Tasmanian Philatelic Society

Established 1900

Tasmanian Postal History 1880 to 1890

This is a summary of the main developments in Tasmanian Postal History 1880 to 1890.  Earlier timelines, 1804 – 53, 1853 – 68 and 1868 – 1880, can be found in our Tasmanian References menu list.

For more detailed information about Tasmanian Postal History during 1880 to 1890,  see “Tasmanian Postal Acts and Regulations” Parts 5 onwards by A E Orchard, Magpie Publication. The original Acts are listed below below.

To ask a question or discuss Tasmanian Postal History 1880 to 1890 go to the TPS Bulletin Board  http://tps.org.au/bb/viewforum.php?f=7&sid=9a27a579c9be1a33a707039c0c5ac4cc

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Tasmanian Postal History 1880 to 1890

1880 May 1 The Stamp Duties Act was amended so that Postage Stamps and Duty Stamps were no longer interchangeable. This change was to last until 1 Nov 1882 when Postage and Duty stamps again became interchangeable.
1880 Aug A mail route between Hobart and Wellington, NZ re-commenced. Mail was carried by the Union Steam Ship Co every 4 weeks, taking 5 days. This service originally commended during the mid-1870s but no details have been found.
1880 Aug Initial discussions regarding Australasian Colonies joining the Universal Postal Union (UPU) commenced. Joining the UPU  required Tasmania and other States to lower postal rates in line with agreed UPU rates, leading to substantial losses. Though discussions and meetings continued, Australian Colonies did not join the UPU until 1891
1880 Feb 13 Feb 1880, all letter rates to Europe regardless of route ( included via San Francisco, via Torres Strait) were bought into line with the P&O line service via Colombo at 6d per half oz.
1880 Dec 22 Additional charge for late Ship Letters from Hobart reduced from 1/- to 6d for letters posted on “English Mail” days. Late Ship Letters to Victoria from Hobart and Launceston attracted a lower fee of 3d instead of 1/- ( although the fee was 6d if posted from Hobart on “English Mail” days)
1880 Dec 24 Intercolonial letter rate dropped to 2d per half oz. Mail to New Zealand was also included in this rate. Date of effect 1 Jan 1881.
1881 Jan 1 Late fee on Ship letters further reduced by a Treasury notice No 287 of 24.12.1880.  Late fee for Ship letters now 2d except for  those lodged late at Hobart and Launceston on  “English Mail days”,  the late fee for which is 6d.
1881 Aug Date stamping of inwards letters on the back and outwards letters on the front was formalised in a circular to all Postmasters. (Datestamping on the back of inwards mail is seen before this time. Datestamping on the front was introduced in 1865 with the commencement of issue of steel circular stamps. Perhaps this regulation was to ensure uniform backstamping of inwards mail at all post offices).
1881 Nov 16 Post Office Act of 1881 proclaimed. 45 of Victoria No 13. Also, new Post Office regulations were issued.
There were few significant changes. The Act brought together changes since the Acts of 1869 and 1870.
1881 Nov 16 New provisions from the Post Office Act 1881 included:

  • Separate rate for Suburban Letters abolished ( letters either Inland ( 2d) or Town ( 1d)
  • More detailed requirements for Registration of Newspapers
  • Greatly expanded list of Free Mail incl Mail paying various Rates such as Municipla Rate, Real Estate Rate, Rabbit Rate, Scab Act mail, Vaccination mail, mail from Wardens  & Mayors of Municipalities and other catagories
  • Registration Fee reduced from 6d to 4d
  • New category – ‘Special Request’ letters ie, request for their return if not delivered by a certain date
  • Repeal and incorporation of provisions of 1865 P O Savings Bank Act
  • Regs provided for Private Mail Banks at 1 guinea per anum
1881 Nov 16 Rates and regulations for Post Cards were provided for the first time  by 1881 PO Act. Officially-produced Post Cards could be posted within the Colony at 1d (stamp printed on the card), or other colonies for an additional 1d stamp placed on the card. Privately printed cards we treated as letters at the 2d letter rate. The first official Post Cards were available Jan 1882. 4 Jan 1878 Post Office cards could be sent to NSW, Vic and SA at the 1d impressed rate. This rate extended to all Colonies and NZ in 1888.
1881 Dec 6 Names of 17 Post Offices changed from Long-standing names to new names. E.g. Emu Bay to Burnie, Leven to Ulverstone, Kangaroo Point to Bellerive, Mt Bischoff to Waratah, Browns River to Kingston. Full List Orchard V 5, p137
1882 Jul 1 The Post Office Savings Bank finally commenced, incorporating the Money Order Office. Banking could be undertaken at many but not all Post Offices.Initially legislated in 1865 to commence in 1869, Regulations were advertised on 15 Jun 1882. Bank Books could be posted as Packets and postage was said to be Free. In effect the cost was 1d per 4 oz which included Registration. All such packets to have the Contents endorsed on the front.
1882 Nov 1 The Stamp Duties Act, 1882 provided for Revenue and Postage stamps to be interchangeable. For a short period from 1 May 1880, Revenue Stamps could only be used to pay Stamp Duty.
1883 Apr 2 Pre-printed embossed envelopes issued by the Post Office. One type in 2 sizes bore a 2d embossed stamp, and 2 sizes of registered envelope were also issued with a 4d Registration stamp in a circular border. The user had to attached adhesive stamps to pay the postage component of the Registered envelope. The envelopes were printed by De La Rue.
1883 Aug 8 Frank stamps, seal-like circular handstamps, were introduced to provide more fraud-proof method of marking mail sent under Free mail provisions. For many years,improper use of Free mail had been a concern for the Post Office.Frank Stamps were issued to Govt Depts to replace the practice of certifying Free mail by signature. Frank stamps remained in use until 31 Oct 1902.
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Tasmania-postal-history-Savings-Bank-Cover-1884-registered-concession-rate

Registered Savings Bank Packet Glenora to Hobart, 19 Dec 1884. A special rate for savings bank packets was provided in the PO Act of 1865 to commence in 1869 but not implemented until 1 Jan 1882. The 1865 Act provisions had been incorporated into the 1881 PO Act and the old Act abolished. The Post Office Savings Bank finally commenced in 1 July 1882 and incorporated the Money Order Office which had been a separate section in the Post Office. Savings Bank books could be sent within Tasmania at the concession Packet rate of 1d per 4 oz including free registration. The packet had to be clearly marked with the contents.