Help with a Scottish triangle
Posted: Mon Jul 20, 2015 1:11 pm
Hello All,
We received an e-mail from Canada with a query which we are unable to answer.
This is the part of the message that applies.
Quote
A recent interest has been stampless covers, particularly from the Niagara region in Southern Ontario, where I grew up. But in hunting these down, I've picked up the odd piece of 'world' stationary. That includes this folded stampless letter dated Feb 17 1841. It was sent from Manchester to Perth, Scotland. On the back are two cancels, the red Manchester, which I think is pretty straight forward and a receiver or transit cancel, with no location. I think this may have been red originally but is oxidizing. I understand the M stands for 'morning' but can you tell me what the triangle means. I understand it is some kind of code, but what?
Unfortunately there is no correspondence inside, which I guess makes this a cover sheet. I've attached scans of both sides plus the return address
Unquote
We have half a dozen reference books including the 9th edition of ‘Collect British Postmarks’ but are unable to find a reference to the triangle mark.
That catalogue shows the type as ‘Single circle, many sizes, red 1812-1839’
Wilcocks ‘The Postal History of Great Britain and Ireland’ shows the type as ‘1812-1857 Different sizes of letters or initials’
We suspect that the triangle may be the equivalent of an ‘additional mark’ for use when traffic was heavy, or perhaps in the way later marks were ‘relief’.
We would really appreciate any help on this.
Regards.
Ron and Eunice.
We received an e-mail from Canada with a query which we are unable to answer.
This is the part of the message that applies.
Quote
A recent interest has been stampless covers, particularly from the Niagara region in Southern Ontario, where I grew up. But in hunting these down, I've picked up the odd piece of 'world' stationary. That includes this folded stampless letter dated Feb 17 1841. It was sent from Manchester to Perth, Scotland. On the back are two cancels, the red Manchester, which I think is pretty straight forward and a receiver or transit cancel, with no location. I think this may have been red originally but is oxidizing. I understand the M stands for 'morning' but can you tell me what the triangle means. I understand it is some kind of code, but what?
Unfortunately there is no correspondence inside, which I guess makes this a cover sheet. I've attached scans of both sides plus the return address
Unquote
We have half a dozen reference books including the 9th edition of ‘Collect British Postmarks’ but are unable to find a reference to the triangle mark.
That catalogue shows the type as ‘Single circle, many sizes, red 1812-1839’
Wilcocks ‘The Postal History of Great Britain and Ireland’ shows the type as ‘1812-1857 Different sizes of letters or initials’
We suspect that the triangle may be the equivalent of an ‘additional mark’ for use when traffic was heavy, or perhaps in the way later marks were ‘relief’.
We would really appreciate any help on this.
Regards.
Ron and Eunice.