6 GPO QL Obliterator

Brisbane GPO Obliterator Page

NOTE: There are many different QL within an oval obliterator types found on Queensland Chalon stamps. These include Campbell types 2, 3 and 6. To assist in identifying them I have included these illustrative examples below. 

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 tied to 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 6 'Q.L' (Stop after Q), in thick letters 6mm high within a 27 mm diameter oval of 37 thick, solid unbroken rays. There is no stop after L and the Q has a straight tail. Seen on cover from December 1873 to February 1880. It is, with one exception, only seen on Chalons. Rated Rare on stamps and 2R on cover. One example has been seen on a 1st Sideface and rated 5R

Type 6a 'Q.L' (Stop after Q), in thick letters 6 mm high within a 27 mm diameter oval of 37 thick, solid unbroken rays. There is no stop after L and the Q has a crooked tail. Only found on Chalons and very rare. Seen on cover from November 1876 to 21 June 1877. Rated 4R on stamps and on covers 

Type 6b 'Q.L' (Stop after Q), in thick letters 6 mm high within a 27 mm diameter oval of 36 thick, solid unbroken rays. There is no stop after L and the Q has an angled tail. It is found on some later era Chalons and 1st Sidefaces. Seen on cover from July 1877 to April 1883. This type appears to comprise both thick and thinner letters but it is hard to tell if they are different obliterators or if it is due to the amount of ink used. Rated 3R on Chalon stamps and 4R on cover; Rare on 1st Sideface stamps and 3R on cover; and 4R on 2nd Sidefaces

This obliterator type is larger in diameter than the postage stamps it cancelled and so complete examples can only be found on cover. Furthermore, this obliterator is usually seen smudged or indistinct making good clear examples very scarce. Good clear and complete examples therefore command a significant premium. Some examples also show the unbroken rays breaking up on the left side quadrant of the oval around the Q.

This obliterator is easy to distinguish from all other obliterators as it is the only one with thick, solid unbroken rays and a full stop after the Q in the Chalon and 1st Sideface period. Whilst the obliterator portion of duplex obliterator type 5 has similar characteristics; it is only found on 2nd and 3rd sidefaces, having been introduced in 1894.

L-R: Type 6 - straight tail on Q; 6a - crooked tail on Q; 6b - angled tail on Q

Type 6 Chalon

Brisbane QL Obliterator type 6 on a Chalon rated Rare

Brisbane QL Obliterator types 6 and 6b on Chalons rated Rare. These 7 examples show how difficult it is to get good clean strikes on individual stamps

1873

Brisbane QL Obliterator type 6 on a Chalon rated Rare. Dated 24 December 1873. Seen at Mossgreen auction no 89 

1874

Brisbane QL Obliterator type 6 on a Chalon rated Rare. Dated 22 January 1874, Seen at Phoenix auction no 62 lot no 1005

Brisbane QL Obliterator type 6 on a Chalon rated Rare. Dated 28 February 1874. Seen at Spink auction no 14025 lot no 1133

Brisbane QL Obliterator type 6 on a Chalon rated Rare. Dated 13 April 1874. Seen at Spink auction no 12043 lot no 1131. Ex Griffiths

Brisbane QL Obliterator type 6 on a Chalon rated Rare. Dated 17 June 1874. Seen at Mossgreen auction no 157

1877

Brisbane QL Obliterator type 6 on a Chalon rated Rare. Dated 10 October 1877. Seen at Phoenix auction no 62

1878

Brisbane QL Obliterator type 6 on a Chalon rated Rare. Dated 11 August 1878. Seen at Mossgreen auction no 157

Brisbane QL Obliterator type 6 on a Chalon rated Rare. Dated 28 August 1878. Seen at Spink auction no 9011 lot no 794

Brisbane QL Obliterator type 6 on a Chalon rated Rare. Dated 1878. Seen at Spink auction no 12043 lot no 1138. Ex Griffiths

1880

Brisbane QL Obliterator type 6 on a Chalon rated Rare. Dated 23 February 1880. Seen at Spink auction no 12043 lot 1142. Ex Griffiths

Type 6 1st Sideface

Brisbane QL Obliterator type 6 on a 1st Sideface rated 5R 

1881

Brisbane QL Obliterator type 6 on a 1st Sideface rated 5R. Dated 6 June 1881. Seen at Lugdunum Auction no 125 Lot no 920

Type 6a Chalon

Brisbane QL Obliterator type 6a with a crooked tail on a Chalon rated 4R. A beautiful example seen on Ebay

Brisbane QL Obliterator type 6a with a crooked tail on a Chalon rated 4R. Seen on Ebay

1876

Brisbane QL Obliterator type 6a on a Chalon rated 4R. Dated 7 November 1876. Seen at Abacus online auction no 1 lot no 1270

1877

Brisbane QL Obliterator type 6a on a Chalon rated 4R. Dated 28 March 1877. Seen at Spink auction no 12043 lot no 1137. Ex Griffiths

Brisbane QL Obliterator type 6a on a Chalon rated 4R. Dated 21 July 1877. Seen at Abacus auction no 234

Type 6b Chalon

Brisbane QL Obliterator type 6b with an angled tail on a Chalon rated 3R

1878

Brisbane QL Obliterator type 6b on a Chalon rated 4R. Dated 6 May 1878. Seen in Spink auction no 23013

Brisbane QL Obliterator type 6b on a Chalon rated 4R. Dated 10 October 1878. Seen on Ebay

Brisbane QL Obliterator type 6b on a Chalon rated 4R. Dated 12 October 1878. Seen at Spink auction no 9011

Type 6b 1st Sideface

Brisbane QL Obliterator type 6b with an angled tail and thick letters on a 1st Sideface rated Rare

Brisbane QL Obliterator type 6b on 1st Sidefaces and rated Rare

1880

Brisbane QL Obliterator type 6b on a 1st Sideface rated 3R. Dated 19 March 1880. Seen in a private collection

Brisbane QL Obliterator type 6b on a 1st Sideface rated 3R. Dated 3 December 1880. Seen on Ebay

Brisbane QL Obliterator type 6b on a 1st Sideface rated 3R. Dated 24 December 1880. Seen in a private collection

1881

Brisbane QL Obliterator type 6b on a 1st Sideface rated 3R. Dated 2 February 1881. Seen at Abacus auction no 234 lot no 96

Brisbane QL Obliterator type 6b on a 1st Sideface rated 3R. Dated 14 May 1881. Seen in a private collection

Brisbane QL Obliterator type 6b on a 1st Sideface rated 3R. Dated 9 June 1881. Seen at Abacus auction no 234 lot no 145

Brisbane QL Obliterator type 6b on a 1st Sideface rated 3R. Dated 24 November 1881. Seen in a private collection

Type 6b 2nd Sideface

Brisbane QL Obliterator type 6b on a 2nd Sideface rated 4R. Dated 20 April 1883. Courtesy of Dave Elsmore

Brisbane QL Obliterator type 6b on a 2nd Sideface rated 4R. Dated 1 March 1883. Courtesy of Dave Elsmore