Parcels

From the time that Queensland became a separate Colony, it was possible to send articles through the internal mails at a packet rate of 2d per 4 ounces, with ½d for each additional ½ oz. It was not possible, however, to send parcels by post to the other Australian Colonies and to overseas countries until the Brisbane Parcels Post Branch was formed on 14 January 1892, following Queensland's joining the Universal Postal Union. 

The Brisbane Parcels Post Branch had a number of special datestamps and continuous rollers which can be accessed HERE. Besides Brisbane, only two other post offices - Rockhampton and Townsville - had dedicated parcel post datestamps and continuous rollers

Rockhampton Parcel Post Types

201 Continuous roller - A vertical roller designed to be used on parcels with the numeral 201 above 5 thick horizontal bars then repeated. Known used from at least 1869 to the end of the 19th century. Rated 3R on Chalons, 5R on Large Chalons and 2R on Sidefaces

Parcel Post Type 1 - A framed circular datestamp 24 mm in diameter with 'PARCEL POST' round the top, 'ROCKHAMPTON' round the foot, and stops at the sides; the date is in two lines in the centre, month in two letters and day (or the reverse) over the year in two digits. Known from 21 June 1899 - 11 November 1908 and rated 3R

Parcel Post Type 2 - A framed circular datestamp 26 mm in diameter with 'PARCEL POST' round the top, 'ROCKHAMPTON' round the foot, and stops at the sides; the date is in one line in the centre, day, month in three letters and the year in two digits. Known from October 1910  - 21 July 1913 and rated 4R

Rockhampton 201 continuous roller

L-R: Rockhampton type 1, Rockhampton type 2

Townsville Parcel Post Types

Parcel Post Type 1 - A framed circular datestamp with 'PARCEL POST TOWNSVILLE' round the top; the date is in one line in the centre, day, month and the year in two digits. Known from a solitary 1905 example and rated 5R

Parcel Post Type 2 - A framed circular datestamp 30 mm in diameter with 'PARCEL POST' round the top, and 'BRANCH' beneath in a straight line, 'TOWNSVILLE' round the foot, and stops at the sides; the date is in one line in the centre, day, month in three letters and the year in two digits. Known from 12 October 1907 - 6 August 1913 and rated 4R

Parcel Post Type 3 - A continuous vertical roller type, consisting of four horizontal bars 188 mm long, with the letters 'PPB' (no stops) 9.5 mm high. One tied example known from 1909 and rated 5R. This is so similar to the Brisbane type 7 that to be allocated to Townsville it has to be tied to Townsville in some way

L-R: Townsville type 1, Townsville type 2

Townsville Parcel Post Branch Roller

Parcel Post Labels and dockets

A number of Queensland parcel post dockets and labels have been seen, indicating that there were various types. This section is a census of those I have seen, in date order (where known) and including Brisbane parcel post examples

2nd Sideface and Revenues

1888

A parcel post label numbered "226" franked with Second Sidefaces 3 x 3d, for a parcel weighing up to 2lbs, cancelled Post Office Gladstone and appears to be dated 12 August 1888. Seen in the collection of Henk Godthelp

1894

A parcel post label with a 2s/- revenue stamp, cancelled by Brisbane Brunswick star QL obliterator and a Brisbane datestamp type 15 code L dated 24 January 1894. Seen in the collection of Dr Tim Dexter

1896

A parcel post label numbered "319" franked with Second Sidefaces 1/- & 3d, for a parcel weighing up to 4lbs, cancelled Post Office Gladstone and dated 13 October 1896. Seen in the collection of Henk Godthelp

Unknown date

A parcel post label numbered "192" franked with uncancelled Second Sidefaces 1/- & 6d, for a parcel weighing up to 5lbs, addressed to AMP Buildings, Brisbane. Seen in Phoenix Auction no 64 lot no 1041

3rd Sideface

1897

A dull red parcel label affixed with a 3rd Sideface 2 x ½d, 2 x 5d  and 2d. Has an Ipswich date stamp with a probable date of 3 September 1897. Seen on Ebay

1909

A parcel label from Carl Zoeller and Co of 246 Queen Street Brisbane, with a Brisbane Registered Label in black no 8192. Dated 17 December 1909. Presumably the stamps were on the reverse os somewhere else on the parcel. Seen in  Abacus auction no 234

1910

A bright red parcel label affixed with a 3rd Sideface 6d  and 2d. Has a Cairns date stamp with a probable date of 5 September 1910. Seen in Phoenix auction no 64 lot no 1043

A deep red parcel label affixed with a 3rd Sideface 3 x 9d and 2 x 2½d for a parcel weighing up to 5 lbs. Cancelled with a Cape York datestamp dated 3 December 1910 and posted by H. G. Barnard, Cape York. Seen in Status auctions

1911

A deep red parcel label affixed with a 3rd Sideface 6d, 2 x 9d and 10 x 2d for a parcel weighing up to 7 lbs. Cancelled with a Cape York datestamp dated 1 January 1911 and posted by H. G. Barnard, Cape York. Seen in the collection of Henk Godthelp

A deep red parcel label affixed with a 3rd Sideface 4 x 6d and 4 x 2d for a parcel weighing up to 5 lbs. Cancelled with a Cape York datestamp dated 28 January 1911 and posted by H. G. Barnard, Cape York. Seen in Status auctions

1912

A luggage label from a Wholesale Grocery and Hardware Merchant/Roma Street, Brisbane to London. Franked with a 10/- Large Chalon. 3d and 5d 3rd sideface and two x 9d all tied by Registered Brisbane datestamp on blue dated 30 August 1912 with a poor strike of Registered London arrival in red. Seen at auction

1913

A deep red parcel label affixed with a 3rd Sideface 2 x 1/- , 2 x 6d and a 2/- Kangaroo. Cancelled with a Brisbane parcel post datestamp dated 29 August 1913. Seen in the Queensland Stamp Collecting Facebook Group

Unknown date

A dull red Parcel Post docket without an stamps. Seen on the Internet

A partial parcel label affixed with a 5/- Large Chalon and 3rd Sideface 3d. Seen in the collection of Henk Godthelp

A parcel docket to Melbourne affixed with a 3rd Sideface 2 x ½d  and 1d. Cancelled with a Ipswich datestamp dated 1904-09. Seen in the collection of Henk Godthelp

A deep red parcel label affixed with a 3rd Sideface 1/- , 4 x 9d and 2d. Seen in the collection of Dr Tim Dexter

A deep red parcel label affixed with 3rd Sideface 2 x 9d and 2d. Seen in Status auctions

A red parcel label affixed with a 3rd Sideface 1/-  and 4 x 2d. Seen in the Queensland Stamp Collecting Facebook Group

Parcel Post Rates

From Salters Queensland Almanac 1895

The Parcel Post is now in full operation in Queensland. The following are the principal regulations: - Weight not exceeding 11 lbs. Size not exceeding 3 ft. 6 in. in length or 6 ft. in girth and length combined. Postage (to be prepaid by stamps): -1 lb. or under, 6d. Each additional lb., 3d. The stamps to be affixed to an adhesive label, obtainable at any Parcel Post office by the sender, and the label to be attached to the parcel by the Postal Receiving Officer after he has ascertained the weight.

Parcels posted in letter boxes or not duly handed to an officer of the Department will be regarded as irregularly posted; if not exceeding 1 Ib. in weight such parcels will be forwarded as letters or packets under the Rule relating thereto, but when in excess of that weight they will be returned to sender on payment of an additional fee of 6d. for each parcel. Parcels may be registered upon payment in stamps of an additional fee of 3d., and for an additional 2d. a receipt will be obtained on delivery, which will be forwarded to the sender by post.

No parcel may contain a letter, money (coin or bank notes), bars of gold or gold dust, or consist of or contain two or more parcels or other postal packets of the same or of different descriptions addressed to different persons at different addresses. This Regulation does not prohibit the enclosure of invoices, business cards, or printed circulars, or advertisements, price lists, particulars of contents of or receipted account for such parcel. Parcels may contain fruit, liquids, medicines, etc., if securely packed.

POSTAL INFORMATION

All parcels, in addition to the name and address of person to whom directed, must also bear the name and address of the sender.

A parcel will be re-directed and delivered within the colony on the written application of the sender or addressee on payment of an additional fee of sixpence.

Parcels will be received at and forwarded to all post offices to which the mails are conveyed by rail or by steamer or both. From January 1, 1895, the parcels post will be available to all persons who reside in the towns, places, or stations to which the mails are carried by coaches or buggies.

FOREIGN PARCEL POST

"Foreign parcels" include all parcels received from any place beyond the limits of Queensland for delivery in Queensland, or received at any post office in Queensland for delivery beyond the limits thereof.

Weight must not exceed 11 lb. Size must not exceed 3ft. 6in. in length, or 6ft. in length and girth combined. To several of the Intercolonial post offices the limit of size and weight is much less than here stated.

Postage must be fully prepaid by stamps affixed to the parcels in the same manner as for inland parcels, at the following rates: -Intercolonial-8d. for first Ib. and 6d. for every additional Ib. or fraction of a lb. United Kingdom. 6d. for first 2 lb. and Sd. for every additional Ib. or fraction of a Ib.

The sender of any parcel will be required to sign a declaration, on a form provided for the purpose, furnishing an accurate statement of the contents of the parcel and the value thereof, address of addressee, and the sender's place of abode, which declaration must be attached to the parcel to which it relates. Declaration Forms will be issued to the public free of charge, and may be obtained at any Parcels Post Office.

A certificate of posting may be obtained, if desired, and applied for at the time by the person posting a parcel, on payment of a fee of 3d.

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I wish to acknowledge the help and assistance provided by Henk Godthelp. His researches in this field have greatly informed and improved this page, including the information on parcel rates from Salters 1895 Queensland Almanack