free post

[neal w]

hi again, have another puzzler as not sure what type of cd thisi is , have found the section in john,s book freepost launceston, buit again not clear .if anyone could help there ,have posted a pic of police rate receipt , longford.thanks again neal

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[Ross Ewington]

Hi Neal

this is the LAUNCESTON Type 1(iii) cds (dash stops ...although I think they should be referred to as 'arcs')

There is a new late date for this datestamp posted in this category (in the topic set up for reporting post-publication discoveries)

Ross E.

[admin]

Neal,
I believe this cds is not actually in John's book which is highly unusual. It should be listed under Free Markings and is only the second Free datestamp recorded for Launceston. It had not been recorded when the book was being put together.
I think its probably rare. I'm aware of three or 4 examples . Cant offer any information about early/late dates at this stage.
As you probably aware, Tasmania provide free mail privileges for many Government Departments and officials. In this case there's a Police Rates Act which gives authority for free postage on Police Rates receipts. After 1884 most Free Mail was sent under departmental franking hand stamps.
A very nice item.
Pete

[neal w]

thanks ross, i have been studying john,s book section free mareking launceston, and only 2 are listed with dash stops. 1i and 1ii and they say they have codes? thought that was the lettering usually above date and below the town name? am i missing something or just not reading it right.thanks neal

[neal w]

thanks pete muchly appreciated.

[admin]

Neal, have just checked the listings and yes, the cds at the top of your rates receipt is not listed.

Here are another two examples and there is at least one more dated 1890 but perhaps that is the example you have.
The ERD is 21 Aug 1888.
The LRD is presumably yours 18 Jun 1890 .
Pete

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[neal w]

hi pete, thanks alot for your time and effort. will enclose front cover and another cover i picked up . what would the police rate receipt be rated at do you think?

[admin]

Based on current evidence, the Free circular datestamp of Launceston would have to be rated 4R until such time as more examples are recorded. The diamond-shaped Free Launceston datestamp is listed as 2R by Hardinge and is seen over a long period from 1855 to 1885 when use seems to have ceased. The standard Free handstamp of Launceston is no longer used when Frank stamps were introduced, but items such as Police Rate receipts did not lend themselves to the use of Frank stamps allocated to Departmentts and Officials presumably because the receipts were sent by private individuals not Departments. However, Hobart for some reason did not follow Launceton's example and continued to use its one circular Free date stamp issued 1855 until 1893 though most free mail after 1884 used frank stamps.

The Torquay arc-type datestamp is also rated 2R . For some reason, many of these Police Rate receipts are addressed to Torquay in my experience, even receipts from the East Coast of Tasmania. Perhaps someone located a small horde from Devonport at some stage.
Pete

[neal w]

thanks once again pete made my day picked up both items for 45$ probably hang on to launceston probably see the torquay in ross,s next auction.as just collecting round type 1,2 3 cancels with a,b etc. muchly appreciate your wealth of knowledge and your time and efforts. have a lovely day. neal