Deficient Postage Handstamps

Deficient Postage handstamps and accountancy marks were used to indicate that the correct postage had not been applied. The penalty for deficient postage was usually the deficiency plus a fine of the equivalent amount. For example if the correct postage was 4d but only 2d worth of stamps had been used, then the deficiency that would have to be paid (usually by the person receiving the mail item) would be 4d, comprising  2d for unpaid postage plus a 2d fine.

A number of different Deficient Postage handstamps were used at Queensland post offices. For further information see HERE. Several of these types were used at the Brisbane general post office. Some had specific postage deficiency amounts and fines printed on them, while for others the amounts were entered by hand. The ratings below refer to the deficient postage handstamp type and not the various amounts shown on them. 5 different type have been seen for Brisbane dated from 1872 to 1897 and rated 4R - 5R. I assume the reason no handstamps have been seen after 1897 is because  accountancy marks were used instead

• Type 4 (12 October 1878 - 7 January 1888) rated 4R - $45 on cover
• Type 6 (1866 - 27 February 1872) rated 5R - $80 on cover
• Type 7 (19 March 1880 - June 1881) rated 5R - $80 on cover
• Type 8 (8 August 1887 -  23 August 1892) rated 4R - $80 on cover
• Type 9 (28 June 1897) rated 5R - $100 on cover

Top Row Left to Right: type 4, type 6
Bottom Row Left to Right: type 7, type 8, type 9

Deficient Postage Handstamp type 4

1878

Brisbane deficient postage handstamp type 4. Dated 12 October 1878. Rated 4R. Seen in Spink auction no 9011

1884

Brisbane deficient postage handstamp type 4. Dated 1 July 1884. Rated 4R. Seen in Phoenix auction no 12 lot no 747

Brisbane deficient postage handstamp type 4. Dated 1884. Rated 4R. Seen in Soler y Llach Sale 464

1885

Brisbane deficient postage handstamp type 4. Dated 5 January 1885. Rated 4R. Courtesy of Dave Elsmore

1888

Brisbane deficient postage handstamp type 4. Dated 7 January 1888. Rated 4R. Seen in Rumsey Sales no 93 lot no 4207

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Deficient Postage Handstamp type 6

1866

Brisbane deficient postage handstamp type 6. Dated 1866. Rated 5R. Seen at auction

1872

Brisbane deficient postage handstamp type 6. Dated 27 February 1872. Rated 5R. Seen at Prestige Philately auction no 98 lot no 823. I assume this is Brisbane and not Caboolture, and that the deficient postage handstamp was applied at Brisbane

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Deficient Postage Handstamp type 7

1880

Brisbane deficient postage handstamp type 7. Dated 19 March 1880. Rated 5R. Seen in the Queensland Stamp Collecting Facebook Group

1881

Brisbane deficient postage handstamp type 7. Dated June 1881. Rated 5R. Seen in the collection of Henk Godthelp

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Deficient Postage Handstamp type 8

1887

Brisbane deficient postage handstamp type 8. Dated 8 August 1887. Rated 4R. Seen on Ebay

1888

Brisbane deficient postage handstamp type 8. Dated 29 April 1888. Rated 4R. Seen on Ebay

1890

Brisbane deficient postage handstamp type 8. Dated 15 February 1890. Rated 4R. Seen in Ramsay auction no 71 lot no 2394

1892

Brisbane deficient postage handstamp type 8. Dated 23 August 1892. Rated 4R. Courtesy of Dave Elsmore

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Deficient Postage Handstamp type 9

1897

Brisbane deficient postage handstamp type 9. Dated 28 June 1897. Rated 5R. Seen in Prestige Philately auction no 161 lot no 363