TP paid dated

Twopenny Post — Paid marks — dated

This type of stamp was introduced in 1819, the single rim, and the date before the month showing that it was applied at the Westminster Office. The letter itself, is a printed form, from the Norwich Union Life Insurance Society, and had the words "Post Paid" and "Private, printed on the address panel.

address panel
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Westminster Office datestamp
The time "7 O'CLock Night" was one of the six delivery times in force from 1794 until 1837, when this was abolished, and replaced by one at 6 pm and another at 8 pm. The undated stamp was applied by the Royal Arcade Receiving House, which is where the letter was handed in. This is recorded as being open from 1824 to 1828, but this example is clearly 1822.

datestamp 1826-1836
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This oval type shown at the bottom of this illustration, was in use from 1826-1836 and was smaller and more simplified than the ones previously in use. This stamp had no "TP" indication, but the undated Receiving House Stamp of Old Brompton" shows that it was the Twopenny Post. It is interesting in another respect, in that it has a single rim, which would indicate that it was applied by the Westminster Office, but it has the month before the day, so it must have been applied by the Chief Office. The date is the explanation (SEP 30 1835). the Westminster Office was closed in 1834,

Copyright 2002 E. J. Shanahan

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