14 Varieties

Brisbane Datestamp Page

This was a special series introduced for use on mail posted at the Brisbane General Post Office and is quite different from previous types. Octagonal in shape, measuring 21.5 to 23 mm between opposite points, they fall into four groups, with the letters 'H', 'O', 'T' and 'X' placed in the top angle. Immediately below is a code number, flanked by the letters 'P' and 'B', 'BRISBANE' across the centre, and the date in two lines below (the year in two figures). The top letters referred to four pillar boxes at the Brisbane General Post Office as follows:

• 14(H) - (Home) mail intended for delivery in Queensland outside the Brisbane city delivery area. Codes H1 - H9 (October 1891 - 11 October 1910)
• 14(O) - (Overseas) mail addressed beyond Australia. Codes O1 - O5 (12 November 1886 - 11 October 1910)
• 14(T) - (Town) mail to the Brisbane delivery area. Codes T1 - T9 (15 August 1892 - 31 July 1905)
• 14(X) - (Intercolonial / Interstate) mail. Codes X1 - X7 (24 March 1888 - 22 August 1910)

L-R: Type 14(H), 14(O), 14(T), 14(X), from Campbell

Varieties

The various date stamps had comparatively short lives and frequent replacement of the type was necessary. These components were obviously made of soft metal, possibly type metal, and probably new assemblies could quickly be put together within the fixed frames. The replacement of the metal type as well as the need to manually adjust the date meant that the following varieties exist:

• Different settings and spacings within the frames
• Differences in the shape and size of the code numerals
• Code numerals appearing sideways

I purchased a detailed study of these varieties at Abacus auction several years ago. I don't know who created it but it appear to be the same study that Campbell in his discussion of this date stamp varieties refers to. Unfortunately the section on the letter 'H' is missing. 

Note that this study only deals with the placement and height of the code numerals and not the variations in the code numerals themselves (see H8 example below). It also doesn't cover differences in the numerals and letters making up the dates. Clicking on the individual pages will enlarge them.

H8 showing different code 8 types. At far right is an example of a sideways code numeral 4. Neither of these variety types is covered in the study below

'O' varieties

O1

O2

O3

O4

O5

'T' varieties

T1

T2

T3

T5

T9

'X' varieties

X1

X3

X4

X5

X7

While this study notes no variations, the size of the code 7 in the 1902 example is much smaller