3(b) QL Duplex Obliterator

Brisbane GPO and QL Duplex Obliterator Page

Hugh Campbell grouped together several similar but slightly different duplexes under type 3 and to avoid confusion I have retained his classification. They are most easily distinguished by the date when they were used

• 3(a) Medium arcs, number codes, used 1879 - September 1885
• 3(b) Longer arcs, letter codes, used 1886 - 1890
• 3(ba) Short arcs, letter codes, used 1885 - 1892
• 3(c) Shorter arcs, number codes, used November 1885 - 1894
• 3(d) Short bars, number codes, used 1890 - 1893
• 3(e) Short bars, number codes, used 1892 - 1893

There are also two datestamps that are similar

• 9a Long Arcs, number codes, used 1878 - 1883
• 9b Long Arcs, letter codes, used 1877 - 1882
• 13 Long arcs, letter codes, used 1886 - 1891

Top line (L-R): Duplex 3(a), Duplex 3(b), Duplex 3(ba) Duplex 3(c). Bottom line (L-R); Duplex 3(d), Duplex 3(e), Datestamp 9b, Datestamp 13

Type 3(b) 'QL' (No stops) within an oval of 34 unbroken broken rays. The letters in the duplex portion are 5 mm high and the 'Q' has a long straight tail. The two parts are 2 mm apart. The unframed datestamp portion is 23 mm in diameter with letters 3 mm high, 'BRISBANE' around the top, 'QUEENSLAND' around the foot, and two arcs at each side 3 mm apart with the outer arc being 6 mm long and the inner arc being 3 mm; in the centre, in three lines, are a letter code, month and day, and year in two digits. In some examples the inner arc is missing. Known used from 6 March 1886 - 15 August 1890. Codes seen are A, B, D, E, F, H, L, M, N, O, P, W and Z. Rated 3R - 5R

It is very similar to Brisbane duplex type 3(ba) which has shorter arcs (4 mm) and (usually) a greater space between the year and 'QUEENSLAND' at the bottom; and Brisbane datestamps type 9 and 13. Date stamp type 9 was in use before duplex type 3(b) but date stamp type 13 is so similar that the duplex type 3(b) can only be confirmed if the duplex portion is evident. Best collected on cover as unless there is a complete strike it can be difficult to tell types 3(b) and 3(ba) apart

• Code A (1886 - 21 May 1890) rated 3R - $20, $80 on cover
• Code B (1889 - 22 March 1890) rated 5R - $50, $100 on cover
• Code D (1 October 1888) rated 5R - $90
• Code E (1886 - 12 September 1889) rated 4R - $35, $90 on cover
• Code F (19 January 1888) rated 5R - $90
• Code H (6 March 1886 - 10 April 1890) rated 3R - $25, $60 on cover
• Code L (3 January 1889) rated 5R - $100 on cover
• Code M (August 1887 - 25 June 1890) rated 4R - $40, $75 on cover
• Code N (1887 - 26 November 1889) rated 4R - $35, $50 on cover
• Code O (18 April 1887 - 1889) rated 4R - $40
• Code P (1887) rated 5R - $75
• Code W (13 June 1890 - 15 August 1890) rated 4R - $45
• Code Z (31 January 1890) rated 5R - $90

Left to Right: Duplex type 3(b) and 3(ba)

Code A

1886

Brisbane duplex type 3(b). Code A. Dated 1886. Rated 3R

1888

Brisbane duplex type 3(b). Code A. Dated 30 April 1888. Rated 3R. Seen on Ebay

1889

Brisbane duplex type 3(b). Code A. Dated 1889. Rated 3R

1890

Brisbane duplex type 3(b). Code A. Dated 9 January and 21 May 1890. Rated 3R

Unknown year

Brisbane duplex type 3(b). Code A. Rated 3R

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Code B

1889

Brisbane duplex type 3(b). Code B. Dated 1889. Rated 5R

1890

Brisbane duplex type 3(b). Code B. Dated 23 January 1890. Rated 5R

Brisbane duplex type 3(b). Code B. Dated 22 March 1890. Rated 5R. Seen in the collection of Dr Andrew Mortlock

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Code D

1888

Brisbane duplex type 3(b). Code D. Dated 1 October 1888. Rated 5R

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Code E

1886

Brisbane duplex type 3(b). Code E. Dated 1886. Rated 4R

1887

Brisbane duplex type 3(b). Code E. Dated 3 August 1887. Rated 4R. Seen on Ebay

1888

Brisbane duplex type 3(b). Code E. Dated 14 September 1888. Rated 4R

1889

Brisbane duplex type 3(b). Code E. Dated 29 June 1889. Rated 4R

Brisbane duplex type 3(b). Code E. Dated 12 September 1889. Rated 4R
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Code F

1888

Brisbane duplex type 3(b). Code F. Dated 19 January 1888. Rated 5R

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Code H

1886

Brisbane duplex type 3(b). Code H. Dated 6 March 1886. Rated 3R. Seen on Ebay

1887

Brisbane duplex type 3(b). Code H. Dated 7 June 1887. Rated 3R

1888

Brisbane duplex type 3(b). Code H. Dated 7 April 1888. Rated 3R. Seen in the collection of David Hopper

Brisbane duplex type 3(b). Code H. Dated 1888. Rated 3R

1889

Brisbane duplex type 3(b). Code H. Dated 30 March 1889. Rated 3R

Brisbane duplex type 3(b). Code H. Dated 1889. Rated 3R

1890

Brisbane duplex type 3(b). Code H. Dated 10 April 1890. Rated 3R

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Code L

1889

Brisbane duplex type 3(b). Code L. Dated 3 January 1889. Rated 5R. Seen in the collection of David Hopper

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Code M

1887

Brisbane duplex type 3(b). Code M. Dated August 1887. Rated 4R

1889

Brisbane duplex type 3(b). Code M. Dated 5 August 1889. Rated 4R. Seen on Ebay

Brisbane duplex type 3(b). Code M. Dated 3 September 1889. Rated 4R

1890

Brisbane duplex type 3(b). Code M. Dated 16 January 1890. Rated 4R. Seen on Ebay

Brisbane duplex type 3(b). Code M. Dated 12 April 1890. Rated 4R. Seen in Abacus auction no 237

Brisbane duplex type 3(b). Code M. Dated 25 June 1890. Rated 4R

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Code N

1887

Brisbane duplex type 3(b). Code N. Dated 1887. Rated 4R

1889

Brisbane duplex type 3(b). Code N. Dated 18 July 1889. Rated 4R. Seen on Ebay

Brisbane duplex type 3(b). Code N. Dated 26 November 1889. Rated 4R. Seen on Facebook

Brisbane duplex type 3(b). Code N. Dated 1889. Rated 4R

1890

Brisbane duplex type 3(b). Code N. Dated 21 May 1890. Rated 4R. Seen in the Marius Wytenburg Brisbane GPO exhibit

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Code O

1887

Brisbane duplex type 3(b). Code O. Dated 18 April 1887. Rated 4R

1888

Brisbane duplex type 3(b). Code O. Dated 1888. Rated 4R

1889

Brisbane duplex type 3(b). Code O. Dated 30 January 1889. Rated 4R

Brisbane duplex type 3(b). Code O. Dated 1889. Rated 4R

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Code P

1887

Brisbane duplex type 3(b). Code P. Dated 2 August 1887. Rated 5R

Brisbane duplex type 3(b). Code P. Dated 1887. Rated 5R

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Code W

1890

Brisbane duplex type 3(b). Code W. Dated 13 June 1890. Rated 4R

Brisbane duplex type 3(b). Code W. Dated 15 August 1890. Rated 4R

Unknown year

Brisbane duplex type 3(b). Code W. Dated 3 July 188-. Rated 4R

Brisbane duplex type 3(b). Code W. Dated 8 April. Rated 4R

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Code Z

1890

Brisbane duplex type 3(b). Code Z. Dated 31 January 1890. Rated 5R