Somerset & Bristol Postal History

As a bit of change, here are some Somerset postmarks from places that begin with "C", starting with a couple of examples of the Cannington undated circular handstamp (UDC), firstly in black in 1848 ...

... then in brown in 1851.

The postcard below from Cheddar to Cardiff in September 1948 was underfranked at 1d.  The Postcard Rate had been 2d since 1st May 1940.

A registered envelope sent in July 1940 gives an example of the Chilcompton cancel and registration etiquette.

The early Climax rubber cancels were in violet because the standard black ink caused the handstamps to deteriorate.  Here is a nice clear example of the Chilton Polden cancel from 1904 on a parcel post label.

Churchill's cancel is used here on a first day cover in April 1980.

And finally here is another registered envelope, this time giving examples of the Churchinford cancel and registration etiquette in April 1939.

The wrapper illustrated below has a black Cannington UDC on the front and a red/orange Stogursey UDC on the reverse - the letter from October 1847 would have originated in Stogursey and picked up the Cannington UDC on its way through Bridgwater (their post town) to Yeovil.

Some examples from the Bridgewater Penny Post, first from Stowey which had been assigned the boxed "No.1" handstamp, from 1825 and 1828

And then some examples of the boxed "No.2" handstamp, assigned to Cannington.  This first example, from 1819, is an albino strike which may not show up well in the image.
 The next example is from 1822, still with the early unframed "BRIDGEWATER / PENNY POST" handstamp.

And finally a later, but undated, example with the framed "Bridgewater / Py Post" handstamp, known 1834-1830.

I have an entire, written in Stogursey, and posted to Stogumber on 28th November 1851. It has some undated circular handstamps that would extend the known usage dates for Stogursey (where it was posted) and Cannington (on the route into Bridgewater).

Unfortunately all the interesting strikes are very very poor !  Below on the left is a bright red "STOGURSEY" UDC overstruck by a red/brown "CANNINGTON" UDC.

Here is a larger image of the UDCs:

Do you believe me ?  ... I'm not sure I believe me, but I'm sure that is what the strikes should be, and there are hints that the interpretation is correct  ... but definitely not good enough to go into the UDC catalogue of Somerset & Dorset that the S&DPHG is updating.

Even the Bridgewater "123" numeric obliterator is a poor strike.

Carrying on with the UDCs, here is a late usage of the UDC handstamp for Cannington.

This is an example of the serif  "CURRY-RIVAL" UDC in blue, which is not recorded in the British County Catalogue.  It is also charged 2d postage due as it was not prepaid.

And finally here is what is currently the earliest known example of the UDC from Kingston [St. Mary].

Of the 32 offices under Bridgwater that had main period UDCs issued (there were more than 32 different ones as some places had more than one UDC issued, and many are also known used in multiple colours), I have the following examples.

Blackford's UDC was issued in April 1853.  The example below from 13th May 1853 is the first known example.

Broomfield's UDC was issued in April 1853 and is known used from 1855.  The example below comes from November 1859 and may be the latest known usage.

Cannington's UDC was issued on 22nd May 1846 and was known used in black from November 1846 to May 1850 and in blue from October 1853 to August 1855.  The blue example below is from August 1859 and may be the latest use known.

Enmore's UDC was issued on 22nd May 1846 and is known used from February 1849 to October 1859.  The example below is from January 1852.

Huntspill's UDC was issued on 3rd September 1849 and is known used in black from September 1849 to April 1858, with a single example known in brown from February 1856.  The blurred example below is from July 1855.

Putsom's UDC was issued on 22nd May 1846 and was known used from the end of June 1851 to the end of July 1851.  The example below from January 1853 extends this usage.

West Quantoxhead's UDC was issued on 29th September 1851 and its usage was unrecorded in the 1992 catalogue.  The example below is from October 1851.