3(ba) 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(ba) '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 short arcs at each side 3 mm apart and 4 mm long; in the centre, in three lines, are a letter code, month and day, and year in two digits. Known used from 23 August 1884 -  7 January 1892. Codes seen are A, B, D, E, H, K, N and S. Rated 3R - 5R

It is similar to Brisbane duplex type 3(b) and Brisbane datestamps type 9 and 13 but has has shorter arcs. It was not listed separately by Campbell or Wytenburg, but was lumped in with type 3(b)

• Code A (23 August 1884 - 7 January 1892) rated 3R - $20, $50 on cover
• Code B (30 January 1888) rated 5R - $60
• Code D (9 January 1885 - 6 October 1891) rated 5R - $50, $75 on cover
• Code E (10 May 1889) rated 5R - $90
• Code H (17 April 1889 - 5 January 1892) rated 3R - $22
• Code K (1890 - 3 January 1892) rated 5R - $50, $90 on cover
• Code N (12 November 1889) rated 5R - $100
• Code S (14 October 1890 - 31 December 1891) - rated $60

Two examples of Duplex type 3(ba) with duplex type 3(b) on the right

Code A

1884

Brisbane duplex type 3(ba). Code A. Dated 23 August 1884. Rated 3R. Seen in the collection of Dave Elsmore

1888

Brisbane duplex type 3(ba). Code A. Dated 20 April 1888. Rated 3R

1889

Brisbane duplex type 3(ba). Code A. Dated 17 April 1889. Rated 3R. Seen on Ebay

Brisbane duplex type 3(ba). Code A. Dated 16 August 1889. Rated 3R

1891

Brisbane duplex type 3(ba). Code A. Dated 10 February and 5 December 1891. Rated 3R

Brisbane duplex type 3(ba). Code A. Dated 10 December 1891. Rated 3R

1892

Brisbane duplex type 3(ba). Code A. Dated 7 January 1892. Rated 3R

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Code B

1888

Brisbane duplex type 3(ba). Code B. Dated 30 January 1888. Rated 5R

Unknown year

Brisbane duplex type 3(ba). Code B. Rated 5R

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Code D

1885

Brisbane duplex type 3(ba). Code D. Dated 9 January 1885. Rated 5R. Seen in the collection of Dave Elsmore

1891

Brisbane duplex type 3(ba). Code D. Dated 6 October 1891. Rated 5R. Seen in the Marius Wytenburg Brisbane GPO Exhibit

Brisbane duplex type 3(ba). Code D. Dated 1891. Rated 5R

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Code E

1889

Brisbane duplex type 3(ba). Code E. Dated 10 May 1889. Rated 5R

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Code H

1889

Brisbane duplex type 3(ba). Code H. Dated 17 April 1889. Rated 3R

1890

Brisbane duplex type 3(ba). Code H. Dated 15 September 1890. Rated 3R

Brisbane duplex type 3(ba). Code H. Dated 2- September 1890. Rated 3R

1891

Brisbane duplex type 3(ba). Code H. Dated 1 October 1891. Rated 3R

1892

Brisbane duplex type 3(ba). Code H. Dated 5 January 1892. Rated 3R

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Code K

1890

Brisbane duplex type 3(ba). Code K. Dated 1890. Rated 5R

1891

Brisbane duplex type 3(ba). Code K. Dated 18 February 1891. Rated 5R

1892

Brisbane duplex type 3(ba). Code K. Dated 3 January 1892. Rated 5R. Seen in the Marius Wytenburg Brisbane GPO Exhibit

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Code N

1889

Brisbane duplex type 3(ba). Code N. Dated 12 November 1889. Rated 5R

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Code S

1890

Brisbane duplex type 3(ba). Code S. Dated 14 October 1890. Rated 5R

Brisbane duplex type 3(ba). Code S. Dated 9 November 1890. Rated 5R

1891

Brisbane duplex type 3(ba). Code S. Dated 31 December 1891. Rated 5R