T.P.O. covers - discussion, 'theories', 'show & tell', etc
Posted: Mon Aug 19, 2013 7:51 pm
Some of you will have already noted this cover to auctioned soon by a Melbourne auction house.
Estimated at $130, the describer indicates that this cover supports a theory that the TPO No.4 was used on the Western Line and TPO No.3 on
the Launceston/Hobart mainline. It also suggests that the railway passed through Cressy whereas the closest railway station is actually at Longford
which is nearly 20kms to the north.
To the best of my knowledge, all mail despatched from Cressy at the time (other than items for local delivery) would have been sent to Longford; sorted on a Western Line
TPO (which used the T.P.O. No.4 cds); transferred to a southward bound TPO on the mainline (which used the T.P.O. No.3 cds) and then forwarded to Campbell Town.
The use/locations of the No.3 and No.4 cds datestamps have been recorded for many decades (see the "Green Books" - Part I, page 158 and Part II, page 138)
so if there is a 'theory', I've never heard of one.
It is possible that other examples could be found without much effort and the only reason that they haven't been recorded is that they are in the
"no big deal" department.
Is this a case of "never let the facts get in the way of a good story"* or have I missed something here? ..... either way, what do you think?
* I am not implying that the describer has 'gilded the lily' here but has unfortunately repeated the 'theory' of the previous owner(s) as provided in a write-up
on the album page on which this cover may have previously resided.
Estimated at $130, the describer indicates that this cover supports a theory that the TPO No.4 was used on the Western Line and TPO No.3 on
the Launceston/Hobart mainline. It also suggests that the railway passed through Cressy whereas the closest railway station is actually at Longford
which is nearly 20kms to the north.
To the best of my knowledge, all mail despatched from Cressy at the time (other than items for local delivery) would have been sent to Longford; sorted on a Western Line
TPO (which used the T.P.O. No.4 cds); transferred to a southward bound TPO on the mainline (which used the T.P.O. No.3 cds) and then forwarded to Campbell Town.
The use/locations of the No.3 and No.4 cds datestamps have been recorded for many decades (see the "Green Books" - Part I, page 158 and Part II, page 138)
so if there is a 'theory', I've never heard of one.
It is possible that other examples could be found without much effort and the only reason that they haven't been recorded is that they are in the
"no big deal" department.
Is this a case of "never let the facts get in the way of a good story"* or have I missed something here? ..... either way, what do you think?
* I am not implying that the describer has 'gilded the lily' here but has unfortunately repeated the 'theory' of the previous owner(s) as provided in a write-up
on the album page on which this cover may have previously resided.