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: £135.00
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: £130.00
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
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
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
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 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
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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.
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
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: 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
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.
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 six items are with the dater portion of the Rideout duplex
used as a transit backstamp
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.
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
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: £50.00
NB: the staining around the dater portion of the duplex is nowhere near as pronounced as in the scan.
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: £240.00
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.
Only 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.
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