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

Type 1 Unframed circle 24 mm in diameter with 'BRISBANE' round the top, 'QUEENSLAND' at the foot separated by two curved bars at each side. The date is in two lines in the centre; month and day in the first line, and year in four figures in the second line. Known used from 30 April 1860 to 24 April 1865. Rated Rare

Type 2 Unframed circle 28.5 mm in diameter with two long, curving arcs around the top and 'BRISBANE' round the foot in 3 mm high letters. In the centre are the year in two figures at the top; the month and day in the middle, and a code letter 'B' at the foot. Known used from 19 December 1862 to 2 March 1867. Rated 3R

Type 3a 22 mm in diameter, with 'BRISBANE' round the top, 'QUEENSLAND' at the foot separated by a curved bar at each side which can vary in length. The date is in two lines in the centre; month and day in the first line, year in two figures in the second line and a code capital letter at the top. Known used from 20 July 1865 to 17 January 1867. Codes A and C. Rated 4R - 5R

Type 3b 22 mm in diameter, with 'BRISBANE' round the top, 'QUEENSLAND' at the foot separated by a curved bar at each side which can vary in length. The date is in two lines in the centre; month and day in the first line, year in two figures in the second line and a code italic letter at the top. Known used from 14 November 1867 to 28 December 1876. Codes a, b, c, d. Rated 4R

Type 3c 22 mm in diameter, with 'BRISBANE' round the top, 'QUEENSLAND' at the foot separated by a curved bar at each side which can vary in length. The date is in two lines in the centre; month and day in the first line, year in two figures in the second line and a code numeral at the top. Known used from 28 June 1865 to 15 January 1881. Codes 1 - 12. Rated Common - 5R

Type 4 Small framed circle 19 mm in diameter, with the inscription in four straight lines across the centre - a code latter at top, 'BRISBANE' in the next line, with the date in two lines beneath, the year being in two digits. Codes seen are A, B, C and possibly D. Known used from 2 January 1869 to 12 November 1874. Rated 4R

Type 6 unframed circle18.5 mm in diameter, with 'BRISBANE' round the top, 'QUEENSLAND' at the foot and a dot at the sides. The date is in two lines in the centre; month and day in the first line, and year in four figures in the second line, with a code letter above. The dates seen range from 9 August 1871 to 3 September 1873 and the Code letters seen so far are a, b, d, d inverted, A, B and C. Rated 3R

Type 7a unframed circle 23mm in diameter, with 'BRISBANE' round the top, 'Q - L' at the foot and cross / quatrefoil stops at the sides. The date is in two lines in the centre; month and day in the first line, and year in two figures in the second line, with a code letter above. The dates seen range from 29 April 1875 to 29 February 1878 and the Code letters seen so far are A, B and C. Rated 4R - 5R

Type 7b unframed circle 23mm in diameter, with 'BRISBANE' round the top, 'Q - L' at the foot and a dot within a circular floret at the sides. The date is in two lines in the centre; month and day in the first line, and year in two figures in the second line, with a code letter above. The dates seen range from 23 April 1879 to 15 December 1883 and the Code letters seen so far are A, C and D. Rated 5R

Type 8 A rectangular frame with rounded corners measuring 25.5 x 18.5 mm; within the frame, in four straight lines, are a numeral, 'BRISBANE', the date in one line, and 'QL' (no stops). The month is usually before the day, but not always. Codes seen are 1 - 10. Known used from 13 September 1877 to 10 September 1884. Rated 3R on Chalons and 2nd Sidefaces and all covers and 2R on 1st Sidefaces

Type 10 Framed circle, 25.5 mm in diameter, with 'BRISBANE' around the top, 'QUEENSLAND' around the foot with two short vertical bars on either side between them; the date is in two lines in the centre (year in two figures), with a code letter above. Code letters are A, B, C, D, E, F, H, J, K, L, N and W. Known used from 25 February 1883 to 28 November 1890 and then again from 11 August 1893 to 29 August 1895. Rated Common - 5R

Type 11 Small framed circle 26.5 mm in diameter, with the inscription in four straight lines across the centre - a code numeral at top, 'BRISBANE' in the next line, with the date in one line beneath; date, month and year all being in two digits, and then 'QL' at the foot, with no stops. Codes seen by me are 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9 and 12. Known used from 3 December 1880 to 24 November 1881. Rated 3R

Type 11a A mostly framed octagonal oval, 26 x 22 mm in diameter, with the inscription in four straight lines across the centre - a code numeral at top, 'BRISBANE' in the next line, with the date in one line beneath; date, month and year all being in two digits, and then 'QL' at the foot, with no stops. Codes seen are 4, 8, 13 and 14. Known used from 21 March to 24 April 1883. Rated 3R

Type 12 Squared circle, 22 mm across, with 'BRISBANE' at the top in 4 mm high letters and 'Q L' (with a space between the Q and the L) at the foot in 3 mm high letters. There is usually, but not always, a code letter above the date in line with the letter "B" of "BRISBANE", followed by the date in two lines in the centre. The first line has the month in two figures followed by the day with the year in two figures below. Dates seen are from 8 November 1884 to 11 February 1893. Code letters seen by me are no code, A, B, C, D, E, F, H (narrow), H (wide), K, L, M, U. Rated 2R on stamp for indistinct or unknown codes, 2R - 5R for other codes, and 5R on cover

Type 15a Framed circle, 25.5 mm in diameter, with 'BRISBANE' around the top, 'QUEENSLAND' around the foot; the date is in one line (year in 2 figures) in the centre preceded by a code made up of a letter and an asterisk. Code letters are A, B, C, D, E, H, J, K, L. The following miscellaneous codes have also been seen: **, ❚*, AM, AO and AP. Known used from 20 December 1884 - 24 June 1905. Rated Common - 5R

Type 15b Framed circle, 25.5 mm in diameter, with 'BRISBANE' around the top, 'QUEENSLAND' around the foot; the date is in one line (year in 2 figures) in the centre preceded by a code made up of a letter and an asterisk. Code letters are M, O, P, S, T, V, W, Y, Z. Known used from 8 September 1885 - 26 January 1900. Rated Common - 4R

Type 16 Framed circle, 24 mm in diameter, with 'BRISBANE' around the top, 'QUEENSLAND' around the foot with a short vertical bar on either side between them; the date is in two lines in the centre (year in two figures), with a code letter above. Code letters are A, B, C, D, E, H, J, K, L and M. Known used from 3 June 1891 to 14 August 1895. Rated Rare - 5R

Type 17 Framed circle 17 mm in diameter, with 'BRISBANE' around the top, 'Q. L.' around the foot and a stop either side; In the centre is a three date line with a code letter in the first line, the month and date in the second, and the year in two digits below. Known used from 4 September 1892 - 27 September 1895. Rated 5R

Type 18 Framed circle, 24.5 mm in diameter, with 'BRISBANE' around the top, 'QUEENSLAND' around the foot but with no bars or spaces between them; the date is in two lines in the centre (year in two figures), with a code letter above. Code letters are A, B, C, E, F, H, M, N, T, X and Y. Known used from 13 September 1895 to 22 July 1901. Rated 2R for codes A, B, H and T and 3R for all others

Type 19(a) Framed circle 25 mm in diameter, with 'BRISBANE' around the top, 'Q. L' (no stop after 'L') around the foot and no bars or spaces between them; In the centre is a three date line with the month and date in the first line, time in the second, and the year in two digits below. Known used from 25 February 1895 - 27 June 1901. Rated Common

Type 19(b) Framed circle 23 mm in diameter, with 'BRISBANE' around the top, 'Q. L' (no stop after 'L') around the foot and a cross either side; In the centre is a three date line with the month and date in the first line, time in the second, and the year in two digits below. Known used from 1 February 1904 - 6 June 1908. Rated 3R

Type 19(c) Unframed circle 21 mm in diameter, with 'BRISBANE' around the top and 'Q. L' (no stop after 'L') around the foot; In the centre is a three date line with the time in the first line, month and date in the second, and the year in two digits below. Known used from 4 January 1897 - 10 October 1902. Rated 3R

Type 20 Large framed circle 30 mm in diameter, with 'BRISBANE' around the top, 'QUEENSLAND' around the foot and no bars or spaces between them; the date is in one line in the centre; first is the time, followed by the month in three letters and lastly the year in 2 figures. Known used from 26 March 1897 to 1912. Rated Common

Type 21a Framed circle 25.5 mm in diameter, with 'BRISBANE' around the top, 'QUEENSLAND' around the foot with a small stop at each side; in the centre, in three lines, are the time, month and day, and year in two figures. Known used from 5 March 1900 - 28 February 1905. Rated Common

Type 21b Framed circle 25 mm in diameter, with 'BRISBANE' around the top, 'QUEENSLAND' around the foot with a thicker stop at each side; in the centre, in three lines, are the time, month and day, and year in two figures. Known used from 6 October 1903 - 31 October 1911. Rated Common

Type 22 Framed circle 25 mm in diameter, with 'BRISBANE' around the top, 'QUEENSLAND' around the foot with 4 small square stops at each side; in the centre, in three lines, are the time, month and day, and year in two figures. Known used from 7 October 1901 - 30 September 1909. Rated Common

Type 23 Framed circle 25.5 mm in diameter, with 'BRISBANE' around the top, 'QUEENSLAND' around the foot with a dot stop at each side; In the centre in the top line is 'POB' and below it the date is in two lines, month before the day and the year in two figures. Known used from 30 June 1906 to 7 November 1908. Often the year is missing. Rated Common on stamp and 2R on cover

Type 24 Framed circle 25 mm in diameter, with 'BRISBANE' around the top, 'Q. L.' around the foot and no bars or spaces between them; the date is in one line in the centreon a revolving drum; first is the time, followed by the month in two letters and lastly the year in 2 figures. Known used from 31 December 1908 - 20 May 1912. Rated Common

Type 25 Framed circle 28.5 mm in diameter, with 'BRISBANE' around the top, 'QUEENSLAND' around the foot and no bars or spaces between them; the date is in one line in the centre; first is the time, followed by the month in two letters and lastly the year in 2 figures. Known used from 3 July 1906 - 19 February 1912. Rated 5R

Type 26 Framed circle 30 mm in diameter with 'BRISBANE' at the top and 'QUEENSLAND' at the foot in 4 mm high letters and a single curved bar at each side. The date is in one line in the centre, preceded by the time. The month has two figures followed by a full stop and the year also has two figures. Known used from 2 December 1911 onwards. Rated 3R

Type 27 Framed circle 25 mm in diameter, with 'BRISBANE' around the top, 'QUEENSLAND' around the foot and no bars or spaces between them; the date is in one line in the centre; first is the time, followed by the month in two letters and lastly the year in 2 figures. Known used from 9 April 1906 - April 1913. Rated Rare

TYPES