1868 Gibraltar to New York, USA with scarce 11d rate, via London.

1868 Gibraltar to New York, USA

with scarce 11d rate, via London.

Great Britain used in Gibraltar: 1868 (Aug. 3) envelope to New York at scarce 11d. rate in use for two years only, paid by 2d. , 3d. (pl. 4) and 6d. pl. 6 (wing margin) cancelled ‘A26’ with Aug. 14 London Paid and ''3/CENTS'' (known as the 'anomaly' rate in the first year) in red below. The scarce 11d. rate was in use from 1868 to 1869 only.

1868 Gibraltar to Malta

 Scarce Four Bar A26 Duplex 11^th March  1868 on Pair of GB 1858-69 2d Blue plate 9.            Single circle dated backstamp MR 16 68. Four pence rate for the first half ounce was the rate for packet letters. |The carrier to Gibraltar was the P&O packet Iberia which left Gibraltar on the 11^th            March and arrived in Malta on 16^th March  1868.

1870 GB used in Gibraltar 1d Concessionary

 1870 GB used in Gibraltar Concessionary cover. Soldiers and sailors received a concession that allowed them to send mail back to the UK for 1d instead of the normal 6d rate. The commanding Officer of the Regiment or ship was required to countersign, and the sender’s serial number and name Corporal Carpenter was written at the top.

1877 Gibraltar Chronicle to UK with 1d Red

 Probably sent to the UK because of the manuscript ‘via Spain.

Postal Marks:-     

Gibraltar                 A26 KD8 Duplex 13^th February  1877

Rate:-                     Postal Union rate for printed paper and newspapers. One penny for under 4 ounces via                                  Spain from 1^st January 1876.            

Adhesive:-              GB 1864-79 1d Red  plate 192.

                                 This is the earliest recorded use of this plate in Gibraltar.

1876 Gibraltar GB QV 2½d Rosy Mauve

to Drewsteignton, near Exeter, Devon

Sent from Gibraltar with A26 duplex on December 31st 1876. Arrival handstamp on the back at Chagford 1877.

Drewsteignton is a village, civil parish and former manor within the administrative area of West Devon, England, also lying within the Dartmoor National Park.

Rev Richard Chichester was the Vicar of the Holy Trinity Church.

1882 Gibraltar to Stapleford Abbots, Essex   

Rev Thomas Cochrane, son of Sir James Cochrane.

 Sir James Cochrane had 1 son, Thomas Cochrane who was the Rector at St Mary the Virgin's Church, Stapleford Abbotts in Essex.

1871 Gibraltar to Portsmouth ‘Fleet Mail’ or ‘Ship’s Bag’

1871 Gibraltar to Portsmouth ‘Fleet Mail’ or ‘Ship’s Bag’

Edwin & William Seagrove & Co, Portsea (Portsmouth) were Navy & Military Outfitters. At this time Naval Officers could write to them and place orders. They usually wrote the name of the Officer on the front of each envelope.

By researching the date you can find the names of the ships in Gibraltar at that time. By cross referencing to the Navy List you can ascertain the actual ship on which the officer was serving. In this case Lt. John Ferris on board HMS Inconstant which was in Gibraltar in July 1871. The cover was placed in a sealed bag and sent via the fleet mail Office by whichever means was quickest at that time (Royal Navy ships or merchant ships). Upon arrival the stamp would cancelled by The GPO in this case 42 signifying Foreign Branch.

The arrival manuscript mark by Seagrove implied that it was carried on the P & O ship Poonah, which left Gibraltar on July 10th and arrived in Southampton on July 15th.

1873 Gibraltar to Portsmouth ‘Fleet Mail’

Edwin & William Seagrove & Co, Portsea (Portsmouth) were Navy & Military Outfitters. At this time Naval Officers could write to them and place orders. They usually wrote the name of the Officer on the front of each envelope.

By researching the date you can find the names of the ships in Gibraltar at that time. By cross referencing to the Navy List you can ascertain the actual ship on which the officer was serving. In this case Midshipman John Francis Stuart on board HMS Narcissus, which was in Gibraltar in December 1873. Then cover was placed in a sealed bag and sent via the fleet mail Office by whichever means was quickest at that time (Royal Navy ships or merchant ships). Upon arrival the stamp would cancelled by the GPO, in this case with a killer stamp 8 signifying Foreign Branch.

1860 Torquay to Gibraltar with black S

1860 Torquay overland to Gibraltar

Cover addressed to Commander Cecil de Vere aboard HMS Agamemnon in Gibraltar.

Sent overland ‘via France’ which was quicker than the sea passage. The S was applied in Gibraltar signifying via Spain.

The cover left Torquay on January 23rd 1860 and arrived in Gibraltar on Feb 2^nd 1860.

Two covers addressed to Commander Cecil de Vere aboard HMS Agamemnon in Gibraltar.

Jan 23rd and Feb 22nd  1860. Sent overland ‘via France’ which was quicker than the sea passage. The was applied in Gibraltar, signifying via France and Spain.

The second cover has no large S.

1862 London to Gibraltar Sir James Cochrane

Sir James Cochrane (1798-24 June 1883), was Chief Justice of Gibraltar. One of the most notable cases he handled was the enquiry into the Mary Celeste. Judge's Cave in Gibraltar is named after him.

Cochrane married Theresa in 1829, daughter of Colonel William Haly, who died in 1873. He died at Glen Rocky, his house in Gibraltar, on 24 June 1883, leaving one son, the Rev. Thomas Cochrane, rector of Stapleford Abbotts in Essex.

When Cochrane was first appointed he had a villa constructed during the 1840s and whilst it was being built a cave was discovered. Judge's Cave took its name from Cochrane.

1865 London - cancelled at Dover Station to Gibraltar with 6 x 1d reds and the large S overland stamp applied in Gibraltar.

 Cover from Dover, written my Mrs De Vere, wife of Royal Navy Commander de Vere, to an Army Officer in the 78^th Highlanders who were stationed in Gibraltar. The large S was applied in Gibraltar signifying that the cover went overland via France and Spain.

 Adhesive:               GB 6 x 1d reds all cancelled by Dover 258 front and back

Handstamps:        London single circle 29 NO 65

                                 Dover single circle 29 NO 65

                                 Gibraltar single circle arrival DE 6 65

                                 Red PD in an oval

                                 Black large S in a circle

1859-1885 GB Used in Gibraltar Line engraved A26 cancel ½d

1859-1885 GB Used in Gibraltar

Line engraved A26 cancel ½d

These are quite scarce used in Gibraltar, because they were never issued there. They are difficult to see that they were used in Gibraltar due to their small size. The first one shows “tar” of Gibraltar and the one below shows most of the A26.

A26 cancel ½d in multiple frankings.

1d Red  - A26 cancel

2d Blue  -  Forgery

GB stamps were never overprinted Gibraltar. This amazing example also mis-spells it!

Most other surface printed stamps were issued and used in Gibraltar.

1857-59 GB Used in Gibraltar G cancel

1857-59 GB Used in Gibraltar G cancel

HANDSTAMPS

Two cancellers were sent out with the first consignment of stamps and comprised a letter “G” enclosed in horizontal bars/lines – a heavy bar and a straight line at the top and bottom and eight lines either side of the “G”.  The two “G” cancellers were not of the same size one being 10½ mm. x 6½ mm. (referred to as the ‘tall’ “G”) and the other 9½ mm. x 6 mm. (referred to as the small “G”). 

      Tall 'G'     Small 'G'

 

 

In use from 3rd Sept 1857 to 9th Oct 1858 

In use from 22nd Oct 1857 to 19th Feb Oct 1859

10½ mm. x 6½ mm 9½ mm. x 6 mm

These two cancellers were struck in black and used to cancel the stamp.

In addition there was impressed on the front of the envelope or cover a dated postmark, of which there were two types used during the period of use of the “G” canceller.  The two types are:

  1)  a datestamp with a diameter 25 mm a comprising the words “GIBRALTAR” in the top half and two half circles in the bottom half, in the centre the date appeared in two lines month and day above the year.   This handstamp had been sent out 26 September 1849 and is recorded in use until 9^th April 1858.  It was struck in indigo or blackish blue.

  2)  a datestamp of a single circle diameter 20 mm  with the word “GIBRALTAR” in an arc around the top  and beneath it the code letter “A” , the month (two letters) and day on the next line and the year (last two digits) on the third line.  This handstamp was sent out 3^rd April 1858 its earliest recorded use is 13^th April 1858 and it was in use until 1860.  It is always found struck in blue when used alongside the “G” obliterator.

The “G” cancellation was withdrawn on the 19^th February 1859.

1858 G cancel on piece with ship letter handstamp

1858 Gibraltar ‘G’ cancel to Rochester, Kent

1858 Gibraltar ‘G’ cancel to Rochester, Kent

 1858, 21^st March.   Envelope to Ackworth & sons, Solicitors, Star Hill, Rochester, Kent with an 1856 6d lilac (SG z42) cancelled with the small ‘G’.  Backstamped with red London transit and black Rochester arrival cds.

Endorsed in manuscript ‘By first Steamer’.   Carried by the P&O Alexandria packet ‘COLOMBO’ which called at Gibraltar 21^st March 1858, arrived Southampton 26th March, London 26^th March before arriving at Rochester 27^th March.

1855 York to Gibraltar with GB 6d embossed

1855 York to Gibraltar with GB 6d embossed

Packet letter from York to Gibraltar

Addressed to A Banibrigg 13th Light Infantry

In June 1855, the regiment, landed in the Crimea as part of the Anglo-French forces conducting a campaign against the Russians. They took part in the Siege of Sevastopol, and remained in the area after the ending of hostilities in February 1856, subsequently sailing to South Africa.

Postal Marks:-

York 15^th July 1855

Gibraltar none

Rate:- Six pence rate for the first half ounce was the rate for packet and ship letters.

Route:- The carrier to Gibraltar was the P&O packet Iberia which left Southampton on the 17^th June and arrived in Gibraltar on 25^th June 1855.

Adhesives:- Six pence purple embossed.