Ship Letter Type 2

Ship Letter Page

From April 1860 onwards letters posted aboard ship, in addition to inland postage and sea postage was charged 3d per 1/2 oz, with 3d for each additional 1/2 oz (or part). Two date stamps were used to distinguish this type of mail

• Type 1 - two bars either side, year in 4 figures (1864)
• Type 1a - two bars either side, year in two figures (1868)
• Type 2 - one bar either side, year in two figures, codes A - D (1865 - 1867)
• Type  2a - one bar either side, year in two figures (1876)

Type 2 An unframed circle 22 mm in diameter, with 'SHIP LETTER' round the top, 'QUEENSLAND' round the foot, with one bar at each side; in the centre there is a code letter above the date, and the year is in two figures. This was used mainly on outward letters. Code letters seen are A, B, C and D, and dates range from 23 March 1865 to 30 March 1867 and 9 November 1876. Rated 4R - 5R

• Code A (19 June 1865 1865 - 19 October 1866) rated 4R - $35 on cover
• Code B (23 March 1865 - 30 March 1867) rated 5R - $80 on cover
• Code C (31 July 1866) rated 5R - $100 on cover
• Code D (18 May 1865 - 1 March 1867) rated 5R - $80 on cover

Type 2a As above but no code. One example seen dated 9 November 1876 and rated 5R

• (9 November 1876) rated 5R - $100 on cover

Ship Letters, Left to Right: types 1, 1a, 2, 2a

Type 2 Code A

1865

Queensland Ship letter Type 2 Code A dated 19 June 1865. Rated 4R. Seen in Marius Wytenburg Brisbane GPO Exhibit

Queensland Ship letter Type 2 Code A dated 1 September 1865. Rated 4R. Seen in Prestige Philately auction no 168 lot no 841

Queensland Ship letter Type 2 Code A dated 6 October 1865. Rated 4R. Seen on Ebay

1866

Queensland Ship letter Type 2 Code A dated 12 January 1866. Rated 4R. Seen on Ebay

Queensland Ship letter Type 2 Code A dated 5 April 1866. Rated 4R. Seen in Corinphila auctions

Queensland Ship letter Type 2 Code A dated25 September 1866. Rated 4R. Seen on Ebay

Queensland Ship letter Type 2 Code A dated 10 October 1866. Rated 4R. Seen on Ebay

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Code B

1865

Queensland Ship letter Type 2 Code B dated 23 March 1865. Rated 4R. Seen on Ebay

1867

Queensland Ship letter Type 2 Code B dated 30 March 1867. Rated 4R. Seen in Mossgreen auction no 157 lot no 460

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Code C

1866

Queensland Ship letter Type 2 Code C dated 31 July 1866. Rated 5R. Seen in Prestige Philately auction no 165 lot no 109

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Code D

1865

Queensland Ship letter Type 2 Code D dated 18 May 1865. Rated 5R. Seen on Ebay

1867

Queensland Ship letter Type 2 Code D dated 1 March 1867 Rated 5R. Seen on Ebay

Queensland Ship letter Type 2 Code D dated 1 March 1867 Rated 5R. Seen in the Queensland Stamp Collecting Facebook Group

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Type 2a

1876

Queensland Ship letter Type 2a dated 9 November 1876. Rated 5R. Seen in Spink auction no 23013 lot no 1028(x)