Australia - Victoria Cancels

This is a longer one. For some reason, the number of clear and/or interesting cancels is much greater for this state. One more to go, Western Australia, which is most likely going to be a relatively small posting.

And to anyone who may see this, I have a specific question about the seventh stamp in the posting. It's a two pence that I have as Scott #82. If you look at the bottom of the design, you will see that the bottom Frame line and even a portion of the design appears to be missing entirely. What is happening here? As the stamp itself is very off-centre, you can see the beginning of the design for the next stamp in the sheet below it and that nicely corresponds to the top of the stamp itself but the missing Frame line?????

I don't study post marks beyond numerals, so I won't be much help on the ones with a cds, but I'll go through the ones I can.

The 2nd image, 6d Queen on Throne (printed in England by Perkins, Bacon & Co - with the 1d green of the same design the only stamps not printed in Vic.) The barred numeral is 15x - I can't make out the last number. Are you able to determine what it might be? Perhaps enhance the image using different filters, or view the stamp under magnification etc. It would be worth finding out, a few of the 150's are rare.

Next is 4d red Emblem, roulette, barred numeral 3 of Castlemaine (gold mining district.) My 1st Australian ancestors are from there Not rated (meaning common.)

The 7th image, the 2d Laureate with the missing frame (which I'll cover separately) barred numeral 11 of Williamstown. Not rated.

Next is the 1d green Laureate with a type KA Melbourne number 1 killer. The thickness and height of the solid 1 varies. They're all common.

Further down the 3d orange, also part of what's known as the Laureate series, barred 71 of Richmond. This was the 2nd duplex issued in 1870. Not rated.

Below that you have the same design that was resurrected in 1901 and has the word postage added. Would need watermark & perf to be more specific. It has the 5 of Ballarat - 16th duplex. Not rated.

Next is an earlier version of the 5 of Ballarat, I'm thinking 4th duplex without measuring. Also not rated (Ballarat was a large town.)

Below that is the barred numeral 200 of South Yarra. Hard to determine the duplex with a light impression. I'm thinking 3rd duplex. Perf & watermark of the stamp might narrow it down.

Next is 125 of Kew (non duplex.) Not rated.

Followed by number 10 of Warrnambool. 3rd duplex I think (if the 1 is 8mm high) Not rated.

The 6d blue with stamp duty incribed, 113 of Mornington. Not rated.

Further down the next 6d blue has the number 4 of Bendigo (previously Sandhurst,) 1st Bendigo duplex, issued 1891.

Below that is the number 5 of Ballarat again, this one 11th or 12th duplex (would need some measurements) but neither are rated.

The 1s orange (or yellow as it's referred as) about 11 up appears CTO.

I have to leave it at that for now, run out of time. I'll get back to the laureate with the missing frame and if you have any other questions on specific stamps let me know.

Balf

Ok backroads now you did it. Ruined my day. Clearly all those stamps belong to me and would you please send them along. If you have misplaced my address send me a private email and I will give the address. What GREAT stamps. jeff

You have given me a huge amount of information on these cancels, Balf. Even if they are all common, it's something that I didn't know before. Thank you.

I shall see what I can do to enhance that one image and see if there is any way of determining that third numeral. That in itself would be a learning curve for me as it is something I have not done to this point.

I am looking forward to hearing about the missing frame line. I am assuming that it is a constant flaw of some sort and perhaps useful for positioning at least.

I don't see the missing frame listed in Gibbons Commonwealth (though there are lots of listings for the 2d...don't think I missed it, though).

Unfortunately, deciphering that postmark with various colour filters and the like was beyond the combination of my limited skill and my limited scanner. I guess the 15... something is going to remain at that level.

Finches - here is the thread you were looking for.

Backroads, thank you so much. I've added your thread to my educational favorites.

The Melbourne postmark on the first stamp was a duplex cancellation.
Davies, Linfield and Purves (RPS, London, 1980) found it to be known used from 8th July, 1861 until 20th February, 1865.

The mystery 15??? is actually Ballaarat 4th duplex not rated.

Nothing in Kellow on the missing lower frame of the 2d Laureate. Can you scan the watermark?

I don't see it as Ballaarat. The 4th duplex has a single arc either side aligned with the edges of the top and bottom bars.

The stamp above has a figure before the 5 and well inside the edges of the bars. The figure looks like a 1 with a serif.

The style of the 5 fits the style of the 15* cancellations.

The final figure is very difficult to discern, even with retroreveal.

What appears to be an extended top hat on the 5 may be part of that final numeral - this in conjunction with a faint apparent curve at the base lends me to thinking it might be 3, so possibly 153(1) Lintons/Linton.

Yes, you are right, I was wrong (don't tell my wife I am capable of uttering those words).

Could be either 153 or 155, I can see the way the top bar of the middle '5' meets to top bar of the last numeral and the tail of the '3' and the '5' look similar.

John

The cancellations of Melbourne are also a very interesting and challenging collecting pursuit.

Shown above are a number of stamps with different canceller numbers that have the time code 'O'.

This is a very common time code, indicating cancellation between 12 and 12.30pm - a peak mailing time just prior to lunch.

Canceller numbers 1 to 23 are available to collect with the letter 'O' and there are 13 other letters, most of them also issued with numbers 1 to 23.