Brisbane GPO Datestamps, Handstamps, Obliterators and Cancellations by Dr Jeremy Hodes: 12 Datestamp

Brisbane Datestamp Page

The squared circle was introduced in England in 1879 and was widely used in South Australia; but in Queensland only Brisbane used it, for both departures and arrivals (as a backstamp)

Type 12 A 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.

Code letters seen by me are no code, A, B, C, D, E, F, H (narrow), H (wide), I, K, L, M, U, Apparently codes P (in Campbell's illustration below) and T also exist. Various ratings as shown below, including a 2R rating for indistinct or unknown codes. Covers are rated 5R. Code A is the most common code. Mostly seen on the 1d second Sideface issues. Other denominations are extremely rare and are rated 5R. Dates seen are from 8 November 1884 to 11 February 1893, but most examples date from 1885

No Code (4 September 1885 - 16 September 1892) rated 5R
Code A (15 February 1885 - 3 October 1892) rated 2R
Code B (10 October 1886) rated 5R
Code C rated (26 November 1884 - 10 February 1885) 4R
Code D (21 February - 1 September 1885) rated 4R
Code E (8 November 1884 - 14 September 1885) rated 4R
Code F (Feb - 21 September 1885) rated 3R
Code H narrow (23 May - 4 November 1885) rated 3R
Code H wide (15 May 1891 - 11 February 1893) rated 4R
Code I (4 March - 21 August 1885) rated 4R
Code K (19 November 1884 - 30 October 1885) rated 4R
Code L (9 June 1885 - 28 February 1889) rated 3R
Code M (15 August 1888) rated 5R
Code P rated 5R
Code T rated 5R
Code U (22 January - 15 July 1885) rated 4R

Brisbane Datestamp type 12 (from Campbell)

Indistinct or Partial Codes - rated 2R

Brisbane datestamp type 12 with partial date stamps or missing or incomplete or indistinct codes rated 2R

Brisbane datestamp type 12 with indistinct code rated 5R. Dated 9 April 1892. Seen in the Wytenburg Brisbane GPO Exhibit

No Code - rated 5R

Brisbane datestamp type 12 with No code rated 5R

Code A - rated 2R

Brisbane datestamp type 12 with Code A rated 2R

1885

Brisbane datestamp type 12 Code A rated 5R. Dated 18 August 1885. Courtesy of Dave Elsmore

1892

Brisbane datestamp type 12 with Code A rated 5R. Dated 3 October 1892. Seen in a private collection

Code B - rated 5R

Brisbane datestamp type 12 with Code B rated 5R

1886

Brisbane datestamp type 12 with Code B rated 3R. Dated 10 October 1886. Seen at Prestige Philately auction no 139

Code C - rated 5R

1884

Brisbane datestamp type 12 with Code C rated 4R. Dated 26 November 1884. Seen in the Queensland Stamp Collecting Facebook Group

1885

Brisbane datestamp type 12 with Code C rated 4R. Dated 10 February 1885. Seen in the Queensland Stamp Collecting Facebook Group

Brisbane datestamp type 12 with Code C rated 4R. Dated 27 April 1885. Seen in the Queensland Stamp Collecting Facebook Group

Brisbane datestamp type 12 with Code C rated 4R. Dated 18 September 1885

Code D - rated 4R

1885

Brisbane datestamp type 12 with Code D rated 4R

Code E - rated 4R

1884

Brisbane datestamp type 12 with Code E rated 4R. Dated 8 December 1884. Seen in the Queensland Stamp Collecting Facebook Group

Brisbane datestamp type 12 with Code E rated 4R

Code F - rated 3R

Brisbane datestamp type 12 with Code F rated 3R

Code H (narrow) - rated 3R

Brisbane datestamp type 12 with Code H (narrow) rated 3R

Brisbane datestamp type 12 with Code H (narrow) rated 5R. Dated 4 November 1885. Seen at Prestige Philately auction no 139

Code H (wide) - rated 4R

1891