Cancellations were introduced to prevent stamps from being reused. For collectors, however, postmarks provide far more than proof of use. They can reveal where and when a stamp was used, assist with identification and sometimes add significantly to a stamp's desirability and value.
The Maltese Cross
The earliest British adhesive stamps were cancelled with the Maltese Cross. Introduced alongside the Penny Black in 1840, the design was intended to prevent stamps from being reused whilst leaving the portrait of Queen Victoria visible.
Maltese Cross cancellations are found in a variety of colours, most commonly black and red. Certain offices developed distinctive characteristics, allowing experienced collectors to identify the town in which the cancellation was applied. These local variations remain a popular area of study.
Numbered Maltese Crosses
London later introduced numbered Maltese Cross cancellations. These incorporated identifying numbers that enabled individual districts or offices to be recognised. Numbered crosses combine the appeal of the classic Maltese Cross with the ability to attribute a stamp to a particular office.
1844 Numeral Postmarks
In 1844 the Post Office introduced a new system of numeral cancellations to replace the Maltese Cross. Each post office was allocated a unique identifying number which was incorporated into the cancellation.
Separate numbering systems and shapes were used for England and Wales, Scotland and Ireland. As a result, numeral cancellations can be used to identify the location where the stamp was cancelled.
Numeral postmarks are one of the most popular areas of Great Britain postal history collecting. Many scarce numbers command substantial premiums, particularly when found on early line-engraved issues.
Circular Date Stamps (CDS)
A Circular Date Stamp, usually abbreviated to CDS, is a postmark that records the place and date of posting. Most consist of a circular design containing the office name and the date, with some examples also including the time of posting.
CDS postmarks were used throughout the Victorian period and remain one of the most popular areas of postal history collecting. Clear strikes can provide precise evidence of where and when a stamp was used and are often highly desirable on line-engraved stamps.
Many collectors specialise in particular towns, counties or periods, while others seek unusual office names, scarce locations or particularly fine strikes.
Duplex Cancellations
A duplex cancellation combines a Circular Date Stamp (CDS) with a numeral obliterator in a single handstamp. This allowed postal clerks to cancel and date a letter with a single strike, improving efficiency and reducing handling time.
For collectors, duplexes are particularly useful because they often provide both the date and location of use in addition to the identifying numeral.
Spoon Postmarks
Spoon postmarks are a distinctive form of duplex cancellation in which the numeral obliterator has a characteristic spoon-shaped appearance. A number of different offices used spoon duplexes and many developed recognisable local varieties.
Because of their attractive appearance and regional differences, spoon cancellations are highly popular with postal history collectors.
Experimental and Special Types
The Victorian postal system was constantly evolving, and a variety of experimental postmarks and cancellation devices were introduced over the years. Some were intended to improve efficiency, while others were trials of new methods of cancelling and dating mail.
Collectors may encounter experimental duplexes, distinctive local handstamps, machine cancellations and unusual obliterators that were only used for short periods. Because many of these devices saw limited use, they can be considerably scarcer than standard postmarks.
Special-purpose markings were also used on newspapers, official correspondence, railway mail and other postal services. These provide a fascinating insight into the development of the British postal system and are popular areas of specialist collecting.
Overseas Postmarks
British stamps were used far beyond the shores of Great Britain. They can be found cancelled in British post offices abroad, colonial territories, military postal systems and overseas destinations around the world.
These overseas postmarks provide evidence of Britain's extensive postal network and are often considerably scarcer than comparable domestic cancellations. Many collectors specialise in the postal history of particular countries, colonies or overseas offices.
Why Postmarks Matter
To many collectors, a postmark is far more than a means of cancelling a stamp. Postmarks can reveal where and when a stamp was used, help distinguish between similar issues and shades, and sometimes provide valuable evidence when plating a stamp.
They also offer a fascinating insight into the development of the Victorian postal system, turning an ordinary stamp into a small piece of postal history.