Handbook of Queensland Datestamps and Instructional Markings

This handbook is a free, detailed, illustrated, priced online catalog of colonial Queensland postage stamp date stamps (postmarks) and instructional markings. It builds on and supersedes the printed catalog Queensland Colonial Postal History: The Town Datestamps, 2nd edition by Bernard Manning, published in 2014. 

All stamp images shown are from my own collection unless stated otherwise and are not for sale.

There were six main date stamp types in use, first unframed and then framed, with a number of subtypes. A detailed listing is available here. The rarity ratings are based on relative scarcity and range from common, meaning examples are plentiful, through to 5R, where only one or two copies are known.

It covers the period 1846 (with the opening of the Drayton and Ipswich post offices) to 1913. This can be broken down into two periods:

• 1846 - 1859/60 - the Moreton Bay period - before Queensland became a separate colony and when New South Wales stamps and date stamps were in use
• 1859/60 to about 1913 - the colonial (Dec 1859 - 1900) and State (1901 - 1913) periods - when Queensland stamps and date stamps were in use, before being progressively replaced by Australian Kangaroo and King George V stamps from 1913 onwards

The Handbook covers over 750 Queensland post offices, and some 20,000 colour images - in date order - are included to assist with identification. Instructional markings are also listed, including Crown seals, Deficient postage, Late fee, Machine cancels, Missent, Paid, Telegraph, Too late and Unclaimed. The various railway Travelling Post Office (TPO) date stamps till 1936 are covered in detail and 140 Queensland post offices where date stamps have not yet been seen are also listed. 

The Brisbane General Post office (GPO) opened in 1830 and due to the large number of date stamps and handstamps in use there, I have created a separate blog for it here.

Use the pages (at the top on the web version, dropdown menu at the top right of the mobile version), labels or search function (web version only) to find the information you are seeking. 

A huge thank you to the members of the Queensland Stamp Collecting Facebook Group for all their help, encouragement and thousands of date stamp examples. I will continue to update this catalog as new material comes to hand. If you have any examples to add, please contact me at jeremy2929@gmail.com

I encourage you to explore my other free Queensland Philatelic blogs

• Numerals on Queensland Postage Stamps
• Queensland Catalog of Registered Handstamps and Labels
  
• Brisbane General Post Office Datestamps, Handstamps, Obliterators and Cancellations
  
• Queensland Postage Stamp Manuscript Cancellations
  
• Queensland 1st Sideface Postage Stamps
  
• Queensland 2nd Sideface Postage Stamps
• Queensland 3rd Sideface Postage Stamps
• Queensland Postal history
• Journal articles on Queensland Philately, Postage Stamps and Postal History
• Queensland Philately Portal
  

Dr Jeremy Hodes, New South Wales, Australia - January 2024

Lower Herbert

Lower Herbert post office, 97 km north west of Townsville, opened on 1 July 1871 and was renamed Ingham post office on 19 January 1882

• Datestamp type 3a (May 188-) rated 5R - $100

Lower Herbert numeral 27 HERE

Datestamp type 3a

188-

Lower Herbert datestamp type 3a. Dated May 188-. Rated 5R. Seen in the collection of Dave Elsmore 

Southern and Western Railway - TPO 1

Railways page here

Southern and Western Railway [S&WR], TPO 1 (Travelling Post office), running between Toowoomba and Cunnamulla, from January 1877 to 12 August 1932

• Datestamp type 1a - DOWN Code A (27 mm) (5 December 1881 - 1887) rated 3R
• Datestamp type 1a - DOWN Code A Gang 1 (27 mm) (35 February 1878) rated 3R
• Datestamp type 1a - UP (27 mm) (15 March 1894) rated 5R
• Datestamp type 1a - UP Code A  (27 mm) (12 August 1882) rated 3R
• Datestamp type 1b - DOWN (27 mm) (30 November 1895) rated 5R
• Datestamp type 1b - DOWN  Code A (27 mm) (8 August 1884 - 25 August 1888) rated 2R
• Datestamp type 1b - UP  Code A (27 mm) (October 1891 - 15 February 1892) rated 3R
• Datestamp type 3 Code A (28 mm) (1 January 1898 - 24 March 1906) rated Common
• Datestamp type 3 Code B (28 mm) rated (22 May 1902) 2R
• Datestamp type 3 Code D (28 mm) (May 1893 - 28 April 1910) rated Rare
• Datestamp type 5 - DOWN (26.5 mm) (24 August 1915 - 10 November 1923) rated 2R
• Datestamp type 5 - UP (26 mm) (20 September 1915 - 26 November 1919) rated 2R
• Datestamp type 6 (29 mm) (7 February 1913) rated 5R
• Datestamp type 7 - DOWN (30 mm) rated 4R
• Datestamp type 7 - UP (30 mm) (8 August 1931 - 23 February 1932) rated 3R

Southern and Western Railway - TPO 1 numeral 233 HERE

L - R: Type 1a (unframed),  Type 1b (unframed), Type 3 (framed), Type 5 (framed), Type 6 (framed), Type 7 (framed)

Datestamp Type 1a DOWN Code A (unframed)

1881

Southern and Western Railway datestamp type 1a DOWN Code A rated 3R. Dated 5 December 1881. Seen in Abacus auction no 243 lot no 530

1887

Southern and Western Railway datestamp type 1a DOWN Code A rated 3R. Dated 1887. Seen on Ebay

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Datestamp Type 1a DOWN Code A Gang 1 (unframed)

1878

Southern and Western Railway datestamp type 1a DOWN Code A Gang 1 rated 3R. Dated 25 February 1878. Seen in Abacus auction no 243 lot no 530
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Datestamp Type 1a UP (unframed)

1894

Southern and Western Railway datestamp type 1a UP rated 5R. Dated 15 March 1894. Seen on Ebay

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Datestamp Type 1a UP Code A (unframed)

1882

Southern and Western Railway datestamp type 1a UP Code A rated 3R. Dated 12 August 1882. Seen in Abacus auction no 243 lot no 530
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Datestamp Type 1b DOWN (unframed)

1895

Southern and Western Railway datestamp type 1b DOWN rated 5R. Dated 30 November 1895. Seen in a private collection

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Datestamp Type 1b DOWN Code A (unframed)

1884

Southern and Western Railway datestamp type 1b DOWN Code A rated 2R. Dated 8 August 1884. Seen in a private collection

Southern and Western Railway datestamp type 1b DOWN Code A rated 2R. Dated 10 December 1884. Seen in Phoenix auction no 65

1886

Southern and Western Railway datestamp type 1b DOWN Code A rated 2R. Dated 29 January 1886. Seen in a private collection

1888

Southern and Western Railway datestamp type 1b DOWN Code A rated 2R. Dated 25 August 1888. Seen in the collection of Dave Hopper

Unclear date

Southern and Western Railway datestamp type 1b DOWN Code A rated 2R. Dated 27 September 188-. Seen in a private collection

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Datestamp Type 1b UP Code A (unframed)

1891

Southern and Western Railway datestamp type 1b UP Code A rated 3R. Dated October 1891. Seen in the Queensland Stamp Collecting Facebook Group

1892

Southern and Western Railway datestamp type 1b UP Code A rated 3R. Dated 15 February 1892. Seen in Abacus auction no 243 lot no 530
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Datestamp Type 3 Code A (framed)

1898

Southern and Western Railway datestamp type 3 Code A rated common. Dated 1 January 1898

1900

Southern and Western Railway datestamp type 3 Code A rated common. Dated 4 October 1900. Seen in Abacus auction no 243 lot no 530

1901

Southern and Western Railway datestamp type 3 Code A rated common. Dated 29 January 1901. Seen in Torstenweller auctions

1903

Southern and Western Railway datestamp type 3 Code A rated common. Dated 9 July 1903

Southern and Western Railway datestamp type 3 Code A rated common. Dated 22 October 1903. Seen in a private collection

Southern and Western Railway datestamp type 3 Code A rated common. Dated 25 October 1903. Seen in a private collection

1904

Southern and Western Railway datestamp type 3 Code A rated common. Dated 1 August 1904

1905

Southern and Western Railway datestamp type 3 Code A rated common. Dated 1 February 1905

Southern and Western Railway datestamp type 3 Code A rated common. Dated 7 February 1905. Seen in a private collection

1906

Southern and Western Railway datestamp type 3 Code A rated common. Dated 24 March 1906. Seen in the Queensland Stamp Collecting Facebook Group
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Datestamp Type 3 Code B (framed)

1902

Southern and Western Railway datestamp type 3 Code B rated 2R. Dated 22 May 1902. Seen in Abacus auction no 243 lot no 530
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Datestamp Type 3 Code D (framed)

1893

Southern and Western Railway datestamp type 3 Code D rated rare. Dated May 1893. Seen in Prestige Philately auction no 146 lot no 1081

1900

Southern and Western Railway datestamp type 3 Code D rated rare. Dated 20 September 1900. Seen in Abacus auction no 243 lot no 530

1902

Southern and Western Railway datestamp type 3 Code D rated rare. Dated 24 June 1902. Seen in the Queensland Stamp Collecting Facebook Group

Southern and Western Railway datestamp type 3 Code D rated rare. Dated 29 August 1902. Courtesy of Dave Elsmore

1903

Southern and Western Railway datestamp type 3 Code D rated rare. Dated 2 January 1903. Courtesy of Dave Elsmore

Southern and Western Railway datestamp type 3 Code D rated rare. Dated 10 May 1903. Courtesy of Dave Elsmore

1904

Southern and Western Railway datestamp type 3 Code D rated rare. Dated 21 January 1904. Seen in the Queensland Stamp Collecting Facebook Group

1905

Southern and Western Railway datestamp type 3 Code D rated rare. Dated 24 January 1905. Seen on Ebay

1910

Southern and Western Railway datestamp type 3 Code D rated rare. Dated 28 April 1910. Seen in a private collection

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Datestamp Type 5 DOWN (framed)

1915

Southern and Western Railway datestamp type 5 DOWN rated 2R. Dated 24 August 1915. Seen in the Queensland Stamp Collecting Facebook Group

1919

Southern and Western Railway datestamp type 5 DOWN rated 2R. Dated 19 November 1919. Seen in the Queensland Stamp Collecting Facebook Group

Unclear date

Southern and Western Railway datestamp type 5 DOWN rated 2R. Dated 22 June. Seen in the Queensland Stamp Collecting Facebook Group

Southern and Western Railway datestamp type 5 DOWN rated 2R. Dated 22 December. Seen in the Queensland Stamp Collecting Facebook Group

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Datestamp Type 5 UP (framed)

1915

Southern and Western Railway datestamp type 5 UP rated 2R Dated 20 September 1915. Seen in the Queensland Stamp Collecting Facebook Group

1917

Southern and Western Railway datestamp type 5 UP rated 2R. Dated 28 May 1917. Seen in the Queensland Stamp Collecting Facebook Group

1919

Southern and Western Railway datestamp type 5 UP rated 2R. Dated 26 November 1919. Seen in the Queensland Stamp Collecting Facebook Group

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Datestamp Type 6 (framed)

1913

Southern and Western Railway datestamp type 6 rated 5R. Dated 7 February 1913. Seen in Abacus auction no 240 lot no 525

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Datestamp Type 7 UP (framed)

1931

Southern and Western Railway datestamp type 7 UP rated 3R. Dated 8 August 1931. Courtesy of Dave Elsmore

Southern and Western Railway datestamp type 7 UP rated 3R. Dated 1 December 1931. Seen in Abacus auction no 243

1932

Southern and Western Railway datestamp type 7 UP rated 3R. Dated 23 February 1932. Seen in the Queensland Stamp Collecting Facebook Group

Southern and Western Railway - TPO 2

Railways page here

Southern and Western Railway [S&WR], TPO 2 (Travelling Post office), running between Toowoomba and Cunnamulla, from January 1877 to 12 August 1932

• Datestamp type 1a - DOWN no Code Gang 1 (27 mm) (28 December 1880) rated 5R
• Datestamp type 1a - DOWN Code A Gang 1 (27 mm) rated 4R
• Datestamp type 1a - DOWN Code A Gang 2 (27 mm) (9 February 1884 - 3 April 1884) rated 5R
• Datestamp type 1a - UP Code A no Gang (27 mm) (10 September 1886) rated 5R
• Datestamp type 1a - UP Code A Gang 1 (27 mm) (3 August 1883) rated 5R
• Datestamp type 1b - DOWN (27 mm) (6 March 1897 - 15 October 1904) rated 2R
• Datestamp type 1b - No Direction (27 mm) (3 October 1901) rated 5R
• Datestamp type 4 - DOWN (24 mm) rated 4R
• Datestamp type 4 - UP (24 mm) rated 5R
• Datestamp type 5 - DOWN (26.5 mm) (10 March 1908) rated 4R
• Datestamp type 5 - UP (26 mm) (11 March 1912) rated 4R

Southern and Western Railway - TPO 2 numeral 169 HERE. Southern and Western Railway - TPO 2 numeral 234 HERE. Southern and Western Railway - TPO 2 registered HERE

L - R: Type 1a (unframed),  Type 1b (unframed), Type 4 (unframed), Type 5 (framed)

Datestamp Type 1a DOWN no Code Gang 1 (unframed)

1880

Southern and Western Railway datestamp type 1a DOWN no Code Gang 1 rated 5R. Dated 28 December 1880. Courtesy of Dave Elsmore
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Datestamp Type 1a DOWN Code A Gang 1 (unframed)

Year missing

Southern and Western Railway datestamp type 1a DOWN Code A Gang 1 rated 4R. Dated 24 February. Seen in a private collection

Southern and Western Railway datestamp type 1a DOWN Code A Gang 1 rated 4R. Dated 16 September. Seen in Abacus auction no 243 lot no 530

Southern and Western Railway datestamp type 1a DOWN Code A Gang 1 rated 4R. Dated 10 March. Seen in Abacus auction no 243 lot no 530

Southern and Western Railway datestamp type 1a DOWN Code A Gang 1 rated 4R. Dated August. Seen in Abacus auction no 243 lot no 530

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Datestamp Type 1a DOWN Code A Gang 2 (unframed)

1884

Southern and Western Railway datestamp type 1a DOWN Code A Gang 2 rated 5R. Dated 9 February 1884. Seen in Abacus auction no 243 lot no 530

Southern and Western Railway datestamp type 1a DOWN Code A Gang 2 rated 5R. Dated 3 April 1884. Seen in Abacus auction no 243 lot no 530

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Datestamp Type 1a UP Code A no Gang (unframed)

1886

Southern and Western Railway datestamp type 1a UP Code A no Gang rated 5R. Dated 10 September 1886. Seen in a private collection

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Datestamp Type 1a UP Code A Gang 1 (unframed)

1883

Southern and Western Railway datestamp type 1a UP Code A Gang 1 rated 5R. Dated 3 August 1883

Year missing

Southern and Western Railway datestamp type 1a UP Code A Gang 1 rated 5R. Dated 27 June. Seen in a private collection

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Datestamp Type 1b DOWN (unframed)

1897

Southern and Western Railway datestamp type 1b DOWN rated 2R. Dated 6 March 1897. Seen in Spink auction no 15030 lot no 3757

Southern and Western Railway datestamp type 1b DOWN rated 2R. Dated 16 October 1897. Seen in Spink auction no 15030 lot no 3757

Southern and Western Railway datestamp type 1b DOWN rated 2R. Dated 11 December 1897. Courtesy of Dave Elsmore

1898

Southern and Western Railway datestamp type 1b DOWN rated 2R. Dated 21 September 1898. Seen in the Queensland Stamp Collecting Facebook Group

1899

Southern and Western Railway datestamp type 1b DOWN rated 2R. Dated 31 March 1899. Seen in the Queensland Stamp Collecting Facebook Group

Southern and Western Railway datestamp type 1b DOWN rated 2R. Dated 6 May 1899. Seen in Abacus auction no 243 lot no 530

1900

Southern and Western Railway datestamp type 1b DOWN rated 2R. Dated 15 November 1900. Seen in the Queensland Stamp Collecting Facebook Group

1901

Southern and Western Railway datestamp type 1b DOWN rated 2R. Dated 23 July 1901. Seen in Spink auction no 15030 lot no 3757

1902

Southern and Western Railway datestamp type 1b DOWN rated 2R. Dated 12 April 1902. Seen in the Queensland Stamp Collecting Facebook Group

Southern and Western Railway datestamp type 1b DOWN rated 2R. Dated 6 August 1902. Seen in the Queensland Stamp Collecting Facebook Group

Southern and Western Railway datestamp type 1b DOWN rated 2R. Dated 10 December 1902. Seen in the Queensland Stamp Collecting Facebook Group

1903

Southern and Western Railway datestamp type 1b DOWN rated 2R. Dated 8 September 1903. Seen in Abacus auction no 243 lot no 530

1904

Southern and Western Railway datestamp type 1b DOWN rated 2R. Dated 23 September 1904. Seen in a private collection

Southern and Western Railway datestamp type 1b DOWN rated 2R. Dated 15 October 1904. Seen in Spink auction no 12043 lot no 1453. Ex Alan Griffiths

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Datestamp Type 1b no Direction (unframed)

1901

Southern and Western Railway datestamp type 1b no direction rated 5R. Dated 3 October 1901. Courtesy of Dave Elsmore

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Datestamp Type 5 DOWN (framed)

1908

Southern and Western Railway datestamp type 5 DOWN rated 4R. Dated 10 March 1908. Seen in the Queensland Stamp Collecting Facebook Group

Southern and Western Railway datestamp type 5 DOWN rated 4R. Dated 10 June 1908. Seen in the Queensland Stamp Collecting Facebook Group