Just a quick question.
What was the time frame for using the tombstone postal cancellation ?
I have two examples from Halifax 1852 and 1853
I have found very little as to the cities of use and time frame.
Can any stamporama members add to the information ?
Thanks Cheryl
nlroberts1961 12,8 cm Kanone 43 L/55 in blueprints only 22 Nov 2019 07:56:16am
re: Any Canada Tombstone cancel collectors?
Part of the "Skywalk" Collection of Nova Scotia Stamps and Postal History by Schuyler Rumsey Philatelic Auctions included as part of a remainder the following items (no image alas)
1848 (Feb. 9) red tombstone with red ms. "3/-" rating to London C.W. (ex-Mayer)
1847 (Jul. 21) Halifax paid tombstone to New York
1859 (Dec. 15) Halifax, N.S. to Cognac, France, blue datelined folded letter with red “Halifax, Paid, Dec 15, 1859” tombstone with manuscript “10” d.cy . rating a nd “7” d.cy . credit to G.b. (4d tra nsatlantic, 1d GB and 2d to France ), carried by Cunard Europa to Queenstown arriving Dec. 25th, red London Paid (12.26) transit cds and matching “ PD” in circle handstamp, Calais (12.27) entry cds, reverse with Paris (12.27) transit and Cognac (12.28) arrival cds; some aging,
PS I noticed in scrolling through the catalog at least one other which was a quebec city origin where as the 3 above were halifax. Boggs (Postage Stamps and Postal History of Canada) lists 2 tombstone variants at Montreal 1844-69)
Here's another nice montreal one sent to the us See Lot 291 from a Siegel Auction
Searching using the terms Tombstone Style Handstamps or Hand Cancels seems to be the most productive.
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Harvey I think, therefore I am - I think! 22 Nov 2019 02:17:51pm
re: Any Canada Tombstone cancel collectors?
I guess I don't get out much or read enough philatelic articles, but this is the first I have ever heard of tombstone cancels. It took me a while to figure out what they are, I assume older cancellations curved at the top and flat on the bottom. Thanks for furthering my education, you can still learn when you're over 65! It looks like a fascinating area, now I have to check out any older covers I may have.
Addition: I went on line and googled the term and got a whole bunch of early Chinese covers where the top looks like half a hexagon instead of rounded. Do these count as well?
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Harvey I think, therefore I am - I think! 06 Feb 2020 04:52:26pm
I believe that you have a letter sent between Liverpool England and Pictou NS.. That is a cancel from England. The only tombstone cancels in Canada were Halifax and Montreal. The price is a bit high unless its something you really want.In this case it is packet mail. You really have to watch the Liverpool name . esp Liverpool Packet as there were several.I learned that the hard way too!! I`m thinking this is a packet cancel...not a Liverpool NS cancel.
Any other in put from members would also help as I am no expert.
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Harvey I think, therefore I am - I think! 06 Feb 2020 07:52:13pm
re: Any Canada Tombstone cancel collectors?
I still like the piece, but I never considered it to be Liverpool England. I got caught on that one before when I bought a bottle that turned out to be Liverpool England instead of NS. Thanks!
So, it must be Pictou NS (Jan 18 1853 )to Liverpool England (Jan 30 1853) to Sanquhar Scotland ( Jan 31 1853 ). The boat took 12 days for the crossing, seems about right. Thanks Cheryl, I still really like the cover, the tombstone cancel and the history. Are the tombstone cancellations a British thing as well? I would say it was going to GB since it was paid in Liverpool. At this time, since stamps existed, who paid for stampless mail - the sender or the receiver? A bit strange it was paid for in Liverpool before arriving in Scotland.
It is a nice piece.. Document it . It may be the beginning of a new collection of stampless letters,
I have a few. I have one mailed in Annapolis Royal by ship to Saint John NB and sailed on to Halifax. and signed by the ship`s captain. There are postmarks of all 3 stops. I suspect it was paid for at the last stop Halifax.
I suspect yours was paid by the sender if the PAID was London . A nice piece of postal history. There were tombstone shape cancels used by many British colonies.Something to check out . where and the time frame.
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