Friday, 11 July 2025

14(T) Datestamp


This was a special series introduced for use on mail posted at the Brisbane General Post Office and is quite different from previous types. Octagonal in shape, measuring 21.5 to 23 mm between opposite points, they fall into four groups, with the letters 'H', 'O', 'T' and 'X' placed in the top angle. Immediately below is a code number, flanked by the letters 'P' and 'B', 'BRISBANE' across the centre, and the date in two lines below (the year in two figures). The top letters referred to four pillar boxes at the Brisbane General Post Office as follows:

  • 14(H) - (Home) mail intended for delivery in Queensland outside the Brisbane city delivery area. Codes H1 - H9 (October 1891 - 11 October 1910)
  • 14(O) - (Overseas) mail addressed beyond Australia. Codes O1 - O5 (12 November 1886 - 11 October 1910)
  • 14(T) - (Town) mail to the Brisbane delivery area. Codes T1 - T9 (XXXX)
  • 14(X) - (Intercolonial / Interstate) mail. Codes X1 - X7 (XXXX)
Letters posted in the wrong box would, if the mistake was not picked up, be impressed with the wrong datestamp; this frequently happened and are well worth collecting. 


An example of mail posted in the wrong box. It was posted in the 'T' box ((Town) mail to the Brisbane delivery area) instead of the 'X' box (mail intended for Interstate delivery)

The Code letters represented a time code. The 30 implements had short lives and frequent replacement of type was necessary. At least nine varieties of O1 and ten of T1 are known and varieties are discussed and shown HERE.

They were introduced in November 1886. The 'X' group was the first in use, with the others following gradually and up to the end of 1896 the stamps were cancelled by obliterators with the  datestamps appearing elsewhere on the cover. They then came to be used as obliterators and were in use until October 1910. Most, but not all, of these pillar box codes are very common and I therefore only show a representative sample with the emphasis on covers and clear, complete examples where no covers have yet been seen.

Type 14(T) Codes are T1 - T9. Numerous varieties known. Dates range from 15 August 1892 - 31 July 1905 but dates before 1897 can really only be collected on cover. Rated Common
  • Code T1 (15 August 1898 - 29 May 1905) rated Common
  • Code T2 (15 August 1892 - 31 July 1905) rated Common
  • Code T3 (3 November 1900 - 14 December 1904) rated Common
  • Code T4 (1 February 1902 - 15 August 1903) rated Common
  • Code T5 (20 April 1898 - 15 May 1905) rated Common
  • Code T6 (8 April 1902 - 10 May 1902) rated Common
  • Code T7 ( ) rated Common
  • Code T8 ( ) rated Common
  • Code T9 (28 February 1902 - 26 May 1902) rated Common

L-R: Type 14(H), 14(O), 14(T), 14(X), from Campbell

Code T1
1899
Brisbane date stamp type 14(T). Code T1. Dated 22 November 1899. Rated common. Seen in the Queensland Stamp Collecting Facebook Group

1900
Brisbane date stamp type 14(T). Code T1. Dated 5 June 1900. Rated common. Seen on Ebay

1902
Brisbane date stamp type 14(T). Code T1. Dated 30 June 1902. Rated common. Seen on Ebay

1903
Brisbane date stamp type 14(T). Code T1. Dated 18 August 1903. Rated common

Brisbane date stamp type 14(T). Code T1. Dated 19 August 1903. Rated common. Seen in a private collection

1904
Brisbane date stamp type 14(T). Code T1. Dated 10 November 1904. Rated common. Seen on Delcampe
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Code T2
1892
Brisbane date stamp type 14(T). Code T2. Dated 15 August 1892. Rated common. Seen on Ebay
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Code T3
1904
Brisbane date stamp type 14(T). Code T3. Dated 14 December 1904. Rated common. Seen in a private collection
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Code T4
1903
Brisbane date stamp type 14(T). Code T4. Dated 15 August 1903. Rated common. Seen in a private collection
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Wednesday, 9 July 2025

14(O) Datestamp


This was a special series introduced for use on mail posted at the Brisbane General Post Office and is quite different from previous types. Octagonal in shape, measuring 21.5 to 23 mm between opposite points, they fall into four groups, with the letters 'H', 'O', 'T' and 'X' placed in the top angle. Immediately below is a code number, flanked by the letters 'P' and 'B', 'BRISBANE' across the centre, and the date in two lines below (the year in two figures). The top letters referred to four pillar boxes at the Brisbane General Post Office as follows:

  • 14(H) - (Home) mail intended for delivery in Queensland outside the Brisbane city delivery area. Codes H1 - H9 (October 1891 - January 1910)
  • 14(O) - (Overseas) mail addressed beyond Australia. Codes O1 - O5 (November 1886 - October 1910)
  • 14(T) - (Town) mail to the Brisbane delivery area. Codes T1 - T9 (XXXX)
  • 14(X) - (Intercolonial / Interstate) mail. Codes X1 - X7 (XXXX)
Letters posted in the wrong box would, if the mistake was not picked up, be impressed with the wrong datestamp; this frequently happened and they are well worth collecting. 

An example of mail posted in the wrong box. It was posted in the 'O' box (overseas mail) instead of the 'H' box (mail intended for delivery in Queensland outside Brisbane)

The Code letters represented a time code. The 30 implements had short lives and frequent replacement of type was necessary. At least nine varieties of O1 and ten of T1 are known and varieties are discussed and shown HERE.

They were introduced in November 1886. The 'X' group was the first in use, with the others following gradually and up to the end of 1896 the stamps were cancelled by obliterators with the  datestamps appearing elsewhere on the cover. They then came to be used as obliterators and were in use until October 1910. Most, but not all, of these pillar box codes are very common and I therefore only show a representative sample with the emphasis on covers and clear, complete examples where no covers have yet been seen.

Type 14(O) Codes are O1 - O5. Numerous varieties known. Dates range from 12 November 1886 - 11 October 1910 but dates before 1897 can really only be collected on cover. Rated Common
  • Code O1 (20 June 1891 - 8 December 1908) rated Common - $5, $12 on cover
  • Code O2 (12 November 1886 - 11 October 1910) rated Common - $12, $30 on cover
  • Code O3 (22 April 1898 - 13 August 1910) rated common - $10, $100 on cover
  • Code O4 (3 July 1897 - 24 December 1907) rated Common - $8, $50 on cover
  • Code O5 (8 April 1897 - 6 April 1905) rated Common - $12, $100 on cover

L-R: Type 14(H), 14(O), 14(T), 14(X), from Campbell

Code O1
1898
Brisbane date stamp type 14(O). Code O1. Dated 11 July 1898. Rated common. Seen in Phoenix auction no 55

1902
Brisbane date stamp type 14(O). Code O1. Dated 16 August 1902. Rated common. Seen on Delcampe

1904
Brisbane date stamp type 14(O). Code O1. Dated 14 May 1904. Rated common. Seen on Ebay

1905
Brisbane date stamp type 14(O). Code O1. Dated 31 October 1905. Rated common

Brisbane date stamp type 14(O). Code O1. Dated 9 November 1905. Rated common

Brisbane date stamp type 14(O). Code O1. Dated 20 November 1905. Rated common. Seen in a private collection

Brisbane date stamp type 14(O). Code O1. Dated 31 December 1905. Rated common. Seen on Ebay

1906
Brisbane date stamp type 14(O). Code O1. Dated 28 February 1906. Rated common

Brisbane date stamp type 14(O). Code O1. Dated 9 April 1906. Rated common
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Code O2
1886
Brisbane date stamp type 14(O). Code O2. Dated 12 November 1886. Rated common. Seen in the Queensland Stamp Collecting Facebook Group

1893
Brisbane date stamp type 14(O). Code O2. Dated 14 July 1893. Rated common

1907
Brisbane date stamp type 14(O). Code O2. Dated 15 July 1907. Rated common. Seen on Ebay

1909
Brisbane date stamp type 14(O). Code O2. Dated 6 November 1909. Rated common

1910
Brisbane date stamp type 14(O). Code O2. Dated 21 February 1910. Rated common

Brisbane date stamp type 14(O). Code O2. Dated 11 October 1910. Rated common. Seen in the Queensland Stamp Collecting Facebook Group
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O3
1898
Brisbane date stamp type 14(O). Code O3. Dated 31 May 1898. Rated common

Brisbane date stamp type 14(O). Code O3. Dated 13 August 1898. Rated common

1903
Brisbane date stamp type 14(O). Code O3. Dated 13 August 1903. Rated common

1904
Brisbane date stamp type 14(O). Code O3. Dated 4 August 1904. Rated common

Brisbane date stamp type 14(O). Code O3. Dated 22 December 1904. Rated common
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Code O4
1898
Brisbane date stamp type 14(O). Code O4. Dated 29 January 1898. Rated common

1899
Brisbane date stamp type 14(O). Code O4. Dated 10 August 1899. Rated common

1903
Brisbane date stamp type 14(O). Code O4. Dated 6 July 1903. Rated common

1904
Brisbane date stamp type 14(O). Code O4. Dated 11 August 1904. Rated common

1905
Brisbane date stamp type 14(O). Code O4. Dated 29 September 1905. Rated common

1906
Brisbane date stamp type 14(O). Code O4. Dated 9 May 1906. Rated common. Seen in Grosvenor auction no 166

Brisbane date stamp type 14(O). Code O4. Dated 29 May 1906. Rated common. Seen in a private collection

Brisbane date stamp type 14(O). Code O4. Dated 19 September 1906. Rated common. Seen in a private collection
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Code O5
1897
Brisbane date stamp type 14(O). Code O5. Dated 1 September 1897. Rated common

1899
Brisbane date stamp type 14(O). Code O5. Dated 9 December 1899. Rated common. Seen on Ebay

1900
Brisbane date stamp type 14(O). Code O5. Dated 30 July 1900. Rated common

Brisbane date stamp type 14(O). Code O5. Dated 29 August 1900. Rated common

1901
Brisbane date stamp type 14(O). Code O5. Dated 6 December 1901. Rated common

1903
Brisbane date stamp type 14(O). Code O5. Dated 4 February 1903. Rated common

Brisbane date stamp type 14(O). Code O5. Dated 16 October 1903. Rated common

1904
Brisbane date stamp type 14(O). Code O5. Dated 2 November 1904. Rated common

Tuesday, 8 July 2025

14(H) Datestamp


This was a special series introduced for use on mail posted at the Brisbane General Post Office and is quite different from previous types. Octagonal in shape, measuring 21.5 to 23 mm between opposite points, they fall into four groups, with the letters 'H', 'O', 'T' and 'X' placed in the top angle. Immediately below is a code number, flanked by the letters 'P' and 'B', 'BRISBANE' across the centre, and the date in two lines below and the year in two figures. The top letters referred to four pillar boxes at the Brisbane General Post Office as follows:

  • 14(H) - (Home) mail intended for delivery in Queensland outside the Brisbane city delivery area. Codes H1 - H9 (October 1891 - January 1910)
  • 14(O) - (Overseas) mail addressed beyond Australia. Codes O1 - O5 (November 1886 - October 1910)
  • 14(T) - (Town) mail to the Brisbane delivery area. Codes T1 - T9 (XXXX)
  • 14(X) - (Intercolonial / Interstate) mail. Codes X1 - X7 (XXXX)
Letters posted in the wrong box would, if the mistake was not picked up, be impressed with the wrong datestamp; this frequently happened and they are well worth collecting. 

An example of mail posted in the wrong box. It was posted in the 'H' box (mail intended for delivery in Queensland outside Brisbane) instead of the 'X' box (Interstate mail)

The Code letters represented a time code. The 30 implements had short lives and frequent replacement of type was necessary. At least nine varieties of O1 and ten of T1 are known and varieties are discussed and shown HERE.

They were introduced in November 1886. The 'X' group was the first in use, with the others following gradually and up to the end of 1895 the stamps were cancelled by obliterators with the  datestamps appearing elsewhere on the cover. They then came to be used to obliterate the stamps themselves and were in use for this purpose until October 1910. Most, but not all, of these pillar box codes are very common and I therefore only show a representative sample with the emphasis on covers and clear, complete examples where no covers have yet been seen.

Type 14(H) Codes are H1 - H9. Numerous varieties known. Dates range from 8 October 1891 - 27 January 1910 but dates before 1896 can really only be collected on cover. Rated Common - 4R 
  • Code H1 (22 August 1895 - 30 November 1908) rated Common - $5, $25 on cover
  • Code H2 (10 September 1897 - 27 January 1910) rated 4R - $40, $100 on cover
  • Code H3 (8 October 1891 - 7 August 1909) rated Common - $8, $100 on cover
  • Code H4 (15 June 1896 - 11 October 1904) rated 3R - $35
  • Code H5 (25 June 1897 - 10 January 1909) rated 2R - $20
  • Code H6 (3 June 1897 - 20 May 1905) rated Rare - $15, $100 on cover
  • Code H7 (12 October 1897 - 1 July 1905) rated 4R
  • Code H8 (2 April 1896 - 21 December 1906) rated Common - $8, $100 on cover
  • Code H9 (21 January 1897 - 23 May 1905) rated Common - $8

L-R: Type 14(H), 14(O), 14(T), 14(X), from Campbell

Code H1
1895
Brisbane date stamp type 14(H). Code H1. Dated 22 August 1895. Rated common

1897
Brisbane date stamp type 14(H). Code H1. Dated 3 December 1897. Rated common. Seen on Ebay

1906
Brisbane date stamp type 14(H). Code H1. Dated 20 June 1906. Rated common. Seen on Ebay

1907
Brisbane date stamp type 14(H). Code H1. Dated 12 January 1907. Rated common


Brisbane date stamp type 14(H). Code H1. Dated 5 April 1907. Rated common
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Code H2
1897
Brisbane date stamp type 14(H). Code H2. Dated 10 September 1897. Rated 4R

1910
Brisbane date stamp type 14(H). Code H2. Dated 27 January 1910. Rated 4R
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Code H3
1891
Brisbane date stamp type 14(H). Code H3. Dated 8 October 1891. Rated common

1906
Brisbane date stamp type 14(H). Code H3. Dated 14 March 1906. Rated common
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Code H4
1896
Brisbane date stamp type 14(H). Code H4. Dated 15 June 1896. Rated 3R

1904
Brisbane date stamp type 14(H). Code H4. Dated 18 August 1904. Rated 3R

Brisbane date stamp type 14(H). Code H4. Dated 11 October 1904. Rated 3R
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Code H5
1898
Brisbane date stamp type 14(H). Code H5. Dated 25 June 1898. Rated 3R

Brisbane date stamp type 14(H). Code H5. Dated 25 June 1898. Rated 3R

1902
Brisbane date stamp type 14(H). Code H5. Dated 8 February 1902. Rated 3R
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Code H6
1899
Brisbane date stamp type 14(H). Code H6. Dated 22 April 1899. Rated rare

1902
Brisbane date stamp type 14(H). Code H6. Dated 29 March 1902. Rated rare

Brisbane date stamp type 14(H). Code H6. Dated 12 July 1902. Rated rare

1903
Brisbane date stamp type 14(H). Code H6. Dated 21 March 1903. Rated rare. Seen in a private collection

1905
Brisbane date stamp type 14(H). Code H6. Dated 20 May 1905. Rated rare
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Code H7
1897
Brisbane date stamp type 14(H). Code H7. Dated 12 October 1897. Rated 4R

1898
Brisbane date stamp type 14(H). Code H7. Dated 31 August 1898. Rated 4R

1905
Brisbane date stamp type 14(H). Code H7. Dated 1 July 1905. Rated 4R
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Code H8
1896
Brisbane date stamp type 14(H). Code H8. Dated 2 April 1896. Rated common, Seen on Ebay

Brisbane date stamp type 14(H). Code H8. Dated 24 August 1896. Rated common

1898
Brisbane date stamp type 14(H). Code H8. Dated 13 October 1898. Rated common

1906
Brisbane date stamp type 14(H). Code H8. Dated 21 December 1906. Rated common
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Code 9
1898
Brisbane date stamp type 14(H). Code H9. Dated 9 May 1898. Rated common

1902
Brisbane date stamp type 14(H). Code H9. Dated 13 February 1902. Rated common

1904
Brisbane date stamp type 14(H). Code H9. Dated 22 August 1904. Rated common