Brisbane GPO Datestamps, Handstamps, Obliterators and Cancellations by Dr Jeremy Hodes: 2 GPO QL Obliterator

Monday 23 September 2019

2 GPO QL Obliterator

Brisbane GPO Obliterator Page

NOTE: Campbell GPO QL Obliterator type 2 actually comprises 3 distinct types which for the sake of simplicity I have split up as follows:

QL (no stop between Q and L and thin broken rays) I have retained as type 2 - 32 or 34 rays
QL (with a stop between Q and L and thin broken rays) I have called type 2a - 32 rays
QL (with a wider stop between Q and L and thin broken rays) I have called type 2b - 37 rays. This has not been seen on a tied Brisbane cover and so far is only known for Marlborough, Cleveland and Leyburn post offices

Here are the five different QL within an oval obliterator types found on Queensland Chalon stamps. These include type 2 (now split into three different types but only 2 shown) as well as types 3 and 6, to assist in identifying them. From left to right:

Type 2 - 4 thin broken rays and no stop between the Q and the L
Type 2a - 4 thin broken rays and a stop between the Q and the L
Type 2b - 4 medium thickness broken rays and a stop between the Q and the L, the space being wider than type 2a. This has not been seen on a tied Brisbane cover and so far is only known for Marlborough, Cleveland and Leyburn post offices
Type 3 - 4 thick broken rays and a stop between the Q and the L
Type 6 - thick solid rays and a stop between the Q and the L

Type 2 'QL' (No stops), in thin letters 5 mm high within an oval of 32 or 34 broken rays consisting of four thin strokes. Known used on covers from around November 1864 to February 1872. Rated 2R on stamps and 5R on cover. There are two subtypes comprising 32 and 34 rays. So far I have only come across one example with 32 rays.

This obliterator is also known used as a duplex obliterator (Brisbane QL duplex canceller type 2)