GB: What's The Placename On This Victorian Cancel?

The date on this cancel is clear enough (FE 15 96), so it annoys me that I can't read the placename. It looks like LEXA 2, which doesn't make much sense. Does anyone know what it is?

Thanks for looking and a Happy New Year to you all!

The PO name curves around the top of the squared circle.
What you are reading is a post office code.

OK, thanks rod!

It looks like the placename is completely illegible, except perhaps that the last letter is an 'N.'

I wonder if it could be derived from the post office code?

I don't think so, JJ,
Nigel may have some clue.
The LEX is a challenge in itself,
this area was usually used for the time of posting AM PM etc
yours may indicate a Late posting hammer?
I don't really know.
I cannot see any simlar pmks in my lot.

That's why I had to ask about it. I don't seem to have anything similar either.

Based on my example set ( A gigantic 10)

One can expect the following regarding postmarks...

40% unreadable
10% "hooded" pmks
20% "squared circle" pmks
20% CDS (circular date stamps)
10% "Duplex" pmks

Now look at the bottom right stamp
The "Aigburth" Post Office in Liverpool

Check out the Post Office Code..."K" (space) fleuron "A"

I don't think we shall ever crack that one.

Hmmm, well the last one has 'XA, suggesting that my datestamp does in fact read 'LEXA.'

Definitely some sort of code.

Thanks for posting, rod!

Yes I still warm to a Late Posting hammer,
just remember your "X" is really a fleuron
not an "X" per se.

Here, as an example using another currency value
we have a squared circle from "Ashton-under-Lyne"
a post office in manchester.

The Fleuron serves as a device to seperate the code
"HI" and "P"

In the early days of the GB postal service the date stamping devices were made of wood and carved new each day. The "stamper" (person) could put his initials on his stamp. Later when steel or brass ones were used they were given out each day to the stampers and had identifying letters or numbers for tracking and auditing purposes. I'd expect the LE*A is identifying that particular date stamp device.

Early in 1893, the time of posting was included in the cancel in code form.
The cancel shows that the letter was posted [cancelled] at 11.25 A.M
The 'L' indicates 11 [11th letter]
The 'E' indicates the fifth lot of 5 minutes [each letter indicated 5 minutes]= 25.
The 'A' indicates AM.
So 11.25 AM

In 1894 numbers were used but this type of cancel continued to be used.

Londonbus1

jimjam

I should have mentioned that the letter 'J' was not used which is why 'L' is 11.
You have a similar code on your last [Liverpool] stamp so it means that this type of code was still being used in 1900.
The time of posting on that one was .........well, I'll let you tell me !

Londonbus1

Wow!
Londonbus

That's made my stamp collecting so much more enjoyable
I can read the heiroglyphs!
Thanks very much, that's an absolute cracker.

Pssst! I'll let JimJam answer, it is his thread
don't want to spoil his thunder.

BTW Scotz...
that identifying number you referred to
is referred to as an "Index" number, in Postmark catalogues.

I'm not sure that "N" is the last letter in the top postmark. There appears to be some inking after the N. I can't begin to make out enough to even guess, though.

Thanks for the contributions, everyone!

I must say the idea of using code for the time, rather than the time itself, strikes me as extremely strange.

Also, glad that the matter of the 'X' has been clarified. I thought it looked a bit odd and overelaborate for an X.

I can't say I've ever heard the term 'fleuron' before. I have to wonder what the function of such a device would have been.

A think a fleuron (from the French for flower, fleur) is a printer's floral ornament, or a knob or button using a flower for the design basis. Sometimes leaves are included.


I think that the term for the X would be printer's ornament or in short, ornament.

In the Canada RPO catalogue the swastika or crossed elements in this Canadian RPO cancel are referred to as ornaments. On other RPO cancels other types of crosses and printer's designs are also called ornaments.