New Zealand: Crown-Circled Handstamps

Nice one Mark.

I do not own a 'Crowned Circle' cover but do have a slightly earlier 'Ship Letter Sydney' cover front mailed from Auckland in 1846, probably on a private vessel to Sydney, where it received its markings before being shipped to London.


Here is a little context around your thread title :

On October 31, 1846 the British Post Office supplied steel ‘Crowned Circle’ handstamps for use at :

Russell
Auckland
New Plymouth
Petre (Wanganui/Whanganui)
Wellington
Nelson

Proof of the supply of these handstamps is to be found in the British Post Office Impression Book, volume 8, pages 11 & 12.

The instruction was that the impression should be impressed in Red ink to show prepayment. New Plymouth used black for a ‘lengthy’ period and Otago used black in November of 1861. In some cases the red ink has oxidised and can appear in shades of grey/black.

The period of use appears to be approx. 1847 – 1862, after which the pre-payment of postage by means of adhesive stamps was made compulsory.

Note: All of the above towns were issued just one steel ‘Crowned Circle’ handstamp. The exception being New Plymouth which had a 2nd one supplied around 1854 and is slightly different in a number of ways. It is believed that the 2nd handstamp was made locally in Wellington by a J.H Marriott. His handstamps are made of brass not steel.


Port Victoria (Lyttleton)

Port Victoria received a ‘Crowned Circle’ handstamp in about 1851. Unlike the instruments issued to other earlier Post Offices these ones were not obtained from the British Post Office as by this time the control of the Post Office had passed back into New Zealand hands. The transfer took effect from January 1849.

Christchurch

Ditto as per Port Victoria but inscribed ‘Christchurch Canterbury’. As only a few strikes are known and all are on Chalon Head stamps of the early 1860’s it is somewhat of a mystery. Until covers are found showing its use then its status cannot be determined.

Otago

Ditto as per Port Victoria and Christchurch above. Made by J.H Marriott of Wellington, made of brass. Its first recorded use is in February 1852.



Dave

See vol.3 of the RPSNZ books - Chapter XXXII - 'PAID' - pages 419-421.

It appears these datestamps were used on 'Circulars' posted in bulk to show postage had been paid.

I have not got one let alone seen one before.

Dave