14(T) Datestamp

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 (XXXX)
• 14(X) - (Intercolonial / Interstate) mail. Codes X1 - X7 (XXXX)

Letters posted in the wrong box would, if the mistake was not picked up, be impressed with the wrong datestamp; this frequently happened and are well worth collecting. 

An example of mail posted in the wrong box. It was posted in the 'T' box ((Town) mail to the Brisbane delivery area) instead of the 'X' box (mail intended for Interstate delivery)

The Code letters represented a time code. The 30 implements had short lives and frequent replacement of type was necessary. At least nine varieties of O1 and ten of T1 are known and varieties are discussed and shown HERE.

They were introduced in November 1886. The 'X' group was the first in use, with the others following gradually and up to the end of 1896 the stamps were cancelled by obliterators with the  datestamps appearing elsewhere on the cover. They then came to be used as obliterators and were in use until October 1910. Most, but not all, of these pillar box codes are very common and I therefore only show a representative sample with the emphasis on covers and clear, complete examples where no covers have yet been seen.

Type 14(T) Codes are T1 - T9. Numerous varieties known. Dates range from 15 August 1892 - 31 July 1905 but dates before 1897 can really only be collected on cover. Rated Common

• Code T1 (15 August 1898 - 29 May 1905) rated Common
• Code T2 (15 August 1892 - 31 July 1905) rated Common
• Code T3 (3 November 1900 - 14 December 1904) rated Common
• Code T4 (1 February 1902 - 15 August 1903) rated Common
• Code T5 (20 April 1898 - 15 May 1905) rated Common
• Code T6 (8 April 1902 - 10 May 1902) rated Common
• Code T7 ( ) rated Common
• Code T8 ( ) rated Common
• Code T9 (28 February 1902 - 26 May 1902) rated Common

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

Code T1

1899

Brisbane date stamp type 14(T). Code T1. Dated 22 November 1899. Rated common. Seen in the Queensland Stamp Collecting Facebook Group

1900

Brisbane date stamp type 14(T). Code T1. Dated 5 June 1900. Rated common. Seen on Ebay

1902

Brisbane date stamp type 14(T). Code T1. Dated 30 June 1902. Rated common. Seen on Ebay

1903

Brisbane date stamp type 14(T). Code T1. Dated 18 August 1903. Rated common

Brisbane date stamp type 14(T). Code T1. Dated 19 August 1903. Rated common. Seen in a private collection

1904

Brisbane date stamp type 14(T). Code T1. Dated 10 November 1904. Rated common. Seen on Delcampe

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Code T2

1892

Brisbane date stamp type 14(T). Code T2. Dated 15 August 1892. Rated common. Seen on Ebay

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Code T3

1904

Brisbane date stamp type 14(T). Code T3. Dated 14 December 1904. Rated common. Seen in a private collection

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Code T4

1903

Brisbane date stamp type 14(T). Code T4. Dated 15 August 1903. Rated common. Seen in a private collection

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