Many thanks Russell. Mine is April 7. Although the 7 is not complete it is on a cover backstamped Sheffield April 8th. . It is on an imperf Plate 107 (only 2 mgns unfortunately)

I would like to know the commencement date (or earliest known use) of the Birmingham spoon cancellation in 1853 or 1854.

The enclosed scan is of part of a newspaper wrapper. The cancel is, I believe, a pre cancel issued to W H Smith. Its use to cancel a stamp seems unusual. Does this mean that before or after its allocation to WHS it was in normal use at the London WC office. Is anything known of this possible dual us...

Many thanks, Russell - your info much appreciated

I have an 1844 cancel 447 of Leeds on a 1d Plate 37 but without serifs on the figures. It is normal in other respects. Is the date of introduction or period of use of this cancel known ?

I attach scans of SD which I think is from Plate 32. The Fisher Brown measurements are close and it has the weakness above E of POSTAGE and blur in the D square as given in Vol 1 for this stamp. Do the coloured marks in most of the letters of POSTAGE indicate a re-entry ? There are also two small sp...

Thanks Howard and Russell for your advice. Much appreciated

I would be interested to know when the Leeds sideways duplex was first used. I have one on piece dated 29 June
1854

Timothy and Mike,

Many thanks for your help - much appreciated

I am wondering if anyone can identify this cancel. It does not seem to be a normal telegraph or postal type.
The arc at the right hand side is part of the same cancel on a damaged stamp

Timothy and Mike, many thanks to you both for your advice

Thank you for your reply. Sorry for the delay. The stamp has no trace of the 'E' flaw. I have tried to add a scan - I hope it is successful. Will try another way if not.

I have stamp NH which has Fisher/Brown measurements very close to those for Plate 45. It also shows NW and NE corner star characteristics of this plate described in the QV Spec catalogue. However it has a weak hgl below the N which is tilted West. There is also a very pronounced dot of colour above ...

Thanks, Bob. Much appreciated

I have a K E VII halfpenny (SG 217) with a circular postmark approx 25mm diam bearing in the centre the letters I.S with a smaller letter J above. Three short but heavy vertical bars below I.S and one either side of the J. I have not seen this before is it a form of Newspaper Branch cancel or someth...

I've followed with interest the entries concerning invalidation of Victorian issues. I have a postcard franked with a halfpenny SG 48 postmarked 10 May 1911. I had assumed it was demonetised along with other QV issues in 1915. My query is did SG 48 appear in the Gazette list of 1901 ?

http://www.gbps.org.uk/boards/images/transferred/254_1.jpg The attached image of stamp AF shows a strong vertical line adjacent to the NE corner. It is no doubt well known and documented in the literature especially Dr Osborne's work on this plate. As I do not have access to this I would be gratefu...

I have a stamp lettered MB with Fisher/Brown measurements very close to those for Plate 177. The stamp has no particular characteristics except that the serifs at the base of the vertical strokes of the M extend inwards to touch the point of the v. Does this confirm it as from Plate 177?