Pictorial period CDS-possibilities

[John Hardinge]

I think we all know how much interest there is in collecting CDS on the pictorial period and in particular on pictorials. It's by far and away the most popular period to collect Tas postal markings. Likewise all experienced collectors know what CDS exist courtesy of the "Green Books" et all. Was thinking the other day as to what could exist. Have attached a small list of the possibilities. Some of these are very remote but they are the only real possibilities there are-all others even belonging to offices open in the period can be discounted. They are:

1) Telegraph Offices: Windmill Hill Type 1 is known in the period, but not on pictorial stamps, only on telegrams. It is a possibility to be seen on stamp, but very unlikely as should not have cancelled stamps. Mount Nelson was also open as a T.O in the period(closed 1902). No CDS has ever been seen but may exist. Same scenario as Windmill Hill, however, in that they should not have cancelled stamps.

2) Burns Creek was either a RH or MRH that opened in 1900 and closed 1905. No cancellation has ever been seen from this period of opening. A CDS is very unlikely but not completely impossible.

3) Paterola, Camena, and Stanley River were all MRH's open for less that two years between 1910 and 1912. Again, it would seem likely that no CDS was ever issued to any of these offices, but again it is not completely impossible.

4) Mills Reef closed 1 Apr 1899 when it closed and facilities were transferred to nearby Daniel's Bay. Mills Reefs has been seen dated 15 Apr 1899 and Daniel's Bay earliest date is 2 Jun 1900. LIke many cases when facilitries were transferred the CDS would go to the new offices, in some cases for quite a period of time. It is just possible that this CDS could have been used into the pictorial period.

5) Zeehan 1(small cross stops) This CDS has not been seen post 8 Oct 1899 but this does not proclude the possibility that it may have been used for another 2 months or so or even longer and may have been used on pictorials.

6) Douglas River. This office opened in 1901 and was provided with a Type 3 CDS that was introduced sometime between Jan 1912 and Oct 1913. It has first been seen in 1914 on a 1/2d pictorial. May even be seen pre 1913 but is a very scarce CDS and comes from an office that was a T.O only, even though it is well known as an office that cancelled a fair amount of mail.

7) Post 1 Jan 1913 CDS introduction. The following CDS were introduced post this time:

Latrobe 3 Feb $$$
Nunamara R1a Feb-Jul $$$
Beaconsfield 3 Mar $$$
Paradise 3 May
Western Junction 3 May $$$
Crotty 1 May (*old Type 1CDS reissue) $$$
Targa R1a May-Nov
Huonville 3 Aug $$$
Moonah 3 Aug $$$
Waddamanna 3 Aug-Nov (end Type 3) $$$
Comstock R1a Sep

It is fair to say that general usage of pictorials(1d value) started to decline in country offices approximately March 1913, was 50/50 in April 1913 and by May was heavily in favour of Roos, being almost entirely Roos by June 1913. However, 1/2d pictorials in particular were used right through 1913. 2d pictorials lasted longer than the 1d value., but no where near as long as the 1/2d.

The offices marked with the $$$ symbol, have all been seen on pictorials. The ones not marked $$$ are certainly possibilities.

It's up to the individuals concerned whether they consider them to be "inside the period". Certainly Latrobe Type 3 was issued inside the period where pictorials were the most common stamp used.