New South Wales Cut-Down Relief Date-Stamps (1915 - 1960-S) Discussion

I am an avid collector of these NSW cut-down date-stamps. "jubilee's" introductory statement (2017) in another forum post needs some clarification for anyone interested in these types of strikes. "jubilee" stated that these cut-downs were used during the 1930s - 1950s. The period of usage was actually from the 1910s - 1960s.

...and cut-downs were not restricted to only single letters. Two letters were used and eventually numerous three letter examples. Several cut-downs are also found with the small, nylon type date-wheels substituted for the larger steel type.

We know that two date-stamps, labelled "POST OFFICE NO. 1" and "....NO. 2" were the precursors to the cut-downs. These two were first used in 1913/4 ergo the cut-downs would have followed shortly thereafter.






As shown in the spreadsheet screen grabs below, the single letter cut-downs were actually first used as early as 1916 - as discovered in my research. Usage might go back as early as 1915.

Below are the three basic typical type of cut-down relief date-stamps:
'D', 'EN' and 'AND' with a variant of the 'EN'.-------------------------------------------------
The single letter 'D' is dated '1OC18' - an early date for cut-downs. -------------------------------------------------
The 'EN' shown below is dated '5-P1MR52'.



Later the 'EN' had its date-wheels changed from the large steel ones to the smaller nylon ones. The 'EN' shown below is dated '_NO59'.

-------------------------------------------------
Shown below is the three-letter cut down 'AND' dated '-6JA60'.

Australia -1930's Relief Postmarks
https://goscf.com/t/55065

Thanks for the terse, succinct, minimalist type of post.

Appreciate comments from the "bedrocks of the community".

Great information and images - thanks Imatang!

What in the World are you talking about?

Imatang...

Thank you for your posting re the NSW cut-down stamps. Interesting research on a topic which has not seen much recent discussion on this Forum.

Ask that you reconsider your retort of late yesterday. Will attest to Rod222's
"pillar" status given the quality of his postings, prolific number of Forum contributions, and documented willingness to provide assistance to other Forum members. (Including me.)

Cheers.

There are 3 approaches to collecting these cut-downs. Each are quite satisfying notwithstanding the difficulty in obtaining extant legible strikes.

1. A representative sampling. Trying to collect a copy of all strikes - I've been accumulating copies and researching publications and auction offerings, over the last decade, trying to determine the number of different cut-downs. No accurate list currently exists although Cowley (2015) made the most recent thorough attempt but it falls short of being comprehensive.

Often descriptions of auction lots are not specific, possibly inaccurate or scans are so poor it's difficult to determine the precise configuration of the cut-down.

From various auction sources, including Cowley's 2015 monograph and Bruce's collection available through PHILAS (Philatelic Association of NSW) and Stampboards' members who assisted me in compiling either auction descriptions or scans from their collections, I have been able to compile a potential list of approximately 400+ candidates. Of these, perhaps 50-60 have yet to be seen by me to confirm their existence.

Leek (50s & 60s) and Stobbs (50s) were also sources for several unseen examples.

2. Original sources of these cut-downs. This aspect of the cut-downs is extremely challenging. R. Tobin's articles in the ACCCNSW Bulletins initially provided numerous sources. With the assistance of Stampboards' members I've been able to identify a few additional sources. Several cut-downs defy identification.

I am constantly scanning the offerings of Phoenix/PPA searching for suitable original candidates. Some of the original unaltered date-stamps are probably quite elusive in their original state ergo difficult to obtain.

3. Location of usage of these cut-downs. This is an easier sideline to collecting cut-downs. One source is extant examples used on registered covers which provide confirmation of usage.
Reviewing the 4 volumes of Hopson & Tobin's NSW post offices listings revealed a few references to cut-down reliefs used at particular post offices. Cowley has also helped to reveal sources.

Reviewing auction offerings has also been a good source for background information.

Great post Imatang / Kainnikanada .