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BNs - Third Reallocation Period

Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2015 1:14 pm
by shatten
Greetings all, referring to John Hardinge's definitive works on BNs: In 1891 14 numerals ".. were remade in a very distinctive 4 bar type .... BNs 222-225 were also issued for the first time."

The only example I have from this set is BN225 (image supplied) which has 4 bars on each side and I assume that John's 4 bar reference is to the bars on the side, not top and bottom (as most BNs have 4 bars top and bottom). Subsequent numbers reverted to 3 side bars (until 301 which has 2 bars etc etc).

If my assumption is correct, then 222-225 were probably made in the same batch as the 14 reissued numbers. This would clarify the relevant dot points in John's overview in The Courier, no 49 p8 (bottom right).

Can someone advise if my understanding of this set of BNs is correct? Some postmark vendors may not be fully aware of the differences between the reallocated numbers and the originals.

Re: BNs - Third Reallocation Period

Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2015 3:19 pm
by shatten
Hi again, I am replying to myself. I looked up the Green Books and they confirm the 4-bar assumptions I made. Part I has a good set of descriptions and illustrations on p55 et seq. to help identify originals and replacements.