piece with an exceptional strike of this trial machine tieing a 1d lilac.

This dater die has the star point pointing downwards.

Dated August 29th 1898, it is only three days after the EKD. 

A superb and rare item. 

Price:  £155.00

NB: the browning at the left is a trick of the scanner.

 

Boston Trial Machine: used to an overseas destination.

151526.  

UPU 1d postcard to MALTA:

 superb/very fine strike for September 8th 1898

with the dater die star point pointing downwards. 

O
nly 12 examples are known of this Trial Cancellation on a cover or card.

This is the only known example on a postcard to an overseas destination. 

Extremely rare and probably a unique usage.

Superb Exhibition item.

Price:  £950.00

NB: the overall toning of the card is far less pronounced

than the scan as are the few age marks.

 

Early Hoster Cancellation.

 
15129.  1884: 1d lilac tied to an envelope, used locally in London, by a fine early Hoster, Type 11,

machine cancellation, December 10th 1884.    

Price:  £48.00  SOLD

Bickerdike Machine Number 1: superb early strike.

151628.  Bickerdine Number 1 machine:

superb strike for May 6th 1899, within the first two weeks of usage.

Clean envelope except for a vertical crease clear of the cancellation. 

The envelope is embossed on the reverse 'City of Birmingham Gas Department. 

Very scarce so fine. 

Price: £43.00  SOLD

 

Boston Machine Number 1

151614.  Boston Machine Number 1: very fine strike, February 14th 1901,

on 1d embossed printed Great Eastern Railway Company dividend statement. 

It was redirected and a North Walsham duplex applied for the following day

and a Malvern cds on the reverse. 

Price:  £34.00  SOLD

 

Boston Machine Number 3

151613.  Boston Machine Number 3: very fine/superb strike, August 29th 1899. 

Some filing creases but an unusual usage on this 1/2d embossed envelope to Boscombe

and an early usage for this machine. 

Price: £32.50  SOLD

 

Boston Machine Number 4.

151625.  Boston machine Number 4:

very fine strike on a clean envelope to Lewes, Sussex.

A scarce 1899 usage for this machine at November 14th 1899.

Some damage to the reverse top flap.

 Price:  £36.50  SOLD

 

Boston machine Number 5

151625.  Boston Machine Number 5:

superb strike on a very fine UPU 1d postcard to Westphalia.

An early usage of this machine at August 10th 1899. 

We cannot recall seeing the Number 5 machine used on this type of postcard. 

Price:  £40.00 SOLD

 

Boston Machine number 6

151610.  Boston machine Number 6: superb strike on envelope to Swansea.

An early example of this machine at September 21st 1899.

Interesting note on the front referring to a credit note for a Japanese Clock, £7-11-0:

a large sum of money in 1899. 

Price:  £39.00  SOLD

 

Boston Number 6 Machine

151612.  Boston Number 6 Machine: superb strike on envelope to Launceston, Cornwall. 

The dater has the year reduced to two numbers from the full year, November 26th 1900. 

On reverse a very fine Press Association Limited logo. 

Price:  £39.00  SOLD

 

The First Bickerdike Machine: Earliest Known Date

151289. The EARLY TRIAL of the Bickerdike Machine V and R without serifs:

a superb strike on a clean piece with 1d lilac, October 4th 1897. 

This is a new EARLIEST KNOWN DATE for this rare cancellation,

the previous EKD was October 5th 1897.

Very little mail from this trial has survived. 

Price: £285.00 SOLD

NB: the apparent browning on the piece is a trick of the scanner.

 

The First Bickerdike Machine 1897

 

151524.  Superb strike of the rare Die 1, non-seriffed letterings of V and R,

 on an envelope used locally in London, October 7th 1897. 

Envelope has a small peripheral fault at the top and on the reverse

where there is a partial offset of the cancellation. 

Very little mail was used or has survived from these trial machines. 

Before the discovery of the item listed above and the next, the recorded postmark examples were

from October 5th 1897 to November 26th 1897. 

The example offered here, used on October 7th 1897, is hence one of the earliest known. 

Superb and rare item. 

Price:  £885.00  SOLD

NB: the envelope is in better condition than the scan suggests.

 

151290.  Bickerdike Machine Number 1:

a brilliant strike for April 29th 1899 on a superb, clean and uncreased envelope

 with 1/2d SG197 addressed to Dublin, no postal markings on reverse. 

The Bickerdike machines, numbers 1-6, were introduced on April 24th 1899

as a consequence of early trials in October 1897: see Item 151289. 

The example offered here is the earliest we have seen and the finest. 

SOLD

NB; the browning is a trick of the scanner.

 

151291.  Bickerdike Machine Number 6:

an exceptional strike on a superb UPU One Penny postcard to Sweden for September 25th 1899. 

The Bickerdike machines, numbers 1-6, were introduced on April 24th 1899

as a consequence of early trials in October 1897: see Item 151289.   

Superb item and very hard to find in this condition.

SOLD  

 

 
15127.  1861: 2d SG45 Plate 8, ‘II’, very fine tied to an envelope

to Sunderland by the Pearson Hill no.2 duplex, April 12th 1861, leaving a clear QV profile.

The 2d shows a blue diagonal line crossing QV’s head and face

caused by a scratch on the printing plate. 

SOLD

Last Day usage: Cresswell Machine.



 
15128.  1857: 1d SG40,‘NK’, tied to a small envelope to Haverfordwest by a Cresswell duplex ‘72’ for December 31st 1857

– the LAST DAY of usage of the Cresswell machine duplexes; Code 8Mg is also unrecorded. 

A rare type and the only example we have seen used on this date.  

SOLD



 
15130.  1887: 2 1/2d, SG201.  Entire to Barcelona, tied by a hooded circle date stamp, March 7th 1887. 

The Hoster machine cancelled the item of mail well away from the stamp itself. 

Hence a complete and very fine strike of Type 111 for March 7th 1887, was the result of this missed franking.

The stamp was then cancelled by a hooded circle cds. 

The SG201, issued Jan 1st 1887, is printed on a blue-green paper used on the early printings,

 the later printings were on the more common blue paper.   Scarce combination of features.    

SOLD




 
15131.  1890, 4d SG205: Very fine example with strong original colour, tied to envelope, peripheral faults,

by an almost complete fine/very fine strike of the Hoster Type IX, October 27th 1890.  Sent to Granada,

Nicaragua with the appropriate transit markings clearly struck on the reverse. 

A rare combination of stamp, cancellation and destination.   

Price:  £48.00  SOLD


 

15132.  1899, 1d lilac on clean un-creased envelope to Ireland: tied by an EXCEPTIONAL strike of the Number 1

BICKERDIKE machine for May 8th 1899 and within the first two weeks of usage. Superb item and rare so fine.

SOLD



 
15133. Clean 1d UPU postcard, corner crease, to Germany: superb strike of the Number 5 BICKERDIKE machine, August 30th 1899. 

Message written in German and a scarce usage on this type of card. 

SOLD 

 

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