Machine Postmarks with Slogans
The first of this type of machine cancelled date stamp with a slogan was issued in 1917 to encourage the purchase of war bonds, and by 1999 nearly 7000 had been used. I have included these covers because they are such a reminder of history, when it was so important to get a message across to the population during the second World War.The first one had the 1d stamp from the commemorative issue for the centenary of the postage stamp. The postmark is a circular datestamp for Exeter, Devon 6.30 pm 8 Jul 1940, and the slogan is
HELP TO WIN ON THE KITCHEN FRONT
The second one also posted in Exeter Devon, but this time on 23 Dec 1940, bearing the 1d red stamp, had the slogan in two lines
GROW MORE FOOD
DIG FOR VICTORY
I can remember our parents, and all the other neighbours in our street all having home grown vegetables in our gardens.
The third one was posted in London 3.45 pm 27 Feb 1941 with the same 1d stamp and the three line slogan
SAVE WASTE
PAPER METALS
BONES RAGS
This slogan had been introduced in 1940, but was still in use the next year.The slogans obviously worked as this was the generation brought up with this attitude of not wasting anything.
Introduction
definitive stamps
Definitive stamps inverted watermarks
High Value stamps
Coil stamps and leaders
Sheet markings
Stamps in booklets
Forces Mail Airletters
Commemorative issues
Overprints
Wartime slogans
