Watermarks and Postal History
Posted: Fri Oct 01, 2010 7:00 pm
Hello all,
As collectors of Postal History we like to check out as many aspects of the
old letters as possible.
When transcribing the letters we came across quite a selection of watermarks
and wondered how to get copies to illustrate them.
We asked on a chat board and the resulting suggestions left us floundering
in a mass of technical jargon and sophisticated equipment.
As that was beyond us we did a bit of experimentation and came up with a
typical Australian type answer. We took the somewhat laid back approach and
I held the letter against a window with the sun shining directly on it.
Eunice took a digital photo of it and the watermark came out remarkbly well.
We attach a couple of examples to show the results.
Does anyone recognise the initials below the posthorn Is it H and B or FC and B?
Or neither of the above! The second image also has the fancy initials but
seem clearer and easier to read. This is the only one we have showing this
form of the Fleur de Lys.
Are any other members interested in this aspect of Postal History?
Always happy to share information.
Regards.
Ron and Eunice.
As collectors of Postal History we like to check out as many aspects of the
old letters as possible.
When transcribing the letters we came across quite a selection of watermarks
and wondered how to get copies to illustrate them.
We asked on a chat board and the resulting suggestions left us floundering
in a mass of technical jargon and sophisticated equipment.
As that was beyond us we did a bit of experimentation and came up with a
typical Australian type answer. We took the somewhat laid back approach and
I held the letter against a window with the sun shining directly on it.
Eunice took a digital photo of it and the watermark came out remarkbly well.
We attach a couple of examples to show the results.
Does anyone recognise the initials below the posthorn Is it H and B or FC and B?
Or neither of the above! The second image also has the fancy initials but
seem clearer and easier to read. This is the only one we have showing this
form of the Fleur de Lys.
Are any other members interested in this aspect of Postal History?
Always happy to share information.
Regards.
Ron and Eunice.