New Zealand: Newspaper Stamp & First Sidefaces - 1873-1878

And what a great page of postmarks on those First Sideface issues.

I have a few of them, notably the 'Temuka Star' but mine are on Chalons. I hadn't seen one on an FSF issue before.

And I love the red cancellation of Marton as well. I have a nice red CDS of 'Wellington' on a Second Side face stamp somewhere. I must go look for it again.

And that Grahamstown duplex looks familiar. I wonder if I have one? Off to check it out.


Dave

Let me know if you do track down another Grahamstown oblit. There can't be too many of them around, I would think.  I'm enjoying the marcophily aspect of the FSFs more and more.  

I definitely agree with you regards them having been a block of four. They line up pretty well in that configuration, don't they.



Dave

Posting another page of marcophily from my FSF write-up, this time some 4d examples, including some early use items. 

Tony Thackery has been a wonderful help in documenting and recording early use, which is I feel a somewhat under appreciated aspect of NZ collecting (though that likely doesn't apply to readers of this thread ).  No doubt this may encourage FSF collectors to look through their 4ds for earlier examples, so I look forward to seeing them ...

25 Jan 74 is a good early date, particularly on cover.  

There is not currently a more recent edition of Tony's book.  I'm very much hoping he produces one as he has continued to gather more data and has very interesting information not available elsewhere.  But even his 2004 book - which is hard to come by - is a great resource.

I have a few items of FSF early use, but nothing especially early on cover. Though I have one earlyish item pending confirmation with the RPSNZ.

I purchased these 3d separately a couple of years ago; my first early use acquisitions. 




Happy hunting!

RK

Here is that early 2d cover:




It is backstamped with an Auckland transit CDS of JA 24 74 - which must mean that the Alexandra datestamp is earlier - perhaps 21 Jan 74.
I will have to get Retro Reveal to take a closer look!!


Dave

Very cool! Tony would no doubt list that if it's not already noted in his 2004 edition. 

Here are two versions of the datestamp from Retroreveal:





The doubling of the strike isn't helpful at all! But, It must be earlier than the Auckland 'transit' mark of JA 24 74.

We can see that it is a day starting with a 2 - therefore it must be one of 20 / 21 / 22 or 23.

Auckland is a long way from Alexandra - @1000km perhaps! The cover would most likely have gone overland to Dunedin and then shipped to Auckland.

I will see what Papers Past has to say about the mails from Alexandra to Dunedin around that time.



Dave

I like your thinking Clayton, and also believe you are correct.

Pirongia was briefly named Alexandra by the British (as they marched thru' the Waikato during the Land Wars in the 1860's).
Ngaruawahia was also renamed Newcastle by them as well, only for about 10 years tho' before it reverted.

I am looking at Wooders 'Closed Post Offices' book and see the dates for the 2 Alexandra's as being:

Hamilton's Alexandra - Opened 24/08/1864 - Closed 10/05/1896 - Wooders rated 8 for its 'A' class CDS

Otago's Alexandra - Opened 11/07/1865 - Closed 27/01/1867
Reopened - 01/01/1914 to present

Therefore it cannot have been the Otago Alexandra!!

Well done.

I would go with the Alexandra now Pirongia and a datestamp of JA 23 74.


Nice work team



Dave

Looks like one of those bits listed in PSoNZ as "unknown". I have a similar example, will post when I'm at my computer.

Also Otago's Alexandra had only an Obliterator in the 65 to 67 period but did operate as a Tel office from '68 to '81. Unsure of what this Pmk looked like, but wasn't called Alexandra then.
Obliterators were firstly number "24" in oval of bars and later "O 24". It was then known as Manuherikia so its first A class Pmk was with that name too.
Then when Manuherikia was changed to Alexandra in 1881, because there was still an Alexandra in Hamilton it's new A class Pmk had name as Alexandra South (ALEXANDRA SH).
These two ran alongside each other until 1896 when Alexandra in Hamilton became Pirongia, (another A class).
Alexandra in Otago continued to keep the "South" for some time, with new A class  (ALEXANDRA S) before reverting to Alexandra again, though no longer with an A class Pmk.

It actually makes for an interesting page if examples of each are displayed.

Clayton

I have this one, looks very much like No 19 on same page. Find these 'mute' cancels really interesting. Would love to see some on cover or even proving pieces for use.

Sorry, realise it is not a FSF but an example of how these do not always quite match the illustrations or orientation thereof.

I love this cancel Clayton. It does look familiar too. I may have seen it on a revenue somewhere.
Another job to go and find it lol


Dave