Manuscript 59

[John Shepherd]

Has anyone recorded a manuscript '59' on Sideface?

[Revenuer]

I have a barred numeral 59 on a 3d Platypus thats it sorry....Dave

[Ross Ewington]

I would assume that a manuscript 59 on a QV sideface is most likely to have been
applied at Montacute whereas a mss 59 on a Platypus would probably have been
applied at Gormanston although there is still a good chance that it was applied at the
office of first allocation. ....does this make sense?

[John Shepherd]

The mss '59' I have seen is on 2d Sideface (De La Rue printing), which would make the use post-1878.

How does that fit in with the PO openings and closings?

[Ross Ewington]

Montacute closed some time in 1888 - Gormanston opened as Mt Lyell on Jan 1 1891.
Green Books indicate that the new BN59 was used at Mt Lyell in the year of opening.

Any chance of a picture John?

[John Shepherd]

The 2d DLR was first issued in 1878 and continued in use until the issue of the 2d Pictorial in 1899. The shades are constant so it is not possible to narrow down the date of use. Use of the stamp seemed to decline in the 1890s due to the use of 2d Green PSE's. It seems to "fit" though.

[John Hardinge]

This is a really interesting one. The whole Montacute/Glen Quoin thing is a real puzzle. In 1861 when the second allocation numerals were issued 59 was clearly issued to Montacute. The first(1861) type is vert scarce. Only two or three copes known, all on perfed chalons. In 1872 Glen Quoin opened as a receiving house(both it and Montacute were Hallett properties). On 1.12.1876 Glen Quoin seems to have been upgraded as at that time Charles Hallet takes over as P.M and a numeral is ordered. However, the numeral ordered is 59 in a different type to the previous. This number is also very scarce indeed and indeed in 1878 Glen Quoin was clearly issued a Type 1a CDS in the initial allocation of modern CDS in Tasmania. Only one copy of this is known. However, the interesting thing is that there is no indication at all that Montacute closed. Were two offices opened that nominally used 59 or was Montactute issued a new number when Hallett"took" the old number with him? That remains a mystery. Both Montacute and Glen Quoin closed in December 1886 when both were replaced by Hollow Tree. The 59 that was used at Glen Quoin that was manufactured in 1876 was either lost or destroyed at this time or well before as it was remade in new 4 bar type in 1890 and reissued to Gormanston early 1891. It seems likely that this mss is either a product of Montacute, which continued to "use" 59 even though it had no BN or that Glen Quion lost it's second type 59 and began using mss cancels. Either way, a good piece of postal history.

John

[Jerry Weirich]

I have a manuscript 59 on a 1871 1d rose sideface watermarked single-lined 4.

[John Hardinge]

No that is interesting. This would be definately in the Montacute period, clearly indicating that the original numeral 59 had been lost or destroyed by this stage. The two original 59 cancels that I have seen so far are both on perforated 4d blue chalons, indicating 1870 or pre 1870 use.

[Jerry Weirich]

Here's the scan of my manuscript 59 on the 1871 sideface.

59.jpg (121.01 KiB) Viewed 3659 times

[Ross Ewington]

mss 59.jpg (11.94 KiB) Viewed 3432 times

A "match" I'd say - i.e. same hand therefore same location

[John Shepherd]

The handwriting certainly looks the same. The dates of use would seem to be different though:

1d - wmk 4 was one of the initial printings only found used early-mid 1871. It is concievable though that at a tiny PO, the initial stocks of the 1d Sideface could last quite some time (possibly a couple of years?). I have not researched the latest use of a 1d wmk '4', but it I do not recall seeing one dated after 1871 (dated examples being uncommon though).

2d - It looks like a De La Rue print, thus post-1878.

[Jerry Weirich]

Mia Culpa! My 1d rose sideface is NOT watermarked with the 4 but with the single-lined 10. The stamp is the perf 12 issue.

[John Shepherd]

The 1d wmk "10" was in use Nov-Dec 1870 and early-mid 1871.