The Travelling Post Offices (T. P. O.s) Of The Colonies And States Of Australia.

This thread is to encourage sharing of postmarks and other information related to the Travelling Post Offices (TPOs).

According to Richard Peck in his 1983 book NSW Travelling Post Offices 1870-1983, a TPO is "a railway carriage specially fitted up so that mails can be sorted en route.".
Image source:


To start, here's a couple of Travelling Post Office North postmarks from New South Wales near the end of the 19th century:

All sorts of stuff Fairdinkumstamps,
you can discriminate, as you see fit.

I also have a *.pdf of NSW TPO (2020 Abacus auctions)
I can send off list if you wish








2008
From my mentor, Mr Blair Stannard (Canada)


Die lla Break east of Cape York
Pmk TPO-4-NCR-UP 6-11-19 (Author David) Not mine



"Cancelling device" I think, are the PEARSON HILL hand cancellers.
(But strange if use in Australia)

Note the LEATHER bench top cover, common on old counters.
Protects the cancelling hammers.

Bib:

Thanks Rod222, some great images that provide richness to the start of this thread.
I really like the backstamp on that Sunbury cover and the superb Victoria literature.

I look forward to seeing images of TPO cancellations that members find in their collections.

The book by Les Molnar and John Waugh is a great book. The ebay seller 'Trillium Stamps' is Les Molnar, a Canada-based expert in the field and a lovely guy.

I wish that there was just a touch more information captured on the face of this one.

TPO 2


TPO 2 (Not Mine) RRRR

Cjd,
T.P.O 17 is the Goulburn Valley line. Your M.G.17 (Mail Guard) postmark is for the UP TRAIN service towards Melbourne/GPO.

It is recorded used from 1888 - 1908 and Les Molnar rates it as one of Victoria's most common TPO cancellations.

Thanks for the info. I'll try to make the next one more interesting...

A couple of early obliterators from New South Wales.

TPO SOUTH NSW
20 AP 38

With bonus boxed cachet 'Posted in Late Fee / letter receiver at / ALBURY RAILWAY STATION To Pay................. 1d.'

1d Postage Due collected at Griffith, NSW.

Bobby De La Rue, I like those little obliterators. Peck states that they (and type B) were used in conjunction with datestamps. Do you have any with an accompanying datestamp?

Plateflaw - thank you for sharing that cover - especially the Albury railway station marking.

I'll have a rummage tomorrow FDS and see what I can dig up

Success!!

Great cover! Thanks Bobby DLR.

Is that code a '2' on the type E datestamp? Peck only has code 1 for N5 (type E).