Handbook of Queensland Datestamps and Instructional Markings 1850-1913 by Dr Jeremy Hodes: Townsville

Tuesday, 25 July 2023

Townsville

Townsville post office, 72 km north west of Ayr, opened on 1 January 1866

Date Stamps

Datestamp type 1b (22 April 1867 - 19 November 1874) rated 3R
Datestamp type 3a - Codes None, 1, 2, 3, (16 August 1878 - 6 December 1880) rated 4R
Datestamp type 3b - Codes 1, 2, 3, 4 (10 October 1877 - 18 September 1888) rated 4R
Datestamp type 3c - No Code (3 October 1883 - 4 November 1899) rated 2R
Datestamp type 3c - Codes a, b, c (18 June 1874 - 16 October 1877) rated 3R - 5R
Datestamp type 3c - Codes A, B, C, E, F (9 July 1883 - 18 March 1898) rated 4R - 5R
Datestamp type 3c - Codes 2, 4, 5, 6, 7 (27 January 1882 - 21 November 1904) rated 4R - 5R
Datestamp type 4at (18 June 1900 - 10 March 1901) rated 5R
Datestamp type 4b (30 September 1902 - 9 October 1906) rated 4R
Datestamp type 5a (21 January 1905 - 13 July 1914) rated Common
Datestamp type 6t (3 August 1912 - 20 February 1913) rated 4R
Machine cancellation type 5 (3 December 1912) rated 5R
Machine cancellation type 6 (23 October 1911 - 10 March 1913) rated 4R

Instructional Markings

Electric Telegraph Office Oval type 1 (no crown) in violet rated 5R
Electric Telegraph Office Oval type 2 (with crown) rated 5R
Loose Ship Letter date stamp (16 May 1882) rated 5R
Not Known by Letter Carriers handstamp (1906) rated 5R
Parcel Post date stamp (12 October 1907 - 6 August 1913) rated 5R
Received Torn handstamp (1902 - 1906) rated 5R
Unclaimed handstamp (1906 - 1907) rated 5R

Townsville numeral duplexes

There are several different Townsville numeral duplex types. All have a 3 line date. 59 and 528 type 1 and 528 type 2 have a code number in the top line while 570 has the time in the top line

Top row, L-R duplexes 59, 528 type 1, 528 type 2. Bottom row 570 duplex and numeral portions types 1 and 2, with type 1 having a noticeably fuller '0' of '570'

Dates are; 59 (Dec 1887 - Oct 1895), 528 type 1 (Jan 1896 - Jan 1901), 528 type 2 (Jan 1901 - Oct 1907), 570 type 1 (Apr 1898 - Sep 1906) and 570 type 2 (Oct 1907 - May 1911). Codes are: 59 (1 - 10), 528 type 1 (1 - 14, 18 - 20, 24), 528 type 2 (1 - 23)

Townsville numeral 59 HERE. Townsville duplex numeral 59 HERE. Townsville numeral 444 HERE. Townsville duplex numeral 528 HERE. Townsville duplex numeral 570 HERE. Townsville registered HERE. Townsville instructional markings HERE

Datestamp type 1b

1867

Townsville datestamp type 1b. Dated 22 April 1867. Rated 3R. Seen on Ebay

Townsville datestamp type 1b. Dated 18 December 1867. Rated 3R. Seen in Abacus auction no 240 lot no 1697

1868

Townsville datestamp type 1b. Dated 8 January 1868. Rated 3R. Seen on Ebay

Townsville datestamp type 1b. Dated 5 June 1868. Rated 3R. Seen in Millennium auction no 80 lot no 467

Townsville datestamp type 1b. Dated 26 June 1868. Rated 3R. Seen on Ebay

Townsville datestamp type 1b. Dated 21 October 1868. Rated 3R. Seen in Abacus online auction no 1 lot no 1241

Townsville datestamp type 1b. Dated 28 November 1868. Rated 3R. Seen in a private collection

1869

Townsville datestamp type 1b. Dated 13 January 1869. Rated 3R. Seen in Millennium auction no 80 lot no 478

Townsville datestamp type 1b. Dated 31 March 1869. Rated 3R. Seen in Millennium auction no 80 lot no 359

Townsville datestamp type 1b. Dated 3 April 1869. Rated 3R. Seen in Prestige Philately auction no 97 lot no 1050

Townsville datestamp type 1b. Dated 22 June 1869. Rated 3R. Seen on Ebay

Townsville datestamp type 1b. Dated 18 November 1869. Rated 3R. Seen on Ebay

1870

Townsville datestamp type 1b. Dated 11 March 1870. Rated 3R. Seen on Ebay

Townsville datestamp type 1b. Dated 28 April 1870. Rated 3R. Seen on Ebay. Seen in Millennium auction no 80 lot no 481

1871

Townsville datestamp type 1b. Dated 4 November 1871. Rated 3R. Seen in Cavendish auctions

Datestamp type 3a - No Code

1878

Townsville datestamp type 3a no code. Dated 8 December 1878. Rated 4R. Seen in Phoenix auction no 91

1880

Townsville datestamp type 3a no code. Dated 6 December 1880. Rated 4R. Seen in a private collection

Datestamp type 3a - Code 1

1878

Townsville datestamp type 3a code 1. Dated 8 December 1878. Rated 4R. Seen in Abacus auction no 234 lot no 130

1879

Townsville datestamp type 3a code 1. Dated 17 February 1879. Rated 4R. Seen on Ebay

1880

Townsville datestamp type 3a code 1. Dated 15 July 1880. Rated 4R. Seen in Abacus auction no 257 lot no 836

Datestamp type 3a - Code 2

1878

Townsville datestamp type 3a code 2. Dated 8 December 1878. Rated 4R. Seen in Abacus auction no 257 lot no 836

1879

Townsville datestamp type 3a code 2. Dated 5 November 1879. Rated 4R. Seen in Millennium auction no 80 lot no 495

Datestamp type 3a - Code 3

1879

Townsville datestamp type 3a code 3. Dated 20 June 1879. Rated 4R. Seen in Corinphila auctions

Unknown code

1879

Townsville datestamp type 3a code unknown. Dated 24 June 1879. Rated 4R. Seen on Ebay

Datestamp type 3b - Code 1

1884

Townsville datestamp type 3b code 1. Dated 3 February 1884. Rated 4R

Townsville datestamp type 3b code 1. Dated 14 November 1884. Rated 4R. Seen in Charles Leski auction no 317

Datestamp type 3b - Code 2

1884

Townsville datestamp type 3b code 2. Dated 27 December 1884. Rated 4R. Seen in a private collection

Datestamp type 3b - Code 3

1884

Townsville datestamp type 3b code 3. Dated 29 May 1884. Rated 4R. Seen in a private collection

Datestamp type 3b - Code 4

1884

Townsville datestamp type 3b code 4. Dated 28 April 1884. Rated 4R. Seen on Ebay

1885

Townsville datestamp type 3b code 4. Dated 16 February 1885. Rated 4R. Seen in Leski auctions

Datestamp type 3c - No Code

1884

Townsville datestamp type 3c no code. Dated 1 March 1884. Rated 2R. Seen in Leski auctions June 2021. Ex Beston

1885

Townsville datestamp type 3c no code. Dated 16 February 1885. Rated 2R. Seen in the Queensland Stamp Collecting Facebook Group

1887

Townsville datestamp type 3c no code. Dated 12 October 1887. Rated 2R. Seen in a private collection

1893

Townsville datestamp type 3c no code. Dated 7 August 1893. Rated 2R. Seen in Spink auction no 14015 lot no 2351. Ex Griffiths

Townsville datestamp type 3c no code. Dated 10 December 1893. Rated 2R

1895

Townsville datestamp type 3c no code. Dated 4 November 1895. Rated 2R

1896

Townsville datestamp type 3c no code. Dated 8 April 1896. Rated 2R. Seen on Ebay

Townsville datestamp type 3c no code. Dated 2 November 1896. Rated 2R. Seen in a private collection

Townsville datestamp type 3c no code. Dated 2 November 1896. Rated 2R. Seen on Ebay

1898

Townsville datestamp type 3c no code. Dated January 1898. Rated 2R. Seen in Smithies

Townsville datestamp type 3c no code. Dated 30 May 1898. Rated 2R

1899

Townsville datestamp type 3c no code. Dated 4 November 1899. Rated 2R

Datestamp type 3c - Code a

1877

Townsville datestamp type 3c code a. Dated 1 March 1877. Rated 5R. Seen in Abacus auction no 239 lot no 1732

Datestamp type 3c - Code b

1874

Townsville datestamp type 3c code b. Dated 5 December 1874. Rated 4R. Seen on Ebay

1875

Townsville datestamp type 3c code b. Dated 21 January 1875. Rated 4R. Seen in Smithies

1877

Townsville datestamp type 3c code b. Dated 31 March 1877. Rated 4R. Seen in Prestige Philately auction no 124 lot no 504

Datestamp type 3c - Code c

1874

Townsville datestamp type 3c code c. Dated 18 June 1874. Rated 3R. Seen in Abacus auction no 239 lot no 1788

1875

Townsville datestamp type 3c code c. Dated 17 August 1875. Rated 3R. Seen in Abacus auction no 234 lot no 81

1877

Townsville datestamp type 3c code c. Dated 12 March 1877. Rated 3R. Seen in Abacus auction no 234 lot no 86

Townsville datestamp type 3c code c. Dated 31 March 1877. Rated 3R. Seen in Abacus auction no 257 lot no 836

Townsville datestamp type 3c code c. Dated 27 August 1877. Rated 3R

Townsville datestamp type 3c code c. Dated 16 October 1877. Rated 3R. Seen in Abacus auction no 234 lot no 88

Datestamp type 3c - Code A

1885

Townsville datestamp type 3c code A. Dated 22 November 1885. Rated 4R

1887

Townsville datestamp type 3c code A. Dated 19 June 1887. Rated 4R. Seen in a private collection

1892

Townsville datestamp type 3c code A. Dated 9 July 1892 Rated 4R

Townsville datestamp type 3c code A. Dated 13 December 1892 Rated 4R

1893

Townsville datestamp type 3c code A. Dated 4 July 1893. Rated 4R

Datestamp type 3c - Code B

1883

Townsville datestamp type 3c code B. Dated 9 July 1883. Rated 4R. Seen in Abacus auction no 239 lot no 1756

1897

Townsville datestamp type 3c code B. Dated 8 February, 19 April and 4 August 1897. Rated 4R

Datestamp type 3c - Code C

1886

Townsville datestamp type 3c code C. Dated 10 March 1886. Rated 4R. Seen in Charles Leski auctions

1887

Townsville datestamp type 3c code C. Dated 20 June 1887. Rated 4R. Seen in Status auctions

Townsville datestamp type 3c code C. Dated 11 July 1887. Rated 4R. Seen on Ebay

Townsville datestamp type 3c code C. Dated 10 October 1887. Rated 4R. Seen on Ebay

1898

Townsville datestamp type 3c code C. Dated 19 March 1898. Rated 4R

Datestamp type 3c - Code E

1897

Townsville datestamp type 3c code E. Dated 25 January 1897. Rated 5R. Seen in a private collection

Datestamp type 3c - Code F

1895

Townsville datestamp type 3c code F. Dated 9 November 1895. Rated 4R

Townsville datestamp type 3c code F. Dated 14 November 1895. Rated 4R

Datestamp type 3c - Code 2

1883

Townsville datestamp type 3c code 2. Dated 23 August 1883. Rated 5R. Seen in a private collection

Datestamp type 3c - Code 4

1883

Townsville datestamp type 3c code 4. Dated 23 August 1883. Rated 4R. Seen on Ebay

1886

Townsville datestamp type 3c code 4. Dated 14 November 1886. Rated 4R

Datestamp type 3c - Code 5

1882

Townsville datestamp type 3c code 5. Dated 27 January 1882. Rated 4R

Townsville datestamp type 3c code 5. Dated 10 February 1882. Rated 4R. Seen on Ebay

Datestamp type 3c - Code 6

1882

Townsville datestamp type 3c code 5. Dated 23 March 1882. Rated 5R. Seen in Abacus auction no 252 lot no 142

Datestamp type 3c - Code 7

1883

Townsville datestamp type 3c code 7. Dated 18 June 1883. Rated 5R. Seen in Abacus auction no 234 lot no 117

Datestamp type 4at

1900

Townsville datestamp type 4at. Dated 18 June 1900. Rated 5R. Seen in the Queensland Stamp Collecting facebook Group

1901

Townsville datestamp type 4at. Dated 10 March 1901. Rated 5R. Seen in a private collection

Datestamp type 4b

1902

Townsville datestamp type 4b. Dated 30 September 1902. Rated 4R. Seen on Ebay

1906

Townsville datestamp type 4b. Dated 3 May 1906. Rated 4R. Courtesy of Dave Elsmore

Townsville datestamp type 4b. Dated June 1906. Rated 4R. Courtesy of Dave Elsmore

Townsville datestamp type 4b. Dated 29 June 1906. Rated 4R. Seen in Millennium auction no 80 lot no 407

Townsville datestamp type 4b. Dated 7 September 1906. Rated 4R. Seen in Spink auction no 24030

Townsville datestamp type 4b. Dated 12 September 1906. Rated 4R. Seen on Ebay

Townsville datestamp type 4b. Dated 6 October 1906. Rated 4R. Seen in Stamp Group auction

Townsville datestamp type 4b. Dated 9 October 1906. Rated 4R. Courtesy of Dave Elsmore

Datestamp type 5a

1905

Townsville datestamp type 5a. Dated 23 January 1905. Rated common

Townsville datestamp type 5a. Dated 13 November 1905. Rated common. Seen in Abacus auction no 234 lot no 131

1906

Townsville datestamp type 5a. Dated 24 September 1906. Rated common. Seen in Abacus online auction no 4 lot no 1263

Townsville datestamp type 5a. Dated 31 December 1906. Rated common

1907

Townsville datestamp type 5a. Dated 4 June 1907. Rated common

Townsville datestamp type 5a. Dated 24 June 1907. Rated common. Seen in a private collection

Townsville datestamp type 5a. Dated 10 July 1907. Rated common. Seen in a private collection

Townsville datestamp type 5a. Dated 21 November 1907. Rated common

1909

Townsville datestamp type 5a. Dated 11 December 1909. Rated common. Seen in Smithies

1911

Townsville datestamp type 5a. Dated 2 March 1911. Rated common

1913

Townsville datestamp type 5a. Dated 18 February 1913. Rated common. Seen in Smithies

Datestamp type 6t

1912

Townsville datestamp type 6t. Dated 15 July 1912. Rated 4R

Townsville datestamp type 6t. Dated 28 August 1912. Rated 4R. Seen on Ebay

Townsville datestamp type 6t. Dated 3 September 1912. Rated 4R. Seen in Smithies

Townsville datestamp type 6t. Dated 4 November 1912. Rated 4R

Townsville datestamp type 6t. Dated 13 November 1912. Rated 4R. Seen in Smithies

Townsville datestamp type 6t. Dated 2 December 1912. Rated 4R

Townsville datestamp type 6t. Dated December 1912. Rated 4R. Seen on Ebay

Machine cancellation type 6

1911

Townsville machine cancellation type 6 dated 23 October 1911. Rated 4R

Townsville machine cancellation type 6 dated 4 December 1911. Rated 4R

1912

Townsville machine cancellation type 6 dated 11 March 1912. Rated 4R. Seen in a private collection

Townsville machine cancellation type 6 dated December 1912. Rated 4R

Townsville machine cancellation type 6 dated 1912. Rated 4R. Inverted