Loose Ship Letters

Brisbane Ship Letter Page

Loose Ship Letters

Loose Ship Letters were letters posted in boxes aboard ships, the contents of which were handed in to the post office at the next port of call.  They might bear stamps of the country where they were handed in, or alternatively stamps of the country of the previous port of call. 

They were marked with a special handstamp at the post office where they were handed in, usually on the cover, but occasionally on the stamps; for Queensland they all show 'LOOSE SHIP LETTER' 

In addition, from 1 April 1873, a Late Fee was imposed on Ship Letters, 3d on letters for within the Colony or inter-Colonial, and 6d for foreign destinations. After 1887 the fee was reduced to 1d for places in Queensland and was charged until at least 1895

Late Fee applied as per regulations (1892)

There are two main Loose Ship Letter types.

Loose Ship Letter Handstamps

These are found for Brisbane, Rockhampton and Townsville. They are all unframed except for Brisbane. They all have two lines except for Brisbane and Rockhampton type 2, which are on one line. Townsville type 2 has 'LOOSE SHIP" on the top line whereas Rockhampton type 1 and Townsville types 3 and 4 only have "LOOSE" on the top line. They are reasonably similar and so ideally should be collected on cover

• Brisbane type 1 (framed)
• Rockhampton type 1
• Rockhampton type 2 (one line)
• Townsville type 2 (Loose Ship one line)
• Townsville type 3
• Townsville type 4

Brisbane Type 1 - A rectangular frame with chamfered corners 48.5 x 10 mm with "LOOSE SHIP LETTER" with seriffed letters in one line. Dated 1869 - 1873 and rated 4R

Rockhampton Type 1 - An unframed two-line handstamp, with 'LOOSE' in the top line and 'SHIP LETTER' in the second (40 mm long); the letters are 4½ mm high. On cover of 1875

Rockhampton Type 2 - An unframed single-line handstamp, with 'LOOSE SHIP LETTER' approximately 48mm long and the letters 5mm high. On a cover of 1886, and still in use in 1895

Left to Right: Brisbane type1, Rockhampton type 1, Rockhampton type 2

Townsville Type 2 - A  two-line handstamp similar to Type 1 of Rockhampton; the 'L' of 'LETTER' is under the first 'O' of 'LOOSE', and the overall measurements are approximately 40 x 9½ mm. Seen on Queensland stamps from 1882 to 1898, including an 1894 cover

Townsville Type 3 - As Type 2, but the overall measurements are about 39½ x 11 mm, and the 'L' of 'LETTER' is under the mid point of 'OO' of 'LOOSE'. Seen on a Queensland 1898 issue

Townsville Type 4 - Another unframed two-line handstamp, but with 'LOOSE SHIP' in the top line and 'LETTER' in the second, the overall measurement being about 37 1/2 x 12 1/2 mm Seen on Queensland 1897 issue.

Left to Right: Townsville type 2, Townsville type 3, Townsville type 4

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Loose Ship Letter Ovals

These are all framed except Thursday Island. Townsville type 1 is a large framed circle and Cairns has arc separators instead of dots. Again they are mostly so similar that to be certain of which port was involved they need to be collected on cover

• Bowen type 1 - ? mm, 1894
• Brisbane type 2 - 27.5 x 23.5 mm, 1871 - 1901
• Brisbane type 3 - 26 x 21 mm, 1895 - 1915
• Brisbane type 4 - 29.5 x 23 mm, 1903
• Bundaberg type 1 - ? mm, 1884 - 1891
• Cairns type 1 (vertical separators), 29 x 23 mm, 1904 - 1907
• Gladstone type 1 - ? mm, 1906 - 1910
• Mackay type 1 - ? mm, 1904
• Maryborough type 1
• Maryborough type 2
• Normanton type 1
• Thursday Island type 1
• Townsville type 1 (circle) - 54 mm, 1881 - 1884
• Townsville type 5

Bowen Type 1 - The same general type, the 'E' of "LOOSE" is nearly touching the 'P' of 'SHIP' and there is a rectangular stop at each side. Similar to Brisbane type 3 but it is missing the horizontal line on the top left hand side of the 'H' in 'SHIP'. Dates seen are 1894. Rated 5R

Bowen type 1

Brisbane Type 2  - A framed oval, 27.5 x 23.5 mm across the axes, with 'LOOSE' round the top, 'SHIP' in seriffed letters in the centre, and 'LETTER' round the foot; at each side is a smallish round dot. Seen from 1871 to 1901. Rated 2R.

Brisbane Type 3 - A framed oval, 26 x 21 mm across the axes, with 'LOOSE' round the top, 'SHIP' in seriffed letters in the centre, and 'LETTER' round the foot; at each side is a smallish round dot. Seen from 1895 - 1915. Rated 2R

Brisbane Type 4 -  A framed oval, 29.5 x 23 mm across the axes, with 'LOOSE' round the top, 'SHIP' in seriffed letters in the centre, and 'LETTER' round the foot; at each side is a round dot. Exceptionally rare on cover. Seen in 1903. Rated 5R

Left to Right: Brisbane type 2, Brisbane type 3, Brisbane type 4

Bundaberg Type 1 - The same general type, the bottom foot of the 'P' of 'SHIP' is abnormally long, the 'S' of 'SHIP' is broad, and there is a rectangular stop at each side. Dates seen are 1884 - 1891. Rated 5R

Cairns Type 1 - The same general type, 29 x 23 mm, with 'SHIP' in seriffed letters, the 'OO' of 'LOOSE' nearly 4½ mm high, and short vertical strokes at each side. Dates seen are 1904 - 1907. Rated 5R

Gladstone Type 1 - The same general type, the 'S' of 'SHIP' is broad, and there is a rectangular stop at each side. Dates seen are 1906 - 1910. Rated 5R

L-R: Bundaberg type 1, Cairns type 1, Gladstone type 1

Mackay Type 1 - The same general type, the 'S' of 'SHIP' is distinctive, and there is a rectangular stop at each side. Dates seen are 1904. Rated 5R

Mackay type 1

Townsville Type 1 - A large framed circle (54mm in diameter), with 'LOOSE SHIP LETTER' round the top, 'TOWNSVILLE' round the foot, and a stop at each side; the date is in one line in the centre (year in two digits). Dates seen are 1881 - 1884. Rated 4R

Townsville Type 5 - As Type 2 of Brisbane, the oval measuring 27 x 22.5 mm but 'SHIP' is in sans-serif letters, with a large 'S' and narrow 'H'. Was in use about 1901, and is found on a 1909 cover

Left to Right: Townsville type 1, Townsville type 5