Early Machine Cancellations and Trials
Background to the Bickerdike and Boston Machines in London and Liverpool
At the same time as the six BICKERDIKE Machines, Numbers 1-6, were being trialled by the Post Office,
another six Machines, also with Numbers 1-6, were being trialled ie the BOSTON Machines.
In the original trials the Boston Machine stamped 100 letters per minute with 2 1/3rd failures.
The Bickerdike Machine performance was 130 letters a minute but wth 5% failures.
The Post Office decided to rent six machines from each Company for one year at an annual rental of £36 per machine.
In 1899 two more machines of each type were hired for a trial in Liverpool, Numbers 3 and 4.
In 1900, it was agreed that a savings of £636 had resulted from one years usage of the 12 machines.
The savings in Liverpool from their four machines was less reassuring .
However, in May 1900 the Post Office agreed to purchase the 16 machines and were in Service for the next few years.
The machines kept breaking down and the Post Office was faced with an increasing expenditure on repairs.
By 1908 their scrap value was only a few shillings each.
One problem was that the quality and clarity of the impressions varied considerably.
Consequently very fine examples are difficult to find.
After the Liverpool Selection is a Group of London Bickerdike and Boston Machines
The next seven items show the varied usage of the Liverpool Boston and Bickerdike Machines.
Although priced individually they would make an excellent Display/Exhibition group.
They could be
used as a fine basis for expansion.
Letter Card Liverpool Boston Machine Number 3 Inverted
154263.
Very fine QV 1d Letter Card, very scarce complete, with a request for Colonial Stamps, sent from Liverpool to London.
Cancelled by a very fine first impression of the Liverpool Boston Number 3 Machine, Inverted ‘3’, for February 25th 1901.
A very scarce/rare usage on a Letter Card and the first we have been able to offer.
Liverpool was issued with Number 1 and 2 but these were for two Bickerdike machines: see Item 154270.
An attractive and rare item which would display well.
Price: £45.00
Liverpool Boston Machine Number 3 inverted on a Postcard
154264.
A very fine postcard, postage paid by an Edward 7th 1/2d (SW corner damage), from Liverpool to Runcorn.
Cancelled by a very fine Liverpool Boston Number 3 Machine, with inverted ‘3’ for August 12th 1903.
On the reverse is a partial offset impression of the machine cancellation and
a fine image of Liverpool Town Hall with people in clothes of the Edwardian period.
A very fine display item.
£35.00
Printed Company Letter: Liverpool Boston Machine Number 4 resent to Derby
154265.
A very fine printed Liverpool and London and Globe Insurance Co. circular.
Franked by a ‘Jubilee’ issue 1/2d SG213 which is perfinned ‘ LLG’ ; the initials of this same company.
Cancelled by a very fine Liverpool Boston Machine Number 4 for May 21st 1901.
Sent from Liverpool to Derby with a Derby receiver cds for the same day of postage.
There is a m/s on the front saying: ‘Received with another letter by George Fletcher & Co.’
It was then put back in the post at Derby and the 1/2d cancelled by a Derby ‘242/18’ duplex for May 22nd 1901.
A rare and possibly unique combination of features.
Could make an interesting display page.
Price: £55.00
NB: the 18 cut in to the bars of the duplex is recorded by Parmenter and given a
‘Rare’ rating.
Liverpool Boston Machine Number 4 on coloured Postcard to Barcelona
154266.
Very fine postcard from Liverpool to Barcelona.
The 1d lilac Die 2 is tied by a superb Liverpool Boston Machine Number 4 for June 8th 1901.
The browning on the card is either fainter than the scan suggests or not present at all.
At the top left is a printed Royal Coat of Arms: indicate that the Printer/Publisher had a Royal Warrant?
On the reverse is the name ‘Raphael and Sons ‘View’ Post Card No. 41’.
The delightful coloured image is a scene at Boulter's Lock on the Thames in June 1901,
of a steam passenger boat having just gone through this ancient lock.
A superb item that would make an interesting display as there is a lot about this historic Lock on the Thames
including images on the internet that could enhance the description of this item.
It is rare to find such a Boston Machine cancellation on an item of overseas mail.
Price: £50.00
A halfpenny embossed envelope with a Liverpool Boston Machine Number 4
154267.
A fine QV halfpenny embossed envelope from Graham, Son & Hay, Liverpool to Hull.
Cancelled by a very fine Liverpool Boston Machine Number 4 for February 14th 1901.
An attractive item the description of which could be expanded
as there is a lot of information on the internet about this Company.
Price: £35.00.
Liverpool Boston Machine Number 3 with Inverted 3
154268.
Very fine postcard from Liverpool to Hartford, Cheshire.
Postage paid by a 1/2d Edward 7th and tied by a fine
Liverpool Boston Number 3 Machine with Inverted’3’ for October 22nd 1903.
On the reverse is a fine image of St George’s Hall, Liverpool
and a street scene with horse drawn carriages and a tram.
Also on the reverse is a partial offset of the Machine cancel.
An attractive item.
Price:
£35.00
Liverpool First Bickerdike Machine Number 1
154270.
Very fine printed QV 1/2d green postcard from the
Bank of Liverpool Limited Liverpool to Lloyds Bank Rugby.
Cancelled by a very fine/superb
First Liverpool Bickerdike Machine Number 1 for June 2nd 1902:
see item 154263.
An unusual item.
Price: £ 35.00
Second Trial Period of the Boston Machine
154269.
Envelope with a printed address from London to Edinburgh, February 25th 1901.
The 1d lilac Die2, neatly ied by a very fine strike of the Second Trial of the Boston Machine:
the year plugs reduced from four to two (from January 1900).
On the reverse is a partial offset of this Machine and an Edinburgh date stamp for February 26th 1901.
The quality of the cancellation is the best we have seen or indeed been able to offer: a rare example.
Price: £35.00
What follows is a Group of London Bickerdike and Boston Machine Cancels
on a variety of mail including to overseas destinations.
Bickerdike Number 1 Machine on a 1d Embossed Front
154305.
A 1d pink embossed front addressed to S. Norwood.
The 1d cancelled by a superb strike of the Bickerdike Machine Number 1, dated November 16th 1899.
On the front is a cache indicating that the letter was undelivered and was to be returned to sender for reasons
that would have been stated on the full original envelope.
Such a fine strike of the Machine Number 1 is rarely found on an embossed envelope or front.
Price: £28.00
Bickerdike Number 1 Machine: rare usage to an overseas location
154271.
A two pence halfpenny embossed QV envelope from London to Vienna, May 26th 1899.
Cancelled by a very fine strike of the Bickerdike Number 1 Machine.
The Number 1 Machine was introduced in 1899 and 1899 examples are very scarce
especially as fine as the example offered here.
The rarity of this item is enhanced significantly by its usage
on an item of mail gong to an overseas location and on such a staionery envelope:
the only one, and the earliest, we have seen or can trace going outside of the UK.
An early usage: a month after the machine came in to service.
We can not recall seeing an earlier usage going outside of the UK.
Price: £45.00
NB: The browning along the top is much fainter than in the scan.
Bickerdike Number 4 Machine
154306.
A 1d pink embossed envelope used locally in London and cancelled
by a Bickerdike Number 4 Machine, dated London February 27th 1900.
On the reverse is the top flap with a fine embossed Crown surrounded by a circle with
‘Civil Service Supply Association Limited’.
Price: £30.00
Bickerdike Machine Number 4: early usage and a superb strike.
154307.
An envelope, sent locally in London, from L. Lumley & Co., London with a 1/2d SG197
paying the postage and tied by an exceptional impression of the Number 4 Bickerdike Machine,
The date is May 18th 1899: an early usage of a Bickerdike Machine
which came in to service on February 24th 1899.
A rare item and with such a superb cancellation.
Price: £35.00
Bickerdike Number 5 Machine: a very early usage
154308.
A piece with a 1d lilac Die 2, tied by a superb strike of the Bickerdike Number 5 Machine.
The Bickerdike Machines 1-6, came in to service on April 24th 1899.
The example offered here is for April 28th 1899
and is the earliest usage of any of these Machines we have seen or able to offer.
A rare item.
£38.00
Superb Bickerdike Number 6 Machine on Overseas Mail
154309.
A twopence halfpenny embossed envelope from London to Belgium
cancelled by a superb Number 6 Bickerdike Machine for March 5th 1900.
Examples of these Machines on mail going overseas are rarely found.
Stitt Dibden in ‘Early Stamp Machines’ comments that
impressions of the Number 6 Machine are often poor: this is our experience too.
The example offered here is the best strike we have seen or
indeed been able to offer on an embossed envelope.
A rare Exhibition-quality item.
Price: £45.00
154312.
A very fine embossed two pence halfpenny envelope from the National Bank of India to Zurich.
Cancelled by an exceptional strike of the Boston Number ‘3’ Machine for January 13th 1900.
As with the Bickerdike Machine, examples of mail going to an overseas destination are rarely found.
An Exhibition-quality item.
Price: £45.00
Boston Machine Number 6: this high lights the variable quality of strike
154310.
A fine envelope sent from London to Brierley Hill, Staffs
from Charles Hatton & Co: 90 Cannon Street, E. C.
The company name is finely embossed on the reverse.
The 1d lilac Die 2, tied by A Boston Number 6 Machine for February 1st 1900
and on the reverse a very fine Brierley Hill cds for the following day.
The Number 6 and the bars are particularly well struck.
A fine display item.
Price: £32.00
154311.
An embossed 1d pink printed Great Eastern Railway Company Dividend Statement dated January 31st 1900
and sent from Liverpool Station, London to Preston: the dividend certificate has been detached.
The 1d just tied by a Boston Number 6 Machine for January 31st 1900.
On the front is a cache stating that the item was undelivered for the reason stated on the back of the letter.
There is 'no reason' on the back presumably because on the front in blue ink is the word 'Deceased'.
The letter was redirected to London from Preston and in London it was cancelled with the Boston Number 6.
Unusual to find redirected mail used with this type of Machine cancel.
This would make a fine Display item with the printed inside copied.
Price: £45.00
Rideout Machine First Trial
154240.
4d SG66, superb used, cancelled by the Number 1 Machine of the Rideout Trial,
The dated portion shows March 10th 1859 and a double strike.
The usage of the trials on mail with a value other than the contemporary 1d value are seldom found.
The 4d is an example of being from the ‘A’ row when the perforating resulted in a shorter stamp.
A superb and rare combination of features.
Exhibition quality
Price: £65.00
Rideout Machine First Trial: superb and very rare usage
154215.
Rideout Machine FirstTrial: an exceptional strike on a
very clean 1d pink embossed envelope to Newport , Salop, July 7th 1859.
This variety has 7 bars at the top ie 2.7.7.2 bars.
The quality of the strike is close to being of proof clarity
and is extremely rare on a 1d pink envelope.
From our researches the only other example we have found
appeared some 18 years ago in a Spinks GB sale on December 2007,
with an estimate of £300-£500.
A superb and very rare Exhibition-quality item.
Price: £225.00
NB: this item and the next one, 154016, would form a remarkakble
and unique Exhibition pairing.
Rideout Machine Number 1: proof-quality strike
154016.
1d 'JC' on a clean and neat wrapper to Dewsbury, West Riding of Yorkshire.
Tied by a proof-quality strike of the Number 1 Rideout Machine, 8 bars variety, for March 12th 1858.
The EKD for this cancel is February 5th 1858 so this example is an early example.
The finest example of this strike we have seen or can trace.
An Exhibition-quality item.
Price: £130.00
Cresswell Machine : exceptional strike on 1d pink envelope
153962
1d Pink Stationery Embossed Envelope from London to Ledbury,
on the reverse is a BO Strand udc and a Ledbury date stamp for November 27th 1857.
The Postage One Penny cancelled by a superb strike of the Cresswell duplex number '77' for November 27th 1857.
The use of this stamping machine ceased on December 31st 1857: it was used for approx 3 months.
Usage of this machine is rarely found on any value other than the contemporary 1d value
and very rarely indeed on an embossed stationery envelope
It is hard to see how a finer strike could be found on any item of mail..
Price: £55.00 SOLD
NB: there is browning on the edging and faintly elswhere,
but not as pronounced as the scan suggests.
Addressed to an early News-Agent?
A Front with a rare usage of the Cresswell Machine on a 4d SG66
152188.
A front 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 is only the second we have seen on a contemporary surface printed value.
A rare item which displays well.
Price: £50.00 SOLD
NB: the staining around the dater portion of the duplex is nowhere near as pronounced as in the scan.
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 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. SOLD
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 SOLD
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 SOLD
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 SOLD
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
.jpg)
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 SOLD
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 SOLD
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
SOLD
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
SOLD
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
154215.
Rideout Machine FirstTrial: an exceptional strike on a
very clean 1d pink embossed envelope to Newport , Salop, July 7th 1859.
This variety has 7 bars at the top ie 2.7.7.2 bars.
The quality of the strike is close to being of proof clarity
and is extremely rare on a 1d pink envelope.
From our researches the only other example we have found
appeared some 18 years ago in a Spinks GB sale on December 2007,
with an estimate of £300-£500.
A superb and very rare 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 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 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: £220.00
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 SOLD
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
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.
Home Page Terms of Business Links