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

46 THE POSTMARKS OF THE BRITISH ISLES FROM 1840.
These boxes were found to afford much public accommodation ; one advantage
was that they could be cleared at hours when it would be unreasonable to expect
receiving houses to be open. Their numbers consequently increased rapidly, especially
in London. The London District Post, which until 1854 existed as a separate department,
was in that year abolished by the amalgamation of the two corps of London
letter-carriers, those attached to the " General Post " and those belonging to the
" London District." The former were known popularly by their red and the latter by
their blue uniforms. The object of this amalgamation was to avoid the waste of time
and trouble, and the expense consequent upon two men going over the same ground to
distribute two classes of letters which could, without any real difficulty, be delivered
together. The union of the General and District letter-carriers necessitated a rearrangement
of walks, and with a view to promoting a more rapid and correct delivery
of letters in the Metropolis, London and its suburbs, within a circle of twelve miles from
the General Post Office, were, for postal purposes, divided into ten districts, each being
treated in many respects as a separate town. Thus, instead of all district post letters
being carried to the Chief Office in St. Martin's-le-Grand, they were sorted and redistributed
from the office of the district in which they were posted, so that the time of
transmission was greatly reduced. The old type of stamp (Fig. 239) used in the London
District Office was now abolished, and a new type (Fig. 240) was introduced.
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Fig. 239. Fig. 240.
The combined or duplex stamp was also introduced (Figs. 241 and 242).
Fig. 241. Fig. 242.
The difference between the Inland and London District double stamps is the
number of the obliterating mark. Inland being 1-60, and London District 61-ico. In
the London District Office figures were inserted for the hours ; in the Inland Office
letters were used for the same purpose.
Before the introduction of the London "Districts" much confusion and delay arose
from there being several streets of the same name ; for instance, there were about fifty
"King Streets," fifty "Queen Streets," and sixty "John" and "William" Streets. A
good nomenclature of the streets in London, and the numbering of the houses, greatly
facilitated the correct delivery of letters, and gave considerable security against errors.
One case, which actually occurred, will illustrate in a striking manner the necessity of
avoiding all duplications within the same street of the numbering of houses. It would
appear that in a certain street there were two houses which not only bore the same
number, but were also occupied by persons of the same name. To one of these a letter
was addressed containing money orders to the value of upwards of £b, but there being