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

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76 THE POSTMARKS OF THE BRITISH ISLES FROM ISlfi.
By the loss of the extra penny, hitherto charged on Penny Post letters over and
above the charge for transmission by the general post, the introduction of Uniform Penny
Postage had naturally a serious effect upon the revenue of the rural posts, as this charge
at once ceased. It was soon evident that penny postage could not be extended to every
place in the kingdom without entailing enormous loss to the revenue. Different plans
by which the difficulty might be surmounted were suggested, but no decision was arrived
at until June, 1843, when it was laid down that the principle on which rural posts would
be established should be based upon the number of letters for each locality, and that
" all places, the letters for which exceed one hundred a week, should be deemed entitled
to the privilege of a Receiving Office and a free delivery of their letters." "Delivery"
meant a daily delivery. The number of new posts set up between the 5th June, 1843,
and the 5th January, 1845, was 621, serving no less than 1942 villages ;
and during the
same period the liability of seventy-one posts, lyhich had been established under
guarantee, was taken over by the Post Office. These 692 posts were estimated to
deliver nearly eight million letters a year. By these alterations all " Penny " and
" Fifth-clause " posts ceased, and the old postmarks gradually but slowly disappeared,
for I have found two such stamps in use as late as 1857 (Figs. 460, 461), both belonging
Kno\vUSomerset
Pe n Tiy Post
JBt<^ ^^
Pe/nmA^Post
Fig. 460. Fig. 461.
to offices under Bristol. Most of the Sub-Office stamps were undated, and they were
generally of one type (see Figs. 462, 463)
; but there were exceptions, in which the
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Fig. 462. Used in Sub Post Towns. Fig. 463.
straight type of mark was in use (Fig. 464), while the marks in use in the Receiving
Houses are shown in Figs. 465, 466.
SALFORD
MAGDALEJJtST
INCHE5TER NO RWI CH
,
'ROAD
Fig. 464. Fig. 465. Fig. 466. Preston.
The rates of postage to which letters were liable was, according to instructions, to
be marked on letters in plain figures, so as to interfere as little as possible with the
address. " Paid letters must be marked with red ink, and unpaid letters with black ink.
Great care must be taken to use proper red and black ink, to prevent any doubt as to