13 and 13a Datestamp

Brisbane Datestamp Page

The type 13 date stamp comprises 2 distinct  types assigned as follows:

• 13 - Longer arcs, Letter codes A, D, H, L, M, O, P (March 1886 - August 1890)
• 13a - Shorter arcs, Letter codes None, A, S (December 1890 - December 1893)

Type 13 An unframed circle, 23 mm in diameter, with 'BRISBANE' around the top, 'QUEENSLAND' around the foot and two long curved bars (sometimes only one can be seen) on either side between them and 3 mm apart, the outer measuring 6 mm; the date is in two lines in the centre (year in two figures), with a code letter above. Mainly used as a backstamp for transit or arrival. There are least two types and I show them both in the illustration below. Dates seen range from 21 March 1886 - 6 March 1890. Code letters listed are  A, D, H, L, M, O, P. (Campbell also lists Codes B, C, E, I, K, N but as he didn't separate out type 13a as a separate type I don't know which type he was referring to). Rated 4R - 5R. 

Brisbane duplex type 3(b) and date stamp type 9b are very similar. Type 9b was in use earlier, from October 1877 - September 1883 and compared to type 9b the year for type 13 sits nearer to the bottom of the datestamp. However, type 3(b) has overlapping dates, as it was in use from 5 March 1886 - August 1890 so care needs to be taken to ensure it is not a duplex. For this reason it is best collected on cover

• Code A (26 May 1888 - 6 March 1890) rated 4R - $45 on cover
• Code D (24 November 1887) rated 5R - $100 on cover
• Code H (6 December 1888) rated 5R - $100 on cover
• Code K (15 April 1886) rated 5R - $100 on cover
• Code L (21 March 1886 - 5 December 1886) rated 5R - $75 on cover
• Code M (7 April 1887) rated 5R - $100 on cover
• Code O (1 April 1887) rated 5R - $100 on cover
• Code P (19 September 1887) rated 5R - $100 on cover

Type 13a An unframed circle, 24 mm in diameter, with 'BRISBANE' around the top, 'QUEENSLAND' around the foot and two shorter curved bars (sometimes only one can be seen) on either side between them and 3 mm apart, the outer measuring 3 mm; the date is in two lines in the centre (year in two figures), with a code letter above. Mainly used as a backstamp for transit or arrival. Dates seen range from 12 December 1890 - 1 December 1893. Code letters listed are  None, A, S. Rated 5R.

Similar to duplex type 3(ba) which was in use till January 1892 so best collected on cover

• No Code (1 December 1893) rated 5R - $100 on cover
• Code A (12 December 1890) rated 5R - $100 on cover
• Code S (22 February 1891) rated 5R - $100 on cover

L-R: Duplex type 3(b), datestamp type 9b, datestamp type 13 - two examples showing slight variations, datestamp type 13a

Datestamp Type 13

Code A

1888

Brisbane date stamp type 13. Code A. Dated 26 May 1888. Rated 4R

Brisbane date stamp type 13. Code A. Dated 7 September 1888. Rated 4R

1889

Brisbane date stamp type 13. Code A. Dated 10 May 1889. Rated 4R

1890

Brisbane date stamp type 13. Code A. Dated 19 January 1890. Rated 4R. Seen on Ebay

Brisbane date stamp type 13. Code A. Dated 27 February 1890. Rated 4R. Seen in Smithies

Brisbane date stamp type 13. Code A. Dated 6 March 1890. Rated 4R

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Code D

1887

Brisbane date stamp type 13. Code D. Dated 24 November 1887. Rated 5R. Seen in Prestige Philately auction no 142

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Code H

1888

Brisbane date stamp type 13. Code A. Dated 6 December 1888. Rated 5R. Seen in the Queensland Stamp Collecting Facebook Group

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Code K

1886

Brisbane date stamp type 13. Code K. Dated 15 April 1886. Rated 5R. Seen in a private collection

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Code L

1886

Brisbane date stamp type 13. Code L. Dated 21 March 1886. Rated 5R. Seen in Prestige Philately auction no 133

Brisbane date stamp type 13. Code L. Dated 21 March 1886. Rated 5R. Seen in Corinphila auctions

Brisbane date stamp type 13. Code L. Dated 5 December 1886. Rated 5R

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Code M

1887

Brisbane date stamp type 13. Code M. Dated 7 April 1887. Rated 5R. Seen on Ebay

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Code O

1887

Brisbane date stamp type 13. Code O. Dated 1 April 1887. Rated 5R. Seen in the Wytenburg Brisbane GPO Exhibit

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Code P

1887

Brisbane date stamp type 13. Code P. Dated 19 September 1887. Rated 5R. Seen in Prestige Philately auction no 142 lot no 316

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Datestamp Type 13a

No Code

1893

Brisbane date stamp type 13a. No Code. Dated 1 December 1893. Rated 5R

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Code A

1890

Brisbane date stamp type 13a. Code A. Dated 12 December 1890. Rated 5R. Seen in Stamp Group sales no 342

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Code S

1891

Brisbane date stamp type 13a. Code S. Dated 22 February 1891. Rated 5R. Seen in a private collection