The History of the Postmarks of the British Isles from 1840 to 1876 - John Hendy (1909)

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124 THE POSTMARKS OF THE BRITISH ISLES FROM mO.
" No folded envelopes can be stamped, and therefore paper, whether intended for
envelopes or for letters, must be sent in unfolded, and every distinct size and form of
envelope or paper must be marked so as to indicate the place on which the stamp is to
be impressed, in order that it may appear in the proper position, according to the rules
of the Post Office, when the envelope or letter is folded or made up.
" No coloured paper can be received for stamping, nor any paper of such thinness
as not to bear the impression of the dies.
" Envelopes provided by this office, with the proper stamps thereon, will be
substituted for any of those sent in which may be spoiled in the operation of stamping.
" It should be borne in mind that licensed vendors only are authorized to sell Postage
Stamps impressed as above mentioned, or any other.
" By Order of the Board,
"Thomas Keogh,
" Secretary.^'
A concession was made by the Board of Inland Revenue, in 1863, which was at the
time regarded as one of the latest novelties in the advertising world. Under the arrangement
in question, the Stamp Office permitted rings with the name of any particular firm
to be placed round an embossed stamp, as a border to it, but little use was made of the
privilege, the stamps impressed being less than one per cent of the whole number issued.
Until the end of January, 1854, all the postage stamps were (with certain exceptions)
issued to the public in an imperforate condition. The exceptions-were those treated by
Henry Archer, the inventor of the perforating machine, who experimented upon a large
number of sheets of one penny stamps (in 1848 and later). The perforation, or more
correctly described the roulette, as shown on some specimens which are still in existence,
was very small, and shows twelve to thirteen cuts in the vertical sides of the stamps and
eleven to twelve cuts in the horizontal. The stamps treated by Archer with his first and
subsequent machines were, in 185 1, distributed among several Post Offices and also,
through the Stamp Distributor of the House of Commons, to the Members of the House,
during one session.
As a result of this experimental trial the Stamp Distributor reported as follows :
" Parliamentary Paper Office,
"House of Commons,
" Westminster, London,
September 2nd, 1851.
" This is to certify . . . that the perforated Postage Labels, which were supplied at
the House of Commons for the use of Members of Parliament during the last session,
were highly approved of by them ; so much so, that the quantity sold was considerably
greater than in any previous year.
" Wm. Jno. Linton."
This document is of considerable interest to stamp and postmark collectors, showing
as it does that a considerable number of perforated stamps were in circulation, at least
two years before an improved perforation was officially adopted, and it is even possible
that rare postmarked specimens may be found bearing a date as early as 1848.
Mr. Archer, who was an Irishman and Managing Director of a Railway Company,
experienced considerable difficulty in bringing his invention to perfection. It was only
at his third attempt that he contrived to make his machine actually punch out the pieces
of paper round each stamp, and so form actual perforations. The remuneration, ^200,
offered to Archer for his invention, was considered by him to be sd inadequate that he
refused it, and appealed to the House of Commons.
The result was the appointment of a Select Committee, and, in pursuance to its
recommendation, the sum of .^{^4000 was eventually paid to him. It is only fair to record
that, had it not been for his persistent efforts, the introduction of what proved to be a