Newspaper Branch

British postmarks of all kinds and eras.
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nitram
Posts: 4
Joined: Sun Sep 08, 2013 1:14 pm

Newspaper Branch

Post by nitram »

Hi,
The attached cover of the second weight step is insufficiently prepaid. I have one question to the postmark „N.P.B./ E/ 6 MR 75“ on the reverse. This postmark is one of the Newspaper Branch. Can anybody explain me this? Why is a postmark of this branch on such a letter?
Thanks in advance for any feedback!
Best wishes,
nitram
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Seahorse
Posts: 39
Joined: Mon Sep 08, 2008 6:00 pm

Re: Newspaper Branch

Post by Seahorse »

Just come across this thread - a year later ! I don't think there is necessarily a clear-cut reason for the use of the NPB stamp. The newspaper branch produced many such and similar in the early 1870s, and as the years went by these were used more or less indiscriminately. Some clerks were meticulous in choosing the correct hand-stamp, others less so. One can imagine the less scrupulous clerk reaching for the first date-stamp to hand.

Machine cancellation kept the deterioration in precision at bay for a while, but over a hundred years later, the ubiquitous slovenly biro scribble now suffices as a universal cancellation.
nitram
Posts: 4
Joined: Sun Sep 08, 2013 1:14 pm

Re: Newspaper Branch

Post by nitram »

Hi Seahorse,

Thank you for your feedback. So it was pure coincidence that this NPB stamp was used because of a not so meticulous working clerk. Beside of this you are right: I receive here in Germany nine out of ten letters from Great Britain either uncancelled or slovenly biro scribbled as you said.

Best wishes,
nitram
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