Missent to Brisbane Handstamp Type 4

Sometimes letters were put in the wrong bag and so ended up at the wrong destination. As Campbell observes, this was most likely to happen with mail from overseas, as the sorter may not have known the exact location of the place to which the letter was addressed. Thus mail sent from Europe to Queensland via the Torres Straits could have ended up first in Brisbane rather then at intended destinations along the route, such as Townsville or Rockhampton. When this occurred post offices had missent handstamps that where applied to any misdirected mail, to indicate why a particular letter was delayed. If the mail was missent in error by the postal authorities, then no redirection fee would apply.

The Brisbane GPO had four different types. Type 1 is known postally used in January 1861 (For Type 1 see here); Type 2 is known from a single example in 1872 (For Type 2 see here); Type 3 is known postally used by Campbell from 1875 to September 1882 as well as a postcard sent from Ulverstone, Tasmania to France in 1897 that somehow ended up in Brisbane (For Type 3 see here); and Type 4  from 1900 to 1908.

• Type 4 - A one lined handstamp reading "MISSENT TO BRISBANE" within a rectangular frame with chamfered corners, measuring approximately 48.5 x  10 mm. Campbell type 3. Rated 3R 

The four types of Missent to Brisbane handstamps. First line: Type 1 at left, Type 2 at right; on the bottom row: Type 3 is on the left and Type 4 on the right

Missent to Brisbane Handstamp Type 4 rated 3R. Dated August 1908. Seen at an auction. This postcard was sent from the Cape Colony to Adelaide, South Australia

Missent to Brisbane Handstamp Type 4 rated 3R. Dated 1900. Seen at Millennium auction no 45 lot no 395. This letter was sent from New York to Antwerp, Holland

Missent to Brisbane Handstamp Type 4 rated 3R. Dated 16 December 1906. Seen at Abacus online auction no 1 lot no 1264. This postcard was sent from Richmond, Queensland, to Townsville

Missent to Brisbane Handstamp Type 4 rated 3R. Dated 1902. Seen in the Brisbane GPO exhibit of Marius Wytenburg. This cover was sent from Tokyo, Japan to Bangor, Wales