Date Stamp Types

The Queensland date stamps are arranged into 6 main types (1 - 6) and further divided into sub-types. The types roughly correspond chronologically to when the date stamps were introduced. Here is a listing of the types with a brief description of each type and sub-type

Type 1

1a
An unframed circular canceller, usually 18, 21 or 22 - 24 mm in diameter with the post office name at the top and Queensland at the bottom. Two arcs of varying sizes were used as a separator. The date is in four digits but later examples had the year in two digits. They were provided from 1860 to about 1873

1b
An unframed circular canceller, usually 21- 22 mm in diameter with the post office name at the top and Queensland at the bottom. A dot was used as a separator. The date is in four digits but some examples have the year in two digits. Provided to a small number of post offices from 1865 onwards

L-R Type 1a and 1b

Type 2
An unframed circular canceller, usually 22 - 23 cm in diameter with the post office name at the top and Queensland at the bottom. A short single or double arc was used as a separator. The date is in two digits

2

Type 3
An unframed circular canceller, usually 23 - 24 mm in diameter with the post office name at the top and Queensland at the bottom. There is a two line date, usually month and day in the top line and the year is in two digits at the bottom. Sometimes the dates are reversed. They were generally issued between 1874 and 1899 with a variety of separators, which form the sub-types. Many of them also included alphabetical and / or numeral codes

3a

A fleuron, diamond, Maltese Cross or other similar ornament was used as a separator. Issued between 1874-80

3a

3b

Two curved arcs were used as a separator. Issued between 1879-84

3b

3c

A dot varying in shape or size or short horizontal or vertical dashes were used as a separator. Variations include two or three vertical dots, two horizontal dots, square or rhomboid of dots etc. Issued between 1883-9

3c

Type 4

An unframed circular canceller, usually 23 - 24 mm in diameter with the post office name at the top and Queensland at the bottom. There is a two line date, usually month and day in the top line and the year is in two digits at the bottom. Sometimes the dates are reversed. The date lines are close together, and are centered in the bottom of the datestamp. They were generally issued between 1895 and 1903 with almost always a dot separator. Time may or may not be present. Many of them also included alphabetical and / or numeral codes

4a / 4at

This has the year in two digits. If the time is present then it is a type 4at. There are variations, such as four vertical dots. It can be tricky sometimes to distinguish between type 3c and type 4a / 4at. Usually the date lines for type 4 are closer together and centered towards the bottom of the datestamp

4a

4at

4b / 4bt

This has the year in four digits. If the time is present then it is a type 4bt

4b

4bt

Type 5

A framed circular canceller, usually 25 mm in diameter with the post office name at the top and Queensland at the bottom and the date in one central line for types 5a, 5b and 5c and 2 lines for type 5d. They were generally issued between 1904 to 1909 (however Nambour (5b) is known from 1901)

5a

The date line extends across the datestamp. There is the time, a day, two letter month and a two digit year. Issued between 1903-04

5b

There is a thick circular stop (hollow in the case of Kidston) at each side. There is no time and the month is in three letters and the date year is two digits. Issued between 1904-09 (Nambour 1901). 

5c

There is a thick circular stop at each side. There is no time and the month is in three letters and the date year is four digits. Issued between 1904-09

5d

There is a thick circular stop at each side. The date is in two lines with the day and month on the top line and the year in two digits on the bottom line. Only known for Cunnamulla and appears to have been introduced in 1909 

L-R Type 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 

Type 6 / 6t / 6tx

A framed circular canceller, larger than type 5, 26 - 29 mm in diameter with the post office name at the top, Queensland at the bottom and a short vertical dash (type 6) or slightly longer arc (type 6t) at each side. The date is in one central line with the day, two letter month and two digit year. If the time is present then it is a type 6t. They were issued from late 1909 onwards. 

Type 6tx is only known for Thursday Island from December 1910 onwards. It is a framed circle 28.5 mm in diameter and the time is present. Uniquely it has a Code 1 above the date and a horizontal bar beneath it

L-R Type 6, 6t, 6tx