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

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86 THE POSTMARKS OF THE BRITISH ISLES FROM mO.
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Fig. 547. Fig. 648.
Fig. 549.
Liverpool being the most important office outside the Chiel Offices of London,
Dubhn, and Edinburgh, and being also for many years the most important Packet Office
in the United Kingdom, it is not surprising to find a very miscellaneous collection of
stamps in use at this office. The following are marks which will be found peculiar to the
Liverpool office (Figs. 550-555).
Fig. 560. Fig. 551.
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Fig. 563. Paid Letter OfEcs. Fig. 654. FiT. 555.
Figs. 550-553 were used generally on local correspondence.
The regulations existing from i860 to 1870, respecting the stamping of letters, were
that the following descriptions of letters and packets posted at head or subordinate offices
should be stamped on the front or address side : Foreign letters prepaid in money
unpaid letters, both inland and foreign ; re-directed letters, if taxed with postage ;
registered letters ; missent letters ; book or pattern packets charged with postage.
All letters and packets prepaid with postage stamps were stamped on the back, the
obliteration mark being used to deface the labels, except in those offices where double
stamps were in use, when of course the impression had to be placed on the stamps on
the address side.
All letters and packets reaching an office, whether for the town or for the country
district, were stamped on the back with the Head Office stamp.