mmimm^im^ \ii ,1 ''ii.." m^wm¥f?j;^;l IMMiMMM^iMmmm THE GIFT OF ^.«t..C.«JU^>A «rj -tA^ A<-4i_... 4>-^^ gg To g-l!^.} .' 7583 The date shows when this volume was taken. lOk copy the cal the Horaria;!. To renew this book copy the call No. and give to ■ Hbn ■ - " HOME USE RULES. , All Pooks silbj6et, to Rflcall. . y ■ ■'' ^. All books must be ' OEC R 1950 returned at end of col- - u ii^iV jggg year. for inspec- tion and repairs. Students must re- turn all boots before leaving towriT Officers ' should ' arrange for the return of books - wanted during their . - absence from town. Books needed by ' , more than one person • ^reheldon the reserve list. \ \ ' "" Volumes of periodi- cals and of pamphlets are held in the library as much as possible. ' For special purposes , they are given out for a limited tifiie. Borrowers should . not use thefa: library * privilegesforthe bene- fit of other persons. Books of 'special-' value and gift books, when the giver wishes it, are not allowed to I circulate. Readers are asked to report all cases of books marked or muti- lated. Do not deface books by marks and writing. ~ Cornell University Library HE6185.G78 E94 A history o< "Hwav jettey^^^^ 3 1924 030 133 486 olin Cornell University Library The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924030133486 A HISTORY OF Railway Letter Stamps DESCRIBING ALL VARIETIES ISSUED BY THE KAILJVAV COMPANIES OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE POSTMASTER-GENERAL. COMPILED BY H. L'ESTRANGE EWEN (Editor of "Ewen's "Weekly Stamp News.") 2y^zT"^^?^s?p;g7yc?^ 0^ Illustrated by permission of the Board of Inland Revenue and the Railway Companies. ENTERED AT STATIONERS' HALL. PUBLISHED BY EWEN'S colonial STAMP MARKET. 32, PALACE SQUARE, NORWOOD, LONDON, S.E. OCTOBER, 1901. 2225 A , 'J^ "^ r C: BOUKNEMOUTH : Pardv & Son, Philatelic Printers, 8, Tlie Triangle. PREFACE, ALTHOUGH the Railway Letter Post was established as long ago as February, 1891, it is only within the last three or four years that the stamps issued in connection with it have attained any considerable degree of prominence in the world of Philately. Their long neglect is undoubtedly attributable to ignorance, for the stamps are among the most interesting yet issued. The many minor variations in the issues of the more important Railway Companies appeal especially to the specialist collector, who cannot fail to find great pleasure in classifying and arranging the numerous printings, as distinguished by difference in design, colour, paper, perforation or other detail. It was not until 1897 that any serious attempt was made by collectors to ascertain how many varieties of Railway Letter Stamps existed. In November of that year, Mr. C. F. Dendy Marshall read a paper on the subject before the London Philatelic Society, giving, as far as was then known, a list of all Companies issuing these stamps, and this initial effort soon led to other enquiries being made. It was then found that not only did the issues of different Companies vary, but also that those of the same Company often presented variations in colour, perforation, or other detail. The author was one of the first to attempt a complete collection of these different printings, but consider- able difficulty was experienced in arranging them, and this difficulty — shared by other collectors — has continued down to the present day. It is with the object of assisting collectors to correctly classify their specimens that the compilation of this work has been undertaken. Through the courtesy of the Railway Companies, the author has in almost every case been furnished with complete lists of the printings made, showing dates of delivery and issue and quantities printed, and these have greatly facilitated classification of the numerous varieties, although, where control numbers are absent, the identification and description of each printing has often proved a very difficult matter. In iv. Preface. some instances the most careful search has failed to produce even a single representative of a printing, notable cases being those of the Barry Dock and Railway Company (2nd printing, 1894), North- Eastern (1891, 2nd printing, stated to bear control numbers 17,401 to 18,000), West Donegal Railway (1891), Ayrshire and Wigtownshire (1891), and Pembroke and Tenby (ist issue, 1891). In the endeavour to correctly describe the numerous varieties, upwards of 30,000 stamps have been carefully examined. I am greatly indebted to those collectors who have kindly' placed their collections at my disposal for the purpose of examination, and particularly to the Earl of Crawford, whose unique collection, exceeding ten thousand specimens in number, has alone rendered possible the solution of many problems. A special feature of the present work is the attempt, for the first time, to classify the different printings according to the transfers used in their preparation. Many interesting facts ha\e been brought to light in this connection. For instance, the old transfer used for preparing the stone when stamps were required for the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway was not destroyed when this Company changed its title in 1897, but the name was erased from each of the six types composing it, and "North Males and Liverpool Railway Coinmittee " substituted on five, the si.\th being spoilt. This Coinpany was just commencing to issue stamps and the altered transfer has been used down to the present time. This little histor)' is plainl)- written on the face of every sheet of letter stamps issued- b)' the N.W. and Liverpool Railway, and can be read by anyone who will take a little trouble. The possession of an entire sheet is of course a sine i/ua non, but the collector of Raih\'ay Letter Stamps, who wishes to get the maximum of pleasure out of their study and collection, must not hesitate to acquire a sheet in preference to a single specimen. In many cases, of course, sheets are impossible to secure unbroken, but an endeavour has been made to descrilie the \-arious types, so that wherever sheets present special points of interest they may be reconstructed. H. L'ESTRANGE EWEN. INDEX TO RAILWAY COMPANIES. LIST OF RAILWAY COMPANIES WHICH HAVE ISSUED LETTER STAMPS Those marked with an asterisk no longer issue stamps. Index Total No. of size of No. Name of Company. to Period of Issue. number issued Pageb Printed. Issues. sheets. I='' Aylesbury & Buckingham 16 Jan. to June, 1891 600 I 12 2* Ayrshire & Wigtownshire 259 1891 to Feb., 1892 2,000? I 12 3 Ballycastle... 311 Since Jan. (?) 1891 5.150? II 9 4^= Barry Dock iS; Railways 18 Jan., i8gi to 1895 1,000 2 12 5 Barry Railway 18 Since Sept., 1895 ... 7,800 5 12 6 Belfast & County Do"n 317 Since Jan., 1891 ... 5, goo? 14 9 7 Belfast and Northern Counties 325 ,, 25,038 18 9 8 Brecon lS; Merthyr ... 22 ,, 9,500? I 60 9 Caledonian 261 ,, 73,000 8 12 10 Cambrian Railways... 23 ,, ? 4? 12 II Castlederg & Victoria Bridge 334 Since 1897 2,000 I 24 I2='- Cavan, Leitrim & Roscommon 335 1891 to igoi ? I 24 13 Cavan & Leitrim 340 Since Apr.,? 1901 ... 2,400? I 24 14 Cheshire Lines Committee ... 27 Since Jan , i8gi ... 51,120 2 24 15''' City of Glasgow Union 265 Jan., 1891 to 1897... ? I 12 16 Cleator & Worldngton Junction 28 Since Jan., 1891 ... 2,976 I 12 17* Clogher Vallej' Tramway 341 Jan., i8gi to 1898... 2,000 I 24 18 Clogher Valley Railway 341 Since Jan., 1898 ... 10,000 I 4« 19 Coclcermouth, Keswick & Penrith 30 Since Jan.. 1891 ... 2,208 2 12 20 Colne Valley 32 ,, p I 12 ai Cork & Macroom Direct 345 Since 1894 '■ 2,000? 3 ,S 22 Cork, Bandon & South Coast 349 Since Jan., i8gi ... 24,000 8 12 22 Cork, Blackrock & Passage ... 361 Since i8g2 ? ? 2 12 23 Donegal Railway Company ... 363 Since July, i8g5 ... 13,000 4 10, 12 42 24 Dubhn W'icklow & Wexford ... 364 Since Jan., i8gi ... 30,000? 2 60 25 Dumbarton &: Balloch 267 Since March, igoi 528 I 12 26 Dundalk, Newr\- & Greenore 357 Since Jan., 1891 ... 1,000 2 20 27 Dundee li- Arbroath... 269 ,, 7,200 2 12 28 East & West Junction 34 5-999 3 12 29- Eastern & Midlands 36 Jan.,i8gi to May,'g4 2O,000 I 30 30 East London 38 Since Jan., i8gi ... ? 6 I 31* Finn Valley 369 1891 to 1895 p I 24 INDEX TO RAILWAY COMPANIES. LIST OF RAILWAY COMPANlES—corduiued. Index Total No. of Size of No. X:ime of Company. to Period of Issue. number issued Pages Printed. Issues. sheets. 32* Finn Valley & West Donegal • 371 _ _ 5r The Furness Railways . 40 Jan., 1891 to 1897... 5,000 3 10 34* The Furness Railway • 40 Jan., 1897 to 1900 2,000 2 10 35 Furness Railway ■ 40 Since Feb. rgoo ... 2,000 I 10 36 Garstang & Knot End • 44 ,, 1,000 I 12 37 Glasgow & South Western ... . 270 21,072? 7 12 38 Glasgow, Barrhead & Kilmarnock . 278 ,, ? 6 12 39 Great Central Railway Company ■ 45 Since July, 1897 ... 7.643 4 12 40 Great Eastern ■ 49 Since Jan., 1891 ... 90,000 10? 30 41 Great Northern • 54 ., ... 75,000 5 60 42 Great Northern & Gt. Central • 255 Since Aug., 1899 ... 6,000 I 60 43 Great Northern (I.)... ■ 373 Since Jan., 1891 ... 60,000 6 24.48 44 Great North of Scotland • 283 36,000? 6? 12 45 Great Southern & Western ... ■ 379 ,, ... 68,000? 9? 24 46 Great Western • 58 ,, 290,000? 3 60 47 Highland ... . 287 ,, 30.132 10 12 48 Hull & Barnslev Company ... . 6i ,, 2,000 2 1 49 Isle of Wight • 63 Since Jan., i8gg ... 1,002 I 12 50 Isle of Wight Central • 64 Since Feb., rSgg ... 2,500? 2 12 51* Kanturk & Newmarket • 388 i8gi to Feb., 1892 ? I 24 52 Lancashire & Yorkshire . 68 Since Jan., rSgi ... 26,716 4 6 53 Lancashire, Derbyshire & E. Coast .. . 66 Since Dec, i8g6 ... 1.577 3 24 54 Liverpool, St. Helens & S. Lanes. ■ 75 Since Oct., i8gg ... 240 I 12 35 London Sc Xnrth Western ... ■ 75 Since Jan., r8g[ ... 160,000 5 60 56 London & South Western . 80 ,, 96,000 32 12 57 London, Brighton & South Coast . 98 ,, ... 96,000 18 12 58* London, Chatham & Dover ... . 112 Jan.. i8gi to 1899 p 13? 1, 12 59 Londonderry & Lough S willy • 392 Since 1893 ? 15,000 2 40,30 60 London, Tilbury & Southend . 119 Since Jan., 1891 ... ? 4 24 61 Macclesfield Committee • 123 ,. 1.888 4 6,12 62 Manchester & Milford • 125 ,, 3,000 2 12 63- Manchester, Sheffield & Lines. . 126 Jan., 1891 toJuly,'g7 13.843 10 6,12 64 Manchester, S. J., & Altrincham ■ 134 Since Jan., i8gi ... 4,276 6 12,25 65 Maryport & Carhsle Railway . 140 ,, 1,860? 5 12 66 Metropolitan ■ 143 Since July, 1895 ... 10,800 12 60 67 Midland ... • 154 Since Jan., i8gi ... 126,000 17 12 68 Midland & Great Northern ... ■ 165 Since May, i8g4 ... 6,000 I 60 69 Midland & South Western ... . 166 Since Jan., r 891 ... 4,800 1 24 70 Midland Great Western • 395 ,, 60,000 2 60 71 Neath & Brecon . 167 ,, I,IOO? 5 12 72 Northampton & Banbury . 170 ,, ? 3? 12 73 North British • 297 ,, 120,024 6 12 74 North Ea.stern ■ 173 ,, 181,000 52 30 75 North London . 209 „ 1,920 2 12 INDEX TO RAILWAY COMPANIES. LIST OF RAILWAY COMPANIES— conhnned. Index Total Size of No. Name of Compan)-. to Pages Period of Issue. number Printed. Issues. issued sheets. 76- North Pembroke & Fishguard 210 Jan. to Aug., 1899 200 I 8? / / North Staffordshire... 211 Since Jan., 1S91 ... 28,000? 7 8,20 7S North Wales & Liverpool 216 Since July, i8g6 ... i,og2 3 12 79 Oldham, Ashton & Guide Bridge 220 Since Jan., 1891 ... 1.228 4 6, 12 80* Pembroke & Tenby... 223 1891 to Oct., 1S96 2,000 2 12 Si- Portpatrick & Girvan Joint ... 307 Till Jan., 1895 ? 2? 12 82 Portpatrick & Wigtownshire... 309 Since Jan., 1891 ... 8,064 4? 12 83 Port Talbot Railway & Docks Co. 225 Since Feb., 1901 ... 500 I 24 84 Rhondda & Swansea Bay 226 Since Jan., 1891 ... ? 2 24 85 Rhymnej- ... --5 3,000 I 60 86* Se\'ern & Wye & Se\ern Bridge 227 Jan., 1891 to 1895 ? I 12 87 Severn & Wve Joint 227 Since 1895 ? ? 2 12 88 Sheffield & Midland Rlwys. ... ^32 Since Jan., 1891 ... 3,106 5 5, 12 89 Sligo. Leitrim & N. Counties 398 ? 5? 9 90 Somerset & Dorset Joint Line 239 5,000 5 12 gi-- South Eastern Railway 243 Jan., 1891 to 1899 5o,ooo 6 60 92* S.E. & C. & D. Railways 243 June, 1899 to 1900 10,000 I 60 93 South Eastern & Chatham ... 243 Since June, igoo ... 20,000 2 60 94 Southwold... 251 Since Jan., i8gi ... ? I 12 95 Taff Vale ... 252 10,000 I 12 96 Tralee & Dingle Light Railway 402 Since 1897 ? p I 48 97- Waterford & Central Ireland 404 i8gi ? to July, igoo ? z 24 98=:= Waterford ^S: Limerick 410 Jan., iSgi to iSg6 ? 3 24 99 Waterford & Tram ore 406 Since April, i8gi ... 1,000 I 24 100* Waterford, Dungarvan & Lismore 408 i8gi ? to iSg8 2 24 10 1* Waterford, Limerick & ^\"estern 410 i8g6 to Jan., igoi 7 7 24,12 102 West Clare 483 Since April, i8gi ... 48,000 I 24 103* West Lancashire 253 i8gi to i8g7 p I 12 104 West Riding & Grimsby + 105 Wigan Junction Railway 257 Since July, igoo ... 240 I 12 106 Wrexham, Mold & Connah's Quay ... 238 Since Jan.. i8gi ... 7 I 12 t See under '■ Great Northern and Great Central Railways.' , 5 Somerset and Dorset 12 10 (None) 6 South Eastern 20 II ^'ertical 7 Taff Yale 12 10 .. 8 West Lancashire 12 10 ,, HENRY BLACKLOCK AND CO., LTD. All are very similar in shade and on a bluish white paper. The paper of nearly every later printing is cream coloured, the yellowish tinge being often intensified by the use of brown gum. Until 1897, the shade of green was kept very uniform in all the printings. From 1 89 1 to 1894 most printings were perforated 11 but from that date down to 1900 they were with one exception (Midland, 1896) perf. 10. This year a new machine, perforating 11 again, has been brought into use. HENRY BLACKLOCK & Co., Ltd. Albert Squ.\re, M.wchester. Publishers of Bradshaw's Guide (59, Fleet Street, E.C). Messrs. Henry Blacklock & Co., Ltd., supply letter stamps to three Railway Companies, namely, the Great Central (including six lines owned jointly with other Companies), the Lancashire and York- shire and the Manchester, South Junction and Altrincham. The following is a chronological list of the printings made down to the present time. Those bracketed are very similar in colour. Approximate date of pr'ting- Jan., 1891 Jan., i8gi Mar., 7891 June, i8gi No\'., 1891 Dec, i8gi Apr., 1892 Oct., 1892 July, 1893 Jan., 1894 May, 1894 . July, 1894 Aug, 1894 Name of Company. L. & Y., Tst M.S. &. L,, 1st .. Macclesfield, ist O.A. &G.B., ist.. Sheff. & Mid., ist M. S.J.&A., ist M. S. &L.,2nd .. M. S. & L ,3rd .. Macclesfield, 2nd O A&G.B., 2nd Sheff. & Mid., 2nd M. S. &L,, 4th .. M. S. J.&A ,2nd M. S. & L. 5th .. 6th .. 7th . . Sheff. & Mid., 3rd M.S. &L. ,8th .. Macclesfield, 3rd L. & Y., 2nd .. M.S. J.&A., 3rd Size of Guide iss. sheet lines. 6 A 6 A 6 A 6 A 12* B 12?* A 6 A ? ? 6 A 6 A 6 A 25 B 6 A 6 A 6 ? A 12 A 12 A 12 A 6 A -5 A .■Yppro-ximate date of pr'ting.- Mar., 1895 Oct., 1895 June, 1896 July, i8g6 July, 1897 Sep., 1897 Apr., 1898 June, 1898 Sep., 1898 J Nov., i8g8 Jan., 1899 -| Apr., iSgg j Sep., i8g9 Oct., 1899 Jan., igoo July, 1900 J Size of Guide N.-mic of Company-. iss. sheet lines. M.S. cS: L., gth .. 12* A,B M.S.J. & A., 4th .. 25 A M.S. &L.,ioth{last) 12 B N.W. &L., ist .. 12* B G. Central, ist . . 12 A L.&Y., 3rd 6 B M.S.J. &A., 5th . 25 A G. Central, 2nd . . 12* B Sheff. & Mid., 4th 12 B N.W. &L., 2nd .. 12 R O.A. &G.B. ,3rd 12 C G. Central, 3rd . . 12 C Macclesfield, 4th ? ? N.W. & L.. 3rd .. ? J O.A. &G.B. ,4th.. 12 C M.S.J. & A., 6th . 25 c. L.,St.H.&S.L.,ist 12 c L.& Y., 4th & 5th 6 B G, Central, 4th . . 12 C Sheff & Mid., 5th 12 C Wigan, 1st 12 C HENRY BLACKLOCK AND CO., LTD. 1 3 I have bracketed the printings of January and April, 1899, but do not know if they are similar in shade, although there can be but little doubt, I think, that this is so, and also that the Macclesfield 1st and 2nd printings agree with the other printings made with them. Messrs. Henry Blacklock & Co., Ltd., printed most of the above stamps in sheets of from 24 to 48 stamps. These seem to have been generally cut into panes of six during 1S91, 1892 and 1893, but since then, the stamps have been deli\-ered to the Railway Companies in panes of twelve, arranged in four rows of three. Five printings, marked above with an asterisk, were delivered in panes arranged in two rows of six. The chief characteristic of this firm's stamps is to be found in the "guide" lines round each . stamp. They were, I believe, drawn round the original design before the title was printed in, in order to show how much space was available and as a guide to the draughtsman to keep the stamps of uniform size when completing the design by the addition of the lines above and below the title. Down to i8g8 these guide lines were generally faint (state A), and from 1895 to i8g8 were often removed from a transfer before it was used (state B). Since 1898, the guide lines seem to have been considered a prominent part of the design of the stamp and are generally drawn very clearly (state C). Nearly all printings of states A and B are composed of blocks of six types, which may be readily distinguished. The types occurring in printings of state C are difficult to recognize and are generally very irregularly placed. VIII.— SEALY, BRYERS lV WALKER (For A. Thom & Co.), Dublin. Messrs. Sealy, Bryers l\: \\'alker have supplied letter stamps to nine Railway Companies, namely, the Castlederg and Victoria Bridge, Cavan and Leitrim, Clogher Valley, Finn X'alley, Great Northern (I.), Great Southern and Western, Kanturk and Newmarket, Tralee and '4 SEALV, BKVERS AND WALKER, DUBLIN. Dingle, and West Clare. The following is a chronological list of the different printings. Where doubtful of the dates, I have queried them. The supplies bracketed are believed to be in the same shade of colour : — Approx Date. Name of Company. Type. Perf. Size of Sheet. Jan., 1 ibgi 1 G.N. (1.) G.S. & W II I I 24 24 Jan., 1 89 1 -| Clogher Tram Finn Valley 1 1 I I 24 ? i8gr Cavan ... Pio 24 ? 1891 Kanturk Pio p April 1891 West Clare J" 11 24 ? 1892 G.S. & W 1 1 24 Dec, 1892 G.N. (I.) II 24 ? ? 1894 G.S. >N: W 1 1 24 ? Jan., 1S95 G.N. (I.) 1 1 24 ? ? 1895 (,.S. S: W I I p Aug., 1897 G.N. (I.) II 4« ? 1897 ('astlederg II.' 10, 13 24 ? 1897 Tralee ... II. 10 48 an.. 1898 Clogher Rail. ... II. 10 48 uly, i8()8 G.S. & W II. 1 1 p :Messrs. Sealy, Bryers & Walker had the misfortime to have a serious fire on their premises on October 12th, 1898, and most of their records were destroyed, as also the dies, transfers, etc., used in producing these letter stamps. No printings of letter stamps have been made by them since. Previous to this date, two general types had been in use, one from 1891 to 1897, and the other during 1898. Types I. and II. are readily distinguishable, as the figure "2" differs in type. Type I. has a large second C to "Conveyance" and a small B in "By," whilst Type II. has a small C and a large K. Except in two cases, all stamps were' perforated 11 down to the end of J 897, the two exceptions— the Cavan, Leitrim and Roscommon and Kanturk and Newmarket — being irregularly pin perforated 10. In 1898 (or at the end of 1897) two new perforating machines appear SEALV, BRVERS AND WALKER, DUBLIN 15 to have been brought into use — gauges 10 and 13. Numerous reprints of IVIessrs. Sealy, Bryers & Walker's stamps were made in 1897 and 1898, and when perforated these two gauges wero generally used. OTHER PRINTERS. Among other firms who supply a fair number of letter stamps may be mentioned Messrs. Robert Carswell & Sons, of Belfast; James Purcell & Co., Cork; N. Harvey & Co., W'aterford ; Browne & Nolan, Dublin and John Falconer, Dublin. Several Companies print their supplies at their own printing works, notably the Great Eastern, Great North of Scotland and perhaps the Great Western. AAi.i-:sBrK\' ANii iircKixcii AM KA^,\\■A^^ 17 Aylesbury and Buckingham Railway* THE Aylesbury and Muckini^haiii Ivailwav \\"as a short line about 12I miles in leni^tli, runnin,L;" from \'erne\" Junction (about 5 miles from BuckiuLjhaml through W'inslow Road. Grandborough Road, Ouainton Road and Waddesilon Manor, to the (oint A)desbur)' and l-Juckmgdiam and Great Western Station at A\lesbur}'. It was incorporated in 1S60. opened in 1868. and amalgamated with the Aletropolitan in i8gi. The letter stamps were printed by Messrs. McCorquodale & Co. of London, in |anuar\-, iSqi. in sheets of twelve, arranged in two rows of six, and a sheet appears to have been sent to each of the fiw stations. No further issue was made, as the Company was amalgamated with the Metropolitan as from ist juh". iSyi, the stamps having therefore been in use only five months. I have not been able to find a used copy. ii7 /ss//t-, Fcbniarw 1891. Small lilaid< control numbers running from I to 600. Colour, yellow-green. Rouletted. The margins are clipped \-ery close and the sixth stamp in the top row is usually defecti^-e in the upper left hand corner. The plate from which the stamps are printed consists of three blocks of four impressions (arranged in a square), placed side by side. The top row- of a sheet shows types i, 2, I, 2, I, 2, and the low-er row. types 3, 4, 3, 4, 3. 4. In types 2 and 3 the line under --GH" of ■'Buckingham" is broken. BARRY RAILWAY. Barry Railway, THIS Company, formerly known as the Barry Dock and Railways, was incorporated in 1884, and opened on December 20th, 1888. In February, 1891, when letter stamps were first issued, five stations were open — Barry, Barry Dock, Cadoxton, Dinas Powis and Cogan. Since then the line has considerably increased, ten new stations being opened and the mileage increased to 31. The letter stamps have all been printed by Messrs. McCorquo- dale & Co., Ltd., in sheets of twelve, and present many interesting characteristics. Two printings were made with the title of the Company reading "Barry Dock & Railways," subsequent printings having the new title. Mr. R. Evans, the General Manager, has been good enough to give me the following particulars of the different printings. Inscribed "Barry Dock and Railways." Issue. Control Numbers. Date. No . Printed. Description.* I St I to 500 Jan., i8gi 500 Yellow-green (rouletted). 2nd 501 to 1000 Mar., 1894 500 (No copies known). Inscribed " Barry Railway." 3rd looi to 1600 Sept., 1895 600 Green, perf. 12. Large Control. 4th 1601 to 2800 Oct., 1896 1200 Dull green, perf. 12. 5th 2801 to 4000 Mar., i8g8 1200 Yellow-green, perf. 12. 6th 4001 to 6400 Mar., 1899 2400 Yellowish-green, perf. 12. 7th 6401 to 8800 Feb., 1901 2400 Olive-green, perf. 11. (* These particulars I have added). Plate I. As above stated, two printings only were made from the first plate or block, the change in the title of the Company in 1894 then rendering it useless. Of the second of these no examples are known, and of the first the only representative is a strip of three. My preliminary remarks must therefore be limited to the suggestion that both were probably printed in sheets of twelve, two rows of six, and that the same plate or block was used for each. BARRY RAILWAY. 19 First Issue. Third Issue- Fourth Issue- Fifth Issue. 20 BARRY RAILWAY. 1st Issue, JVbs. I to 500. Official date of issue to stations, January 27th, 1891. Colour, yellowish - green. Rouletted. Small horizontal control numbers in black. The only known copies are a strip of three unused, Nos. 350, 351 and 352, or Nos. 2, 3 and 4 in the top row of a sheet. As in subsequent printings sheets were printed in two panes of six stamps each, one after the other from the same plate, it is possible that the same method may have been adopted with these. It will be noticed from the illustration that there is a wider space between stamps Nos. 351 and 352, and these two would be the centre stamps of the row. There is a white spot above the shield on stamp No. 352. 2/id Issue, N'os. 501 to 1000. Issued March 14th, 1894. No copies are known of this printing. Plate 11. Owing to the change in the title of the Company, in 1895, to " Barry Railway," a new plate or block had to be prepared bearing the altered inscription. This appears to have been formed by taking six duplicate impressions from the matrix, arranging them in two rows of three. As the stamps are required in sheets of twelve, it is rather surprising that twelve duplicates were not made, but possibly the extra expense of a larger block was not considered advisable when the number of stamps required was comparatively small. There is no doubt, how- ever, that the block consists of six types only, and consequently two impressions are required to print each sheet. If several sheets be examined, it will be found that the relative positions of the two halves vary. Some of the more prominent marks by which the six types may be distinguished are as follows : — Top stroke of F of " For " missing. White line to right of Y of Conveyance." Line under "Barry" defective; thick R to "Railway;" left hand outer line of stamp broken sjmm. from bottom. Line under " Barry " defective ; thin R to " Railway ; " small W to " Railway " in the circular inscription. Thick R to "Railway"; I of "Single" broken. Left hand outer line of stamp broken 6Jmm. from bottom. 1st row, No. I. ,, No. 2. " No. 3- 2nd row, No. I. No. 2. ,, No. 3 BARRY RAILWAY. In making the two impressions on the sheets of paper, a wide space is left between them in recent printings. The fourth printing (Nos. 1601 to 2800) does not howexer show this space. '^rd Issue, J\\>s. looi to 1600. Issued, September i6th, 1895. Colour dull green. Perf. 12. Only one used copy is known, No. 1517, evidently type I, as it has a broken F to "For" and the top outline is broken towards the right hand end. /^th Issue, jYos. 1600 fo 2800. Issued, October 13th, 1896. Colour pale green. Perf. 12. Control numbers slightly smaller. This issue did not become obsolete until March, 1898, so that a number of speci- mens between Nos. 2600 and 2800 came into the hands of collectors whilst current, although the only sheet so obtained that I know of is No. 2789-2800, which was issued on the same day as the first sheet of the fifth printing. Later in i8g8, all the older stamps were recalled from the stations, and the search then instituted resulted in the dis- covery of the strip of three " Barry Dock and Railways." Most of the stamps issued to the stations between Cadoxton and Pontypridd when this section of the line was opened in March, 1896, were also recovered and include an entire sheet, Nos. 1805-16, and two part sheets, 1820-28 and 1772-80. The line from Barry to Bridgend opened in December, 1897, ''■^so yielded most of its original suppl)^, including the entire sheets, Nos. 2309-20 and 2357-68 and about 30 other specimens ranging between Nos. 2302 and 2373. 5//^ Issue, A"i>s. 2801 to 4000. Issued March 30th, i8g8. Colour, yellow-green. Perforated 12. The first sheet, Nos. 2801-2812, is in the hands of collectors, and I received a number of others whilst current, including the five sheets, Nos. 2813-72, on April 14th, 1898, and the ten sheets, Nos. 3125-3244, in June. Unused specimens bearing higher numbers than this are seldom seen. 6tA Issue, A^'os. 4001 fo 6400. Issued March 29th, 1899. Colour, yellowish-green. Perforated 12. yfk Issue, JVos. 6401 to 8800. Issued February 12th, 1901. Colour, yellowish olive-green. Perforated 11. 22 BRECON AND MERTHYR RAILWAY. Brecon and Merthyr Railway* THE Brecon and Merthyr Tydfil Junction Railway was incor- porated in 1859 and opened in 1863. The main line runs from Newport, through Bargoed, Pant, Pontsticill and Talyllyn Junctions to Brecon. Branches run to Rhymney, Dowlais and Merthyr. The length is 6i|- miles. The letter post stamps are lithographed by Messrs. Bemrose & Sons, Derby, in sheets of sixty, arranged in six rows of ten. Mr. H. R. Price, Secretary to the Company, has been good enough to inform me that only one printing has been made, consisting of between gooo and 10,000 stamps, and that it was supplied in January, 1891. The various stamps are almost indistinguishable and appear to ha\'e been produced independently from an original drawing. Each stamp shows a coloured dot between the left hand pillar and " ON " of " Conveyance," and the line above " Railway " is broken just over the extremity of the letter Y. The stamp No. 2 in the sixth row shows a very defective impression. First Issue, Jaiiiiary, 1891. Colour, dull green, yellow - green. Perforated 11. Paper, bluish white, similar to that used by Messrs. Bemroso & Sons for the supplies made in January, 1891, for other Companies. CAMBRIAN RAILWAYS. 23 Cambrian Railways, THE Cambrian Railways are an amalgamation of a number of Companies, the system under its new title being incorporated in 1864. The main line runs in a roundabout way from Whitchurch to Pwllheli, passing through EUesmere, Oswestry, Welsh- pool, Moat Lane Junction, Machynnlleth (branch to Aberystwith), Barmouth, Harlech and Criccieth. An important branch from Moat Lane runs to Brecon, and other branches serve Wrexham, Llanfyllin, Dolgelley, etc. The mileage, including lines worked, is 257. The various issues of letter post stamps for the Cambrian Railways are all of local manufacture, and present several interesting features not found in those of other Companies. First Transfer, 1891. The tirst issue was lithographed (or printed) in sheets of twelve from a small stone (or plate) only capable of printing a row of four stamps at a time, and consequently the three rows of stamps on each sheet were impressed separately and are often in quite distinct shades of green. The rows were frequently printed unevenly, although I have not found any specimens in which they were actually overlapping. The four types may generally be distinguished by the following imperfections, although such do not usually appear in heavy impressions. Type I. White dot on figure 2 near the D of " 2d." In late impressions the outer line is worn at the N.E. corner. ,, 2. White spot on lower stroke of L of " Railways." 3. White spot on line above second N of "Conveyance,'' and another in second diamond above S of " Railways." ,, 4. Outer line of stamp defective at N.E. corner. " Fee " imperfectly drawn. All four types have a large circular white spot on the body of the figure 2 and a small white dot on one of the diamonds over " \^^-V " of " Railways." The inscription on the Cambrian Railway stamps reads "Fee for Conveyance of Single Post Letters by Rail" (instead of " Railway "). CAMBRIAN RAILWAYS. Cambrian Railways. Sheet of the First Printing (one Stamp missing). CAMBRIAN RAILWAYS. 25 It has been generally supposed that there was only one printing from the first transfer (or block), but it is not by any means certain that there was not a second. In nearly all vertical pairs I have seen there is a space of 3 to 7mm. between the stamps, but I have met with twenty or thirty examples where the space is barely 2mm. This is of course unimportant in itself, but these closely printed examples are all in the same shade, which is more or less distinct from any of the numerous shades found in the wide-spaced sheets. 1st Pn?iting, Februaiy, 1891. Perforated 12I. Colour, green, dark green, yellowish-green, pale yellowish-green, grey-green ; differing fre- quently on the same sheet. In the original of the illustration, the centre row is in a much darker shade of green than the others. Entire sheets of this issue are not known, although I have seen two sheets with the lower right hand corner stamp missing. Second Transfer, Date (?) (Type II.) About 1894 (?) a fresh supply of stamps was required, and as it was found preferable to print from a larger stone, a new transfer was prepared. The old drawing appears to have been touched up (the white spot on the figure 2 being filled in) and twelve duplicates made from it. The retouched die may be easily recognised by a dot of colour on the lower edge of the central curve of the figure 2, and as it was used unaltered in preparing the third transfer, all stamps of the second and later printings show this defect. The retouched die also has only one dot to right of R of "Letter" although the original die had two, side by side. Some of the slight imperfections which distinguish the second transfer are as follows : — No. 2 (2nd in 1st row). Top outline of stamp thinner above C of "Cambrian." No. 5 (ist in 2nd row). Top outline broken towards left hand end. No. 6 (2nd in 2nd row). Top outline broken at left hand corner. No. 8 (4th in 2nd row). Top outline broken above " RI " of " Cambrian." Net- work in right hand spandrels very defective. Most of the smaller dots missing. No. II (3rd in 3rd row). Top outline not very clearly drawn. 26 CAMBRIAN RAILWAYS. Cambrian. Pair of Tliird Issue. I have seen sheets of what are evidently two different printings. Without examples to compare they are somewhat difficult to dis- tinguish from the 4th issue. The principal difference apart from colour is in the tail of the figure 2. In the 2nd and 3rd issues it is always pointed (as in the ist issue), whilst in the 4th issue it is generally square. It is not known for certain whether the issue given as the 2nd should ha\e precedence of the third. ind Printint:^ (?). Perforated 12. Colour, green, dark green. Paper of medium thickness. A sheet of twelve is known and about ten other unused specimens. yd Printing (?). Perforated 12. yellowish-green. Similar paper, surfaced, twenty other unused specimens are known. Colour, pale green, pale A sheet of 12 and about Third Transfer, Date (?) (Type II). The third transfer was prepared from the retouched die used for the second, and without further alteration. It shows very few defects, except in the tail of the figure 2. In stamps Nos. 2, 4, 7, 8, 10, 11 and 12 the tip is square, whilst in the other stamps it is more or less pointed. The foot of the D of " 2d." on some stamps, especially on No. 3, is smudged. ifth Prijiting, 1898 (?). Colour, pale green. Thin unsurfaced paper. This issue is still in use (May, igoi). CHESHIRE LINES COMMITTEE. 27 Cheshire Lines Committee, THE Cheshire Lines Railway is owned jointly by the Great Northern, Great Central and Midland Railway Companies. The main line runs from Liverpool to Manchester, a second line, branching off near Glazebrook, connecting with the main line of the Great Central Railway at Godley Junction, and with the Midland Railway at Bredbury Junction. Another branch runs to Southport and the Company also possesses an important line running in a south- western direction from Godley Junction through Altrincham (junction with the Manchester, South Junction and Altrincham Railway) to Chester. The total mileage is 139. The letter stamps are lithographed by Messrs. Bemrose & Sons, of Derby, in sheets of 24, each arranged in six rows of four stamps. The margins of the sheets are left imperforate, but are clipped close. The Secretary to the Committee, Mr. Glegge Thomas, has kindly informed me that two printings have been made. ist. Received Jan. 28th, 1891. 19320 stamps. 2nd. Received Sept. 2nd, 1896. 31800 ,, Both printings are perforated 10 and closely approximate in colour. The former is however on a more bluish-white paper than the latter, which can be also distinguished by its brownish gum. All 24 stamps on the sheet, except Nos. 13 and 21, have a coloured dot under the letter L of " Letters," both issues being the same in this respect. 28 CLEATOR AND WORKINGTON JUNCTION RAILWAY. Cleator and Workington Junction Railway. Slieet as issued. I JUNCTION RAILWAVj CLE ATOR tWO RKINGTONJ CLEATOR AND WORKINGTON JUNCTION RAILWAY. 29 Cleator and Workington Junction Railway* THE Cleator and Workington Junction Railway was incorporated June 27th, 1876, and opened October ist, 1879. Part of the line is now worked by the Furness Railway. There are eight stations, all in Cumberland, the chief being Cleator Moor and Workington. The letter stamps were lithographed by Messrs. W. H. Moss and Sons, Limited, Whitehaven, and were issued to the stations on January 29th, 1891. Mr. M. Knowles, Secretary to the Company, informs me that there has been only one printing, consisting of 248 sheets, each sheet containing twelve stamps arranged in four rows of three. The stamps do not show any distinct types, although each specimen shows slight marks by which its position on a sheet may be recognized. The more important are as follows : — No. I No. 2 No. 4, No. 5 No. 7 No. 9 No. II The lines of the N.E. triangle are broken near the apex. Lower stroke of second E of " Fee " broken. N.W. triangle broken at left edge. Line above E of " Cleator " slightly broken. Dot above T of " Junction." F of "For" connected with line below. Outline of triangle above T of "Post" broken. In addition to the above there are certain slight defects which are common to all the stamps on a sheet. All show dots between " & " and "Workington" and a full stop after the latter name. 30 COCKERMOUTH, KESWICK AND PENRITH RAILWAY. Sheet of Second Printing-» 1896. COCKERMOUTH, KESWICK AND PENRITH RAILWAY. 31 Cockermouth^ Keswick and Penrith Railway. THE Cockermouth, Keswick and Penrith Railway was incorporated in iS6i, and opened on January 2nd, 1865. The length of the line is 311 miles, and there are ten stations, all in Cumber- land, viz. : Cockermouth, Embleton, Bassenthwaite Lake, Braithwaite, Keswick, Threkeld, Troutbeck, (the station for Ullswater), Penruddock, Blencow and Penrith. Cockermouth and Penrith Stations are joint with L. & N. W. and other lines. The letter stamps are lithographed by Messrs. McCorquodale & Co., Ltd. (Glasgow) in sheets of twelve. There have been two issues, each printed at different times. As regards the first of these, one sheet appears to have been originally distributed to each of the stations on the line. In 1898, a search revealed the fact that two of the smaller stations still had their original sheets, and four of the others had portions left. Altogether about 70 specimens were thus preserved to collectors, and very few others appear to be now in existence. The exact quantity of each printing is unknown, but Mr. P. Thompson, the Secretary and Manager of the Company, has kindly informed me that the total of the two printings is 2208. The average annual issue is 167, or 18^ per station. isi Printing, February, 1891. Probably 84 sheets or 1008 stamps printed. Colour, generally very dark olive-green, occasionally greyish- green. Thick paper. Unnumbered. Perf. 12. Printed in sheets of twelve arranged in three rows of four. ind Printi/ig, August, i8g6. Probably 100 sheets or 1200 stamps printed. Colour, pale yellow-green. Thin paper. Unnumbered. Perf. 12. Printed in sheets of 12 as in the previous issue, but arranged in four rows of three. (See illustration). 32 COLNE VALLEY RAILWAY. The stamps of both printings show minute defects by which their position on a slieet may be recognized. In the case of the second printing the most important are the following : — No. I. First C of " Cockermouth " broken in centre. No. 3. White spot on foot of figure " 2." No. 8. White spot above shield and under NG of " Single." In all twelve stamps one of the centre lines in the S.E. triangle is broken, but owing to heavy printing this defect is seldom distinct. In the first printing it invariably shows very clearly, however. G^-^S—S^S^ Colne Valley Railway* THE Colne Valley Railway was incorporated 1856, and opened August 13th, 1839. The fine is 19I miles in length and has five stations— (Haverhill, G.E.R.), Birdbrook, Yeldham, Heding- ham, Halstead, Colne, (Chappel, G.E.R.)— all in North Essex. The letter stamps are lithographed by Messrs. S. H. Cowell & Co., of Ipswich, in sheets of twelve, each four rows of three. The stamps are very neatly lithographed and are arranged remarkably evenly on the sheets. The perforation, gauge 11, clearly cut, is very well centred. isf Prititing, February, 1891. 2d. yellow-green ; shade varies very slightly. Cl_)L.\K \ALLEV RAILWAY. 33 Colne Valley Railway. An Entire Sheet. COLNE VAILEY COLNE VALLEr RAJUWAY- COLNE VALLEY 34 EAST AND WEST JUNCTION RAILWAY. East and West Junction Railway, THIS Line is worked by the East and West Junction, Stratford- on-Avon, Towcester and Midland Junction Railways Joint Committee, and extends from Ravenstone Junction (near North- ampton) to Broom Junction (Midland Railway) in an almost straight line from East to West through the counties of Northampton and Warwick. It was incorporated in 1864, a portion of the line from Stratford-on-Avon to Towcester being opened in 1871, and the remainder in 1873. Extensions were made in 1879, from Stratford-on-Avon to Broom Junction, and in July, i8gi, from Towcester to Ravenstone Junction. The length of the united lines is 52 miles, with an addition of eight miles of other lines worked over. ■'SfT-f, First Issue. Second Issue. Letter stamps were issued in February, 1891, and were litho- graphed by Messrs. Bemrose & Sons, of Derby, probably in sheets of twenty-four, which were divided into panes of twelve (three rows of four) before delivery to the Company. There have been three printings, all bearing control numbers. In the first, the numbers on the sheet run from left to right and top to bottom, and in the later ones from bottom to top and left to right. Letter stamps are issued at ten stations — Broom, Bidford, Binton, Stratford-on-Avon, Ettington, Kineton, Fenny Compton, Byfteld, Morton Pinkney, and Blakesley, and a sheet of EAST AND WEST JUNCTION RAILWAY. 35 twelve stamps was originally issued to each. When enquiries were made at the stations in 1898, it was found that specimens of the original issue were only left at Fenny Compton, four being still on hand. No further specimens of the first printing have been seen by collectors. From the other stations railway letters appear to be frequently despatched, as with two exceptions, the sheets in use in October, 1898, were all numbered between 1924 and 2260. Mr. C. Hobbs, Accountant to the Company, has been good enough to furnish the dates and quantities of the several printings. The description I have added. Printing-. Quantity. Date. Control Xos. Description. ist 1000 January, 1891 i to 1000 Pert. 10, yellowish-green. 2nd 2000 August, 1893 1000 to 2999 ,, dull green. 3rd 3000 April, 1899 3000 to 5999 ,, red on yellow. 1st Prititing, January, 1891. 2d. green. Nos. i to 1000 (control numbers slightly smaller than in second issue). Three unused specimens, Nos. 88, 89 and 96, and one used. No. 87, are known, all from the same sheet. The last sheet was presumably numbered 985 to 996, with four stamps, Nos. 997 to 1000 over. Of these. No. 1000 was returned to the printers as a pattern. 2«(/ Printi)ig, August, 1893. 2d. green. Nos. 1000 to 2999. There is no doubt that stamp No. 1000 was reprinted, as I have seen sheets numbered 1324 to 1335, 2068 to 2079, 2152 to 2163, and 2848 to 2859. The first sheet would therefore be numbered 1000 to loii, and the last 2980 to 2991, with a portion of a sheet, Nos. 2992 to 2999, to complete the required quantity. In April, 1898, the issue had been made up to No. 2091, and in November, 1900, to No. 2859. yd Printing. Received from printers, April, 1899. Issued April (?), 1901. 2d. claret-red on yellow ground. Nos. 3000 to 5999. I have seen sheet No. 3012-23, which was kindly lent by the Company for the purpose of examination. It is apparently taken from the same transfer as the previous issues. Why the colour has been changed I am unable to state, but the alteration is no improvement. 36 EASTERN AND MIDLANDS RAILWAY. Eastern and Midlands Railway, THE Eastern and Midlands is now part of the Midland and Great Northern Joint Railway, having been amalgamated with that Company in 1893. The length of the line, which ran from King's Lynn to Yarmouth, was 1S3 miles. Other principal stations were those at Norwich, Cromer, North Walsham and Melton Constable. Letter stamps were first issued on February ist, i8gi. There was only one supply, consisting of 20,000 stamps, lithographed by Messrs. W'aterlow & Sons. Each sheet contained 30 stamps arranged in si.K rows of five. The stamps of the Eastern and Midlands Railway were all recalled from use on May 21st, 1894., the stations being then supplied with the new Midland and Great Northern stamps. There were large remainders of the former as the demand was comparatively small, but very few were in fine condition, most being stuck together or in small portions of sheets. The largest block I have seen with gum is one of twenty stamps, or two thirds of a sheet. Used specimens are very scarce, the latest date met with being on a specimen postmarked Norwich, July 20, 1893. Unused specimens may be met with overprinted " Midland & Great Northern Joint Committee " in violet (extending over three stamps), but this is really only a cancellation. Although there was only one printing, the stamps vary considerably. The colour changes from deep to pale green, and the perforation is either clean cut or rough. Impressions were frequently made on the unsurfaced side of the paper. On some sheets the top or bottom row of perforation is omitted, thus giving the stamps a large imperforate margin. isi Prijitiiii;, Fe/iniary, i8gi. 2d. pale to dark green, perf. ii-|-. Quantity printed, 20,000, in sheets of thirty (six rows of five). With- drawn from use, Mtiy 2ist, 1894. Two or three thousand specimens are in the hands of collectors, including several entire sheets (without gum). The lower portion of the first E of "Eastern" is defective on each stamp. ■J s < 38 EAST LONDON RAILWAY. East London Railway. THE East London Railway was incorporated in 1865, and opened on April nth, 1876, and is jointly leased by five companies, namely : The Great Eastern, L.B. and S.C., South-Eastern and Chatham, Metropolitan and District Railways. The line is 5-f miles in length, and has six stations, Shoreditch, Whitechapel, Shadwell, Wapping, Rotherhithe, and Deptford Road, through which trains run between New Cross (L.B. and S.C.), and Liverpool Street (G.E.R.) The letter stamps are lithographed by Messrs. Waterlow & Sons, in sheets of two (or four ?), and cut up into singles before delivery. The design, comprising two stamps (distinct types) is preserved on a stone, whence the impression is transferred in lithographic ink to the machining stone each time a supply of stamps is required. The two types are very similar to those of the Metropolitan Railway, and are probably a duplicate of the latter with the title of the company altered. Type I has a small R to " Railway " and small S to " East." The right outline of the pillar on the right hand side is broken opposite the third perpen- dicular bar from the bottom. Type 2. The word " Railway " is larger, the R being especially noticeable in this respect. The S of " East " is larger than the other letters. The printings I have met with are as follows : — Approximate Period of Use. Issue exhausted in April, 1898. First seen on April 14th, 1898. April or May, 1898 (?). Received May 21st, 1898. First seen on October i8th, 1898. Issued before September, 1899. Unfortunately, the Company is unable to give the dates when the issues were made, beyond that the first supply appears to have been received about March, 1891, nor the quantities printed. Printing. Colour. 1st Very pale pink 2nd Pale Salmon 3rd Bright red 4th Orange-brown ,5th Red-brown 6th Pink EAST LONDON RAILWAY. 39 The issue of letter stamps by the East London Railway was unknown to collectors until a chance letter despatched from one of the stations in March, i8g8, discovered the fact. As the Company has never been included in the list given in the Postal Guide, and as apart from the demand from collectors, the stamps are only required at the rate of two or three per annum, it is hardly surprising that their existence should have been overlooked. Probably from 50 to 300 stamps are printed at a time. The fourth issue was the largest, and I have met with at least 180 examples of it. Type i. Small " R.' Type ii. Large '*R." The first, third and fifth printings are all scarce, either used or unused. Of the first issue only two uncancelled specimens are known, one of each type. As regards the characteristics of the different printings, the first is very clearly done, but all known copies are more or less dirty. The third issue has a rough appearance and the fourth is blotchy. The sixth printing seems to have been slightly touched up, the three lines at the top of each stamp being now equidistant and of equal thickness, as in the first issue. In cutting the sheets into single stamps, they are generally threaded so as to ensure the two stamps being evenly separated. In the first and third issues this was not done, but in the second the left hand stamp was threaded at the N.W. corner. In the fourth issue, type I. was threaded at the N.W., and type II. at the S.E. corner, and in the fifth type I. only at the N.W. corner, the margin of each stamp being clipped unusually close on two or three sides. In the sixth issue type I. is threaded at the S.W. and type II. at the N.E. corner. 40 KL-RNKSS KAll.WAV. Furness Railway. THE P'urness Railway was incorporated in 18-I.4 and opened (for passenger traffic) December, 1^46. The line is 139 miles in length (33 miles are only partly owned) and runs almost entirely through North Lancashire and Cumberland. The principal stations are Barrow-in-Furness, Carnforth, Ulverston, Windermere, Grange, Seascale, Coniston, Millom and Whitehaven. Letter stamps were issued in February, i8gi, and were printed by Messrs. McCorquodale & Co. (Newton-le-Willows) in sheets of ten, arranged in two rows of fi\e, and rouletted in coloured lines. There have been five printings. The first three are inscribed " The Furness Railways," the fourth "The Furness Railway'' (without final " s "), and the last "Furness Railway" (without "the"). The following are particulars of these printings : — Print^ Plate. Quantity. Date. Control X umbers. I St I. lOGO January, 1891 None. 2nd I, 2000 July, 1 89 1 None. 3rd I. 2000 .September, 1893 None. +th IL 2000 January, I8^7 1320 numbered. 680 not 5th III. 2000 February, iqoo Nos. 1 201 to 3200. Method of Pi-inting. A plate or block was made consisting of ten duplicates of the original design, arranged in the form of a sheet (two rows of five). When a supply of stamps was required they were printed and rouletted at one operation direct from this block. Seven of the ten duplicates show distinguishing marks : — White dot above .shield and under P of "POST." Slight scratch at foot of figure 2. White spot to left of "s" of "Letters." White dot on body of figure 2. Lower left hand corner (as in type i) not quite square. Lower line slightly broken towards right hand corner. Line under " ai " of Railways " slightly broken. Top row. No. I. ,, Mo. 2. No. 3- No. 5' Lower row. No. 6. , No. ?■ , No. 10. FURNESS RAILWAY. 41 42 KURNESS RAILWAY. In Nos. 4, S, and 9 the differences are of too minute a character to enable me to describe them or even to be certain of identifying them. The iirst plate was used for all three first printings. When the fourth printing was required it was cut up, and from each of the ten stamps the final "s" of "railways" was removed. A new plate was then prepared from the blocks as altered, the types occurring in the following order: — First row, Xos. 3, 6, 10, 5, 2; Second row, x, x, 7, x, i. I have been unable to identify the three types "x," although there can hardly be any doubt that they are Nos. 4, 8 and g of the original sheet. In the second and ninth stamps of the new transfer the final " s " is only imperfectly removed. A different procedure was adopted when the fifth printing was required. An impression of a single stamp was made, and from this "THE FURNESS " was cut out, "FURNESS" being printed in instead. Slight traces of the "T" remained. When finished, ten duplicate impressions were made and a new plate formed. First Plate.—" Railways." isi Printing, January, 1891. Number of sheets printed, 100 (looo stamps). Colour, dark green. About forty unused specimens are known, including a part sheet of eight (the end stamp in each row being missing) and a strip of five (half sheet). ■2nd Printing;, July, i8gi. Number of sheets printed, 200 (2000 stamps). Colour, yellowish (approaching olive) green ; surfaced paper. About twenty unused specimens are known, including a block of four. yd Printing, Septe/nhe?; 1893. Number of sheets printed, 200 (2000 stamps). Colour, green, pale green, yellow-green ; thin paper. Probably about 150 unused specimens known, including three entire sheets. Second Plate — " The Furness Railway." \th Printing, Janiiaiy, 1897. Number of sheets printed, 200 (2000 stamps). 132 sheets were afterwards numbered (see later). Colour, pale to dark green ; considerable variation. Of the 680 specimens issued without numbers probably not less than 400 are in the hands of collectors. FURNESS RAILWAY. 43 Fourth Issue (2nd Plate), Unnumbered. Fourth Issue, Numbered. August, 1898. The remainder of the fourth printing on hand in August, 1898, ainounting to 1320 stamps, were returned to Messrs. McCorquodale and numbered consecutively from i to 1320 in black, figures of medium size (3jmm. tall). The sheets numbered 1201 to 1320 were all issued to collectors, whereas the distribution to stations commenced with No. i and was continued regularly to No. 1200. Fifth Issue (3rd Plate). " Furness Railway." Third Plate—" Furness Railway." ^th Printing, February, 1900. Number of sheets printed, 200 (2000 stamps). Colour, dark green. Control numbers, 1201 to 3200 ; large figures, 4^mm. tall. The second " S " of " Furness " is connected with the line above, and faint traces show from where the "T" of "THE" has been removed. It is rather curious that the numbering of this issue commenced with No. 1201, as Nos. 1201 to 1320 have consequently been duplicated. It is possible that the issue to collectors in i8g8 of Nos. 1201 to 1320 of the 4th issue was overlooked, and when the fifth supply was ordered. No. 1200 was naturally the highest in stock. 44 GARSTANG AND KNOT END RAILWAY. Garstang and Knot End Railway* THE Garstang and Knot End is a short line running from Pilling, on the North Lancashire coast, to Garstang, where a junction is effected with the Lancaster- Wigan section of the London and North Western Railway. There are fi\e stations : Pilling, Cogie HiU, Cockerham Cross, Winmarleigh and Garstang, and the length of the line is 17 miles. The Company was incorporated in 1S64 and opened in 1870, but closed in the following year. It was re-opened in February, 1875. A supply of letter stamps was printed in January, iSgi, by Messrs. McCorquodale 6: Co. (London), and consisted of 83. V sheets, each having twehe stamps arranged in two rows of six. isf Printiiii^, Jaiiiiaiy, 1891. Colour, yellow - green. Rouletted. Sheets of twelve, two rows of si.\. Small black control numbers, running from i to 1000. GREAT CENTRAL RAILWAY. 45 Great Central Railway* THE Great Central Railway has been known under its present title since August ist, 1897. In 1893, the old Manchester Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway obtained Parliamentary sanction for an extension to London, and with the near completion of the new line an alteration in the title became necessary. The new line, which extends from Annesley, near Nottingham, to the Marylebone Terminus in London, was opened for passenger traffic on March 15th, 1899, but had previously been used for coal traffic. The main line now runs from Manchester (London Road), through Guide Bridge, Godley (Junction with Cheshire Lines), Penistone and Sheffield, and thence southward through Staveley Town, Nottingham, Loughboro', Leicester, Rugby and Aylesbury to London. Another important line, originally the main line of the M.S. & L. Railway, runs east from Manchester through Guide Bridge, Godley Junction, Penistone, Sheffield, Worksop, Retford (Junction with G.N.R.), Gainsboro' Brocklesby (branch to Hull) and Grimsby to Cleethorpes, on the Lincolnshire Coast. Other impor- tant branches run from Barnsley to Leeds, Cleethorpes to Lincoln, and from Cleethorpes via Grimsby, Barnetby, Althorpe, Thorne, Doncaster and Brocklesby to Penistone. The Great Central Railway are joint owners of eight railways which issue distinct letter stamps, namely the following : — Cheshire Lines Committee. Manchester, South Junction and Altrincham Railway. Liverpool, St. Helens and South Lancashire Railway. Macclesfield Committee. North Wales and Liverpool Railway Committee. Oldham, Ashton and Guide Bridge Railway. Sheffield and Midland Railway Companies' Committee. Wigan Junction Railway. A description of the issues of these Companies will be found under special headings. 46 GREAT CKNTKAI, RAILWAY. The letter stamps of the Great Central Railway are lithographed by Messrs. Henry Blacklock & Co., Ltd., in sheets of 24 (?) divided into panes of 12, before delivery to the Company. The sheets are sometimes arranged in two rows of six and sometimes four rows of three. Sir William Pollitt, General Manager of the Great Central Railway, has kindly furnished the following list of printings made down to the present time : — I. — Inscribed "Manchester, Sheffield an d Lincoln shire Railway." No. Date Ordered. Quantity. No. Date Ordered. Quantity. I. Jan. g, 1891 1314- 6. Oct. 18, 1892 II73- 2. March 6, 1891 1254. ?■ July 18, 1893 1476. 3. June I, 1891 1440. 8. May 4, 1894 1545- 4. Nov. 3, 1891 1068. 9- March j 5- 1S95 1656. 5. .April 21, 1892 1308. 10. June 12 1896 1608. II. — Inscribed " Great Central Railway." No. Transfer.* Date Ordered. Quantity Guide Lines.* Size of Sheets. Gum." 1st I. July 12, 1897 1727 Yes 4X3 Brown. 2nd I. June 10, 1898 1596 No 2X6 „ 3rd II. Jan. 26, 1899 2880 Yes 4x3 jj 4th II. July 6, 1900 1440 Yes 4x3 White. (* These particulars '— ■ ,1 GREAT WESTERN Type Type II. The chief difference between types I. and II. is to be found in the rough appearance of the former and the neatness of the latter. The value " 2d." and the lettering generally are larger in the first type, and there is a full point at the end of the circular inscription, or strictly speaking, at the beginning, as it is placed close to the F of " Fee." In type II. the four sets of horizontal parallel lines are joined by perpen- dicular strokes. In tvpe I. rows of dots are substituted, although so carelessly, as to sometimes give the appearance of lines, especially at the top of the stamp. On the first stamp of the first row of a sheet, for instance, the third dot (under R of " Great ") is the only one which 6o GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY. would not be mistaken for a line. In most of the stamps of type I. which have come under my notice there is a superfluous dot in the N.W. corner of the stamp, just under the left hand end of the top outline, and there are many minor defects, which would render it easy to reconstruct a sheet, if once their positions could be ascertained. The largest block I have met with is one of six. I am not able to say what the size of an entire sheet was, although those of the second and third issues consist of sixty stamps, arranged in ten rows of six. I have seen a strip of four stamps of the ist issue perforated all round, which seems to show that a row consisted of at least six stamps, as those at the ends would have imperforate outer edges. The second and third printings are from different transfers, as is shown by the alteration in the relative positions of the stamps on a sheet, but both transfers were apparently prepared from the same engraved matrix, as the design is exactly alike in both. Sheets of these two issues do not show many defects. Stamp No. 57 in the second issue has a coloured circle after "Western" and No. 59, a small T in the same word. In the third issue there is a cross on the margin above the third and fourth stamps and another below the fifty-seventh and fifty- eighth stamps. No official particulars are forthcoming as to the total number of Great Western Railway stamps which have been issued since February, 1891, but the Superintendent of the Line, Mr. T. I. Allen, has been good enough to inform me that 15,747 were used during 1897. Taking 1300 as the average monthly issue, we get a total of 148,200 for the 9I years between February, 1891, and August, 1900, when the latest supply of "about 120,000" was received. Allowing 20,000 for the original distribution to stations and assuming that the second supply consisted of 120,000 stamps (^1000 worth) like the third (the amount of the latter order may have been decided by precedent), we get a rough estimate (or guess) of 50,000 for the first printing and 120,000 for the second, or a total of 290,000 to date. HULL AND BARNSLEY COMPANY. 6 I Hull and Barnsley Company. THE Hull, Barnsley and West Riding Junction Railway and Dock Company was incorporated in July, 1S85. The line runs in a south-western direction from Hull (Junction with the North Eastern) to Cudworth, near Barnsley (Junction with the Midland Rail- way, main line). There are 18 stations, and the total length of the line is 77^ miles. First Printing. Second Printing. The letter stamps are printed in Hull and are of pecuUar interest on account of their being issued in books, with counterfoils, instead of sheets, as is the invariable practice of other Companies. Mr. Jos. Noble, Accountant to the Company, has been good enough to ascertain that the stamps are printed in vertical rows of five, each sheet measuring 8 inches long by 2f inches wide. Twenty such sheets are bound together in a thick paper cover and cut into five, each book thus containing twenty pages, which are perforated between the stamps and the counter- foils. There have been two printings : — 1st January, 1891 Yellow-green 50 books. 2nd March, 1897 Dull green „ Owing to sheets occasionally getting misplaced in binding the books it sometimes occurs that the margin of one stamp shows part of another. Both printings are on horizontally laid paper and are perf. 12 between the stamps and counterfoils. HULI, AND BARNSLEY COMPANY. In the first printings I have met with the following slightly different types. 1. Foot of figure 2 curved at top. Line over right arm of "Railway" broken. White dot on lowest bar in right pillar (see illustration). 2. Dot under first C of " Conveyance." Second line over C of " Company" broken. White dot on upper part of 2nd bar in right pillar. 3. Line under 4th bar in right pillar is broken and too thick. White dot on lower end of 2nd bar in right pillar; N.E. corner of stamp defective. Coloured dot under H of " Hull." 4. Third line under PA of " Company " broken. Smudge on back of " 2 " near "d" and on •• d " opposite L of "Letters." Second line under L of " Hull " broken. 5. W of "Railway" defective. U and first L of "Hull" defective at top. Second line under PA of "Company" broken. 6. W of " Railway " defective, as in type 5. Smudge on back of neck of figure 2. 7. Vertical hairline after Y of " Barnsley." White scratch on top bar in right pillar. 8. Vertical hairline after Y of "Barnsley," as in type 7. Third line under A of "Company" broken. g. Coloured dash between L and E of "Letters"; scratch under TTE of "Letters"; outlines of stamp do not quite meet at the N.E. corner. I have been able to examine 35 examples of the above and find the types in the following proportion; No. i, three; No. 2, eleven; No. 3, four; No. 4, four; No. 5, one; Nos. 6, one; No. 7, four; No. 8, fi-^-e ; No. 9, two. In the second printing I have also nine distinct types. 1. Dot over N.W. triangle. 2. Smudge at foot of 2 near R of " For." 3. Dash under D broken at N.W. corner. Second line under "Company" broken near left hand end. 4. Dot on 4th bar in left pillar. Slight smudge on ball of figure 2. opposite Y of "Conveyance" and also on inner curve (see illustration). The space between the two lines over "Company" is clear (there is usually a dot at the left hand end. 5. Foot of second L of "Hull" broken; Dot nearly under first stroke of M of " Company." 6. Circular line over TT of "Letters" broken. Faint white dot near edge of ground over shield, under NG of " Single." Vertical lines of right pillar too long at foot. 7. Line broken to right of foot of lowest bar in left pillar. 8. The left outline of the left pillar, extending (as usual) below the horizontal line over "Company," is hooked at the extremity, somewhat like the figure "1" mverted. A somewhat similar defect, blurred, occurs in type 6. g. Line broken under SL and over EY of " Barnsley." Of the second issue, I have only been able to closely examine 22 examples, as follows:— No. i, four; No. 2, two; No. 3, three; No. 4, five; No. 5, tw(j ; No. 6, two; No. 7, one; No. 8, two; No. 9, one. .\11 types of both printings have a clot before C of "Company." ISLE OF WIGHT RAILWAY. 63 Isle of Wight Railway, THE Isle of Wight Railway was incorporated in i860 and opened in 1864. The line is 14 J miles in length and runs from Ryde to Ventnor. The stations are Ryde (St. John's Road), Brading (branch to St. Helens and Bembridge), Sandown (Junction with Isle of Wight Central Railway), Shanklin, Wroxall and A'entnor. The letter stamps are lithographed by ^lessrs. Waterlow & Sons in sheets of twelve, arranged in three rows of four. Only one printing has been made, and l\Ir. H. K. Day, Secretary to the Company, has been good enough to inform me that it was received from the printers on January 6th, 1899, and consisted of 1002 stamps. The stamps are bright green in colour and perf. 12. They differ but very slightly in design. The following defects are noticeable. No. 2. Second line under H of "Wight" broken. Xo. 6. Top line of stamp too short at both ends. Nos. 7 and 10. Top line of stamp too short at right end. No. 8. White dot on ground between shield and S of letters. Third line under W of " Railway " broken. No. 12- Right outline of stamp is broken towards lower end. In all 12 types the left pillar is broken opposite EY of " Conveyance," and the left stroke of H of "Wight" is too long. The stamps are placed very unevenly on the sheet. 64 ISLE OF WIGHT CENTRAL RAILWAY. Isle of Wight Central Railway. An Entire Sheet of the First Issue. ISLE OF WIGHT CENTRAL RAILWAY. 65 Isle of Wight Central Railway, THE Isle of Wight Central Railway was formed in 1887 by an amalgamation of the Ryde, Newport and Cowes and the Newport and Isle of Wight Junction Railways. The length is 21 J miles and the main line runs from Ryde to Cowes, through Ashey, Haven Street, \\'ootton, Whippingham, Newport and Mill Hill. A branch runs from Newport through Shide, Blackwater, Merstone (Junction with the Newport, Godshill and St. Lawrence Railway), Horringford, Newchurch, and Alverstone to Sandown (Junction with Isle of \Mght Railway), whilst another branch runs from Newport through Carisbrooke, Calbourne, Ningwood and Yarmouth to Freshwater, thereby increasing the mileage worked by the Central Co. to 43 miles. The letter stamps are printed by Messrs. McCorquodale & Co., Ltd., at one of their branch establishments. Each sheet consists of twelve stamps arranged in three rows of four, the rows of stamps being rouletted between. Each sheet is numbered in red ink on the margin over the second stamp in the top row. There have been two printings. 1st. February, 1899, dull yellowish-green. 2nd. April, 1901, green. Mr. C. L. Conacher, Manager of the Company, informs me that 1200 stamps or 100 sheets are ordered at a time, but it is evident that the printers deliver a small surplus, as I have seen sheets Nos. 105 and 107 of the ist issue whilst the earliest of the 2nd issue which have come under notice, are Nos. in and 112. The stamps on each sheet are of two types, the ist and 3rd vertical rows being type I. and the second and fourth rows, type II. Type I. has a small " I " in " Isle " whilst type II. has a very defecti^•e first E in " Fee." Each type is necessarily reproduced six times on a sheet, and the six duplicates of type I. are distinguishable from one another by defects in the letters " GH " of " Wight." 66 LANCASHIRE, DERBYSHIRE AND EAST COAST RAILWAY. Lancashire^ Derbyshire and East Coast Railway* THE Main Line of the Lancashire, Derbyshire and East Coast Railway at present runs from Chesterfield due east to Lincoln, but should the original scheme be carried out it will extend right across England, practically from the West Coast to the East, through the counties of Cheshire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire. The principal stations now open are Chesterfield, Lang- with Junction, Edwinstowe, Tuxford and Killamarsh. Running powers only are possessed in connection with the stations at Lincoln (G.N.R.), and Sheffield (Mid. R);-.) A branch line runs from Langwith Junction into the latter station. The letter stamps are of somewhat peculiar design and quite distinct from the normal type, as may be seen from the illustrations. I am informed by Mr. M. D. Hancock, Secretary and Accountant to the Company, that three printings of these stamps have been made by Messrs. Bemrose & Sons of Derby. The following table shows the date when each consignment was received from the printers, the quantity printed and the control numbers. Issue. Date. Control Numbers. Quantity. 1st December, i8g6 i to 576 (large figures) 576 and January, 1899 577 to 1076 (small figures) 500 3rd October, 1900 1077 to 1577 (small figures) 501 The original distribution to each station in December, 1896, con- sisted of half a sheet or twelve stamps, the numbers running from 1 to about 216 or 228. During 1897 ^nd the early part of 1898 the demand was \-ery small and in INIarch of the latter year the issue had only been made up to No. 264. During March and April, 1898, the Company were good enough to supply some of these stamps to collectors LANCASHIRE, DERBYSHIRE AND EAST COAST RAILWAY. 67 uncancelled, the control numbers being 265 to 276 and 313 to 372. In November, 1898, stamps had been issued up to No. 480, and since then the demand has considerably increased. i LANCASHIRE. DERBYSHIRE i 81 EAST COAST RAILWAY. fEE ROR CONVEYANCE OF * SINGLE POST LETTERS -i -^ BY RAILWAY. &r LANCASHIRE.DERBYSHIRE & EAST COAST RAILWAY. FEE FOR CONVEYANCE OF SINGLE POST LETTERS BY RAILWAY. . — UNCASHIRE,DERBYSHIRE & EAST COAST RAILWAY. FEE FOR CONVEYANCE OF SINGLE POST LETTERS BY RAILWAY. First Issue. Second Issue. Third Issue. 1st Printings Decetnber, 1896. Perf. 10. Control Nos. i to 576. Colour, green. Q-nd Printing, January, 1899. Control Nos. 577 to 1076 (smaller figures). Colour, yellow-green ; perf. 10. 3n/ Printing, October, 1900. Control Nos. 1077 to 1577. The first sheet of this printing was issued about April, igoi. Colour, emerald green ; perf. 1 1 . All three printings are evidently from the same transfer, but the stamps are very free from defects. In type 24, there is a superfluous coloured dot on the base of the second triangle at the right-hand side. 68 LANCASHIRE AND YORKSHIRE RAILWAY. Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway, THE Lancashire and Yorkshire is an amalgamation of the Manchester and Leeds and other hnes and was incorporated under its new title in 1847. Two other important lines have since been acquired, namely, the East Lancashire in 1859 and the West Lancashire in 1897. The centre of the system is Manchester, from which city the main line runs north-east to Leeds and westward to Liverpool. A better idea of the system may, however, be gained by describing it as a multitude of small lines independently connecting the principal towns of Lancashire and Yorkshire. From Manchester these lines run westward to Liverpool, via AVigan to Southport ; north-west to Eleetwood or Blackpool, via Chorley and Preston ; north- ward to Skipton ; and eastward to AA^akefield, Leeds and Goole (whence running powers to Hull). All the principal towns in Lancashire and many in Yorkshire are served by this Company. The letter stamps are lithographed by Messrs. H. Blacklock & Co., Ltd., of Manchester, and have always been delivered to the Company in sheets of six, arranged in two rows of three. Mr. W. Hepworth, Audit Accountant to the Company, kindly informs me that four supplies had been received down to the close of 1900, of which the following are particulars. Supply. Date. Quantity. 1st January, 1891. 10,000 2nd July, 1894. 5>76o 3rd September, 1897. 5,958 4th January, igoo. 4,998 I add the following description : — Control Numbers. Unnumbered. ( 2,208 issued unnumbered ; I balance numbered i to 3,750. Nos. 3,751 to 8,748. Siippl)-. Printing^. Transfer ISt 1st ? I. 2nd 2nd ? Ia. 3rd 3rd ? I A. J 4th Ib. (5th II. 4th Colour. PL'rf. Dark green 12 Grey-green (shades) 12 Grey-green (shades) 12 Green, pale green 12 Deep green 12 Gum. Brown White Other Particulars. With "guide" lines. Do. Guide lines removed. Do., thin white paper. Do., thicker surfaced paper The order gi\-en above for the ist and 2nd issues is that generally supposed to be correct, but I have no definite evidence as to which appeared first. LANCASHIRE AXD YORKSHIRE RAILWAY. 69 Sheet of Second Printing, as issued (line round each stamp). LANCASHIRE & Sheet of Third Printing, as issued (no outer lines). 70 LANCASHIRE AND YORKSHIRE RAILWAY I am unable to explain why the fourth supply consisted of two different printings. The paper of the first three supplies is discoloured slightly by the gum and contrasts with that used for the later supplies, which remains bluish-white in appearance. The bulk of the fourth supply was of the fifth printing (see later). As the first, second and third supplies did not bear consecutive control numbers (except a few of the latter) I am unable to distinguish absolutely between them, or state definitely if each consisted of a single printing. First Transfer (1891). The first transfer consisted of six types, and was evidently duplicated at least six times when a printing was required, as in the third issue I have seen five panes all slightly different. The six types were arranged in two rows of three — types i, 2, 3, forming the top row, and 4, 5, 6, the lower row. The block of SIX types was then duplicated on the machining stone for each printing. Before the transfer had been used at all it appears that type 5 was spoilt and had to be removed, but by making extra duplicates of the other types the printers managed to make the defecti\e transfer do for the first printing. After the first printing had been made the blank was filled with a new duplicate of the original drawing (No. 7). No further alteration was made until the 4th printing, when type 7 appears to have been cut out and a duplicate of type 3 substituted. The Jefc >rc Lisf. ist Printiii! I 2 3 I 2 3 4 5?6 4 - 6 LANCASHIRE AND VORKSHIRK RA1L\VA^•. 7 I transfer consequent!)- underwent three alterations, the types showing as follows : — Variations of the First Transfer. 2nd and 3rd Printing:. 4th Printing;. 123 123 476 436 In preparing the machining stone for the first printing, at least six duplicates of the transfer (in the second of the above states) appear to ha^•e been laid on the stone, each having the space originally occupied by type 5 left blank. Two additional duplicates were then made and cut up into single stamps, which were used for filling in the six blanks. The two additional duplicates of the transfer would provide two examples each of the fi\e types, but only six out of the ten would be required. I am unable to say which six were employed, but I have four different panes showing types 2, 3, 3 and 6 respectively in this position. In the later printings the transfer in the 3rd or 4th state was employed, and had merely to be duplicated as it stood. The six types may be recognised as follows : — Type I. Base of N.E. triangle broken opposite S of " Post." Type 2. Line under HI of "Lancashire" broken; second line over K of "York- shire " broken ; line over second R of " Yorkshire " indented ; S of "Post" defective at top. In the third and fourth issues the "C" ornamentation on N.W. triangle is absent. Type 3. Line under E of "Lancashire" broken; "FOR" is spelt " FCR " ; left outline of stamp broken opposite first E of " Con\e}'ance " : lower curve of S of " Yorkshire " indented (also occasionally on type 6 in third issue) ; ground cut through by white line at N.E. corner of Shield. Type 4. Second line under first A of " Lancashire " indented or broken ; line broken immediately under lowest bar of right pillar. Type 5 was spoilt and apparently never used. Type 6. Line to left of top bar in left pillar broken ; horizontal line forming base of right pillar is broken off short at right extremity ; line over R of " Lancashire " is minutely broken. 72 I.ANCASHIRE AND YORKSHIRE RAILWAY Type 7. \\'hite spot on lowest bar in right pillar ; upright stroke of R of "Railway" (circular inscription) indented or broken; "C" ornamen- tation absent from S.W. triangle ; Small L to " Lancashire." (This type occurs in second and third issues only). Originally each type had a fine line round it, but this was removed before the third printing was inade in 1897. Except in the first printing, it is an easy matter to distinguish the types by means of the imperforate margin on one or more sides. Every example of type i I ha\e met with is imperforate on the N. and W. sides, whilst those of type 2 are invariably imperf. on the N. side and perforated on the other three. Type 4 is imperf. on the S. and W. sides, type 5 on the S. side only, and type 6 on the S. and E. sides. Type 3 in the second and third printings is always imperf. on the N. and E. sides, but in the fourth printing it also occurs imperf. on the S. side (from position No. 5 on the sheet). These remarks do not of course apply to the first printing. 1st Issue, January, 1 89 1. Dark green, grey-green ; clear guide line round each stamp. Type 7 does not occur. I have met with four panes showing different markings, and the types are arranged as follows : — 123 123 123 123 426 436 436 466 Possibly the position No. 5 on the sheet may be found occupied by other types, as there were probably at least six groups of six types on a sheet as printed. Examples of the first printing are perhaps most readily distinguished from those of the second by means of variations in the guide lines (see 2nd issue). The colour of the two issues is often similar. Type 2 in the first issue apparently always has a blot of colour, between the second line over SH of " Yorkshire " and the circular line over (or outside) " Fee." In type 3 the left edge of the shield is generally indented. In type 6 the upper edge of the shield is indented (under L of "Single"). LANCASHIRE AND YORKSHIRE RAILWAY. 73 ind Issue, Jiilv, 1894. Dark green, grey-green ; seldom as dark as in the first issue. The guide Hues do not show nearly as clearly as in the first printing. The following variations are noticeable. Type I Type 2 Type 3 Type 4 Type 5 Type 6 Right line faint at foot, onl}' a few dots remain. Left line faint, especially at foot. I^eft line brolcen to left of L of " Lancashire." Right guide line almost indistinguishable. Lower guide line shows only under KS and IR of "Yorkshire" and " Rly." Left guide line faint towards top. A portion of the second printing was on surfaced paper, and appears in a distinct shade of grey-green. yd Issue, September, 1S97. Dull green, grey-green. Guide lines removed. .A.s in the preceding printing, each sheet or pane shows types I, 2, 3 in the top row, and 4, 7, 6 in the lower. Type 2 shows a peculiarity, the " C " ornamentation being removed from the N.\A' . triangle. I have met with five sheets showing different markings. Sheet I (illustrated). In type 6 there is a small circle at the top of the letter R of "Rly." Sheet 2. In type 3 the line over CO of "Conveyance" is broken, and the 5th bar in the right pillar is broken in two. In type 4 the lowest bar of the left pillar is broken at top. Sheet 3. In type 3 the second bar in the left pillar is broken at top. Sheet 4. In tvpe 5 the second line under Y of " Rly." is broken. Sheet 5. In type 4 the line to right of lowest bar in the left pillar is broken. ]\lany other defects occur, and it would be no doubt readily possible to recognize the sheet from which any stamp came. The control numbers of this issue run up to No. 3750, but the highest number I have actually met with is No. 3442. 4M Issue, January, 1900. Of the fourth issue (printed partly from the first and partly from the second transfer) I have met with the following : — Yellow-green (transfer I.) sheets 3876, 3948, 4206. Green, yellowish-green (transfer I.) sheets 4752, 496S, 4974. Deep green, surfaced paper (transfer II.), sheets 5448, 5556, 5718, 5736, 5922, 6078, 6096, 6366, 6624. 74 LANCASHIRK AND YORKSHIRE RAILWAY. The two first shades are very distinct but are probably the same printing. Second Transfer (1900). The second transfer, like the first, appears to consist of six types arranged in two rows of three. It is \'ery carefully drawn and shows few defects. In type 5 there are generally two small dots before Y of " Yorkshire," and in most examples of type 6 I ha\e seen there are two coloured dots beneath the letters C and O of " Comevance." LIVERPOOL, ST, HELENS AND SOUTH LANCASHIRE RAILWAY. 75 Liverpool^ St. Helens and South Lancashire Railway* THE Liverpool, St. Helens and South Lancashire Railway is worked by the Great Central jointly with the \A'igan Junction Railway Conipan}-. The line runs from Liverpool to St. Helens (lo miles) and from St. Helens to Lowton (8 miles). The letter stamps are lithographed by Messrs. Henry Blacklock and Co., Ltd., and are issued in sheets of tweh-e, arranged in four rows of three. The first and only printing was ordered from the printers on October 12th, 1899, and consisted of 240 stamps. 76 LONDON AND NORTH WESTERN RAILWAY. London and North Western Railway* THE London and North Western Railway was incorporated under its present title in 1846', being an amalgamation of the Liverpool and Manchester, the Grand Junction, and the London and Birmingham Railways. It may be mentioned that the Southern Terminus of the London and Birmingham line (Euston, was the first railway station opened in London. Then, as now, the Company was the most important in the Country, although in point of mileage it has had in recent years to cede first place to the Great Western. The length is at present 1715 miles, as against 420 in 1846. The main line of the London and North \\'estern Railway runs from Euston, through Willesden Junction, Bletchley (branches to Oxford and Cambridge), Blisworth (Junction with N. & B.J., and E. & \^^J. Railways), Rugby (Branch to Birmingham, Wolverhampton, etc.), Nuneaton, Tamworth (Junction with Midland Railway from Derby to Bristol), Stafford, Crewe (branches to Hereford, Chester, Holyhead, T\Ianchester and Liverpool), \\'igan, Preston (branch to Fleetwood owned jointly ^v■ith L. & Y. Railway), Garstang (Junction with G. & K.E. Railway), Lancaster, Carnforth (Junction with Furness Railway), Tebay (Junction with N.E. Railway), and Penrith (Junction with C.K. & P. Railway) to Carlisle, whence trains are carried north to Glasgow and Aberdeen by the Caledonian Railway. A junction is also effected at Carlisle with the Glasgow and South Western and North British Raihvays. The London and North Western is the only Railway Company possessing lines in Scotland and Ireland as well as in England and Wales. The Dundalk, Newry and Greenore Line in Ireland is the property of the Company, which is also joint owner with three other Companies of the Portpatrick and Wigtownshire Railway (Stranraer to Castle Douglas I. M^M- GO 00 00 CO -_iA-/ '■•^j:v:1 .. 00 00 00 c» 00 CO r lix. :r"T; 00 '\ 00 ^ 00 s^^^um^ 'Bi rr"IESr;r-? OS ■ 00 GO..-,; CO;;;." Gi . uO lii 00 .':-^; CO O""/^ ■^■'-''^ B iff cu>3«_>i.firpryi (T.: (M. — F ■:■-! J N 00 j; -« i=i, (X)yl i:ia tM^I ■- """ - -CO" =iiiiL_i .ji; O^ i 00, , g^M- I ISk?: IE ro t> 00 iliS 00 00 CO .CO.'i^l 00 00 CO 7« LONDON AND NORTH WESTKRN RAILWAY. The letter stamps are printed by ^lessrs. IMcCorquodale & Co., Ltd. (London), in sheets of 60, arranged in ten rows of six, and iive printings ha\-e been made down to the present time. The following are particulars : ^ssue. Control Numbers. Date Ordered. Quantity 1st I to 50,000 January, 1891 50,000 2nd 50,001 to 70,000 April, 1893 20,000 3rd 70,001 to 100,000 July, 1894 30,000 4th 100,001 to 130,000 September, 1896 30,000 5th 130,001 to 160,000 July nth, 1899 30,000 Only one plate or block has been used for all five printings. All issues are rouletted, and the only differences are in the size of the control figures and the colour. 1st Printing, Januayy, 1891. Control Nos. i to 50,000; small figures; rouletted ; colour, dark yellow-green. ind Printing, April, 1893. Control Nos. 50,001 to 70,000; small figures ; rouletted ; colour, bright yellow-green. Specimens of this issue are somewhat rare unused. yd Printing, July, 1894. Control Nos. 70,001 to 100,000 ; large figures ; rouletted ; colour, dark green. \th Printing, September, 1896. Control Xos. 100,001 to 130,000; small figures ; rouletted ; colour, green (pale and dark shades). •^th Printing, July, 1899. Control Nos. 130,001 to 160,000 ; small figures ; rouletted ; colour, pale yellowish-green. LOMIJOX AND NORTH WESTERN RA1L\VA^•. 79 First Issue. Second Issue. LOUDON AND NORTH . •■ .^:, WESTERS HAILWAy. Third Issue (Large Control Figures). Fourth Issue. Fifth Issue. WESTERN RAILWAY. 8o LONDON AND SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY. London and South Western Railway* 1~*>HE London and South Western Railway was incorporated in 1834 under the title of the London and Southampton Railway, the first portion — that from Nine Elms to Woking — being opened four years later. The main line now runs from Waterloo, through Clapham (Junction with L.B. & S.C. Railway), Wokmg, Basingstoke (branches to Portsmouth, Southampton, Bournemouth, Dorchester and Weymouth), Andover (Junction with AI. & S.W.J. Railway), Salisbury, Templecombe (Junction with the Somerset and Dorset Railway running from Bournemouth to Bath) and thence through Yeovil and Exeter (Junction with G.^^'.R.) to Plymouth. The total length of line now open is 914 miles. The letter stamps are lithographed by Messrs. \A'aterlow & Sons, in sheets of 24, arranged in four rows of six. These are divided into panes of twelve before delivery. Mr. C. J. Owens, General Manager of the Company, has been good enough to furnish the following list of the printings which have been made. Each consists of 250 panes or 3,000 stamps. Dates of receipt from printers of London and South Western Railway Letter Stamps. 1. January, 1891 2. June, 3. Nov. 19, ,, 4. March 26, 1892 5. August 15, „ f). Jan. 14, 1S93 7. June I 2, S. Sept. 27, „ There is little difficulty in distinguishing between the above numerous printings, but sufficient e^•idence is not yet forthcoming to place them in their correct order or to establish in the majority of cases the exact date of issue. After examining a large number of examples, I am, however, able to give a list which I belie\e to be approximately correct. 9 Feb. 20, I Sg4 17 :\Iar. 22 1897 25- Aug. 18, 1899 10. July 13, 18 Jul}' 30, ,, 26. Dec. 21 5) 1 1 Nov. 15, ■) 19. Dec. 7, ,, 27- Apr. <-7, 1900 12. May 15. I .S95 20. Apr. 21, l8gS 28. .July 13. ,, 13- Aug. 29, 21. July 21, ., 29. Oct. 22, „ 14- Jan. II, I Sgh 22. Oct. 7, ,, 30- — — igoi 15- June 17, 23- Feb. 7, 1899 31- — — jj 16. Oct. 8, ,, 24- :\Iav II, ., 32- — — )) LONDON AND SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY. 8 1 In arranging a collection of L. & S.W.R. letter stamps, the first step is to classify all specimens according to the transfer used in printing them. Four transfers have been employed, and of these Nos. I. and IV. were each used for a single printing only, and transfer II. for about six printings. The great majority of the specimens will probably be from transfer III., and it is therefore advisable to first make a study of the distinguishing marks of the 24 types composing it. As far as is known, all examples perforated 10 or 14^ are from transfer III. When it was first prepared each type had a short bar attached to the left side of the O of " South." Issues 7 to 18 almost invariably show this peculiarity, whilst in subsequent printings it is generally absent. This enables a further rough classification to be made. Having thus divided the specimens into small groups, it should be possible to separate them by means of perforation and colour into distinct issues. I append a detailed description of the transfers and the printings made from them, as complete as the evidence before me permits. The first transfer appears to have been employed for the first printing only, as I have an example of the second transfer dated as early as August, 1891, and therefore necessarily of either the first or second printing — I presume the second. On most railway systems there are stations where there is a very small demand for these stamps, and where the supply originally distributed in 1891 remained on hand for many years afterwards ; but on the L. & S.W.R. very few of the early printings survived more than three or four years at the most, and it is probable that the majority of the stations only received half a pane, or six stamps, at the first distribution. It is consequently not surprising to find that very few examples of the early printings are known. Of the first transfer I have been able to examine 22 examples, including a block of six and two blocks of five, and of the second transfer (issues 2 to 7) 35 examples, unfortunately including nothing larger than a pair. From this evidence it seems that the first transfer comprised 24 distinct types, arranged, as in transfer III., in two panes of 12, whilst the second transfer was formed by dupli- cating (four times ?) a block of six types. The third and fourth transfers are both well known, being of recent date. Pale yellowish-green 17 22. 3.97 III. B 10 ,, Green, dark green 18 30- 7-97 III. B II* ,, Yellow-green 19 7.12.97 III. C Hi Green 20 21. 4.98 III. C 11* Yellowish-green 21 21. 7.98 in. C 10 ,, Green 22 7.10.98 III. c 10 n ^^'ashy yellow-green 23 7. 2.99 III. c 10 ,. Bright green 24 II. 5.99 III. c 10 Dark yellowish-green 25 18. 8.99 III. c 10 Emerald green 26 21.12.99 III. ? 10 ,, Bluish yellow-green 27 17. 4.00 i\. — 10 , , Yellow-green 28 13. 7.00 III. D 10 ,, Dark green 29 22.10.00 III. D 10 ,, Yellow-green 30 — . — .01 III. D 1 1 Bright yellow-green 31 — . 6.01 III. ]) 10 Perf. Green, yellowish-green The above list is only approximate, being especially uncertain. The early issu of 1896-97 are perf. 11,',, n^'. the order given for the issues of 1892-95 ls are generally perf. 11 J, 11 J, whilst those LONDON AND SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY. 83 First Transfer, 1891. As already stated, the first transfer was employed for the first printing only, which may be recognized by its wide margins, 6 to S mm. in width (see illustration below). The only other printing known to have a similar wealth of imperforate margin is the third (transfer II). Types of First Transfer. 2 3 5 6 8 g 13 16 19 20 21 14 15 17 18 10 II 12 22 23 24 The 22 examples I have met with of this printing fortunately furnish 17 out of the 24 types which presumably occurred. This number is made up of two upper halves of panes (whether left or right I do not know) and one lower half (minus No. 3.) Types I and 2 of First Transfer. The represent Type Type first block of six s either types i to types shows the following defects, and 5 or 13 to 18 on the transfer. Type Type Type Type 6. White spot on lower tip of second E of "Letters." Line over first N of "London" minutely broken; left outline of stamp broken opposite lower tip of lowest vertical bar in left pillar ; right outline broken opposite Y of "Railway." Short curved white line between shield and S of " Letters." Right outline broken to right of H of " South." of " For " broken at left side. Faint dot between " London " and " and." Second line over second E of " Western " broken ; line between LW of "Railway" (circular) and shield, broken; line under TH of "South" broken ; middle line between third and fourth bars in left pillar broken ; N.W. triangle defective at top. Line over P of " Post " minutely broken ; first O of " London " minutely defective at top. 84 LONDON AND SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY. The second block, fi^'e types, represents No. 7 to 12 or 19 to 24 (except 9 or 21). I have met with dupHcates of types 7, 8, 10. Type 7. Coloured dot near edge of shield, opposite Y of "By"; I of "Railway" (circular) indented; line to left of fifth bar in left pillar broken; line under TH of " South " broken ; back of first C of " Conveyance " broken. Type 8. Line broken over U of "South"; curve of D of "2d." indented opposite T of "Post"; line over left edge of S of "Western" broken. Type g. Not seen. Type 10. White dot over left edge of shield; left side of first O of "London" indented; both lines over Y of "Railway" broken (nearly over the centre stroke, and not as in type 17) ; small blot to right of second bar in right pillar ; line between right pillar and outline of stamp broken opposite T of " Post." Type II. Line under EY of "Conveyance" minutely broken. Type 12. Line to right of lowest bar in right pillar broken ; right stroke of N of " And " broken. The third block of six types represents Nos. 13 to 18 or i to 6. Type 13. White line nearly connecting circle with lower tip of shield. Upper tip of L of " London " defective ; V and second N of " Conveyance " slightly broken. Scratches over shield at left. Type 14. Outlines of N.W. triangle do not join at apex. Type 15. Left outHne of right pillar broken opposite first E of " Letters." Lower tip of N.W. triangle defective. Type 16. Second line over TH of " South " broken. Type 17. Line under second E of " Western " broken ; both lines broken between Y of Railway and foot of right pillar. Type 18. White dot on ball of figure 2. Second O of " London " broken at right. Coloured dot on S.E. triangle near B of " By." Line broken over second A of " Railway.'' Of the first transfer I am unable to give any further information. Second Transfer, 1891-93. The second transfer was evidently used for at least five printings, which I identify as follows : — 2ud Issue, June, 1S91. Deep green, on thick surfaced paper. The edges of most, if not all sheets, were left imperforate, the margins being slightly clipped, as they a\'erage only 4 or 5 mm. in width. LONDON AND SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY. I have examples dated Aug., 1891, 4.4.92, 27.4.92, 28.4.92 and 2.5.92. The earhest of these is in a duller shade of green than the others. ird Issue, N07'., i8gi. Bright yellow-green, on thick surfaced paper. All stamps on the sheet were perforated all round (the only other instance of this occurring is the 31st printing). I have copies dated 29.2.92, 20.7.92, and 24.4.97. I have also an example of type i dated 1.3.92, and perforated all round, but in the same shade of green as that dated Aug., 1891 (see 2nd issue). \th Issue, March 26th, 1892. Pale yellow-green, on thick hard paper, similar to ist issue ; wide margins, 6 to 8 mm. I have met with an example dated 13.10.93. ^th Issue, Aug. isth, 1892. Yellow-green, deep green, rather smudgy printing, thinner paper, margins 4 to 7 mm. only. I have met with an example dated Jan., 1894. 6th Issue, Jan. \\th, 1893. Dark olive-green, paper of similar texture, but slightly stouter. I have only met with a single example. No. 2 on the sheet, with imperforate margin 4 mm. wide at top. Types of Second Transfer. 2 3 I 564 231 564 Type I Type 2 Type 3 Type 4, Type 5 2 3 5 6 2 3 5 6 I am not by any means certain that the above order is the correct one. The second transfer consists of two or more duplicates of a block of six types, which may be identified as follows : — White dot on right hand tip of T of " Western." Coloured blot on line over Railway, under right pillar. Line over A of "And" broken. Top of third bar in right pillar broken off. White dot on right arm of Y of "by."; O of "for" defective. Upper left hand portion of second bar in right pillar broken off; coloured dot below two lowest lines of stamp, near right end. White dot at top of lowest bar in right hand pillar. Line to left of fifth bar in left pillar broken ; second line over W of " Western " broken. Smudge on upper edge of foot of " 2," and at right edge of shield. Type 6, There are slight varieties of each type. S6 LONDON AND SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY. Third Transfer, 1893-1901. The third transfer, Hke the first, consisted of 24 distinct types, di\ided into two panes of 12, each in four rows of three. As the sheets were cut into panes by the printers before delivery, it is impossible to find a complete sheet of 24 types, but I have fortunately met with two imperforate panes, which evidently originally formed a proof sheet, and which show, by means of the wide margin on the left side of one pane and on the right side of the other, and by the traces of writing which had been cut from between the panes, that with the broken " T " to " Post " forms the right hand half of the transfer. Types on Third Tran?;fLr 2 3 13 14 15 5 6 16 17 18 8 9 19 20 21 ir 12 22 23 24 LON! DOM At'C WESTERN RAILWAY The original drawing from which the \'arious transfers are prepared acquired a curious defect in the interxal between the preparation of the second and third. A distinct bar, or hyphen, became attached to the left side of the letter of " South," and was, of course, reproduced in all 24 duplicates made in forming the third transfer. In 1897 these bars were removed from certain types on the transfer, and a year later from all, although a trace is still (1901) found on type 24. In the long life of this transfer many defects ha\e appeared and disappeared, and such provide the most reliable methods of determining the order in which the different printings were made. (.)f the earlier printings from this transfer I ha\e, unfortunately, met with very few examples, and less reliance must be placed on the order I have pro- visionally assigned to them. LONDON AND SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY. The various tj'pes of the third transfer show the following defects. As different states occur, I mention the issues in which I have found such, but the list is bv no means complete. Type i, for instance, I have not vet seen in the 7th, 8th, 9th, loth, nth, 12th, i6th, 17th and 20th issues, and it is necessarily impossible to fully describe all the defects which probably occur. In each case I note in brackets the printings I have met with. Left-hand Pane. Type I. ti3th, 14th. 15th, i8th, igth, 21st and later). All have a white spot on foot of first E of "Western"; first E of "Letters" is generally joined to line above b^" a hairline. {a} 13th to 15th. Coloured bar inside D of "London," at top. In the 17th issue and later printings it is blurred with the side of the letter. [b] 15th. The D of "London" is joined to the top of the stamp h\ a fine hairline. Other printings show dots over " D." (c) igth. Scratch through D of " 2d." ; traces in 14th and later issues, (rf) Scratch (sometimes white, sometimes coloured) extending nearly from hyphen of " 2d." to right edge of stamp, passing between TE of " Letters " ; occurs faintly on 21st issue, clear on 22nd and later issues. (e) White scratch through ball of figure "2"; occurs only in 21st to 24th issues (excepting faint traces). (/) Line under Y of "Conveyance" split by white hairline; 23rd to 28th issues ; indistinct since. (g) Coloured scratches extending left through V and E of "Conveyance"; clear on 23rd, 25th and later issues ; indistinct on 22nd and 24th. {h) Bar before O of " South " ; occurs last on i8th issue, (i) White circle round shield broken opposite S of "Letters"; all issues up to No. 2g. In the 30th issue the circle is unbroken. (7) Hairline through AY of " Railway," 15th to 22nd issues. Not on 14th or 23rd. The above list bv no means exhausts the number of defects which have at times occurred on type i, and I ha\e still further restricted mv lists of defects on other types. Tvpe 2. (13th, 14th, 17th. i8th, 19th, 2ist and later). No general marking. (n) Hairline across S.\\'. triangle ; faint on 14th ; clear on 17th and later. (6) Dot between foot and body of figure "2," lomm. from angle, 14th to 2ist issues. 88 I.ON'DOX AND SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY. Third Transfer, left hand pane (iSth Issue). (The O of "South" shows the bar). • «i WESTERN RAILWAY WESTERN RAILWAY :fe=5 WESTERN RAILWAY LONDON AND SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY. Type 3. (nth to r4th, 17th to 19th, 21st and later). Right outhne of left pillar broken opposite Y of " Conveyance " ; line under first N of " London " broken; dot under YA of "Conveyance"; white dot on lower tip of F of " For." {a) The dot under YA is absent in 23rd issue. (6) Double line under " Fee " ; 23rd and later issues. Tj'pe 4. (14th, iSth, igth, 22nd and later). Slanting line over AY of "Railway"; white dot on tail of " 2," right end ; coloured dot after centre bar of E of " Single." {a) Hairline across S.W. triangle and O of " for " ; 14th and later, but more or less indistinct after iSth issue. {b) Hairlines across upper part of H of "South"; 13th and later, but indistinct occasionally. {c) Hairline over second E of " Fee " ; all up to No. 29. ((f) \Yhite circle round shield broken opposite S of "Letters"; all issues up to No. 2g. [e) Hairline across lower tip of shield, r4th and later. Type 5. (13th, 14th, 15th, 17th to 2oth. 22nd and later). No general marking. ((/) Scratches across S.E. triangle, sometimes very faint, 14th and later. (b) Dot or smudge on line over F of " Fee," 14th and later. (c) Hairline under S.W. triangle, 14th and later. Tvpe 5. (13th, 14th, iSth, 19th, 20th, 22nd and later). Line under TH of " South" indented or broken ; coloured dot near centre of N.E. triangle. (cr) Double line under ON of "Conveyance"; clear on 19th and 20th, indistinct later. Foot of T of " South " broken ; 22nd and later. Dot attached to line over TL of " Post letters," 14th and later. (13th, 13th, 18th to 20th, 22nd and later). Top of figure 2 indented; O of " Conveyance " broken at foot. Break in O of "Conveyance," fmm. up to 20th issue; faintly re-joined, 22nd and later (also on 15th). (13th and later, except i6th, 17th, 21st). Two lines in N.E. triangle blurred at end near S of " Post." \Vhite dot on shield, under "2" and over F of "Fee"; clear on 13th to 22nd, absent on 23rd to 25th, faint on 26th and later issues. Vertical white scratch on curved back of figure " 2 " ; 23rd and later. (13th and later, except i6th, 17th and 21st). Line between OR of "for" and triangle, indented or broken. (13th, 14th, 17th to 19th, 22nd, 24th and later). No general marking. Vertical scratch over H of "South"; 24th and later. Hairline directly under lowest outline of stamp and \YAY' of "Railway"; issues up to No. 22 (except i^l, but indistinct except in earliest issues. Hairline across ^'.^V. triangle; 22nd and later issues. Hairline to right of stamp, extending to type 11, 13th and 14th issues. (A) {c) Type ' 7- (n) Type : 8. (a) (b) Tj'pe ■ 9- Type 10. C) {b) {<=} [d] go LONDON AND SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY. Type II. 13th to 15th, 18th, igth, 22nd and later). Outline of stamp bioken over H of " South " generally rather indistinct. (n) Hairline extending from type 10 across 2nd bar in left pillar, S.W. triangle, and O of "for" to shield; 13th and later issues. In the igth issue the line is cleaned away from the left edge of the stamp and in the 22nd issue, wholly so, leaving a white patch on the S.W. triangle opposite R of "for." (b) Hairline across S.E. triangle ; clear except on earliest issues. (c) Hairlines across N.E. and N.W. triangles, 22nd and later. {d) Both lines under TH of " South " broken, 13th and later, except 15th and i8th, which have only the lowest line broken. The 19th issue is the last in which the breaks show clearly. {e) Foot of " 2 " indented opposite " For " ; 22nd and later. Type 12. (13th, 14th, i8th, 22nd and later). The white space inside O of " Post " is like a Q in shape ; line over ER of '■ Letters " indented. (a) White dot on 5th bar in left pillar ; 13th to 2gth issues. (b) White Hne across W of "Railway" (circular; 22nd and later). (c) Two hnes under second N of "London "joined by hairline, 14th and later. (d) Smudge joining tail of figure 2 and dash under D of " 2d." ; 22nd issue only. {e) Smudge across S.E. triangle ; 22nd and later. Right-hand Pane. Type 13. (14th, 15th, 17th and later issues). No general marking. (a) Diagonal scratch from first N of London to top of figure 2, all issues except 2gth ; but indistinct except 15th, 17th i8th and igth (i6th not seen). (6) First T of "Letters" joined to line above by hairline, 14th to 17th issues ; traces on igth and 20th. Type 14. (i2th, 14th, 15th, 17th, igth and later issues). No general marking. (a) Hairline falling from tip of centre bar of first E of " Western " to lines below; faint on 12th issue, verv distinct on r4th to 20th, absent from 21st, and faint on 22nd to 26th, after which the only traces are slight smudges on the lines below the letter E. Type 15. (gth, 12th and later, except i3thl. Coloured dot over lowest bar in left pillar ; minute white dot on foot of S of " Western." (a) Second line under W of " Western " broken, 12th and later (my example of gth issue has the corner torn off and does not show if this break occurs). (ft) Coloured dot between two lowest lines of stamp, right hand extremity; 15th and later issues. (c) Scratch across top of S.W. triangle and R of "for"; 14th and later issues, but faint on 14th (absent on 12th and 13th) ; clearest on 28th issue. (d) Line over OS of "Post" broken, 23rd and later. LONDON' AND SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY. gi Type i6. (12th to 17th, igth, 21st and later). No general marking. (rt) Coloured dot between 2nd and 3rd lines over N of " and," 12th to 17th issues (i8th not seen) ; faint traces occasionally later. {b) Hairline extending from Y of "BY" across S.E. triangle, 14th and later issues (no trace on 12th or 13th). (c) Line immediately under 2nd bar in right pillar entirely removed, 21st and later issues (20th not seen), (if) White hairline down left side of O of "South," 22nd and later issues; the 2ist issue showed a trace of the bar. Type 17. (i2th and later issues, except i6th and 20th). Top outhne of N.AV. triangle broken (under first N of " London ") ; vertical hairline on lower portion of same triangle. Two white dots, close together, on body of figure " 2," as in types 18 and 22. [n) Two long parallel scratches across lower half of stamps, the lower one, which passes under the figure " 2 " being a continuation of the scratch on type i5 ; faint on 13th issue (no trace whatever on 12th), clear on 14th to igth issues, except i8th ; on the i8th, 21st, and later issues the line is cleared from the shield, and in the 30th and later issues, entirely erased. (6) "FOR" spelt "FflR" (" U " upside down), 22nd and later. In the 2gth and 30th issues, and some impressions of the 28th, the "O" is faintly rejoined. Type 18. (i2th and later, except i6th and 20th). Second line over TE of "Western" broken; two white dots, side by side, on body of figure 2, as in types 17 and 22; white dot on neck of figure 2, just above ball. (a) Hairlines across N.E. and N.W. triangles, 14th and later. (i2th 13th, 15th, ifcth, i8th and later). Large blot to right of 2nd bar in right pillar ; line over second bar broken. Dot before bar under D of "2d."; on 12th, 13th, i6th, i8th, 20th, 2ist, 22nd and 2Sth (14th, 17th, not seen), but absent from 15th and igth and most later issues. Smudge under neck of figure 2, 28th and later. (i2th, 13th, 15th, 17th, igth, 2ist and later issues). White dot on line under first C of " Conveyance." Dot on shield before foot of "2," absent on igth, 20th, 21st, 28th and later issues. (i2th, 13th, 15th, 17th, igth, 2ist and later issues). Fourth bar in right pillar smudged on either side, (a) Double line under "for," 23rd and later. Type 22. (13th, 15th, igth and later, except 26th). The T of "Post" is broken so as to look like a small T with a dot underneath. (a) The break in the upright stroke of the letter T of "Post" is faintly rejoined in the 24 th and later issues. Type ig. («) (b) Type 20. («) Type 21. 92 LONDON AND SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY. Third Transfer, right hand pane, (23rd Issue). The bar has been removed from O of South, except on type 24. LONDON AND SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY. 93 Type 22 — (continued). (6) There are two white dots, side by side, on the body of the figure '' 2," as in types 17 and iS, they are obhterated in the 28th and later printings. [c) White cut at lower right hand corner of figure 2, 22nd to 25th issues (26th not seen); no trace on 21st or 28th. Tvpe 23. (13th, 15th, 17th and later issues). Line under DS of "And South" broken; smudge on base of S.W. triangle, near R of "For"; line under E of "Conveyance'' indented. Tvpe 24. (13th, 15th, 19th, 2ist and later issuesl. No general marks. (n) Curved hairline through first E of "Letters," bar under " D," and " D ■' of 2d."; clear on 13th and 15th, and faint or indistinguishable on later issues, except that the letter E is generally blurred. (6) The bar to O of "South" was never properly removed. I have met with so very few examples of the 7th, 8th, gth, loth and nth issues, that I have not thought it worth while to mention them in the above table. I ha\-e no evidence whatever to show their order, beyond that the absence of distinctive marking shows them to be from a very early state of the transfer. It is probable that the earliest printings from transfer III. showed few, if any, markings. The description "General ^Marking " in the above hst applies only to the 1 2th and later issues. List of Printings from Transfer III- The order of the 7th, 8th, gth, loth and nth issues, as given on page 82, is very uncertain. I have only been able to classify and examine about 15 examples. The following printings I group into small classes, according to prominent defects which occur on the transfer. WITH B.^RRED " O " IX " SOUTH." GrouJ> A. (continued). Xo scratches across types 16. 17. 12/^ Issue, May, i^th, 1895. Green, perf. 14*. i^th Issue, Aug. 20th, 1895. Dark green, perf. 14^; very faint scratch on type 17. I have met with four copies dated 19.1.97, 18. 1.97, " I\Iay 27th," and " ^lav gth." I have also seen what appears to be an imperforate proof sheet of this printing, although in a brighter yellow-green shade. 94 LONDON AND SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY. Gro2ip B. Scratches across types i6 and 17. \\th Issue, Jan iith, i8g5. Yellow-green, perf. 14^. Numerous defects occur in this printing for the first time. A number of sheets of this issue are believed to have been overlooked and issued about ic,oo. i^th Issue, June ijth, 1896. Dull green, perf. ii-|-. This is the first printing to show state (b) of type 15. I have met with used copies dated 4. 11 96, 8.2.97, 11. 2. 97, and 19.4.97. The scratches are ex- ceptionally clear on types 14, 16, 17. ibth Issue, October 8t/i, 1896. Pale yellow-green, perf. ii|^. I have only met with two examples, types 15 and 16. Type 15 shows state (b). 17/72 Issue, March i2.iid, 1897. Green, pale green, perf. 10 (the first with this gauge). I obtained specimens of this printing from Boscombe, which station was only opened on June ist, 1897, and which, I believe, had only had the one supply. I'Ath Issue, July 30///, 1897. Yellow-green, perf. ii-|-. This printing possesses a number of peculiarities. I have been able to closely examine three entire panes (all left hand) and various singles (all from right hand panes). One of the panes shows a number of white scratches which do not show on the others, whilst certain defects which might be expected to be found, such as the scratch under the shield of type 17, do not occur on either. Types i to 12 all show the barred O in "South," but on the other hand all types I have seen from the right hand pane do not show it (except No. 19). The example of type 19 is dated 1.3.98. WITH BARS REMOVED FROM " O " OF " SOUTH." Group C. Double line under ON of ''Conveyance" [type 6). i9//« Issue, December yth, 1897. Dark green, green, perf. 11-^. The bars on "O" of South occur on types 15, 18, 21 and 24 only, as in the 2oth issue. 2otli Issue, April list, 1898. Yellowish-green, perf. 11^. This, or the 2ist issue, is the last printing in which the "O" of "Conveyance" in type 7 is clearly broken. I have copies dated 11. 10.98 and 13.10.98. LONDON AND SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY. 95 2ist Issue, July list, i8g8. Green, pert'. 10. The first printing to show state (d) of type i. I have examples dated 3.8.98, 11. 10. 98, 12.10.98 and 14.12.98. iind Issue, October jfh, 1898. Pale yellow-green, pert. 10. In many examples the ink has run so much as to give the impression of being printed on blotting paper. State (d) of type 12 occurs on this printing only. The colour is very similar to that of the 29th issue. Various markings make their first appearance (including state b of type 17). I have seen sheets which were issued in February and March, i8gg. 23/-C/ Issue, February jth, 1899. Bright green, perf. 10. This printing is believed to be that referred to in Eweris Weekly Circular of April 15th, 1899, where it is stated that " L. & S.W.R. letter stamps are still perf. 10, but are now appearing in a brighter shade of green." Numerous markings have their origin in this printing, notably the double line under O of "For" on type 21. The colour is apt to be confused with that of the 25th issue. i.\th Issue, May nth, 1899. Dark green, perf. 10 (triangles very faintly printed). I have seen a sheet which is known to have been issued on 4.9.99. This printing is very liable to be confused with the 28th, on account of the similarity of colour. ■z^th Issue, August i8th, 1899. Bright emerald green, perf. 10. I have examples dated 6.12.99, 14. 12.99 ^-'^'i 6.3.00. I have met with a block of four apparently twice printed. ibth Issue, December 21st, 1899. Green, perf. 10. I have examples dated ii.i.oo and 17.5.00. This printing is very similar in shade to the 23rd issue. 27//? Issue, April ijtli, 1900. See transfer IV. Group D. White dots on type 22 obliterated. 2?>th Issue, July 13//?, 1900. Dark green, perf. 10. I have a sheet which is imperforate vertically, and which was issued from Lympstone in June, 1901. I have several ordinary sheets which were issued in January, 1901. 29/^ Issue, October 22nd, 1900. Pale green, perf. 10. I have several sheets which were issued in March, 1901. 96 LONDON AND SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY. 5lieet from Fourth Transfer (27th Issue) LONDON AND SOUTH ''^ WESTERN RAILWAY LONDON AND SOUTH 11 WESTERN RAILWAY LONDON AND SOl.'TH WESTERN RAILWAY. 97 Group E. W'liite circles round shields redrawn. 2,0th Issue, March / 1901. Yellow-green, perf. 11. I have sheets which were issued in ^lay and June, 1901. In all previous printings from transfer III. the white circle round the shield was broken in two places, opposite O of "For" and S of "Letters." These two defects were common to all types. Commencing with the 30th issue the former was corrected on types 2, 4, 8, 9, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19 and 21, and the latter on types i, 4, 14, 17, 20, 22 and 23. 2iist Issue, June, 1901. Yellow-green, perf. lo. All stamps on the sheets are perforated all round. The white circle under O of " For " on type 13 is rejoined. , I WESTERN RAILWAY Fourth Transfer, 1900. (Employed for i-]th issue only). This transfer is peculiar on account of its shape, twelve types being arranged in three rows of four. These may be identified as follows: — Line broken to right of TT of " Letters." Line broken to right of CO of "Conveyance." Second line under N of " Western " broken. White spot between shield and first C of " Conveyance." Line over L of " London " broken. White dot on lower edge of foot of "2.'' White dot on right foot of second A of " Railway." Line over WA of '-Railway" broken. White dot to left of shield, opposite NV of " Conveyance." White dot to right of shield, opposite ET of "Letters"; also under shield and above L of "Railway" (circular). Minute white dot on top of upper bar in left pillar. White dot to right of shield, opposite R of " Letters." White spot to right of shield, opposite first T of " Letters." Bar to O of " South." On all twelve types there is generally a smudge between E and S of " Western." Type Type Type Type Type Type Type Type Type g Type ro Type 1 1 Type 12 ? LONDON, BRIGHTON AND SOUTH COAST RAILWAY. London^ Brighton and South Coast Railway, THE London, Brighton and South Coast Railway was incorporated in 1835 and opened as far as ^^'est Croydon in 1839. The main line now runs from London Bridge to Portsmouth, but is only partly owned by the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway, the sections from London Bridge to Corbet's Lane Junction and from Purley to Redhill being the property of the South Eastern Railway. The South Coast section of the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway runs from Portsmouth through Worthing, Brighton and Lewes to Hastings. A second line runs eastward from Guildford through Horsham and Three Bridges to Tunbridge Wells. These two lines are to a certain extent parallel and are crossed at right angles by those from London Bridge (or Victoria) respectively to Portsmouth, Littlehampton, Shoreham, Brighton, Newhaven and Eastbourne. [^SOUTti COftST R A I LWAV The letter stamps are lithographed by Messrs. \\'aterlow & Sons, and are issued in sheets of twelve, arranged in four rows of three or three rows of four. Eigliteen printings have been made down to the present time and a list of these has been kindly furnished me by Mr. W. Forbes, General Manager of the Company. LONDON, BRIGHTON AND SOUTH COAST RAILWAY. 99 I have endeavoured as far as possible to identify the different printings but cannot guarantee the accuracy of the particulars given, as there is very little evidence to go upon. Particulars of Letter Stamps for L.B. and S.C. Railway. Issue . Quantity. Date. Transfer. * Size of Sheets.'^ Perf.» Colour.* I 3600 Jan. 26, 1891 I. (4X3) + (4X3) "i, IlJ Deep green. 2 3600 Apr. 24, „ I. ,, ., >, 3 3600 Sept. 14, ,, L ,, ,, Pale green. 4 3600 May 5, 1892 I. ,, ? ? 5 3600 Nov. 21, ,, I. ,, ? ? 6 6000 May 2, 1S93 I. ,, ■> ? 7 6000 Mar. 22, 1894 I. ,, "i, IlJ Bright yellow-green. 8 6000 Nov. 19 „ L ,, II to II J Pale green. 9 6000 July 31, 1895 I. 10, iij or 12 Dark green (shades). 10 5ooo May I, 1896 1. 12 Yellow-green. II 6000 Dec. 23 ,, ? ■> ? 12 6000 Aug. 3'> 1897 n. 12 (3X4) 10, iij, 10 X IlJ Dark green. 13 6000 Mar. 9, 1898 in. 12 (3X4) 10, lOj Yellow-green. 14 6000 Sept. 26 ,, IV. 12 (4X3) "2 Verj' dark green. 15 6000 May 10, 1899 IV. ., 10 Dark yellowish-green, 16 6000 Oct. 28 IV. ,, 10 Bright green. 17 6000 June 22, 1900 IV. ,, 10 Yellow-green. 18 6000 ? IV. rhese particul; ars are added 10 b}' the author. Dark green. All L.B. & S.C.R. letter stamps that I have been able to meet with may be grouped roughly in four classes. The printings of 1891-96 all appear to be from the same transfer, which evidently consisted of two panes of twelve types, each^ pane arranged in four rows of three. Most of the 24 types show distinctive marking except in the earliest issues. The two issues of 1897 and 1S98 appear to be from new transfers, each showmg twelve types arranged in three rows of four. All subsequent issues revert to the old arrangement of twelve types in four rows of three, the same transfer having been used for all. The issue of 1897 is remarkable not only for its shape but for very defective printing which renders it easy to identify, and for the margins of the sheet being left imperforate. 100 LONDON, BRIGHTON AND SOUTH COAST RAILWAY. Down to 1896 all issues seem to have been perforated 11, ii-J- or 12, but in that year, sheets appeared perf. 10. In 1897 and 1898 stamps were perforated 10, 11^ or loxii-i-, but since 1898, the lo gauge has alone been used. Since 1895 only two shades of green appear to occur, one a dark green, the other a yellow-green. The method of identifying the transfers is by an examination and classification of the many minute defects found on different stamps, each stamp on a transfer usually showing a distinct set of marks. Certain defects, howe\'er, which occurred on the original drawing, were naturally communicated to every transfer and every type composing them. The most prominent of these general marks are as follows : — (a) Vertical line connecting two horizontal lines above second N of "London." (b) Horizontal line immediately below fourth vertical bar in left hand pillar is broken at right hand end. ic) Dots or scratches above apex of N.E. triangle, sometimes extending over the horizontal line above. (d) Dot or dots inside O of " South." (e) Two dots or "feet" to of " South." Marks (a) and (c) also occur on the stamps of some other Com- panies (Great Eastern, Eastern & Midlands, Neath & Brecon and Metropolitan, for instance). The transfers which I have been able to distinguish are as follows : — 1891-96. Transfer I. Showing 24 types arranged in 2 panes of 12, each 4 rows of 3. ^897. ,, II. Showing 12 types, 3 rows of 4. 1898- „ in. 1899-1901. ,, IV. Showing 12 types, 4 rows of 3. All types on transfers II., III., and lY . are known, and most on transfer I. LONDON, BRIGHTON AND SOUTH COAST RAILWAY. lOI Early State of First Transfer, 1891. I have been able to meet with about fort}' examples of L.B. & S.C. Raihvay letter stamps -which are of earlier date than 11^93. These include a part sheet of ele^•en and seven singles, all exactly alike in shade and of a somewhat heav^• printing. One of the singles is fortunatelv on a letter postmarked February loth, 1S91, so that there can be no doubt that these are the first printing. I have also a single example (from the top row of a sheet) nearly similar, but in a rather darker shade of green, but it shows the mark given above as (e) very clearly, whereas the sheet of eleven (minus No. 3 in top row) shows little or no trace of it. In all the above mark (c) is also indistinct. The sheet of eleven shows the following further defects. Type 2. White dot over shield and under NG of " Single." Type 4. Vertical Stroke of R of " Raihvay " rounded at top. Type 5. Centre tip of W of "Railway" (circular) joined by hairline to line above. T\pe 10. Se\enth line from left in N.E. triangle is broken near top. The letters ■•OR CONVE" and all the portion of stamp to left of same, including S.W. triangle, are double-printed. Tvpe ir. Line under D of "London" broken. Type 12. Dot near left edge of shield, opposite XV of " Con\e\ance." Types I and lo. No dot inside of " South " (mark d). Types I, -4, 7 and g show a very faint dot in D of "and." Type 2 •■ UTH " of " South " firmly joined. Type II. " TH " of " South " distinctly separate. ]\Iost of the above defects occur also on sheets of the 1894-96 printings, so that there is, I think, no doubt that only one transfer was in use down to 1896. The i8gi sheet does not, however, show a number of marks which occur on the later sheets, and, unfortunatel)', I have not been able to meet with any connecting links showing when or how these defects originated. In addition to the stamps described above, I have met with several examples in a very pale green shade, one being dated 26.9.92. Most are cancelled " G0\'. R.ATE " in a double-lined circle. The paper is bluish-white and the printing clear, mark (c) showmg more clearly than in the first issue. In two of the four examples there are no dots in the O of "South." All four show fairly distinct dots in D of "And." The above I take to be the first and third issues respectively, with the single example as second, but I am by no means certain that it should not be classed with the first. 102 LONDON, BRIGHTON AND SOUTH COAST RAILWAY. Late State of First Transfer, 1893. I have been able to meet with 115 examples of 1893-96 printings, and to 94 of these I have been able to assign their particular position on a sheet, thus enabling a fairly complete list of the different types and their markings to be given. The 115 examples are printed in four apparently distinct shades, which I classify provisionally as follows : — 7th Issue, 22. 3.94. Bright yellow-green, perf, iij, iij. I have seen a used copy dated 1.11.94. 8th ,, 1 9. 1 1. 94. Pale green, perf. 11, ii|^. (I have a used copy dated 5.2.95). 9th ,, 31. 7.95. Dark green, perf. 10, iii-i, or 12. (I have seen a used copy postmarked 30.11.95 and perf. !2). Nearly similar shade, but paler, perf. 12. (I ha\'e seen a used copy, perf. 12 and postmarked 7.1.96). loth ,, 10. 5-96. Yellow-green, perf 12. Margin at top and bottom of sheets generally imperforate, iith ,, 23.12.96. Not identified. I am not at all sure that the order given above is correct. The followmg types of transfer III. ha\e been identified : — Pane I. No. I. Coloured dot between nth and 1 2th lines from top in S.W. triangle; hair- line extending from T of " Coast" under R of " Railway" ; three hair- lines to right of stamp opposite three lowest bars in right pillar. No. 2. White dot just over shield and under G of " Single"; dot over ND of "London"; dot over S of 'South." No. 3. Dot under right foot of second A of "Railway" but almost merged in the horizontal line beneath ; two coloured dots attached to right outline of stamp opposite second E of " Letters " (sometimes 3 dots). No. 4. The gth line from top in S.W. triangle is broken. An example with margin has a colouied dot Cmm. S.W. of the S.W. corner of the stamp. No. 5. The W of "Railway" in the circular inscription is attached by a thin coloured line to the circle which surrounds the inscription. There is a hairline between the circle and the letters EEF of " Fee for." No. 6. Right edge of shield indented opposite S of " Letters." Line to right of 4th bar in right pillar broken. No. 7. Coloured dot under left hand extremity of line under " South." LONDON, BRIGHTON AND SOUTH COAST RAILWAY. 103 No. 8. Scratch extending from N.E. triangle across top bar in right hand pillar. No. 9. Scratch extending across top bar in left pillar and N.W. triangle. No. 10. Right outline of left pillar broken opposite EY of " Conveyance.'' No. II. Vertical scratch across stamp extending upwards from O of ''Coast" to AS of " Coast " on type 8 (the stamp above), and passing nearly through the centre of the letter R of " Brighton.'" The scratch is removed from the shield. No. 12. Coloured dot on left edge of shield, opposite first N of " Conveyance." Faint dot between SO of "South" at foot. (Also occurs in certain t-ypes of 2nd pane and faintlv in tj'pes 2 and 6). Pane 11. (Note. — Panes I. and II. were placed side by side, but it is not known in which order.) No. 13. Seventh line in the N.E. triangle broken at the upper end, and faint hairlines through "DON" of "London" and "W'A" of " Raih\'ay." No. 14. Diagonal scratch (generally verj- prominent) passing through second bar in left hand pillar and ''A" of "Coast.'" In the issue gi^■en above as loth, I have t^vo examples of this t^^pe, and in both the scratch has been partly cleaned away. The lines under S of " Coast " are broken, this apparently having been done in removing the scratch. I also have this type in the 6th, 8th and gth issues, and in the 6th and gth the scratch shows distinct, and in the 8th vet}" faint. T\pe 14 also shows two horizontal scratches respectively^ passing through NC of "Conveyance" and O of "Of," but the former is absent in the 6th issue. The line over first N of " Conveyance " is broken. No. 15. Fine horizontal scratch passing between N and C of "Conveyance." Also a diagonal scratch falling across the letters TO of "Brighton." No. 17. Line between right pillar and outline of stamp broken faintly opposite first E of "Letters." No. 18. ^^■hite patch on the "N.E. triangle immediately above O of "Post." There is a faint coloured dot between the figure 2 and the top of the D of " 2d.," and a perpendicular scratch below the A of " Coast " (the latter was apparently removed in the loth issue, as in the case of the scratch on type 14). There is a coloured dot on the margin, 5mm. S.E. of the S.E. corner of the stamp (some sheets are perforated showing this mark at the top of type 21). T^pe 18 also has a white dot on the letter G of ■' Brighton." No. 23. Short vertical bar under O of "Post" and near tip of shield. No. 24. Coloured hairline extending from centre of first E of " Fee " to foot of W of "Railway" (circ. inscr.). I have seen this in loth issue only. 104 LONDON, BRIGHTON AND SOUTH COAST RAILWAY. N'OT IDENTIFIED. No. 21 ? Perpendicular scratch extending from top of stamp, across left edge of letter R of "Brighton," and left edge of S of "Single"; also shows faintly on figure 2. The two lines under RA of "Railway" are connected. No. ?. Line over AI of "Railway" cut diagonally. N.E. triangle connected with right pillar opposite T c>f " Post." No. i6, ig or 22. Right edge of S.E. triangle broken opposite S of " Letters." Coloured hairline between F of "For" and shield. I ha\'e also some 15 examples on which there are apparently no clearly distinctive marks. Nearly all the above types show a coloured dot between the two tips of the letter C of " Coast." By means of the above defects I have identified the following : — 7th issue, types 13, 14 (pair), 17, 18 (pair); and 22, 23 (pair); 8th issue, types i to 7, 9, 12, 14; 9th issue, perf. 10, types i, 2, 4, 5, 8, 14, 15; perf. Hi, iij, 12, types i, 2, 3 (strip), 4, 5 (pair), 7, 8, 9, 11, 12 (block of 5); perf. 12, paler shade, types i, 2, 3 (strip; type 3 has three coloured dots instead of two attached to right outline of stamp), 4 to 10, 12, 13, 14, 18, 23 ; loth issue, types i, 2, 11, 12, 14, 18- Second Transfer, 1897. In this transfer, which was apparently only used for the 12th issue (31.8.97), the arrangement was altered from four rows of three to three rows of four. I have been able to examine two entire sheets, one perforated ii|^, and the other perforated 10, io-|-, and have seen examples perforated 10, io|xii-|-. Defects are very frequent on all 12 types. All generally show a fine hair line falling from first C of " Conveyance." No. I. There is a coloured dot on shield, between second N of "Conveyance" and ball of figure 2. The line between S of "Letters" and S.E. triangle is broken. No. 2. White dot on background above shield, and under IN of " Single " ; coloured dot under 8 of " Single " ; line sometimes broken under second A of " Railway." No. 3. White patch sometimes on N.W. triangle near left pillar; bar of T of " South " defective ; foot of D of " 2d." defective. No. 4. Second line under H of " South " broken. No. 5. S.W. trianole broken opposite first C of " Conveyance." No. 6. Line over GHT of "Brighton" broken twice. L{JM!( IN, I \ \ \ I C(JASr KAII.W.W. Second Transfer. Sheet of Twelfth Printine:. n LONDON BRIGHTON AND LONDON BRICMTON AND m SOUTH C0A5TP.Ai LWAY. SOUTH COAST RAILWAY. SOUTH COAST RAILWAY. lOD LONDON, BRIGHTON AND SOUTH COAST RAILWAY. No. 7. Line under D of " And '' broken ; white dots on 3rd and 5th bars in right pillar ; white spot to right of shield and opposite T of "Post"; line broken over YA of "Conveyance." No. 8. Coloured dot near left edge of shield, as in type r, but opposite V of "Conveyance"; white dot on 4th bar in right pillar. No. g. White spot under shield and over Y of "Railway" (circular inscription).. No. 10. White spot on N.E. triangle, under A of " And." No. II. Coloured dot under L of " London " ; lines broken to left of top bar in left pillar ; second line over B of " Brighton " broken. No. 12. Line over second N of " London " broken ; line over O of " For " broken. Other marks besides the above may be found. In type 3 the white patch undergoes several variations. In all examples I have seen perf. 10, the spot is quite bare, and the outer line of the triangle is broken for a space of fmm. In examples perf. ii-J- faint lines are drawn across it, and in most the outer line of the triangle is redrawn as well, but is very blotchy. This last state is exhibited in the sheet illustrated on page 105 (see type 3). The smudge over O of " Brighton," on type 4, is generally found only in the perf. 10 sheets. The perf. 10 examples of the 12th issue are almost invariably in darker green than those perf. iii or lojxil*. Third Transfer (1898). The third transfer appears to have been used for one printing only, the 13th (9.3.98). Like its predecessor, it consisted of 12 types, arranged in three rows of four. The 12 types are distinguished as follows :— No. I. Line over second ON of "London" faintly broken. No. 2. Second line under XL of "Railway" broken. Nos. 3 and 6. Defective at N.E. corner of stamp. No. 3. Line over GL of "Single" broken; dot under D of "2d." defective; first N of " Conveyance " defective ; second line under TH of " South " broken twice. No. 4. Second A of " Railway " broken ; W defective. No. 5. Foot of first C of "Conveyance" sometimes defective; right stroke of H of " South " defective near cross-bar. No. 6. R of " For " broken ; also line between it and the shield. No. 7. \\'hite dot on 3rd bar in left pillar ; white dot on foot of T of " South." No. 8. White patch at apex of S.W. triangle ; some impressions have a coloured blot on L of " London " ; in others this is removed, together with the greater part of the upright stroke of the letter- IXiXlii i\. UirjllDN AND SOri'H COAST R\II,\\'A\'. Third Transfer. Sheet uf Thirteenth Printing;. LOi^DON BRIGHTON AND SOUTH COAST RAILWAY, LONDON BRIGHTON and: SOUTH COAST RAILWAY. ! i»9«««#S«*««t LONDON BRIGHTON ANQi SOUTH COAST RA I LWAY.I SOUTH COAST RAILWAY! ilONDON BRIGHTON AND I SOUTH COA-ST RAILWAY LONDON BRIGHTON AND[ SOUTH COAST RAILWAY LONDON 5RIGHT0NAN3! L ONDON BRIGHTON AND ,!aUTH COAST RA I LWAY ; SOUTH COAST RAIlWAYI I08 LONDON, BRIGHTON AND SOUTH COAST RAILWAY. Nos. g and ii. Defective at S.E. corner of stamp. No. g. Middle line over 5th bar in left pillar broken. No. ID. No mark of importance. Nos. g, 10, II, 12. Lower three lines blurred. Nos. g, 10 and 11 sometimes have ink smudges. No. II. Upright stroke of D of "And" broken. No. 12. Lines broken to right of 4th bar in right pillar. I have examples in two shades of yellow-green, one having a greyish tinge and being very feebly printed, the lines of shading especially being indistinct. Both shades were current about April, i8g8, and subsequent months, but I have only been able to meet with the pale shade used. On the margin at each side of a sheet of this printing is a vertical line, 2Simm. long, crossed by three short bars. A peculiarity of this printing is found in the shape of the letter T of " Post," the crossbar turning upwards at the left extremity. Slight traces of the defect also occur in later printings. Entire sheets measure, including the margins, 4^ by 5I inches, as against 4I by 5g inches in the preceding issue. Fourth Transfer (1898). The fourth transfer reverted in shape to the old arrangement of four rows of three. Each of the 12 impressions was made independently, from the original drawing, a very I 2 3 light pressure having been evidently exerted in the case 4 5 6 of the last or twelfth type, which prints very faintly in all issues made from this transfer (which is still in use, June, igoi). The types may be recognized as follows : — Arrangement of types. 7 8 JO II 12 Type I. Faint dot inside U of *' South " ; Line under "South Coast Railway" broken at right hand end. No special marks. Broken S to " South " ; outline at top broken at right hand end ; white stop at top of R of " Letters." Back of C of "Coast" cut off. Line over VV of " Railwa}' " minutely defective. F of " Fee " is onl}' partly joined to E. Type 2. Type 3- Type 4- Type 5- T\'pc 6. LONDON, BRIGHTON AND SOUTH COAST RAILWAY. I 09 Fourth Transfer. Sheet of Eighteenth Printing. I 10 LONDON, BRIGHTON AND SOUTH COAST RAILWAY. Type 7. Line over CE of "Conveyance" broken, as also the second line under ND of "London"; white dot on lowermost bar in right hand pillar. Type 8. Line over S of "Post" partially broken; second line over T of " Brighton " broken. Type 9. Upper stroke of Y of "Railway" faint. Type 10. No special marks. Type It. Line over "And" broken at right hand end. Type 12. Faint impression. Line between B of "By" and triangle broken. All twelve types show the minute mark by which most of Waterlow's stamps may be recognized, the two lines above " London Brighton and " being joined by a fine line 9mm. from left hand end, whilst the corresponding two lines under "South Coast Railway" are slightly curved about 5 to 7mm. from the same end. All twelve types show dots inside the D of "And" more or less distinctly. The following printings have been made : — i\th Printing, 26.9.98. Perf. ni, very dark green. This printing was lirst chronicled in Ewen's IFee/^/v Ciriular of March 4th, 1899, but must have been in use some time previously. On the lower margin of each sheet, 8mm. below the centre stamp in the lowest row (type II.), there is a coloured dash 3mm. long. The margins are about 5 to 12mm. wide. 'i.^th Printing, 10.5.99. Perf. 10, dark yellowish-green I have an example postmarked 30.10.99. On the edge of the lower margin of the one sheet in my possession is a coloured dot, 5mm. below the middle stamp in the lowest row. The margins are about 5 to gmm. wide, the sheets measuring only about 4^- inches wide as against \\ inches in the 14th issue. ibth Printing, 28.10.g9. Perf. 10, bright green. I have three examples postmarked 7.12.99, 14.3.00 and 3.10.00 On the lower margin of sheets there is a coloured dot, 5mm. below the centre stamp of the lowest row, as in the preceding (15th) printing, and also a cross with a dot on either side 3mm. lower down. Sheets are only about 4 inches wide, but are over 6 inches tall, instead of barely 5I as in the preceding printing. The margins are 5 to lomm. wide. LONDON, BRIGHTON AND SOL'TH COAST RAILWAY. Ill i']th Printing, 22.6.00. Perf. 10, 3'ellow- green, pale yellow -green (distinct shades, the latter occurring on white or cream coloured paper, — varieties possibly due to fading or exposure). I have sheets which I know to have been issued in November and December, 1900. The marginal marks at the bottom of each sheet are the same as in the 16th printing, with the addition of two coloured dots, one 15mm. to the right of the cross and the other 17mm. to the left. There are also two dots in corresponding positions on the top margin of a sheet, 6mm. above the edge of the stamps. The margins are very wide, varying from 13 to 17mm., the minimum being greater than the maximum I have met with in any of the three preceding issues. Each measures 6/, x 4,1 inches. \iith Printing, 1901 ? Perf. 10, loj ; dark green. The first sheet I met with of this printing was received 25.2.01. The marginal markings are exactly similar to those of the preceding issue. The margins are very shghtly wider, each sheet measuring b\ X \\ inches. Most sheets were issued with the top and bottom margins removed. The shade of green varies slightly, but is very distinct from that of the preceding issue, although not unlike that of the 15th. Several new defects appear on the sheets, in addition, of course, to those originally occurring on the 6th transfer. Type 2 has a faint horizontal "dash through the lower part of the figure 2. A scratch extends across the X.E. triangle of type 10 and the X.W. triangle of type 11. LONDON, CHATHAM AND DOVER RAILWAY. London^ Chatham and Dover Railway, T HE London, Chatham and Dover Railway, now amalgamated with the South-Eastern, was originally known as the East Kent Railway, but was incorporated under its late title in 1859. The letter stamps were printed in sheets of twelve, arranged in four rows of three, a wide space being left between each stamp. Unfortunately no details as to the number of printings are obtainable from official sources, and as the earlier issues are of considerable rarity, it is impossible to say what varieties occur. The description given below must not therefore be taken as complete. It would appear that the printing of the Chatham and Dover stamps was delayed until the last moment, with the result that on the rtrst day or two after the establishment of the railway letter post, none were available, letters being marked with " 2d. paid " and sent to their destination without a stamp. It is also possible, of course, that the Company may ha^e misunderstood the Post Office instructions, and considered that a rubber-stamped impression, "2d. paid," was as good as an adhesive stamp. However this may be, no stamps were ready by February 1st, i«yi, although they were supplied a few •days later. LONDON, CHATHAM AND DOVER RAILWAY. 113 Three duplicates appear to have been made from the original drawing, all bearing minute defects which enable them to be distinguished as types i, 2 and 3. The row of three types was then duplicated four times, each row being placed below the other. Irregularities are known to have occurred in the second transfer, but no reason can be assigned. The three transfers of which evidence has been obtained were arranged as follows : — First Transfer. Block of 4 Second Transfer. ? ? X Third Trans I 2 3 known I 2 3 I 2 3 I 2 I 2 3 I 2 3 I 2 X 2 I I 2 3 The three types may be distinguished by the following defects ; — Type I. Right hand outline of triangle in N.E, corner is broken. Line between outline and right hand pillar broken opposite S of " Letters." Type 2. Two lines in the N.W. triangle are broken opposite NC of " Con- veyance." There is a white spot on the foot of the second C of " Conveyance." Except in the 2nd transfer, in which it only occurs on No. 8 on the sheet. Type 3. The third vertical bar in the left hand pillar is broken at bottom. .J Imperforate Issues (Provisional). Immediately the design had been transferred to the machining stone, a few sheets were run off and delivered to the Company imperforate. This issue was only made to a few of the more important stations, and the stamps may be distinguished by their wide imperforate margins, often unevenly cut. A second batch of sheets, whether of the same printing or not I am unable to say, were cut up into singles by the printers before delivery, and differ from the first imperforate supply in having the margins clipped fairly close. 114 LONDON, CHATHAM AND DOVER RAILWAY. Six of these were supplied to each station on the line, and in the case of at least two stations, part of these were still on hand in 1898. AH subsequent supplies have been perforated, at first gauge 11^, and later, io-|. M'rsi Issue, Februaij \th ? i8gi. Imperforate, large margins (a used specimen on a letter dated February 4th, measures 38I- by 36mm.) Colour, green. Unused specimens unknown. Second Issue, February ? 1891. Imperforate, margins clipped close. Colour green ; dark green (latter possibly discoloured). All specimens of this issue I \\a.\e seen are easily distinguishable as types i, 2, or 3. In addition to usual markings, both specimens of type i have a white dot below the shield and above Y of " Railway " whilst type 2 has a white spot on second C of "Conveyance." Perforated Issues. First Transfer. It is to be presumed that the stamps provisionally issued imper- forate in February itigi were printed from the first transfer, but I have no evidence as to whether this transfer was also used for the early perforated issues. In fact, of the 1891-93 printings I have only been able to examine 16 examples altogether, seven being imperforate and nine perforated ii-J. These later include a block of four, the top two being type i (a, b,) and the lower two, type 2 (c, d.) The two stamps l> and d show a vertical scratch, extending downwards from N of "Single" on b, through the figure 2, \V of "Railway" (circular), R of "Railway," and between N and G of "Single" on d and "2" and " D " to R of " Railway." There is also a diagonal scratch on /' passing through FY of "Conveyance" and R of "Dover" and another on c passing through Y ot " Railway." In b there is a smudge between the two lines under M of " Chatham." In three single examples, all type 3, (e, f, g,) the line under the top inscription is too short at both ends ; in / and g there is a white dot on the curved back of the letter R of " Railways." As none of these defects occur in transfers II. and III., I conclude that an earlier transfer existed. In addition to the imperforate issues, I have seen the following : — Bright green, perf. 11^, clear cut. A used copy dated 24.2.92 is known. Deep green, perf. iii (smaller holes). \Mrite ,gum. LONDON, CHATHAM AND DOVER RAILWAY. Second ? Transfer. Of the second transfer it is pcfssible to give a fuller description, as I have been able to examine a part sheet (Nos. i and 2 missing) and a half-sheet. The following defects occur : — Nos. I and 2. Not seen. No. 3. (Type ?). Comma after " Chatham " is thick and blurred. Third bar in left pillar is blurred at foot, and there is a coloured blot on the line to right of it. There is a coloured dot on the left margin of the stamp, 3J mm. from the edge of the design, and opposite the foot of the top bar in the left pillar. No. 4. (Type i). Lines over "Chatham" smudged at right hand end. Top line of N W. triangle broken under ND of " London." Third line under "& D" of '■& Dover" smudged. No. 5. (Tvpe 2). Top of first O of "London'' and three lines over " LON " are smudged White dot on figure 2 opposite first C of " Con- veyance." Line between second E of " Fee " and S.W. triangle broken. Line under top bar in right pillar is broken off short at right hand end. No. 6. (Type 3). .Apex of N.E. Triangle smudged, also lines above and to right of it. Dot over second O of "London." Round blot on line to left of lines over lowest bar in left pillar. Small hyphen between D and of " Dover." No. 7. (Type i). HairUne to left of 4th bar in left pillar. White spot on dot under D of " 2d. ' No. S. (Type 2). White spot on foot of second C of " Conveyance." No. g. (Type 1) Right outline of right pillar broken above 5th bar. Lines under " DOV " blurred. No. 10. (Type ?). White spot to right of shield, opposite first E of "Letters," also on foot of 4th bar in left pillar. Second hne over AY of " Railway," slightly blurred. Two coloured dots on top edge of N.E. triangle and under H of "Chatham." No II. (Type 2). Wh'ne dot on foot of C of "Chatham." White dot to right of shield, opposite T of " Post. ' Line to right of 2nd bar in left pillar broken. No 12 (Tvpe i). Coloured dot between first ON of "London," also below R of "Dover." Line between S of "Letters" and S.E. triangle broken. .]/nr/is found only in certain printings. No. 4. I have an example in dark green, showing a vertical line over second N of " London." No. 7. .An example in bright green shows horizontal scratches across all four triangles. No 8 An example in dark green shows a horizontal scratch 8 mm. long, passim^ between " For " and " Conveyance." and another crossmg the 5th bar in right pillar. .\n example in bright green shows the former scratch faintly. Il6 LONDON, CHATHAM AND DOVER RAILWAY. Nos. 3 and lo on the transfer are probably types 3 and i re- spectively, although they do not show all the marks by which these types are usually identified. In No. 3 the shape of the second T of " Letters " and the 5th bar in the right pillar tends to confirm this, whilst No. 10 agrees with type i as regards the shape of the G of "Single," especially in the crossbar. The line over the 5th bar in the right pillar is nicked as in type i. I have met with the following printings from the second transfer : — Perf. \i\. Bright green. Thick unsurfaced paper. Smooth brown gum. (Two examples of No. 8 and one of No. 4, the latter being dated " Ramsgate, 27.8.95.") Perf. 11-J-. Deep green. Thick white surfaced paper. White gum. (I have seen Nos. 7 and g on the sheet). Pe7'f. -Li\. Deep green. Similar paper and gum to last. SHghtly heavier printing. (I have seen Nos. 3 and 7). Perf. \o\. Green. Thick soft paper, unsurfaced. Pale brown gum with white patches. (I have seen a part sheet of 10, also a block of six, Nos, 7 to 12, and various singles, one of which is dated "Sitting- bourne, 3.1.98.") Perf. iQi. Black-green. Thick paper, sometimes slightly surfaced. Thick brown gum. (I have seen a part reconstructed sheet of 10). The stamps mentioned above as having been seen by me were only those which were available for close examination. Many more are, of course, known, but have not been classified. Third Transfer. The third and last transfer is known to have been used for at least four printings, of three of which I have been able to examine entire sheets. The horizontal row of three types is reproduced on the sheet four times, one below the other. It follows that the first vertical row of a sheet is type i throughout, the second vertical row Entire Sheet of 1899 Printing (Third Transfer). LONDON.CHATHAiVI, & DOVER RAILWAY. LONDON, CHATHAM. * DOVER RAILWAY. LONDON, CHATHAM, & DOVER RAILWAY. LONDON. CHATHAM, & DOVER RAILWAY. LONDON. CHATHAM, i Il8 LONDON, CHATHAA1 AND DOVER RAILWAY. being type 2, and the third, type 3. The four examples of each of the three types may be distinguished as follows ; — First Vertical Row of Sheet. All type i. No. I. Back of C of "Chatham'' broken. No. 4. Circular line over T of "Post" broken. No. 7. Second line over first N of " London " minutely broken twice. No. 10. Line broken over first ON of " London." Second Vertical Row of Sheet. All type 2. (All have a ^vhite dot on the foot of first C of "Conveyance," as in No. 8 of Second Transfer). No. 2. Second line over L of " London " broken. No. 5. Line under lower inscription broken near right hand end. White dot sometimes to left of shield, opposite CO of " Conveyance." No. 8. White spot sometimes over shield and under " OF." No. ir. White dot on foot of third bar in left pillar. This defect is very similar to the general distinguishing mark of type 3 (Nos. 3, 6, 9. 12 on sheet) but there is a distinct rim of colour all round it. Third Vertical Roiv of Sheet. All type 3. No. 3. No defect of importance. No. 6. White dot at top of sixth bar in left pillar. Line broken below OV of " Dover." Lowest bar in right hand pillar defective at lower end. No. 9. Line minutely broken under VE of " Dover." White hairline at top of O of " For." Letter D of " 2d." nicked at left edge. No. 12. Line broken below "& D" of "& Dover." The following printings from the third transfer are known : — Perf ii\ (clear cut). Deep green. Smooth streaky brown gum. I have seen a corner stamp, No, 3 on the sheet, which is evidently type 3, and which has a properly formed comma. Pe}f. \o\ (rough). Black-green, Smooth streaky brown gum. An entire sheet of 12 is known. Perf. \o\ (clear cut). Dark yellow-green. Very thick surfaced paper. Brown gum. Current during 1898. Several sheets are known. Perf. lo-i (rough). Bright green. Thinner paper. Smooth white gum. Current since 1898. Several entire sheets are known, including one imperf. \ertically between the stamps. LONDON, TILBURY AND SOUTHEND RAILWAY. II9 London^ Tilbury and Southend Railway* THE London, Tilbury and Southend Railway was incorporated under its present title in 1862. The main line runs from Fenchurch Street through Barking, Upminster, Pitsea, Southend and Shoeburyness. From Barking, Upminster and Pitsea branches run southward to Tilbury. The line is 85 miles in length. The letter stamps are lithographed by Messrs. W'aterlow & Sons, in sheets of 24. Early sheets were divided by a plain vertical margin into two panes, side by side, each containing tweh'e stamps, arranged in four rows of three. Later sheets are arranged in one pane of six rows of four. Unfortunately no official record appears to have been kept as to the number of printings which have been made, nor are Messrs. Waterlow & Sons able to give any information on the subject. Mr. J. W. Guy, of the L.T. and S.R. Audit Office, has, however, furnished some valuable evidence by obtaining from six stations part of their stock which is known to have been on hand several years. I have also been able to examine several sheets known to have been issued in 1898, igoo and I go I, and also a used copy, postmarked 1891. An examination of these various specimens leads me to belie\'e that there have been four printings. First Transfer, Four Rows of Six (two panes). 1st. Feb., 1891. Perf. ii^J. Green, deep green. 2nd. 1894 ' " ^'i' '2- Yellowish-green, thm paper. 3rd. 1897 ? ,, iii, 12. Yellowish to yellow-green, surfaced paper. Second Transfer, Six Rows of Four. 4th. June, 1899. Perf. 10. Yellow-green, deep green, grey-green. Of the first issue I have a single in deep green, postmarked March i6th, 1891, a sheet in the same shade (without marginal paper), and a single (type 10), in pale green, with margin on two sides. The sheet was issued previous to 1894. 120 LONDON, TILBURY AND SOUTHEND RAILWAY. . Of the second issue, Mr. Guy has kindly sent me portions of sheets which were sent to stations in July, 1894, December, 1895, and September, 1896. All are in the same shade of yellowish-green, and on the same paper, which is unsurfaced and rather poor in quality. I ha\e met with several examples of this printing with imperforate margins. Of the third issue, I have seen an entire unbroken sheet, which was issued about April 1898. The paper is of better quality, slightly surfaced. The colour of the impression is a brighter yellow-green than in the preceding issue. This printing was the only one I met with in i8g8. The fourth printing Mr. Guy informs me was furnished in June, 1899. It varies more in shade than any other printing of railway letter stamps I have met with. I have sheets in grey-green, green, pale-green, deep yellowish-green and bright yellow-green. The latter are like the third printing in colour and have perforated margins ; all other sheets have the margin left imperforate. First Transfer, 1891. The three first printings are all from the same transfer, which shows the following defects (nearly all very minute.) Left-hand Pane. White dot on foot of Y of " Railway." White scratch on line between S.W. triangle and C of " Conveyance." No. No. (third issue only). No. 3. Left stroke of W of "Railway" indented. No. 4. Line to right of lowest bar in left pillar broken. LONDON, TILBURY AND SOUTHEND RAILWAY. No. 5. Colourless smudge on third bar in right pillar and on lines to right of fourth bar. No. 6. Right stroke of first N of " London" indented. Second A of "Railway" (circular) defective. No. 7. Colourless scratch extending from shield and passing between TE of " Letters " and across third bar in right pillar ; S.E. triangle broken near second bar. (The scratch does not occur in the first issue I. No. 8. Scratch across second bar in left pillar. (The scratch does not occur in the first issue). No. 9. Coloured dot immediately to right of third bar in left pillar, opposite O of " Conveyance." No. 10. Right stroke of second A of "Railway" indented at top. No. II. Line to right of Y of "Tilbury" broken (also less prominently in type 18). No. 12. Coloured dot on margin, ijmm. to right of design of stamp, opposite foot of lowest bar in right pillar. Right-hand Pane. No. 13. Second stroke of W of " Railway " broken in second and third issues- The first issue has a white dot on ground between shield and B of " By." No. 14. White dot on D of " 2d." ; I of " Tilbury " indented ; scratch on THE of "Southend"; second line under L of "Tilbury" broken. No. 15. Coloured dot between ball and body of figure 2 of " 2d." No. 16. Upper curve of 2 of " 2d." indented on lower edge. No. 17. Second line under WA of " Railway " broken. No. 18. White space in centre of O of "Of" is like a Q in shape, owing to the inner edge of the letter being indented. No. 19. Right edge of tail of figure 2 indented (very clear). Foot of L of " Railway " indented ; lines to right of top of fifth bar in right pillar broken. No. 20. Colourless smudge at apex of S.W. triangle and on lowest bar in left pillar ; line between EF of " Fee j for " and shield broken. No. 21. Line over second T of " Letters " broken. No. 22. Right outline of stamp broken opposite sixth bar in right pillar. No. 23. Line under N of "Southend" cut diagonally (3rd issue only). No. 24. Line under & S of " & Southend '' broken ; right arm of Y of "Conveyance" broken. Except where noted (Nos. 2, 7, 8, 13, 23), the above marks may be found in all three printings of the first transfer (I have not seen Nos. i and 6 in the second issue). All 24 types have minute dots under I of "Tilbury," and several other defects. There is a coloured dot on the margin at each side of the sheet. 122 LONDON, TILBURY AND SOUTHEND RAILWAY. Second Transfer, 1899. The second transfer consisted of 24 types, arranged in six rows of four. The dots under I of " Railway " are intensified, and on most of the types give the letter a misshapen appearance. All 24 types are readily distinguishable, the most important defects being as follows : No. I. White dot on tail of figure " 2.'' No. 4. Coloured dot on margin, opposite Y of " Railway," imm. from edge of design. No. 6. Scratch to left of shield. No. 13. Smudge under first O of " London." No. 19. Small Y to " Tilbury." The white circle round the shield is misshapen in most types. MACCLESFIELD COMMITTEE. 123 Macclesfield Committee* THIS line is owned jointly by the Great Central and North Staffordshire Railway Companies, and runs from Macclesfield through Bollington, Poynton, Middlewood Junction and High Lane, to Rose Hill (Marple). The length is 11 miles. The letter stamps are lithographed by Messrs. Henry Blacklock & Co., Limited, Manchester, and are issued in sheets of 12, arranged m four rows of three. The following is a list of printings made down to the present time : — Issue. Date Ordered. Quantity. 1st. January gth, 1891. 102. 2nd. June ist, 1891. 2S6. 3rd. M&y 4th, 1894. 780. 4th. January 26th, 1899. 720. It is not possible to say in what respects, these Types. issues differ. Some sheets issued by the Committee in March, 1900, are exactly similar to others obtained in 1898, but are presumably old stock. The fourth printing was ordered 4 5 6 on the same day as the third printing of the Great Central Railway (yellow-green, perf. 12, large holes). All sheets I haye seen consist of two blocks of six types, one below the other. These may be distinguished as follows : — Type I. Second T of "Committee" larger than the first. Type 2. Middle horizontal stroke of second E of " Committee " misshapen. T)T>e 3. Line to left of top perpendicular bar but one in right hand pillar broken. Type 4. Right hand line of left pillar broken in two places. Type 5. Middle bar of first E of "Committee" misshapen. Type 6. " " of " Committee " minutely broken, right hand side. In the lower type 6 there is a fine hairline running diagonally between L of "Macclesfield" and G of "Single." I 2 3 4 5 6 2 3 124 MACCLESFIELD COMMmEE. Macclesfield Committee (3rd Issue). Manchester and MiJford (ist Issue). Manciiester and Miiford (2nd Issue). MAN'CHESTER AND MILfORD RAILWAY. 1 25 Manchester and Milford Railway, THE ^Manchester and Milford Railway- was incorporated in i860 and opened in 1866. The line runs from Aberystwith, through Tregaron and Lampeter, to Pencader (junction with Great Western Railway), and is 4i|- miles long. The letter stamps are printed by Messrs. McCorquodale & Co., London, in sheets of 12, arranged in two rows of six. The plate consists of three blocks of four types placed side by side. The differences between the types are very slight, but in type 3 the left hand stroke of the second A of "Railway" is broken off short at the bottom. In duplicating the 3 4 3 4 3 4 second block a white spot was caused above the shield and under S of "Single" on tj^pe i. This defect is found therefore on the third stamp in the first row of every sheet. isf Frinting, February, 1S91. Rouletted. Colour, yellow-green. Black horizontal control numbers. Xos. i to 3000. The original distribution to each station consisted of 10 sheets, thus exhausting about two-thirds of the supply. Owing to this liberality many entire sheets were preserved at the smaller stations until recent years, and such are by no means uncommon. •ind Frinting, ? 1897. Rouletted. Colour, dull yellowish-green. Black horizontal control numbers, figures slightly thinner and taller. Nos. I to 2000. This issue is still current. G^^^Sj^ 126 MANCHESIER, SHEFFIELD AND LINCOLNSHIRE RAILWAY. Manchester. Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway. THE Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire is now known as the Great Central Railway, and its history will be found under that heading. It has, however, been considered advisable to describe under a separate heading those issues which bear the earlier title. The letter stamps inscribed " Manchester, Sheffield and Lincoln- shire Railway " were lithographed by Messrs. Henry Blacklock & Co., Limited, of Manchester, and were delivered to the Company in sheets of six or twelve, the latter being sometimes arranged in two rows of six, and sometimes in four rows of three. Sir William Pollitt, General Manager of the Great Central Railway, has kindly furnished the following particulars concerning the ten printings which were made bearing the old title. Letter Stajips of the M.S. & L. Railway. No. Date Ordered from Printer. Quantit\ . Size of Sheet. Setting-. Colour. I Jan. gth, 1891. I314 2X3 A Dark green. 2 March 5th „ 1^54 2x6 C Green. 3 June ist 1440 2x3 B Olive green. 4 Nov. 3rd 1068 2x3? A Grey-green. 5 April 2ist, 1892. 1308 2x3 B Yellow-green. 6 Oct. 18th '173 2x3 A, B Green. 7 July 3 8th, 1893. 1476 2x3? A Deep green s May 4th, 1894. 1545 4x3 E Dull green. 9 March 15th, 1895. 1656 2X6 D Dark green, lines faint lO June I2th, 1896. 1608 4x3 E Green, no outer lines. I ha\e added particulars as to size of sheet, setting and colour, which I believe to be approximately correct, although the exact order of the earlier printings is \ery doubtful. All are perf 12. MANCHESTER, SHEFFIELD AND LINXOLNSHIRE RAILWAY. I 27 Given a fairly representative collection of blocks or sheets, it vs^ould readily be possible to decide the correct order, but the difficulty is to find sufficient material for examination. Sheets of the loth and latest printing are fairly common, but of the earlier issues I have only been able to closely examine about 130 specimens, mostly singles. The third issue was ordered — and it is to be presumed printed — at the same time as the second issue of the Oldham, Ashton lV- Guide Bridge Railway (current till 189S and well known), and may be of the same shade. Similarly, the 8th issue was ordered at the same time as the third supply (also well known) of the Macclesfield Committee. But these facts, although providing useful evidence, are not sufficient in themselves as a means of identification. With Guide Lines. Guide Lines Removed. The size of the issued sheets and the omission or presence of guide lines in the stainps are of no ^-alue in determining the order of printing, as there is no evidence to show that the variations are governed by any rule. A careful examination shows that all M.S. & L. letter stamps are of one or other of six types, which may be readily distinguished by means of minute defects in the design. Some of the defects occur in all the printings, whilst others may be found in only a few, or even in a single printing. The six types are arranged on the transfer in two rows of three, and when a printing is required, the transfer appears to be duplicated a certain number of times. I ha^'e no information as to how many 128 MANCHIiSTER, SHEFFIELD AND LINCOLNSHIRE RAILWAY. Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway. Entire Sheet (as issued) ; loth Printing:. MANCHEST ER. SHEFFIELD. '. 'MAN CHESTER. SHEFFIELD • A UNCOLNSHIRE^RAILWAYjf' i' .aUNCOLNSHIRE RAILWAY. MXNCHESTER, SHEFFIELD AND LINCOLNSHIRE RAILWAY. I2g duplications \\ ere made for each printing, but evidence seems to point to at least the three following methods of preparing the machining stone : — 2 3 I 2 3 4 5 6 4 5 6 I 2 3 I 2 3 5 6 4 5 6 I 2 3 I 2 3 I 2 3 I 2 3 2 ') I 2 3 4 5 6 4 5 6 4 5 6 4 5 6 5 6 4 5 6 1 2 3 I 2 3 I 2 3 r 2 3 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 4 5 6 4 5 6 4 5 6 5 6 4 5 6 I 2 3 I 2 3 4 5 6 4 5 6 In the first arrangement, the transfer is duplicated six times (in three pairs). In the second and third, four groups are first transferred entire, two additional groups being then divided so as to provide a row of six stamps at the top and another row at the bottom. Whether the above suggestions afford the correct explanation or not, I am unable to sav, but I can state as a matter of fact that sheets occur, showing the tvpes in the following settings : — Setting A. Setting B. Setting C. Sitting D. Sitting E. 123 456 I23I23 123123 123 456 123 I23123 456^56 456 I 2 3 4 5 6 These settings represent the arrangement of the types on the sheets or panes as issued, after the large printed sheets have been cut up by the printers. The first printing for the North Wales and Liverpool Railway Committee was issued in sheets of both two rows of six (types 4, 5, 6 only) and four rows of three (setting E), which seems to point to its having been printed in blocks of 36 stamps. This is interesting, as the M.S. and L. transfer, no longer required after June, i8g6, was used (of course, with the title altered). The six types may be distinguished as follows : — T\pe I. The gth line of shading from the bottom in the N.W. triangle is broken. (n) I St issue- Guide lines very clear all round the stamp. (b) 2nd to 8th. Guide lines faint at top, otherwise clear. (c) gth. Trace of guide line opposite D of " Sheffield," also occasionally on other side. (rf) loth. No trace of Guide lines. (e) 5th only. Guide lines do not join at S.W. corner ; white dot on body of figure 2. 130 MANCHESTER, SHEFFIELD AND LINCOLNSHIRE RAILWAY. Type 2. The line under D of "Sheffield" is bent downwards. The two upper strokes of E of " Lincolnshire " are short. [a) 1st issue. Clear guide line all round, S.E. triangle broken opposite B of " By." {b) 1st to 6th. White circle broken under lower tip of shield. [c] 3rd only. Blot under E of "Single," right outline of left pillar broken opposite VE of " Conveyance " (rf) 4th only. Very thin line under " INCO " of " Lincolnshire." In other printings the line appears to be redrawn. («) 6th, yth, 8th, gth. Thick guide line at top, over " MAN " of " Manchester." In earlier printings (5th not seen) the top guide line is very faint. (/) yth, 8th. Guide line at top over " STER " fairly clear. {g) loth. No guide lines. Type 3. Second line under H of "Sheffield" and second line under AY of " Railway " are general])- broken. (a) ist issue. Clear guide line all round. (i) 2nd issue. I have seen one example with large D to " Sheffield," with smudge inside. White circle over FE of "Fee" broken. (c) yth, 8th, gth, loth. I have seen examples of these printings with the breaks under " Sheffield " and " Railway " rejoined. (rf) gth only. Guide line to left of M of "Manchester" and at N.E. corner of stamp ; seldom elsewhere. (e) loth only. No guide lines. Type 4. Single line only, over "Manchester, Sheffield," line in S.W. triangle broken. {a) J St and 4th. Guide line weak to left of M of " Manchester," otherwise clear all round stamp. (2nd and 3rd not seen). (b) 5th. Guide line apparently redrawn to left of M of "Manchester." {c} 4th and yth. Dot between C & O of " Conveyance," at top. I have not noted this variety in other issues although I have seen type 4 in all except the 2nd, 3rd and bth. (d) 1st and 4th. I have met with one example in each printing, with a small first N in "Conveyance" (first stroke broken off). In this type there is a blot on the line under S of " Manchester." (e) gth and loth. The gth issue occasionally shows traces of the guide line. Type 5. The outer line but one on the left hand side of the stamp is broken opposite the three horizontal strokes under the topmost perpendicular bar of the pillar. The inner line of the right hand pillar is also slightly defective towards the top. {a} ist and 2nd. Dot before foot of figure "2" {b} 4th. Second line under IN of "Lincolnshire" broken. Type 6. Line under the lowermost perpendicular bar of the right hand pillar is broken. The fourth line of shading from the top in the S.E. triangle is broken off short at the upper end. (rt) 1st only. Two dots on guide line to right of D of " Sheffield." MANCHESTER, SHEFFIELD AND LINCOLNSHIRE RAILWAY. I3I Of the first issue, I have seen all six types, as also in the four last issues. Of the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th issues I have met with . \er\- few examples, and ha^-e onh- seen a few of the tvpes. The most interesting minor variety of the ]\I.S. and L. stamps is that known as " \Mth single line at top." When preparing the transfer six duplicate impressions were made, each consisting of the body of a stamp. A fine hair line (or "guide line") was then drawn round each, leaving spaces at top and bottom, in which the title of the Companj^ was printed. If, as sometimes happened, this was impressed a little too high up, there was only room for one line between it and the guide line. This single line \ariet3' also occurs in the stamps of the X. ^^ ales and Liverpool and Sheffield and ^Midland Railways Committee. The following is a list of the ten printings : — Jsf /ss//c\ o.i.Qi. Sheets of six, two rows of three. Dark green, brown gum. Sheets ha\e fairly wide margins, ranging up to about 3mm. in width. \"ery clear guide lines round each stamp. 2M Issue, 6.3.91. Brighter green, brownish gum. Sheets of 12. two rows of six ? I have only met with types i, 2, 3. Of type 2. I ha\'e an unsevered vertical pair, and of type 3. I have met with an example perforated at the right hand side. 3^/ Issi/e, 1. 6. 91. Sheets of six, two rows of three. Olive-green, white gum. Margins at side clipped closer. I have seen all types except No. i, including a block of four, types 3. 6. over 2, 3. 132 AtAN'CHRSTER, SHKKFIELD AND LIN'COLNSHIRE RAILWAY. The fi\e examples of type 2 which I have met with all show a smudge under the E of " Single." The colour of this printing approximates to that of the second printing of the Oldham, Ashton and Guide Bridge Railway, which was ordered on the same date. ^th Issue, 3.11.91. Grey-green, brown gum. Sheets of six, two rows of three ? I have only met with six examples, types 2, 4 and 5. IMargins are clipped close. ^th Issue, 21.4.92. Yellow-green, brown gum. Sheets of six, two rows of three ? I have only met with three examples, types i and 4, including a vertical pair, type 4 over i. The margins are clipped fairly close. I am unable to find any evidence of the date of this printing. 6tk Issue, 18.10.92. Yellowish-green. I have seen types 5 and 6 from the top row of a sheet of six (?). On type 6 the left pillar appears to be roughly painted in. ']th Issue, 18.7.93. Deep green, whitish gum. Sheets of six, two rows of three ? I have met with two strips of three, from the top of a sheet, types i, 2, 3, type i being imperforate on the left side, and type 3 imperforate on the right side. Type 2 shows the thick guide line over " MAN " of " Manchester," which apparently only occurs in the last five M.S. and L. printings. All types are known except No. 6. 8//z Issue, 4.5.94. Pale greyish-green, whitish gum. Sheets of 12, four rows of three. The last prmting to have distinct guide lines round each stamp, and much the commonest. Although I have examined a considerable number of examples, I have never come across a larger block than one of four stamps (types 2, 3 over 5, 6). A vertical strip of four (types 3, 6, 3, 5) is also known. Type 2 shows the thick guide line over "MAX" of "Manchester." Although this issue was for long considered to be the first, I think there can be no doubt its present position is the correct one. It is similar in shade- to the 3rd printing of the Macclesfield Committee, which was ordered on the same date. MANCHESTER, SHEFFIELD AXD LIXCOTASH IRE RAILWAY. 133 g/// Issi/e, 15.3. 93. Dark green, brownish gum. Sheets of 12, two rows of SIX. The stamps of this issue seldom show guide hues, except type 2, which in all examples met with show very clearly the thick guide line over •■ MAX " of '' ]\Ianchester." The group of six types appear to have been transferred to the machining stone at least six times, and probabh in two or three groups the guide lines were not carefully removed. The largest block known is one of six, but smaller blocks are not rare (compared with the rarity of such in earlier printings). The appearance of the stamps is not unlike that of the third Lancashire and Yorkshire. lot/i Issue, 12.6.96. Green, dark green, olive green, pale brownish gum. Sheets of 12, four rows of three. This issue is that most frequently met with, even entire sheets being by no means rare. The supply was not exhausted until the end of i>S97, but examples were to be had at stations as late as 1899. None of the stamps show any trace of guide lines. i&^iMl 134 MANCHESTER, SOUTH JUNCTION AND ALTRINCHAM RAILWAY. Manchester^ South Junction and Altrincham Railway* THE Manchester, South Junction and Altrincham Railway was incorporated in 1845 and opened on July 20th, 1849. The length of line now open for traffic is gf miles, and there are eight stations — Oxford Road (Manchester), Knot Mill, Old Trafford, Stratford, Sale, Brooklands, Timperley and Altrincham. Letter stamps are also issued at the London Road Terminus of the Great Central Railway. The letter stamps are lithographed by Messrs. Henry Blacklock and Co., Ltd., of Manchester. Up to the present there have been si.\ printings, and the following particulars of these have been kindly furnished by the Secretary of the Company, Mr. R. H. Brown. Letter Stamps Issued by the M.S./. and A. Railway. No. Date of Printing. Quantity Printed. Size of Sheets. Control Numbers, 1st Jan., 1891 276 12 Not numbered. 2nd Dec, 1891 500 25 Part numbered with pen, 301 to 500 3rd Aug., 1894 500 25 Printed numbers 501 to 1000 4th Oct., 1895 1000 25 Nos. looi to 2000 5th Apr., 189S 1000 25 Nos. 2001 to 3000 6th Sept., 1899 1000 25 Nos. 3001 to 4000 In printing stamps for \'arious companies, it has been Messrs. Blacklock & Co.'s almost invariable rule to prepare a transfer con- sisting of six impressions in two rows of three, and to duplicate this four or more times. In the case of the M.S.J, and A. stamps I have only been able to obtain evidence of this method in the case of the 3rd, 4th and 5th printings. The method in which a transfer of six types is usually prepared is important. A single impression is obtained from a design which is always kept in stock, the title of the Company being then printed in the blank spaces left for it at the top and bottom. The finished design is then duplicated six times in the form of the desired transfer. MANXHESTER, SOUTH JUN'CTION AND ALTRIN'CHAM RAILWAY. 135 Transfer A. First Issue Second Issue. MANCHESTER.SOUTHJUKC Third Issue. Transfer B. Fourth Issue. Fifth Issue MANCHEmR.SOUTtiJUWCJ Transfer C. Sixth Issue. 136 MAN'CHESTER, SOUTH JUNCTION AND ALTRINCHAM RAILWAY. In the case of the third, fourth and fifth issues this procedure was shghtly varied. The title of the Company was not printed in until after the six duplicates had been made, and as it had then to be added separately to each, six types may be found. The following different transfers appear to have been made : — Transfer A. Used for 1st and 2nd Printings. The most noticeable distinctive marks are a small second N in " Conveyance"; the second E of the same word, the middle bar of which seldom touches the vertical stroke; a small NC to "June," and a small Y to " RY." These marks appear to be common to all types on the transfer. i\ll the types are also without the outer guide lines found in the early printings made for other Companies by Messrs. Blacklock and Co. Transfer B. Used for 3rd, 4th and 5th Printings. The six types of this transfer are easily distinguishable. 1. Left hand stroke of U in "June," cut through; M of 'Manchester" close to lower line; C of ''June" close to upper line. 2. Small Y to " RY' " (upper strokes clipped). M of " Manchester " touching top line. 3. Second T of "Letters" defective. Thin lines under " Altrincham." 4. Small and defecti\'e M to " Manchester." 5. Title of Company well centred, but Y of " RY " close to upper line as in types I and 4. Line above " RY " rather defective. 6. Line above " & ALT " defective. M of " Manchester " close to end. We have already seen that the six types composing a transfer were arranged in two rows of three. When the ^ ^ i '■ ^ ^ sheets of stamps to be printed consisted of 24 stamps, (or of any multiple of six), it was onl\ necessary to g g duplicate the transfer so many times. But in this case, the sheets consisted of 25 stamps, and five duplicate transfers were required, three being cut to the required shape. An examination of entire sheets of the fourth and fifth issues shows the lollo\\i[]g arrangement of types. A third table is added. MANCHESTER, SOUTH JUNCTION AND ALTRINCHANI RAILWAY. 137 Fourth Printing: (Transfer B). 138 MANCHESTER, SOUTH JUNCTION AND ALTRINCHAM RAILWAY. indicating the types and positions of the four known copies of the third printing. Third Printing. Fourth Printin g- Fifth Printing. I I 2 3 I 2 I 2 3 I 2 4 5 6 4 5 4 5 6 I 2 ^3 I 2 3 I 2 I 2 3 4 5 6 6 4 5 5 4 5 4 5 6 I 2 I 2 3 4 5 4 5 6 4 5 Transfer C. Used for the Sixth Printing. It is not l-;nown how this transfer was formed. All the stamps of the sheet appear to be of the same type. The title is exactly similar to that in pre\-ious issues, but is printed straight. It may be recognized by the slightly raised stop after " Ry." The N of "Manchester" is slightly higher than the A. The following is a list of the printings : — \si Printing, Transfer A, Januaiy, i8gi. Colour, dull green. No control numbers. Issued in sheets of 12, two rows of six ; outer edges of each stamp imperforate. Seven specimens are known : six unused, one used. ind Printing, Transfer A, December, 1891. Colour dull green. No control numbers. Issued in sheets of 25, five rows of five ; outer stamps imperforate at edge. The last 200 stamps were numbered in manuscript, 301 to 500. Only four specimens are known, all unnumbered : three unused, one used. yd Printing, Transfer B, August, 1894. Colour, green. Black control numbers placed \-ertically on the right hand side of the shield of each stamp, and running consecutively from bottom to top and left to right of each sheet (Nos. 501 to 1000). Only four specimens are known : two used (Nos. 652, type 6, and 865, type i), and two unused (Nos. 707, type 6, and 708, type 3). MANCHESTER, SOUT,H JUNCTION AND ALTRIXCHAM RAILWAN'. 1 39 ^fh Printing, Transfer B, October, 1895. Colour, grey-green. Nos. 1 00 1 to 2000. Black control numbers placed vertically on the left hand side of each stamp. Two entire sheets are known, and about 100 to 150 other unused specimens, mostly numbered between 1700 and 2000. Earlier specimens are scarce, either used or unused. ^th Printing, Transfer B, April, 1S98. Colour, bright green. A'ertical control numbers in black. 2001 to 3000. The first seven sheets were issued to collectors, as also a few bearing later numbers. The first sheet was issued on June 4th, 1898. bth Printing, Transfer C, September, 1899. Colour, dark grey-green. Vertical control numbers in black (3001 to 4000), larger than in previous issue. The first sheet was issued on December aSth, i8gg. 140 MARVPORT AND CARLISLE RAILWAY COMPANY. Maryport and Carlisle Railway Company* THE Maryport and Carlisle Railway Company was incorporated in 1837 and opened in 1845. The line runs from Carlisle, through Wigton and Aspatria, to Maryport, with a branch to Cockermouth, and is 41 J miles in length. L • - The letter stamps are lithographed by Messrs. McCorquodale & Co., Glasgow, and are issued in sheets of 12 stamps, arranged in three rows of four. The Secretary of the Company gives the number of issues as four, but I have found evidence of five printings. Issue. Printing. Date. Quantity. Perf. Paper. Colour. I St I St Jan., 1891 300 12 Thick Olive-green. 2nd j2nd '3rd July, 1894 300 12 ,, Deep green. ? ? 12 Thin J' 3rd 4th April, 1898 480 12 M Yellow-green. 4th 5th Nov. 15, 1900 > ? II ,, ,, The original drawing for the stamps had several defects. The figure 2 is slightly nicked opposite the lower part of the " D " ; the outer line but one of each stamp is broken opposite the first N of " Conveyance " ; the outer line in the right hand side is broken opposite the Y of "Company"; and the fourth vertical bar from the top in the left hand pillar of each stamp is not rectangular, the upper end being misshapen. These variations are more or less apparent in all the printings. No. 3. No. 5- No. 6. No. 9- No. lO. No. II. M.ARVPORT AND CARLISLE R.-\IL\V..\Y COMP.ANV. I4I is/ Printing, January, 1S91. Colour, olive-green, fairly uniform in shade ; thick paper. The middle line of the three at the base of each stamp is broken off short at the left-hand end. This defect does not occur on subsequent printings. About twent^'-five unused specimens are known, including four pairs. The following defects show the position of stamps on the sheet : — No. I. The line to right of fourth bar in left pillar is broken; dot under first E of " Conveyance " ; dot between A and N of " Conveyance." No. 2. Dot under NC of " Conveyance," also in first C ; second T of *' Letters " defective ; dot under OR of " Maryport " 4, 7, 8, 12. Not identified. White dot on stop under D of " 2d." ; left pillar indistinct. White dot on lower tip of tail of " 2 " ; white dot on lowest bar in right pillar; both lines under "Railway Company" too short at left end ; second line over third bar in left pillar defective. Slight smudge on line under C of "Company." Second line under R of "Carlisle" broken. Blot on lower portion of R of " For." A considerable number of other defects are common to all the types. ind Printing, July, 1894 ? Colour, bright green, pale and dark ; thick paper. About tw-enty unused specimens are known, including a pair with margin at top, types i, 2 or 2. 3, and a block of four, types 2, 3, 6, 7 or 3, 4, 7, S. Assuming the latter to be correct in each case, and provisionally assigning five single specimens to positions i, 5, 6, 9, 10 on the sheet, the following table of defects results : — No. I ? White dot over shield and under NG of "Single." No. 2. Second line under first .A of " Railway " faintly broken. No. 3. Vertical white scratch over second .A of "Railway"; lines over Ry of " Maryport " defective. No. 4. Second E of " Fee " joined by hairhne to circle round shield (also in other types, but indistinct) ; line to left of top bar in left pillar broken. No. 5 ? Bars of both letters T of " Letters " defective ; line to left of third bar in right pillar indented. Circle under Y of " Railway " (circular) broken. Second line to left of fifth bar in left pillar indented. White dot on left edge of lowest bar in left pillar. White dot on ground between shield and T of " Post." (In pair with No. 9). White dot to left of shield ; coloured ground under first C of " Conveyance " indented. No. 6? No. 7- No. S. No. 9? No. 10? M-^ MARVPORT AM) CARLISLE RAILWAY COMPANY. I give the above list in the hope that collectors possessing specimens of these stamps in blocks, or with margins, can assist in identifying the above types (and also Nos. ii, 12) with their correct positions on the sheet. yd Printing. Date unknown. Colour, clear green ; dark green (pale and dark shades) ; thin paper. Most stamps on the sheet show a minute coloured dot above P of " Maryport." This occurs also in the 4th issue, but no specimens of the ist and 2nd issues show it. About 150 unused specimens exist, including several entire sheets. The following defects occur on the sheet : — No. I. Left outline of stamp broken opposite F of " For." No. I, 2. 6, II. There is a vertical line over D of " 2d." No. 2. Line under P of "Maryport" broken. White dot on 2nd bar in left pillar. No. 3. Tip of S.W. triangle broken opposite F of " Fee." White dot on lower tip of tail of figure 2. Centre bar of E of " Single " extends left of vertical stroke. 8, g, II. No dot, or very faint dot, over P of "Maryport." Dot under vertical stroke of R of " Railwaj'." W bite dot on second perpendicular line to right of second line over lowest bar in right pillar. Line to right of 3rd bar in right pillar broken. P of " Maryport " defective. Line over RT of " Maryport " broken. Line over ST of "Post" broken. i^th Priiiling, April, 1898. Colour, yellow-green, fairly uniform. Perf. 12. Thin paper. Outer edges of sheets left unperforated. In all types the sixth line of shading from the right in the S.W. triangle (opposite second E of " Fee ") is broken off short. The hairline falling from second E of " Fee " to circle round shield shows very clearly on all the types. 5M Fri/i/iiig. Supplied by printers November 15th, igoo. Colour, same as 4th issue. Perf. 11. Thin paper as in 3rd and 4th issues. The 6th line of shading in the S.W. triangle is broken in all types as in the preceding issue, but owing to the lines not being so clearly drawn it is sometimes blurred. The hairline under second E of " Fee " is generally indistinct. No. 4 No. 5 No. 6 No. 7 No. 8 No. 9 No. 10 No. 12 METROPOLITAN RAILWAY. 143 Metropolitan Railway. T HE Metropolitan Railway was incorporated in 1S33 as the '■ North ^Metropolitan and Citv Railway." and re-incorporated under its present title on the 7th August, 1S54. The first portion of the line — Bishop's Road (Paddington) to Mctoria (now Farringdon Street) — was opened in January, 1863, and bv various additions, made between 1865 and 1876, was extended westward to South Kensington, and eastward to Aldgate, thus forming the northern half of the "Inner Circle." The completion of the Southern Section was undertaken by the Metropolitan District Railway (a distinct company). and by 1871 the line from Kensington to JMansion House had been completed. The short section of ij miles from Mansion House to Aldgate, required to complete the circle, was not opened until 1884, and is the joint property of both companies. As the whole of the aboye lines fall within the London postal district, there has been found no necessity for the establishment of a railway letter post, and stamps are not issued. In addition to the inner circle, various subsidiary lines haye been opened from time to time, the most important being that from Baker Street (Junction with the Inner Circle) to \'erney Junction, near Bletchley, in Buckinghamshire. This is the only branch on which Metropolitan Railway Letter Stamps are issued. The line was originally opened to Swiss Cottage in April, 1868, and afterwards extended to "West Hampstead and \Mllesden Green (1879), Harrow (1880), Pinner ,(1885), liickmansworth (1887), Chesham (1889I, and Aylesbury (1892). The section from the latter town to A'erney Junction, formerly the property of the A\-lesbury and Buckingham Railway, was amalgamated as from July ist, i8qi. Although the greater part of this line was open in iSgi, when the railway post was established, no facilities for the transmission of letters were given to the public until July, 1895. in which month the first dis- tribution of stamps to the stations was made. A small demand was 144 METROPOLITAN RAILWAY. evidently anticipated, as only 204 stamps altogether were sent out. As far as I have been able to ascertain, six specimens were sent to each of the smaller and twelve to each of the larger stations, the issue commencing at Baker Street with stamps Nos. i to 12. The demand for the stamps turned out to be curiously uneven, most of the stations from Aylesbury to Harrow despatching large numbers of letters, whilst the remainder, especially those at the City end of the line (except Baker Street) preserved the initial supply of stamps almost intact until 1899, when enquiries were made by collectors. Most of the stamps numbered 13 to go on hand at stations between Baker Street and Harrow were then obtained, whilst Grandborough Road (at the other end of the line) contributed Nos. 187 to 192 (in part), and Winslow Road, Nos. 193 to 198. Owing to the stringent regulations, the stamps could not be purchased uncancelled, but were obtained by sending large numbers of letters. The only period during which Metropolitan stamps have been allowed to be supplied to collectors uncancelled was during a few weeks in June, 1898. The reason for refusal hitherto gi\en had been that such sale was not permitted by the Post Office, but an enquiry addressed to the Postmaster General elicited the fact that no objections would be raised by him. Pending a formal decision at the next General ^Manager's Conference (which was unexpectedly unfavourable), the Metropolitan Railway permitted collectors to obtain specimens. The principal stations to which applications were made were Yerney Junction — which still had part of sheets numbered 541 to 600 (ist issue), 2821 to 2M44 (5th issue), and 3001 to 3240 (5th issue) — and Baker Street, where a portion of the sheet 3481 to 3540 was in use. With the exception of a very few singles and pairs obtained at different times, all unused specimens at present known to collectors come from one or other of the above sheets. Through the courtesy of Mr. John Bell, Managing Director of the Metropolitan Railway, I have been furnished by Mr. \V. H. Brown, of the Traffic Department, with a list of the various issues which have Issue. Control numbers. I St. I to 600 2nd. 601 to 1200 3rd. I20I to 1800 4th. 180I to 2400 5th. 2401 to 3000 6th. 3001 to 3600 7th. 3601 to 4"^oo 8th. 4801 to 6000 gth. 6001 to 7200 loth. 7201 to S400 nth. S4OI to 9600 1 2th. 9601 to 10800 Date when first Perforation. sheet was issued. II* July, 1S95. III March, 1896. lU December, 1896, 11* Jul)', 1897. 10 December, 1897, 11* March, 1898. III July, 1898. 10 March, 1899. III July, 1899. 10 April, 1900. 10 October, 1900. 10 ? igoi. METROPOLIT.AX R.MLWAV. 145 been made down to the present time. These are as follows (details as to perforation being added) : — Issue of Metropolitan Railway Stamps. No. Printed. 600 600 600 600 600 600 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 1200 The letter stamps of the Metropolitan Railway are lithographed by ^lessrs. Waterlow & Sons, and are principally remarkable for being pink in colour, although they are one of the few exceptions amongst this firm's work of stamps with control numbers. I understand that when the printers were first approached, samples printed in different colours were submitted, the lilac-rose tint being that decided upon. Whether any such proof impressions are now in existence I am unable to say. The stamps are all printed in sheets of sixty, arranged in six rows of ten, each issue consisting of ten or twenty such sheets. The method of printing is as follows : — Two impressions were made from Messrs. Waterlow's stock design, which may be recognized as having been used in printing letter stamps for most, if not all, of the Companies supplied by them. This original drawing may be described as practically a letter stamp, but with the spaces at top and bottom (intended for the title of the Company) left blank. The upright blocks in the pillars on either side vary in size, and the two lines under the lowermost space are slightly curved towards the left hand end. Two impressions, as stated, were taken from this matrix, and the title of the Company, "3 METROPOLITAN RAILWAY. 147 " METROPOLITAN RAILWAY," was then printed in each. The most noticeable differences between the two types are as follows : — Type I. Small " R " and " W " to " Railway." The two lines just above '■ TR " of " Metropolitan " are connected. Type IL Large "R" and " W " to "Railway." One of the lines in the triangle in the upper left hand spandrel is broken. As soon as the two types were completed, three dupli- i n cate impressions were made, one below the other, as I II shown. In addition to the signs peculiar to types I. and ^ II II., certain slight defects were caused, by which the six stamps may be recognized (although the distinguishing marks sometimes fail to show in light impressions I. T}^e I. No defects of any importance. Type 2. Outer line but one to right of lowest bar in right hand pillar broken. Small coloured spot under "TR" of "Metropolitan." Type 3. Line broken in triangle of lower left hand spandrel (opposite " R" of "For.") Type 4. Circular line under "F" of "For" slightly broken. Type 5. No defects of importance. Type 6. Line in lower left hand triangle broken under " F " of " For." As soon as the block of six types was ready, ten impressions were made from it on a litho stone, the groups being arranged in two rows of five (A, B, C, D, E above and F, G, H, J, K below). The final arrangement of types is therefore as follows : — Type I Type 2 Type 3 Type 4 Type 5 i Type 6 A I A2 Bi B2 Ci C2 Di D2 Ei E2 A^ A4 B3 B4 C3 C4 D3 D4 E3 E4 As A6 B5 B6 C5 C6 D5 D5 E5 E6 Fi F2 Gi G2 Hi H2 Ji J2 Ki K2 F^ F4 G3 G4 H3 H4 J3 J4 K3 K4 F5 F6 G5 G6 H5 H6 J5 J6 K5 K6 In transferring these ten blocks of six to the stone, a third set of defects was caused, some of the most prominent of which I describe : — A3. Cross of first letter " T " of " Letters " bent. C4. Letter "G" of "Single" defective. 14S METROPOLITAN RAILWAY. C5. Outer corner of lower right-hand triangle broken. Ei. Letters '■ NC" of "Conveyance" defective. One of the lines in the triangle is broken off short opposite the " N." E4. Letters " NV " of "Conveyance" badly formed. F5. First " E '' of "Letters" broken. H3. Letter "F" of "Fee" broken. J5. Coloured line extending from angle of letter L. Ki. Line to right of "ST" of "Post" broken. K2. Coloured dot after " N " of " Metropolitan " (also very faint in other stamps). A knowledge of the above defects is only useful in proving, irrespec- tive of other evidence which may offer, that certain printings were made from the same transfer. /is a matter of fact, it is known that in all twelve printings made for the Company the stone described above has been left unaltered in any way since the first printing in 1895. As will be seen from the illustrations, the numbering runs con- secutively on each sheet from top to bottom and right to left, the same method having been adopted in all printings. Synopsis of Printings. 1st Issue, Nos. I to 600, Jii/y, 1895. Small control numbers; perf. ii-|-. Colour, lilac-rose (those in brown are oxidised). Only three or four unused specimens are known, most of those remaining at the stations in 1898 having been obtained by collectors on letters. In the original distribution a vertical strip of six stamps was sent to each smaller and two such strips to each larger station, about three-and-a- half sheets being thus absorbed. With the exception of specimens recovered from this initial distribution and part of the sheet Nos. 54.1- 600, fortunately preserved at Verney Junction until 1898, very few used specimens are known. 2/id Issue, A'"m. 601 to 1200, March, i8g6. Very similar in colour, perforation and control numbers. I have only seen two specimens of this printing, both used (see illustration). yd Issue, Xos. 1 201 to 1800, December, 1896. Very similar to preceding issue, but taller control figures. I have never seen an unused specimen. Four were still on hand at \\'addesdon Manor in i8g8, but METROPOLITAN RAILWAY. 149 First Issue (1S95.) First Issue (1895. 1 Second Issue (i8q6.) Second Issue {1S96.) Third Issue (1806.: METROPOLITAN R A I LW AY . Third Issue (1896. Fourth Issue (1897.) Ji^ 150 METROPOLITAN RAILWAY. llie station-master was not permitted to sell them, and the alternative of obtaining them on letters had to be followed. I have only met with six used specimens, including the above four. \th Issue, SVos. 1801 to 2400, July, 1897. Colour, slightly brighter. Small control numbers as in first and second issues. I have only met with three used specimens, one of which. No. 1920, is postmarked August, 1897. ^th Issue, Mos. 2401 to 3000, Deceml)er, 1897. Colour varies con- siderably from pale to deep rose. Small control numbers, perf. 10. Thicker paper. About forty unused specimens are known, including a block of 12 with margins from the right hand side of a sheet. A number of used specimens are also known, including reconstructed blocks of twenty and eight. 6M Issue, Nos. 3001 to 3600, Alarcti, i8g8. Colour, brighter pink, pale and dark. Control figures taller. Probably about 40 unused specimens are known. Used specimens are fairly common. 1th Issue, Nos. 3601 to 4800, July, 1898. Colour, pink, generally deep. Very small control numbers ; perf. ii|. Only four or five unused specimens are known, but a fair number used, including a reconstructed sheet of 60, Nos 4501-60, in an exceptionally deep shade. Specimens numbered between 3601 and 4200 are somewhat scarce. 8//; Issue, Nos. 4801 to 6000, March, i8gg. Colour, Nos. 4801 to 5100 are generally dark carmine, later Nos. being in a paler shade, but I have seen No. 5317 in the dark shade. The contrast between the colour of the sheet No. 4981-5040 and that of No. 5101-60 is considerable, the latter appearing to be on thinner paper. Only one or two unused specimens are known, although used specimens from which light pencil cancellations have been erased are less rare. Having been attached to envelopes by one corner only, most of these have almost full gum. Over 300 used specimens are known, including a part sheet of 24 reconstructed, and an entire sheet (Nos. 5401-60). Owing principally to the unusual demand on the part of collectors, the first half of this issue was speedily exhausted, sheet No. 5401-60 being issued in April. METROPOLITAN RAILWAY. 151 Fifth Issue (1897.) Sixth Issue (1898. Seventh Issue {1898.) Eighth Issue (1899.) Ninth Issue (1899.; METROPOLITAN, RAILWAY. Tenth Issue (1900.) Twelfth Issue (1901.) RAILWAY. T52 METROPOLITAN RAILWAY. g//^ Issue, XdS. 6001 to 7200, Juh\ 1899. Colour varies, generally pale carmine. Pink shades occur. Perf. ii-|. Two unused specimens are known, and about 50 used. 10th Issue, Nos. 7201 to 8400, April, 1900. Colour, rather a dull shade of carmine. Thick, surfaced paper. Perf. 10. No unused specimens known, and very few used. iith Issue, N'us. 8401 to 9600, October, 1900. Colour, pale carmine, very similar to 8th issue. Perf. 10. \2th Issue, Nos. 9601 to 10,800, May, 1901. Colour, bright carmine, deep carmine (very deep shades occur). Perf. 10. The issue had been made up to No. 10,200 in July, 1901. y^^^ 154 MIDLAND RAILWAY. Midland Railway. THE Midland Railway was formed in 1844 by an amalgamation of the North Midland, the ^Midland Counties and the Birmingham and Derby Railway Companies, which had been incorporated in 1839. In i858 an extension to London was made. The length of line now open is 1483 miles. The letter stamps are lithographed by Messrs. Bemrose & Sons, Derby, in sheets of 24 (six rows of four), the sheets being cut in two before delivery. Through the courtesy of the General Manager of the Company, Mr. E. A\'. \A'ells, I am able to give a complete list of all issues which have been made down to the present time. No. of Issue. I 2 3- 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1 1 Control Numbers. I to 6000 6001 to 12000 I200I to 18000 18001 to 24000 24001 to 30000 30001 to 36000 36001 to 42000 420111 to 48000 48001 to 54000 540(11 to 60001 1 6o(ioi to 65oiiu First Transfer, First Sheet Issued. 26. 1. 91 1.^.4.91 5.10.91 28.4.92 7. 10.92 '2.5-93 12.12.93 18.7.94 27.2.95 20.9.95 25.4.96 1891. Quantity. Pert".* 6000 6000 6000 Remarks. 6000 60 JO 6000 6 joo 6000 6oi)u 6000 6o>io 10 Received 21.1.91. 11 Received 13.4.91. II Received 1 0.9.9 1. II, 10 \'ery few perf. 11. 1 1 Uniform throughout. 10, II Half perf. 10; half, 11. 1 1 Uniform throughout. 10, II Half perf. 10; half, 11. 10 Half have large controls. In Uniform. 10 Odd sheets. 12 66001 to 72000 13 72001 to 78000 14 78001 to 90000 15 90001 to 102000 16 102001 to 1 14000 17 1 1 400 1 to 126000 Second Transfer 5.12.96 6000 1 1 . 8.97 s. 3.98 24. 2.99 21. 3.00 6000 12000 12000 12000 12000 NoTif.— I have added the information concerning the perforation as no official records respecting such particulars exist. 1896. I 1 10 10 10 10 I I Uniform throughout. Received, Jan., 1899. Received, Dec, 1899. Uniform throughout. MIDLAND RAILWAY. 155 First Transfer. Third Issue (1891). ! MIDLAND RAILWAY :midland railv;ay Fourth Issue (1S92). Fourth Issue (1S92). Fifth Issue (1892). Seventh Issue (18931. Eighth Issue 11894)- MIDLAND RAIIU ^\ CO "■-'-• 'f, Mi(;;^!VWD~RAlLvVAY 156 MIDLAND RAILWAN'. In examining a large number of blocks and sheets of Midland Railway letter stamps for the purpose of ascertaining the number of panes to a sheet and how many transfers were used, it was first of all necessarv to fix upon certain " key " stamps. Commencing with the early issues, I selected the 4th stamp in the second row of every sheet available, and found that whilst in some the F of " Fee " was large and mis-shapen, in others it was well formed. In these, latter, however, the second A of " Railway " (lower inscription) was defective, a variety which did not occur in the first sheets. All specimens of the 4th stamp in the second row of sheet showed one or other of these defects, and the fact that two panes make a sheet as printed may therefore be considered as established. Both these defects were however replaced by a different set in stamps bearing higher numbers than 66,000, and I consequently conclude that for these a second transfer was brought into use. First Transfer, 189 1. As already stated, the first transfer consisted of twenty-four duplicate impressions of an original drawing, and owing to the care with which they have been produced, very few distinguishing ]iiarks are to be found. The following are the most prominent. Upp(:r pane of 12 (3 jvu's of 4J. 1st row, No. 2. Right hand half of W in "Railway" (lower inscription), defective. 2nd row, No. 4. Large misshapen F to "Fee.' Dot after ."Midland" in lower inscription. 3rd row, Nos. I and 2. Three lines at top of each stamp wavy towards right hand end. 3rd row, No. 2. Coloured dot over T of " Post," and at right hand top ■I corner of Y of "Railway" (upper inscription). Linver pane of 12 (^ rim'S of 4J. 1st row. No. 3. Lines above second A of "Railway" (lower inscription), defective. Diagonal stroke of N in "Midland" (lower inscription), extends too low down. 2nd row. No. 3. Third bar from top in right pillar defective. 2nd row, Ko. 4. Second A of lower " Railway " defective. 3rd row. No. 3. Coloured dot between " .-W " (lower inscription). 3rd row, No. 4. Coloured dot 10 left and outside of right hand pillar opposite topmost perpendicular bar. MIDLAND RAILWAY. 157 Top row of pane of First Issue (1891). Numbered from left to right and top to bottom. Pane of Fifth Issue (1892). Numbered from bottom to top and left to right. 158 MIDLAND RAILWAY. The control numbers on sheets of the first issue run from left to right and top to bottom, whilst those on the second and all subsequent issues (except the 13th) run from bottom to top and left to right. As regards the different printings, it is often a more difficult matter to distinguish clearly, but after an examination of several hundred specimens printed from the first transfer, I divide them as follows : — isf Issue, Xos. I to 6000. Printing A; dull green; perf. 10. Received from printers, January 21st, 1891. First sheet issued January 26th, 1891. Shades, yellowish-green, bright j-ellow-green (similar to that of issue 90,000 to 102,000). As an illustration of the method of numbering I may mention that the top row of the first sheet had control numbers i, 2, 3, 4. 2/id Issue, IVos. 6001 to 12,000. Printing A; dull green; perf. 11. Received from printers, April 13th, 1891. First sheet issued April 18th, 1 89 1. This issue is exactly similar to the first, except for the perforation, and it is not unlikely that both were printed at the same time, the sheets being, however, perforated and numbered as required, which would account for the difference in these respects. Both issues are on bluish white paper, whereas those following are on a more cream coloured paper. The former paper is exactly similar to that used for the first issues of other companies supplied by Messrs. Bemrose. As an illustration of the method of numbering adopted for this and most subsequent issues, I may state that the top row of the first sheet bore the control numbers, 6003, 6oo5, 6009, and 6012. yd Issue, IVos. 12,001 to 18,000. Printing B; dull yellowish-green; perf. II. Control figures very slightly larger. Received from printers, September loth, 1891. First sheet issued October 5th, 1891. \t/i Issue, iXos. 18,001 to 24,000. Printing C; perf. 10; dull green. Large control figures. Received from printers April 28th, 1892 ; first sheet issued same day. I haxe met with several specimens of this issue with perforation 11, all from the same sheet (Nos. 18517-28) and apparently of printing B. All other specimens, ranging from Nos. i8,c)42 to 23,364, are normal. MIDLAND RAILWAY. 159 Ninth Issue, iSps ifirst transfer). 250 sheets have large control numbers and 250 have small. iMIO LANITR AiLWAY" MIDLAND RAILWAY 1; [MIDLAND RAILWAY »Bi^ANOf RAieWWgg: . iMlDLANa RAtLWAY,' Tenth Issue, 1895 ifirst transfer). Large control figures. MIDLAND RAILWAY. 5//z Issue, Nus. 24,001 to 30,000. Printing D; perf. 11; dull yellowish-green. Small control figures. P'irst sheet issued October 7th, 1892. bth Issue, ^<"os. 30,001 to 36,000. Printing E (?) ; perf. 10, 11 ; dull yellowish-green. Small control figures. First sheet issued May 1 2th, 1893. Half the issue (Nos. 30,001 to 33,000) was perforated 10, whilst the other half (33001 to 36,000) indicates gauge 11. jth Issue, Xos. 36,001 to 42,000. Printing E (?) ; perf. 11 ; dull yellowish-green. Small control figures. First sheet issued December 1 2th, 1893. It has been impossible to properly identify the stamps of this issue. The 6th, 7th and 8th issues are all printed in almost e.Kactly the same shade of green and the only way of ascertaining whether printing " E " is really one printing or several, is by comparison of a number of sheets or blocks, which it has unfortunately been impossible to find. &th Issue, Nos. 42,001 to 48,000. Printing E (?) ; perf. 10, 11 ; dull yellowish-green. Small control figures. First sheet was issued July 18th, 1894. Half the issue (Nos. 42,001 to 45,000) was perforated 10, the other half 11 (Nos. 45,001 to 48,000). <^th Issue, Nos. 48,001 to 54,000. Printing F ; perf. 10 ; greyish- green ; rough unsurfaced paper. First sheet issued February 27th, 1895. Half the issue (Nos. 4o.,ooi to 51,000) was numbered with large figures, the second half (Nos. 51,001 to 54,000) with small figures. The colour of this issue is quite distinct from that of any preceding printing. 10th Issue, Nos. 54,001 to 60,000. Printing G ; perf. 10 ; greyish olive-green, pale to dark ; same rough unsurfaced paper. Large control figures. First sheet issued September 20th, 1895. wth Issue, Nos. 60,001 to 66,000. Partly printing H; partly odd sheets left over from previous printings. Printing H is in pale yellow- green, perf. 10, and on the same paper as used for the two preceding issues ; the printing appears to have been done very roughly. The MIDLAND RAILWAY. l6l First Transfer. Tenth Issue (1S96.) Eleventh Issue (1S96.) ^^-^ T^'V^cr -^J >/ V?- ^-eu^h^ f 'm [dLANO- RAILWAY';: MIDLAND RAILWAY Twelfth Issue {1896.) Second Transfer. Thirteenth Issue (1897.) Fourteenth Issue (i Fifteenth Issue (1899.) Sixteenth Issue (1900.) MIDLAND RAIL\VA\'. issue is numbered throughout with small control figures. Some idea of the way in which sheets of various printings have been mixed may be gathered from the following list of those which have come under notice. Sheets. 'rinting. Sheets. I tinting. Sheets. Printing 60205-60264 H 62521-62532 F 64297-64308 H 60589-60600 H 62989-63000 G 64465-64476 H 61321-61356 G 63109-63120 H 65389-634^0 A 62137-62148 F 63589-63600 H 65629-65640 B ? 62257-62268 G 63973-63984 H 65761-65S20 H 62437-6244S F 64165-64176 H Second Transfer, 1897. The second transfer, like the first, consists of 24 impressions from the original drawing. They are easily distinguished, however, from those of the first transfer. In each of the 24 types, the two parallel lines over the lower inscription " Midland liailway " are connected by a coloured hairhne just above the centre of the letter W of " Railway." Each type has in addition certain individual marks by which it can be recognized, and the most prominent of these I describe. Upper pane of 12 (^3 7-07vs of \). ist row, No. 3. R of "Railway" (upper inscription), broken at top. This defect occurs in near-ly the same place on the lower pane also. 2nd row, No. 3. "N" of "Midland" (upper), broken. 3rd row. No. I. Minute dot under N of " Midland " (upper). Loiver pane of 12 (^3 rows of \). ist row, No. 3. L of "Midland" (lower), slightly indented. 2nd row, No. 3. Fourth stroke of W of "Railway" (lower inscription), broken in two. 3rd row, No. I. Coloured dot in upper part of Y of "Railway" (lower inscription). 3rd row. No. 3. Line above A of "Midland" (lower), broken. i2//i Issue^ Nos. 66001 to 72000. Printing J, perf. 11. Yellow-green. Small control figures. I^'irst sheet issued December 5th, 1896. I ha\e met with a No. 67549, which appears to be printing B, except that it shows the distinguishing mark of the second transfer. Perhaps MIDLAND RAIWLAV. 163 Pane of Fiiteenth Issue, 1899. 164 MIDLAND RAILWAY. a sheet of the old surfaced paper was used and gives it this appearance. The colour of this issue is not unlike that of the early printings, and would lend itself readily to the deception. 13^/2 Issue, Nos. 72001 to 7S000. Printing K, perf. 10. Yellow- green ; thin surfaced paper. Large control figures. First sheet issued August nth, 1897. The control numbers of this issue run from left to right and top to bottom, as in the first issue. lA^th Issue, Nos. 78,001 to 90,000. Printing L ; perf. 10 ; bright green, yellow-green. Small control figures. First sheet issued March 8th, 1898. \^th Issue, Nos. 90,001 to 102,000. Printing M; perf. 10; bright olive-green. Small control figures. Received from printers, January, 1899. First sheet issued February 24th, 1899. \bth Issue, Nos. 102,001 fo 114,000. Printing N; perf. 10. Nearly similar in colour to last issue, but paler. Small control figures. Received from printers, December, 1899. First sheet issued March 21st, 1900. ijth Issue, Nos. 114,001 to 126,000. Printing O; perf. 11. Nearly similar in colour to preceding issue ; hea\'ier printing, blurred. Small control figures. Received from printers, April (?), 1901. N- ^' 'i4pA MIDLAND AND GREAT NORTHERN JOINT RAILWAY. 165 Midland and Great Northern Joint Railway* THIS line is owned jointly by the Midland and Great Northern Railway Companies, and runs from King's Lynn to Yarmouth via iNIassingham, Fakenham, Melton Constable (branches to Norwich and Cromer), and North ^^"alsham and from King's Ljmn to Peterborough ^■ia AA'isbech and Sutton Bridge (branch to Spalding, Bourne and Saxby). The line became joint property in 1893, 3^"^ is 188 miles in length. The section from Lynn to Yarmouth was orio'inally known as the Eastern and Midlands Railway, but was acquired by the M. and G.N. Railways in 1894. The first issue of letter stamps bore the inscription, "Eastern and Midlands Railway," and will be found described under that title. On ;\Iay 2ist, 1894, they were withdrawn, and a new issue inscribed "Midland and Great Northern Joint Railway" substituted. These latter were lithographed by Messrs. Waterlow & Sons in sheets of 60, six rows of ten, 100 sheets (or 6000 stamps) being furnished. Only the one printing has been made. These particulars have been kindly given me by Mr. W. Colling, Audit Accountant to the Joint Committee. i66 MIDLAND AND GREAT NORTHERN JOINT RAILWAY. First Issue, May 2isf, i8y4- — Colour, green, deep green; perf. ii-^ (sometimes rough). Printed in sheets of 60 (six rows of 10). I have not been able to seeure more than a very small portion of a sheet and cannot say whether different types or varieties occur, beyond that the third stamp in the sixth row has a coloured dot between the " I " and " L " of " Railways." Midland and South Western Junction Railway* THE Midland and South Western Junction Railway runs from Cheltenham (Junction with the Bristol-Birmingham section of the Midland Railway) via Cirencester, Swindon, Marlborough and Savernake to Andover (Junction with the London and South Western main line). The length of the line is 68 miles, with 22 stations. Only one supply of letter stamps has been required. It was lithographed by Messrs. Waterlow cV Sons in i8gi, and I am informed by the Accountant to the Company, Mr. S. I-I. Webber, that 200 sheets were supplied. Each measures 8^x5! inches, and consists of 24 stamps, arranged in six rows of four. 1st Issue, i8i)i. Colour, green, pale green; perf. iiA^. NKATH AND BRF.COX RAILWAY. 167 Neath and Brecon Railway* THE Xeath and Brecon Raihvav was incorporated in 1862 and opened 1864. The line runs from Brecon (joint station with the Midland Railway) through Colbren Junction (Branch to Ystradgynlais) to Xeath (Junction with Great Western Raihvav). The line is 40 miles in length. The first issue of raihvav letter stamps was lithographed bv ^Messrs. \A'aterlow i- Sons, and issued in sheets of 12, arranged in four rows of three. The transfer probably consisted of twelve duplicates of an original drawing-, as similar detects are reproduced in each of the twelve tvpes. As in the letter stamps printed for other companies by ^Messrs. \\'aterlow (L.B. A: S.C. and ^Metropolitan Railways, for instance) everv stamp shows a fine hairline connecting the two parallel lines above the title at the top ; 9 mm. from the left hand end : in this case above the H of ■' Xeath." The line above " Raihvav " is also broken in each tvpe towards the left hand end. Type I. (Waterlow & Sons). isi Printing, Fel>nta?y, iSmi. Thick paper. Colour, yellowish- green. The colour, paper and arrangement are similar to the first printings bv ^Messrs. ^^"aterlow iX: Sons for other companies, t'.^;,'"., the Se\'ern and W've and Se\t-rn Bridge, or Xorthampton and Banburv Junction. An entire sheet is not known, but I am able to illustrate a block of nine. About fiftv other unused copies are known. The following defeats occur on the sheet: — No. I. A\'hite dot on ground between shield and TE ot " Letters." Xo. 2. Second line under L\\" of "Railway" faintly broken. Xo. 3. Line over lowest bar in left pillar broken. Xo. S. Line over T of " Post ' faintly broken. The third of these marks alone shows at all clearly in our illustration. i68 NEATH AND BRECON RAILWAY. Neath and Brecon. First Printing ^largest block known). "^^ -[^W^l ''^^p^ XEATH AND BRECON RAILWA\-. 169 Type II. (McCorquodale & Co.) The second and later printings of letter stamps for this Company have all been printed by Messrs. McCorquodale & Co., Ltd. (London), in sheets of twelve arranged in two rows of six. The plate consists of three blocks of four types, arranged side by side. These types may Arrangement of Types. I 2 I 2 I 2 3 4 3 + 34 be distinguished as follows. Type I. "N" of "Neath" badly formed; corner of " D '' of " 2d." Type 2. " N " of " Neath " broken ; " E " and Type 3. " Neath " and " Brecon " fairly even. Type 4. "Neath" slanting downwards. The first "E" of "Fee" is defective. T " broken ; white spot in top T " defective. The above defects occur in all three blocks forming the plate, but certain additional defects occur on only a single block. In stamp No. 3 (3rd in ist row, type i), the foot of the figure 2 is smudged. In No. 4 (type 2), there is a white dot on the ball of the figure " 2," and the " A " of " Conveyance " is peculiarly formed. In the 3rd and 4th printings, stamp No. 9 (type 3), shows a clear white line on the background over the shield and a coloured dot above the " W " of " Railway." ind Printing, date 1 Dull yellowish-green; perforated ii|. Several entire sheets are known. Current during 1898. T,rd Printing, date ^ Colour, bluish-green; perforated i\{. I have only met with a single sheet of this printing, which was obtained about September, 1899. 4M Printing, date 1 Colour, deep green; perforated 11. Known to have been in use in June, 1900. lyo NORTHAMPTON AND BANBURY JUNCTION RAILWAY. Northampton and Banbury Junction Railway. THE Northampton and Banbury Junction Railway extends from Blisworth (near Northampton) to Cockley Brake Junction, whence it possesses running powers over the L. & N. W. Railway to Banbury. The length of the line is 15 miles and there are four stations, Blisworth, Towcester, Wappenham and Helmdon. The letter stamps are lithographed by Messrs. Waterlow & Sons, and are issued in sheets of 12, arranged in four rows of three. The following three printings are known : — Jan., 1891. Perf. iij, 11 J. Yellow-green, thick, surfaced paper. 1896? Perf. iii. Green, dark green, thinner paper, unsurfaced. 1899 ? Perf. ii|-. Green, yellowish-green, thin surfaced paper. All three printings are from different transfers, the types on which occur as follows : — Types of First Printing-. Si Ty, scond pes of Printing. Third pes of Printing. I 2 3 1 2 I I 2 3 4 5 6 I 2 I 4 5 6 7 8 9 I 2 I 7 8 9 10 1 1 12 I 2 I 10 II 12 The types are readily distinguishable by means of defects, but also have certain peculiarities in common. -First Printing. All twelve types have the line below NC of "Junction" broken, as also that over AY of "Railway." Second Prinfini;. The two types all have the central lines of shading in the S.\\'. triangle very roughly executed, but do not show the defects found in the first and third printings. NORTHAMPTON AND BANBURY JUNCTION RAILWAY. 171 Third Printing;. All twelve tvpes have the line over AY of " Railwaj' " broken as in the first printing. The line under NC of "Junction" is not, howe\-er, broken. The 10 of "Junction" are connected by a hairline at the foot and there is usually a slight smudge on S.E. triangle near the lowest bar of the right pillar. Examples of the first and second printings are somewhat rare, especially in blocks. c-i u.. First Transfer, 1891. The types of the first transfer may be recognized as follows : — Dot between B and A and hyphen between R and Y of " Banbury." Dot over second B of " Banbury." Two Hnes over R of " North- hampton " joined by hairline. I have two examples and in one of them, the line over 2nd bar in right pillar is broken. Very faint dot over tip of tail of figure 2. Short bar attached to left side of I of " Single." Hairline under H of " Northampton." Line over OS of "Post" faintly broken. Second and third lines under J of "Junction" joined by diagonal hairline. Coloured dots over EF of "Fee For." Coloured dot under second N of " Northampton." Short bar attached to leff outhne of stamp opposite J of "Junction." Two faint dots after Y of " Railway." Coloured dots under lowest tip of N.E. Triangle. J of " Junction " broken at top. Type I. Type 2. Type 3 Type 4 Type 5 Type 6 Type 7- Type 8 Type 9 Type lO Type II Type 12 172 NORTHAMPTON AND BANBURY JUNCTION RAILWAY. There is coloured dot on the top margin of each sheet, 7-|mm. over stamp No. 2, and another dot on the lower margin, gmm. below No. II. Second Transfer (1896 ?). The second transfer consisted of two types which were duplicated for printing purposes as shown above. They may be distinguished as follows : — Type I. Dot over a of " Banbury." Dot between N and B of " Banbury." Dot in of "Northampton." BU of "Banbury" joined at foot by hairline. {a). No. I in ist row.. Left stroke of N of "Northampton" broken. (b). No. I in 2nd row. Second stroke of U of "Banbury" broken at top. (c). No. 3 in 2nd row. White dot over shield, under F of " Of." (d). No. I in 3rd row. Line under first C of " Conveyance " broken. (e). No. I in 4th row. Line between O of "For" and shield broken. (/). No. 3 in 4th row. Fourth bar in left pillar broken at top. Type 2. Dot between P and T of " Northampton." Left stroke of second N of "Junction" broken. GL of "Single" joined by hairline. (a). No. 2 in ist row. Dot under vertical stroke of R of " Banbury." (b). No. 2 in 2nd row. White spot to left of shield, opposite C of " Conveyance." (c). No. 2 in 3rd row. Dot after Y of " Railway " (also in ist row). {d). No. 2 in 4th row. Smudge between arms of Y of " Banbury." Line over R of " I^etters " is broken. Third Transfer (1899 ?). The twelve types of the third transfer may be distinguished as follows : — White spot on left foot of " Banbury." Second line under A[ of "Railway" faintly broken. White dot on body of figure 2. Coloured dot in first O of " Northampton." 8, II. Smudge between "Junction" and "Railway." Both outlines of stamp extend J-mm. too far at N.E. corner. Ground of shield indented opposite first T of " Letters." White dot on top bar in right pillar. Type I Type 2 Type 3 Type 4 Types 5 Type 6 Type 7 Type g Types 10 to 12. No distinctive marking. There does not appear to be any marking on the margins of sheets of second and third printings. NORTH EASTERN RAILWAY. I73 North Eastern Railway. THE North Eastern Railway was incorporated in 1854, having- been formed by an amalgamation of the Leeds Northern, the York and N. ^lidland, and the York, Newcastle and Berwick Railways. A subsequent addition, it is interesting to note, was the first railway ever opened for public traffic, the Stockton and Darlington (incorporated 1S21). The system now extends throughout Yorkshire, Durham and Northumberland, with branches in Westmorland and Cumberland. The total mileage is 1634, including lines owned jointly or leased. The letter stamps have always been printed by a Xewcastle-on-Tyne firm, and are in sheets of 30, arranged in five rows of six. The printers have generally delivered the stamps to the Compan}' in supplies of 100 sheets at a tmie (3000 stamps), although as manv as 1000 sheets are sometimes printed together. Owing to the kindness of iNIr. T. Waddington, Accountant to the Company, I have been furnished with the following list of supplies received up to date. In order that collectors may understand the difference between them, 1 have added a fifth column, showing to which printing each issue belongs, as near as is at present known. First Transfer, 1891. T Printinof. Control Numbers. Date. ^ - ^ j Issue. ° Printed. I A I to 18000 Jan., 1891 18,000 Note. — The initial distribution to stations absorbed 582 sheets, comprising stamps Nos. i to 17,460. Owing to the design being wrongly inscribed the remaining 540 stamps were destroyed and replaced by others bearing the correct inscription. Those which were already issued, were not however re-called until quite recently (1898). [74 NORTH EASl'ERN RAILWAY. No. of n .-• , Printing, issue. '^ B Second Transfer, 1 891. Control Numbers. Date. 17461 to 18000) ^ 118001 to 20000 1 ' ^ Note. — It is not known whether the 540 stamps, ordered those of the first issue, belonged to the same printing as ordered in March, i8qi. 3 4 5 6 7 9 10 1 1 12 ^3 14 15 16 ■7 i8 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 2 D 30001 to 33000 Dec. 5» D 33001 to 36000 March, , 1892 D 36001 to 42000 May ,, E 42001 to 48000 Sept. 5) E 48001 to 51000 Feb., 1893 F 51001 to 54000 Apr. M F 54001 to 57000 July ,, F 57001 to 60000 Sept. ,, F 60001 to 63000 Nov. '5 G 63001 to 66000 Feb., 1894 F, G 66001 to 70000 Apr. ,, G 70001 to 73000 July M G 73001 to 76000 Sept. ,, H 76001 to 79000 Nov. ,, H 79001 to 82000 March, , 1895 H 82001 to 85000 ]\Iay ,, H 85001 to 88000 July ,, H 88001 to 91000 Sept. ,, J 91001 to 94000 Dec. )» J 94001 to 97000 March, , 1896 J 97001 to 100000 June ,, K lOOOOI to 103000 Aug. '5 K I0300I to 106000 Oct. '1 J. K I0600I to 109000 Feb., 1897 K I0900I to 112000 May ,, H, K I I200I to 115000 Aug. ,, K, L I I 500 I to 1 1 8000 Oct. „ L I 1 800 1 to 121000 Jan., : [S98 L I2IO0I to 124000 Apr. ,, Quantity Printed. 2,540 ? to replace the 2000 4,000 6,000 3,000 3,000 6,000 6,000 3,000 3,000 3,000 3,000 3,000 3,000 4,000 3,000 3,000 3,000 3,000 3,000 3,000 3,000 3,000 3,000 3,000 3,000 3,000 3,000 3,000 3,000 3,000 3,000 3,000 NORTH EASTERN RAI1,\VAY. 175 Third Transfer, 1898. No. of Issue. Printing. Control Numbers. Date. Quantity Printed. 34 M 1240OI to 127000 June, 1898 3,000 35 L, M I270OI to 130000 July 3,000 36 M 13000 I to 133000 Oct. 3,000 37 M I3300I to 136000 Dec. ? „ 3,000 38 M I36001 to 139000 Jan. ? 1899 3,000 39 INI I390OI to 142000 March „ 3,000 40 M I42001 to 145000 June 3,000 41 M I4500I to 148000 Aug. „ 3,000 42 L, M I 4800 I to 15 1 000 Oct. „ 3,000 43 M 15IOOI to 154000 Jan., 1900 3,000 Fourth Transfer, 1900. 44 X I 5400 I to 157000 March, igoo 3,000 45 L, N 157001 to 160000 June 3,000 46 N 1 6000 1 to 163000 July 3,000 47 X 163001 to 166000 Oct. 3,000 48 X I 6600 I to 169000 Dec, 3,000 49 169001 to 172000 March, 1901 3,000 50 172001 to 175000 May 3,000 51 175001 to 178000 July ? „ 3,000 In describing the different issues, it seems advisable to group them according to the transfers from which they are printed. The distinguishing marks of each printing will then avoid confusion with those by which the transfers are recognized. The printings from the first three transfers, as also the 48th issue, are uniformly perforated 12, whilst printings from the 4th and latest transfer are perf. n (excepting the 48th issue). Type I. First Transfer, i8gi. The inscription on the first letter stamps supplied to the Xorth- Eastern Railway Company differed essentially from that authorized by the Post Office. Instead of "P'ee for Conveyance of Single Post Letters by Railway," it reads, as may be seen from the illustration, " North Eastern Railwa)' — Railway Letter Post — To be used only for letters NORTH EASTERN RAILWAY. 177 bearing a postage stamp." The impression, too, was made in red instead of green, and as the Post Office desired to maintain uniformity , ^ r -n amongst the issues of the various Companies, only Arrangement or lypes on ^ r ^ j a Sheet. Qjjg pj-jj^j-jj^g ^f (-j^jg |^j.gj design was ever made. 123456 123456 The first transfer appears to have consisted of ■■"3456 a horizontal row of six impressions, each of which, although taken from the original design, shows 123456 .. . very distinctive marking. Five impressions from this transfer were then made on the machining stone, one below the other, thus enabling the production of sheets arranged in five rows of six. The six types may be distinguished as follows : — Type I. Middle stroke of first E of " Eastern " defective. Type 2 Type 3 Type 4 Type 5 Type 6 First E of "Letter" defective; word " STAIVIP '' badly formed. E of " Be " brol^en at bottom. Line broken in centre of N.E. triangle. Top outline of design broken at left-hand, and above R of " RY." White dot above shield, under E of " Bearing " ; line broken above TE of " Letter." In addition to the above marks, there are others which are peculiar to each stamp. The control numbers, of course, suffice to identify the position of a stamp on a sheet, but were these absent, no difficulty would be experienced in assigning to any specimen its correct position. No useful purpose would, however, be served by giving a detailed list of such marks. isf Issue, Pri?iting A, Nos. i to iS,ooo, January, i8gi. Colour, red, rose-red, vermilion (corner stamps of sheet often deep vermilion). Large control numbers in black, reading upwards on the left hand side of each stamp and from left to right and top to bottom on each sheet. Of the 600 sheets (or 18,000 stamps) printed, one each was issued to 582 stations, the remaining 18 sheets being destroyed. At many of these stations, where but few railway letters are despatched, a number of this first issue of stamps were still on hand in i8g8, in July of which year they were adl recalled from use, the stamps replacing them being of the 34th and 35th issues, printed in green. lyS NORTH EASTERN RAILWAY. The earliest control numbers known on examples of this issue are 95, 96, 100 and loi, and the latest, 17366, 17367 and 17370. Only one entire unbroken sheet is known. This is numbered 2231 to 2250, and is of a rose-vermilion shade. Other sheets are known with one or two corner stamps missing, the finest being those numbered 361 to 390, (orange-vermilion, Nos. 366, 372 missing) ; 6691 to 6720 (No. 66gi missing); 16711 to 16740 (Nos. 16711-12 missing) and 15661 to 15690 (Nos. 15661 and 15686 missing). A complete recon- structed sheet bearing Nos. 11671 to 11700 is also known. Type II. (2nd, 3rd and 4th Transfers). As the remainder of the stamps of the ist type were destroyed, a new issue became at once necessary, and the printers were accord- ingly instructed to prepare a drawing bearing the authorized inscription. This drawing, which, for want of a better term, I will call the matrix, has been used down to the present time in preparing all transfers required (three in point of fact). This may readily be proved, as the matrix has a slight flaw on the left-hand side, where a fine hair-line connects the inner vertical line of the frame with the left pillar. Second Transfer. (First of Type II.) This, the first transfer with the altered inscription, was formed in the following way. Six impressions from the matrix (type II.) each taken separately and showing distinct imperfections were arranged in a horizontal row, the design being then transferred from them to a stone by pressure. P'ive impressions from this row were then taken and placed one below the other on the machining stone whenever a new supply of stamps was required by the printers. Confirmation of this is to be found in the fact that in all printings made during the life of the second transfer, the stamps in every horizontal row bear the same relative positions to one another, but the horizontal spaces between the rows vary with every new printing. In the last operation, that of transferring to the machining stone, a new set of imperfections is often caused, but each of such defects is of course peculiar to a particular stamp. It is therefore not difficult to understand that any stamp will show three sets of marks by which its history can be NORTH EASTERN RAILWAY. 1 79 learnt. Every stamp of whatever transfer or printing shows the slight hairline originally drawn in the matrix ; it also carries certain marks which show its position in the row of six stamps (although not in which row) and incidentally of course to which transfer it belongs ; and lastly, a third set, showing its exact position on a sheet of a particular printing. It is necessary to clearly understand the different relations of these sets of defects, as they are invaluable in identifying the date and printing of specimens. In transfer II. the six types show distinguishing marks as given below. As in each sheet the row of six types was reproduced five times, one below the other, it follows that every stamp in a vertical row of a sheet is of the same type. Type I. The second line under R of "Eastern" is minutely defective. Type 2. The F of " For " is defective. There is a minute dot N.E. of the dash under "d" of "2d." The S of "Eastern" is defective at lower bend. Type 3. The second line over the second A of "Railway" is defective." Type 4. The same line is broken towards the right hand end. Type 5. The line below " Railway " is broken between the letters. Type 6. The line above " North-Eastern " is twisted between H and E. Of course other imperfections occur, but the above are sufficient to identify the types. Ten printings were required during the life of the second transfer, and I designate them B, C, D, E, F (F and FF), G, H, J, K and L. Printing A has already been described under heading " First Transfer,-' and later printings fall under those of "Third Transfer" (M) and " Fourth Transfer " (N and O). Each printing was made in sheets of 30, arranged in five rows of six types. These types are similar throughout all productions of the second transfer, and, as we have already seen, it is to a third set of markings that we have to rely for identification of the different printings. These may also be roughly distinguished by their colour, perforation, or quality of paper, a description of which I append. 180 NORTH EASTERN RAILWAY. Pi-intiiigs from Second Transfer. Printing. Date. Paper. Perf. Colour. Approx. Quantity. B i8gi Cream wove medium to thick 12 Bright green 2540 C 1891 )) 12 Yellowish olive green 4000 D 1891 ,, 12 Dark green (shades) 18000 E 1892 ,, 12 Dark green (shades) 9000 F 1893 Cream wove 12 Dark green 9000 FF 1893 Thin white, very poor texture 5750 G 1894 Soft and thick 12 Yellow-green, olive green, grey-green 10250 H 1894 Hard, surfaced 12 Bright green 16000 J 1895 Soft, unsurfaced 12 Bluish-green, dark and pale 9500 K 1896 Surfaced 12 Green, bright green 15000 L 1897 •>■> 12 Bright green Aooo It is interesting to compare these figures with the 1000 sheets or 30000 stamps of printing M (Transfer III., i^ Control Ninnbers. — These vary with nearly every issue. The practice of the printers is to print large quantities of stamps and store such as are not immediately required. When a fresh supply is required by the Company, 100 sheets — or whatever number is required — are counted from this stock and numbered. As the numbering is only done as the stamps are required, and probably with the first machine at hand, it naturally frequently differs in the shape and size of the figures. The second issue, like the first (Transfer I.), was numbered vertically with large figures, but with these exceptions all issues have horizontal numbers. Printing B (2nd Issue). It has already been described how, of the 18,000 vermilion stamps, 540 were destroyed and replaced by a similar number of specimens printed in green. It is not known whether these 540 stamps were printed at the same time as the 2000 supplied by the printers in March, 1891, nor whether, if printed separately, they differed to any considerable degree. I have preferred, in the absence of any information to the contrary, to include the 2540 stamps as being all of printing B. NORTH EASTERN RAILWAY. I8r Type I. First TransL First Issue (1891). er. Type II. Second Transfer. Second Issue (1891). Printing B. Printing B. Second Issue (1891). Printing C. Third Issue (1801). l82 NORTH EASTERN RAILWAY. Examples of printing B are of extreme rarity, and the issue could only ha\e lasted some eight weeks. This scarcity of specimens is A'ery unfortunate, because the issue is one of the most interesting made by the Company. It is the only one printed in green with the control numbers placed vertically. These consist of large figures reading up (similar to those of the vermilion issue) and the sheets were numbered from left to right and top to bottom. When in December, 1898, a search for old N.E.R. letter stamps was made at the various stations, only part of one sheet — 12 specimens in all — was discovered. These are numbered 18164 and 1815 (side pair), 18167, 18168, 18169, 18172, 18174 (singles), 18175-77 (strip of three) and 18179-80 (pair). One or two are a little damaged. No other examples of this printing are known, either used or unused — the above being all unused. Printing C. (3rd Issue.) The supply of 2540 stamps just described having bsen speedily exhausted, a further quantity of 400Q was ordered. These were delivered by the printers in May, 1891, and differed from the preceding issue in having the control numbers placed horizontally, a practice which has been uniformly adhered to since, and which renders the second issue of unique interest. In printing the new supply, the stone was prepared from the same transfer as for the preceding issue. The colour of the impressions this time was a yellowish olive-green, and the control numbers ran from 20001 to 24000. In numbering the sheets, with figures placed horizontally, it has been the invariable rule to commence with the stamp in the upper right hand corner of a sheet and proceed from top to bottom and right to left, Chinese fashion. As was the case with the 2nd issue, a search throughout the X.E.R. Co.'s system resulted in the discovery of one small station where a few specimens still remained on hand, unfortunately only three in number, one being much torn. These three are the only unused specimens now known to collectors, and bear the numbers. NORTH EASTERN RA1L\\'A^■. 183 23713, 23718 and 23720. A used copy, No. 22744, o'^ the entire envelope, is also known. I have also seen a used specimen numbered 20077. The control numbers are about 5 mm. high, and very clearly impressed, the five figures extending about 19 mm. The figure 2 has a square tail. Printing D. (4th, 5th, 6th and 7th Issues)- The third issue being also quickly exhausted, a further supply of 6000 stamps was obtained in August, 1891. The printers, finding that the demand was likely to be regular, evidently printed off 18,000 stamps, reserving 12,000 against further orders, as the next three issues are all in exactly the same shade of dark green, and all show the same minor differences of type. Printing E is nearly similar in colour to D and is often difficult in this respect to distinguish from it, so that these slight variations in type have been invalualDle in proving that the four issues bearing control numbers 24001 to 42000 are all printing D, while those numbered 42001 to 51000 are printing E. A search amongst the stations on the N.E. Railway resulted in the discovery of part of a sheet of the 4th issue, showing 21 out of the original 30 specimens. This shows very few imperfections peculiar to printing D (although of course all those which I have already described as identifying the types in the second transfer, used for printings B to L). There is however one very noticeable defect on the 1st stamp in the 4th row. This stamp has a white patch to the right of the letter D of " 2d." and just outside the shield. I have been able to inspect specimens (Xos. 26909, 32279, 35579 and 39929) from this position on sheets of each of the four issues and all show it, whereas No. 42509 of the 8th issue (described as printing E), has no white spot. :\th Issue, Nos. 24001 to 30000, August, i8gi. A portion of the sheet, Nos. 26881 to 26910, is known (Nos. 26881-87, 26901 and 26906 being missing), together with about 16 other unused specimens 184 NORTH EASTERN RAILWAY. and se\-eral used. The numbers I have seen range from 25109 to 2 ^th Issue, Nos. 30001 to 33000, December, iSgc. I have only been able to hear of eleven unused specimens, Nos. 3i8>^'''" (torn), 32160, 32262, 32267-8, 32272, 32276-9, 32724 and 32728-9. btli Issue, Nos. 33001 to 36000, March, 1892. About ig unused specimens are known, all coming from the two sheets, 35551-80 and 35881-910. ']th Issue, Nos. 36001 to 42000, May, 1892. About 22 unused specimens are known, all coming from the two sheets, 39901-30 and 41821-50. The control numbers of all the above stamps are similar, being slightly smaller than in the third issue. The figure 2 has a curved tail. Printing E (8th and 9th Issues). This printing consisted of 9000 stamps (300 sheets), differing but very slightly from D. Having been fortunate enough to obtain an entire sheet of the rare 9th issue (only three specimens being known besides this sheet) and also of two part sheets of the 8th issue, there has been no difficulty in identifying them. The 4th stamp in the 1st row of each sheet shows a white spot on the figure 2, opposite " D " of " 2d.," in each case, in exactly the same position, whereas none of the distinguishing marks of the preceding printing are present. The control numbers of these two issues are somewhat similar to those of the preceding, but are a little thicker and occasionally defective, especially the last of the five figures (that signifying the unit). 8//2 Issue, Nos. 42001 to 48000, September, 1892. This issue is comparatively common, as in addition to the two sheets, Nos. 44943- 70 and 44077-99, some 36 other unused specimens ranging from 42491 to 46995 are known. NORTH EASTERN RAILWAY. 185 Printing D. Fourtli Issue (1891). Second Transfer. Printing D. Fiftli issue (1891) NORTH EASTERN R Al LWAY. Printing E. Eiglitli Issue (1892). Printing E. Ninth Issue (1893). NORTH EASTERN I ^ NORTH EASTERN RAI LWAY. NORTH EASTERN RAILWAY. ^th Issue, IVos. 48001 to 51000, February, 1893. As already stated, I only know of three unused specimens, Nos. 50122, 26 and 27, beyond the entire sheet, Nos. 49291-320. The latter is in brilliant condition, but the former are unfortunately much stained. Printing F (F and FF). lOth to 13th Issues and portion of 15th Issue. Printing F has a special interest, as two very different qualities of paper were used. Half the impressions were struck off on cream coloured wove paper, similar to that used for the preceding printings, but for the remainder a thin white paper of very indifferent quality was employed. I describe the former as printing F (cream coloured paper, surfaced), and the latter as FF (thin white wove). Numbers Printed. — Between 14,000 and 15,000 stamps appear to have been printed in April, 1893. These figures compare with the 18,000 (600 sheets) of printing D and gooo (300 sheets) of printing E. Distinguishing Marks. — The stone appears to have been prepared less carefully for this printing. In addition to the minute defects which are common to all printings of the second transfer, I find, amongst others, the following. (After each variety I attach a list of stamps seen showing the defects mentioned) : — ist row, No. I. White spot on centre of figure 2. (Nos. 56066, 57176, 59066, 60806.) ist row. No. 2. White spot on dot under "d" of " 2d." (Nos. 56061, 57171, 59061, 60801, 61401.) 4th row, No. 5. White spot on tail of figure 2. (Nos. 56049, 58329, 59049, 60789.) 5th row, No. I. Figure 2 cut into in lower corner. (Nos. 54360, 60810, 62130.) 5th row. No. 4. White spot at top of figure 2. (Nos. 59055, 60795, 62115.) Some of the above are on one quality of paper, and some on the other, so that there is, I think, no doubt whatever that the printings on the different papers were made at one and the same time. The above proofs could easily be amplified, were it necessary. After four issues of 3,0.00 stamps each had been made, a new printing was requisitioned, the balance of printing F being put on one side, but issued some months later. NORTH EASTERN RAILWAY. 187 10th Issue (1S93). = NORTH EASTEPV - r 1 .- RAI LVV AY.^ 1 Printing F. nth Issue FF, (1893). 13th Issue (1893). Printing G. i6th Issue 11894). '7th Issue (1894). RAI LWAY. iSth Issue (1894). 5trip of three stamps from the sheet numbered 66991 to 67000. The four left hand vertical rows were left unnumbered. NORTH EASTERN RAILWAY. iQth Iss2ie, Nos. 5 100 1 to 54000, April, 1893. This issue is of extreme rarity, and I have only been able to meet with two specimens, Nos. 52906 and 51517, both used and of printing F. x\th Issue, Nos. 54001 to 57000, July, 1893. About twenty-four unused specimens are known, including a part sheet of 20 (56041-70, ten missing), and Nos. 54358, 54359, 54360 and 55356. All are of printing FF. i2th Issue, JVos. 57001 to 60000, September, 1803. About forty-two unused specimens are known, including a part sheet of printing FF (Nos. 59041-70, nine missing], and the following : — Nos. 57162-64, 57166-69, 57171-74 and 57175-78, all printing F. Nos. 58329-30, 58332-34 and 58338-39, all printing F. No. 58814, printing FF. Sheet Nos. 59046-67 (except 59059), printing FF. No. 59687, printing F, used. It will be seen that printing FF, on the thin white paper, was probably represented in this issue to the extent of only a few hundred stamps. i3//z Issue, N'os. 60001 to 63000, November, 1893. This issue was numbered with a larger type of iigures. About 38 specimens are known unused, including the following : — Sheet Nos. 60786-60810 (the right-hand vertical row missing). Printing FF. Nos. 61401-03. Printing FF (thin paper.) Nos. 62114-15, 62117-20, 62122-25; and 62129-30. Printing F. Probably two-thirds of this issue were on the thin paper (FF) and the remaining third on the surfaced paper (F). The 14th issue is of quite a different printing, but some sheets of F occurred in the 15th issue, and will be there described. Printing G. 14th to 17th Issues (except a portion of 15th Issue). Printing G is of a very distinctive nature. Not only was the colour of the ink employed quite different to anything which had preceded it, but a new paper was brought into use. This is of but little better quality than that employed for printing FF, but is thicker and softer. The colour of the impressions ranges from yellow-green to olive-green, green, dark green and grey-green. Between 10,000 and 11,000 stamps of this printing appear to have been made. NORTH EASTERN RAILWAY. Distinguishing Marks. As this printing is in e\-ery respect of so distinctive a nature I do not consider it necessary to more than formally prove its identity by distinguishing marks. ist row, No. 3. White spot outside shield, S.E. of "d" of "2d." (Nos. 63466, 72656, 73826, etc.) 5th row, No. 4. Small cut into the figure 2, lower angle (Nos. 63465, 63915, 64725, 72655, 73825, 74665, etc.) Of course, it would be easily possible to identify the position on a sheet of any stamp by means of these or other defects, but as this can be equally well done by means of the control numbers, and it would take up a great deal of space to describe each stamp's peculiarities, 1 do not go further into the subject. There were four issues, and of these the second (15th of the whole series) presents several irregularities. In the first place, it consisted of 4000 instead of the usual 3000 stamps, and rather more than half the sheets composing it were the remnant of the old printing F. As 4000 stamps would amount to 133^ sheets, one sheet of 30 had only a third of its stamps numbered, namely, the two right hand vertical rows. The rest of the sheet, being unnumbered, was never issued, but remained in the Company's offices until 1898, when it was used in supplying applications from collectors for Xorth- Eastern Railway letter stamps. By the help of blocks of printing G, I have been easily able to identify such specimens of these unnumbered stamps as have come under my notice. In one copy, for instance, the fourth line of shading from the top in the triangle occupying the lower left hand spandrel is broken off short. This variet)- always occurs on the 4th stamp of the 4th row of a sheet of printing G. I was fortunately able to discover the 5th stamp in this row on the identical sheet which was only partly numbered. This stamp is numbered 66999 and the left hand perforations correspond exactly to those on the right hand side of its unnumbered neighbour. This sheet was therefore numbered 66991 to 67000 (six of which specimens are still in existence), the other 20 stamps being left unnumbered (all believed to be in the hands of collectors). I go NORTH EASTERN RAILWAY. The 14th, 15th and i6th issues were numbered with very large figures, similar to those of the old vermilion stamps. The 17th issue has medium-sized figures. \\th Issue, Nos. 63001 to 66000, February, 1894. About 50 unused specimens are known, all printed in bright yellow-green, including the following: — Sheet, Nos. 63451-80 (nine missing); Nos. 639 11 to 63921; Nos. 64721 to 64740. Between the latter number and 66000 I have not been able to meet with a specimen. All are printing G. 15//? Issue, Nos. 66001 to 70000, April, 1894. About 100 unused specimens are known, half being printing G and half printing F, and comprising portions of about eleven sheets. All specimens I have seen numbered between 56ooi and 67194 are printing G (dull green in colour), whilst those between 67425 and 70000 are all F (pale and dark shades). I am unable to say of which printing were the seven intervening sheets (Nos. 67611-40, 67241-70, 67271-300, 67301-30, 67331-60, 67361-90 and 67391-420). The sheet No. 66961-90 was followed by one of which only the two right-hand vertical rows were numbered (66991-67000). The next sheet was normal again, Nos. 67001-30. ibth Issue, Nos. 70001 to 73000, July, 1894. Printing G throughout. Colour very similar to that of preceding issue. Portions of three sheets are known unused (Nos. 70391-420, 71231-60 and 72841-70). The first of these is in more of an olive green shade than the others. Like the two preceding, this issue has very large control figures. i^th Issue, Nos. 73001 to 76000, September, 1894. Printing G throughout. Smaller control numbers. Colour varies greatly from yellow-green to dark olive-green. The control numbers are frequently double-printed. Something over 150 unused specimens are known, ranging from Nos. 7381 1 to 75940. Block showing Types i and i of Second Transfer. (Printing H, 21st Issue). R A I L W A Y. R A I L W A, Y. f • • ♦« • » I NORTH eastern!* : NORTH EASTERN 'i R'AT"LW~A"Yr 192 NORTH EASTERN RAILWAY. Printing H. 18th to 22nd Issues. (Rc'issued as Portion of 30th Issue.) Printing H is as easily distinguisliable from G as tlie latter was from its predecessors. The colour of the impression is a bright, almost grass, green shade, and the paper cream coloured, somewhat similar to that of the early printings (D and E), but a little inferior. Between 15000 and 16000 stamps were printed. Of these, 15000 (500 sheets) were issued during 1895 (i8th to 22nd issues), the remaining few sheets being apparently overlooked until August, 1897, when they were issued as part of the 30th issue. Owing to the readiness with which the printing can be otherwise distinguished, I only describe one or two of the most noticeable defects. Owing to the clearness of the impressions in this printing, all the distinguishing marks of the second transfer are easily discernible. 3rd row, No. I. Slight scratch opposite T of " LETTERS." 3rd row, No. 6. Small white bar extending from right-hand side of the shield. There were five issues of 3000 stamps each. i8//z Issue, Nos. 76001 to 79000, November, 1894. Only about 30 imused specimens known, including the following : — Nos. 77S27-30 ; 78380-85, 78387-96, and 78398-400; 78556-57, 78661. I have not been able to meet with a specimen numbered between between 76000 and 77800. it^th Issiie, Nos. 79001 to 82000, March, 1895. Printing H throughout. Two entire sheets are known (Nos. 81341-70 and 81581- 6ioj and also some 60 or more other unused specimens, ranging from 79721 to 81878. The type of control figures is similar to that of the preceding issue. 20//? Issue, Nos. 82001 to 85000, Max, 1895. Printing H throughout. Two part sheets of 20 and 25 are known, and about 100 other unused specimens, ranging from 8203 r to 84820. The control figures are slightly larger than in the preceding issue. NORTH EASTERN RAILWAY. 193 18th Issue (1894). Printing H. 19th Issue {1895). 20th Issue (189s). NORTH EASTERN R A! LWA V. 2ist Issue (1895). 22nd Issue (1895). Printing J. 24th Issue (1896). 25th Issue (18961- NORTH EASTERN R A I LWA Y, 194 NORTH EASTERN RAILWAY. list Issue, Nos. 85001 to 88000, /«/i', 1895. Printing H throughout. Square sans-serif control figures. One almost complete sheet is known (three stamps Nos. 86411-42 and 86467 being missing), and about 50 other unused specimens, ranging from 85276 to 87847. 22;;^ Issue, Nos. 88001 to giooo, September, 1895. Printing H throughout. Control figures of about the same size, but oval. One entire sheet is still in existence (Nos. 90131-60) and about 120 other unused specimens, ranging from 88130 to 90460. Reissue. See under 30th and 31st issues. Printing J. (23rd, 24th, 25tli and Portion of 28th Issues.) Printing J was made on paper of much the same quality as H, but whiter. It is principally remarkable for the colour of the ink employed, which ranges from pale green to a very dark blue-green or even black -green. Probably less than 10,000 stamps were printed. The 23rd, 24th, and 25th issues absorbed gooo of these, and about 500 more were issued after an interval of eight months as part of the 28th issue, (the rest of which was printing K). The distinguishing marks are all of a very slight character, although quite sufficient for the purpose of proving that the 23rd to 25th issues are of the same printing. The 4th stamp in the 4th row, for instance, has a white spot on the edge of the central curve of the figure 2 and another on the dot under the d. Four sheets of which I have seen portions (Nos. 92651-80, 95141-70, 96911-40 and 99881-910) all show these peculiarities. 23/^ Issue, Nos. 9 1 00 1 to 94000, December, 1895. Printing J throughout. Colour, green to very dark green. Control figures similar in type to preceding issue. About 150 unused specimens are known, ranging from 91008 to 93770. 24/// Issue, Nos. 9400J to 97000, March, 1896. Printing J throughout. Colour, green to dark green. The very dark shade does not appear to occur. Control figures similar to preceding issue. Block showing Types 3, 4, s, 6 of Second Transfer. (Printing; K, 29th Issue). NORTH EASTERN RAILWAY. About 150 unused specimens are known, ranging from 94303 to and including part sheets of 21 and 23. I'^th Issue, yos. 97001 to 1 00000, [line, 1896. Printing J throughout. Colour, pale green to dark green. The very dark green does not seem to occur, but some of the impressions are in a much paler shade than occurs in the other issues of printing J. The control numbers are smaller and slightly defective. About 150 unused specimens are known, ranging from 97401 to 99907. Reissne. See 2Sth Issue. Printing K. 26th to 31st Issues. (Excepting Portions of 28th, 30th and 31st Issues.) With printing K, an effort seems to have been made to keep the colour of the ink uniform or nearly so. x\ shade a little darker than that used for printing H was chosen, and it varied but slightly down to I goo. Recent issues, in consequence, become more difficult to readily distinguish. Roughly between 13,000 and 14,000 stamps were printed. \\'ith the similarity in colour amongst recent issues, the dis- tinguishing marks caused in transferring the design to the machining stone gain a greatly increased importance. I ha\-e fortunately been able to examine an entire sheet of this printing (K) and note the following defects (amongst others) : — 1st row, No. 6. Small white dot on figure 2, at top. 2nd row, No. i. Two white dots to right of V of "Conveyance." 3rd row, No. I. White point extending from right side of shield. 3rd row. No. 3. Ditto from left side of shield. 3rd row, No. 5. Circle broken above S of " Single." 5th row, No. 6. Two white dots to left of T of " Post." The above slight defects have been identified on blocks numbered from looooo up to 1 16000 (with exceptions m the 28th, 30th and 31st issues), but not on any others. 2()/// Issue, Xiis. 1 0000 1 fo 103000, ^lugust, 1896. Printing K throughout. Control figures very defecti\-e. Over 200 unused specimens are kno.vn, rangin;^- from 100008 to 102781 and including two part sheets of 23 each. NORTH K ASTERN RAILWAY. 197 26th Issue (1S96). Printing K» 28th Issue (1897). 29th Issue (1897). 31st Issue (18971. 31st Issue (1897I. Printing L, 32nd Issue (189S). 33rd Issue (1898}. igS XORTH EASTERN RAILWAY. 27//? Issue, Nos. 103001 to 106000, October, 1896. Printing K throughout. Control figures very defective, as in previous issue. Over 100 unused specimens are known, ranging from 103164 to 104797. I have only been able to find one specimen numbered between 10480:3 and 106000, namely, a used copy postmarked March 19th, 1897, and bearing Control No. 105320. 28M Issue, Nos. 106001 to 109000, February, 1897. Printings K and J. Larger, clearly impressed control figures. Between 200 and 300 unused specimens are known, of which about 34 are printing J. jVn entire sheet, Nos. 108431-60, exists, as well as part sheets of 22, 25 and 28 stamps respectively. The control numbers of specimens I have met with of printing K range from 106097 'o io85io. Those of printing J are as follows : — Nos. 108751 (used) 108756 (unused). Nos. 108822, 108830, 108833, 108836-37, 108840-43, 108845, and 108847-49 Nos. 108853-55, 108858-60, 108863-65, 108868-70, 108872-75 and 108877-80. It will be noticed that the latter are from two consecutive sheets. iqth Issue, -Vos. 109001 to ]i200f>. May, 1897. Printing K throughout. Control figures somewhat defective. Probably about 200 unused specimens are known, including a nearly entire sheet, Nos. 1 10261-90 (Nos. 76, 81, 86 missing). A number of sheets of this • printing had six or seven instead of five vertical rows of perforation, the consequence being that stamps at the ends are often perforated all round, instead of having the usual wide imperforate margin. Two e.\amples are known numbered " 10506 " and " 10520 " and another has No. "110511 i," these vagaries being due to "off centre" numbering. (See illustration on page 195). 3o//z Issue, Mos. 11 2001 to 1 15000, August, 1897. Printings K and H. Control figures generally somewhat defective, as in preceding issue. It is impossible to say in what proportion the two printings are represented, but of printing K, I have seen Nos. 11239, 1122805, 112943, 113199, 113324. 1^3377, 113650, 113679, 113920 and 113980; of printing H, Nos. 114151 and 114831. Of printing K, a nearly complete sheet is known, Nos. 113621-50 (Nos. 113621-3, 25, 30 and 50 being missing). Altogether, about 100 unused copies are known. NORTH EASTERN RAILWAY. 199 ^ist Issue, Ji^os. 115001 /o 118000, October, 1897. Printings H, K and L (see later). Control figures generally slightly defective. Of printing K, I have seen portions of the following sheets (ending): 115 150, 115240, 115300, 115420, 115570 (part sheet 115550-70), 115990 (No. 1 15976, used, very dark green), 116410, 1 16440, 116560, 116740 (nine missing from sheet); of printing L, portions of sheets Nos. 11 7070 (all except nine), 117190 (all except six), 117610, 1 17730, and 1 17940; whilst of printing H I have met with only a single example from sheet No. 11 7350. Altogether, over 200 of this issue are known unused. Printing L. 32nd and SSrd Issues. (Also as portion of 31st, 35th, 42nd and 45th Issues.) Printing L is in a brighter shade of green than its predecessor, but is not always easy to distinguish, some of the darker impressions very closely approximating. The paper is of much the same quality, a little whiter and inferior if anythmg. Number printed. Probably about 12,000. Distuiguishing marks. I ha\'e fortunately been able to examine several complete sheets of this printing, and note the following principal defects : — 1st row, No. 2. Second line under R of "For" broken. ist row, No. 5. Stop after " OF." 2nd row, No. 6. Two white dots to left of S of " Letters." 3rd row. No. 2. Figure 2 broken at bottom angle. 3rd row, No. 6. Bar of letter A broken off at left. 4th row, No. 6. Coloured dot to left of "Railway" near outer line of the stamp. 5th row. No. I. White spot on dot under "d" of "2d." Printing L is the last from the Second Transfer. ■^ind Issue, Xos. 118001 to 1 21000, January, 1898. Printing L throughout. About 200 unused examples of this issue are known, including a part sheet, Nos. 119171-200 (Nos. 71, 72, 73 missing). 33^^ Issue, Xos. 121001 to 124000, April, 1898. Printing L throughout. Two entire sheets are known, 121301-30 and 123101-30, also about 100 others unused, ranging from 121 109 to 123405. 200 NORTH EASTERN RAILWAY. Remainders. Issued as portions of 35th, 42nd and 45th issues, see later. Third Transfer, 1898. We liave already seen that the second transfer made in iSgt consisted of a strip of six impressions, all taken from the same die or matri.x, but showing slight differences by which they are easily distinguished from one another, and that when a supply of stamps was required, five duplicates of this row were transferred one below the other to the machining stone, the original strip (otherwise ■' Second Transfer ") being then put away until required again. This second transfer was in regular use from i8gi to i8g8, and in all the sheets of stamps printed during this period, it will be found that the stamps in every horizontal row bear the same relative positions to one another, but the horizontal spaces between the rows vary in different printings. In the third transfer a different procedure was adopted. Thirty single impressions appear to have been made and arranged in the form of a sheet (5 rows of 6) on the machining stone, to which the design was then transferred by pressure. .Vfter no less than 30,000 stamps (1000 sheets) had been printed off, the stone appears to have been cleaned, the impression not being preserved. Of the third transfer, we have therefore only printing ]M. Printing M. 34th to- 43J'd Issues. (Except a portion of 35th and 42nd Issues.) Printing M is in a dull shade of green, occasional impressions being \ery dark. The paper is of much the same quality used for preceding issues. About 1000 sheets or 30,000 stamps were printed. These were apparently left just as printed, and whenever a fresh issue was required, 100 sheets were selected, perforated and numbered. After the first two issues, the margins of the sheets have always been clipped close. Third Transfer. Printing M, sytll Issue. Each sheet has thirty minutely different types. 202 NORTH EASTERN RAILWAY. Distinguishing marks. Every stamp on the sheet (except occasionally with heavily or lightly inked impressions) shows the light horizontal hairline which connects the two outer lines of the left hand pillar (opposite the iV of " Conveyance "). This seems to be the only connecting link between the second and third transfers, and tends to prove that they had a common source. E\-ery stamp on sheets of printing M, further, has a fine hairline between the right hand' pillar (near the top) and the outer line of the stamp (S.E. of "N" of " Eastern "), and the horizontal line immediately above " North- Eastern " is broken between the two words. A similar line above "Railway" is broken between the letters "L" and " W." There is also a curved hairline at the foot of the second A of "Railway" in the circular inscription. The following are some of the defects peculiar to certain positions on each sheet : — 1st row, No. 3. S of "Eastern" defective. 2nd row. No. 6. Error " Eor " for "For." 4th row, No. 5. White dot to right of D of "2d." 4th row. No. 6. Tear opposite ET of "Letters." 5th row. No. 5. White dot to right of D of " 2d." 5th row, No. 5. Outer Hne of stamp on left hand side missing at bottom. The top right hand corner is defective in stamps Nos. i, 20, 21, 22, 26 and 30, and the lower right hand corner in Nos. 4, 6, 10, 11, 13 and 14. The 2nd and 3rd stamps in the 2nd row are placed very unevenly. All sheets of stamps from the 34th to the 43rd issues show all the above peculiarities. l\th Issue, Nds. 1 2400 1 to 127000, June, 1898. Printing M throughout. Over 100 unused examples are known, numbered from 124155 to 12686S, and including a part sheet, Nos. 125831-60 (six inissing. 3S;'/z Issue, Nos. 127001 to 130000, July, 1898. Printings M and L. I ha\e seen se\eral entire sheets, including the two Nos. 129941 to 130000 (the latter being now broken up). NORTH EASTERN RAILWAY. 203 Third Transfer. Printing JVl (34th to 43rd Issues). Witli Oval Control Figures. 35th Issue (1898). Witli Large Sans Serif Control Figures. 37th Issue (1898). NORTH EASTERN NORTH EASTERU , RAl LWAV: ? ; RAl LWAY. With Small Control Figures. 42nd Issue (1899). 204 NORTH EASTERN RAILWAY. Portions of the following sheets are known : — Printing M, Nos. 127030, 127360, 127480, 127810, 127900, 128140, 128290, 128320, 128650, 128920, 129520, 129790, 129S20, 129940, etc. ; and of printing L, Nos. 129010 and 129040. Altogether, over 200 are known unused. ■^bth Issue, ^Vos. 130001 to 133000, October, i8g8. Printing M throughout. Plain, round, or square type of control figures. I have seen an entire sheet, Nos. 131861-90, also a part sheet, Nos, 132701-30 (Nos. I, 2, 3 missing). 37/,^ Issue, Nos. 133001 to 136000, December 1 1898. Printing M throughout. Same type of figures. An entire sheet is known bearing Nos. 133001 to 133030. ^'i.th Issue, A^os. 136001 to 139000, Date, Januaiy ? 1899. Printing M throughout. Same type of figures. An entire sheet is known bearing Nos. 136001 to 136030, also a part sheet, Nos. 138611-40 (Nos. i, 2, 3 and 5 missing). 392'/? Issue, Nos. 139001 to 142000, Date, March, 1899. Printing M throughout. Control figures similar to those of 35th issue (oval in shape, with serifs). A part sheet is known, Nos. 139901-30 (Nos. 26 to 30 missing) ; also smaller blocks, etc., ranging from Nos. 140276 to 140920. A new perforating machine appears to have been used, same gauge as before (12), but the holes are very clearly cut out, instead of roughly done as in preceding issues. 40//^ Issue, Nos. 142001 to 145000, Date, June, i8gg. Printing M throughout. Control figures as in preceding issue. An entire sheet is known, Nos. 143171-200 ; also smaller blocks, etc., ranging from Nos. 142547 to 144340. 4IJ-/ Issue, Nos. 145001 to 148000, Date, August, 1899. Printing M throughout. Perf. 12, clear cut holes. Control figures as in preceding issue. Part sheets are known, Nos. 145391-420 (corner stamp, No. i missing) and Nos. 147288-310; also smaller blocks, etc., ranging from Nos. 145105 to i4r)848. 40th Issue (1S09). Printing tfi.— Continued. With Large Control Figures. 43rd Issue (iQoo). Printing L, Reissue. 42n(l Issue (1899). Small Control Figures. 200 NORTH EASTERN RAILWAY, \ind Issue, A'os. 148001 to 151000, Date, October, 1899. Printings ]\I and L. Perf. 12, clear cut holes. Small control figures. I have seen portions of the following sheets : — Printing L, Nos. 148030 (this sheet, with three stamps missing from the top row is still in existence), 149320, 149680, 150370 and 150730 ; and of printing M, Nos. 148330 and 150910. The entire sheet, Nos. 150881-910 is known. 43/7/ Issue, Xds. 151001 to 154000, Date, Jainiarv, igoo. Printing M throughout. Perf. 12, clear cut holes. Large control figures as in 41st issue. Sheet Nos. 151841-70 and 152651-80 are known; also numerous blocks, etc., ranging from No. 15 133 1 to 153880. Fourth Transfer, 1900. The fourth transfer shows most of the defects described as being common to all the stamps printed from a sheet of the third transfer, e.g., the breaks between N and E, and between L and W, and the curve to the second A of " Railway," in the circular inscription. In no cases, howe^'er, are the corners of stamps defective, and the sheet is formed \'ery evenly and regularly. Two printings, N and O, have been made. Printing N. (44th to 48th Issues). Printing N is in a pale shade of green, which, however, varies. The paper is of much the same quality as that used for immediately preceding issues, but whereas all previous printings were perf. 12, all sheets of printing N have a new perforation — gauge 11 — except those of the 48th issue. About 500 sheets, or 15000 stamps were printed. Issues 44, 45, 46 and 47 were perforated 11, and issue 48, gauge 12. There are fewer distinguishing marks than in any other printing I have examined. The fifth stamp in the second row has a slight scratch in the green background below the shield and above Y of " Railway." 44//? Issue, Nos. 154001 to 157000, Date, Mairli, igoo. Printing N. Small control figures. Perf. 11. An entire sheet is known, Nos. 156611-40, also numerous blocks, etc., ranging from Nos. 154498 to 106593. NORTH EASTERN RAILWAY. 207 Fourth Transfer. Printing N (44tll to 48tli issues!. 45tii Issue (1900), perf. 11, E I NORTH EASTERN RAIL W A V. i NOR T H EA T F P H 48th Issue (1900), perf. 12. NORTH EASTERN 208 NORTH KASTF.RN RAILWAY. 45//z Issue, JVus. 157001 fo 160000, Date, June, igoo. Printings L, N. Small control figures. Perf. 11. An entire sheet is known, Xos. 158021-50; also two sheets, each with the corner stamp No. i missing, Nos. 158351-80 and Nos. 159761-90. All three are printing N. Of printing L, I ha\e seen only a pair, Nos. 157417-12, and a block of 16 from the top left hand corner of sheet No. 157360. Blocks, etc., of printing N are known ranging from No. 157720 to 159790. i[6fh Issue, iVos. 160001 to 163000, Date, July, 1900. Printing N. Small control figures. Perf. 11. ^Vn entire sheet is known, Nos. 161441-70; also a sheet, with one stamp missing, Nos. 160451-80 (No. 61 missing). 47/'/z Issue, A"os. 163001 to 166000, Date, October, igoo. Printing N. Small control figures. Perf. 11. Three sheets are known, each with the corner stamp. No. i, missing — Nos. 163571-600, 164081-110 and 16501 1-40. 48//? Issue, A'os. 1 6600 1 to 169000, Date, December, igoo. Printing N. Large control figures. Perf. 12. An entire sheet is known, Nos. i().S94i-7o, also part sheets, Nos. 166271-300 (Nos. i and 2 missing) and Nos. 167831-60 (No. 5 missing). Printing O. (49th and following Issues). Printing O appears to be exactly similar to its predecessor, even as regards the relative positions of the stamps on the sheet, so that probably the entire transfer of 30 types has been preserved. The colour of printing O is a distinct yellow-green. \c)th Issue, Kos. 169001 to 172000, Date, March, igoi. Printing O. Perf. II. Large control figures. Three entire sheets are known, Nos. 169631-60, 170921-50 and 171401-30 ; also a part sheet, Nos. 170081-110 (No. 4 missing). ^otli Issue, Xos. 172001 to 175000, Date, Max, 1901. Printing O. Perf. II. Large control figures, as in preceding issue. An entire sheet is known, Nos. 172031-60. NORTH LONDON RAILWAY. 26g North London Railway, THE North London Railway was incorporated in 1846 as the East and West India Doclv and Birmingham Junction Railway. The main line runs North from Broad Street to Dalston Junction, where it branches eastward to Chalk Farm (Junction with L. & X.W. Railway) and westward to Poplar. The total length is 12 miles. First Issue. Second Issue. The letter stamps are printed by Messrs. McCorquodale & Co., London, in sheets of twehe, arranged in two rows of six. The plate or block from which the stamps are printed consists of three groups of four types each, side by side. The blocks of four types seem to be similar to those of the Neath and Brecon Railway, as type 4 has the first E of " Fee " defective. There have been two printings. ist Printing, January, 1891, Nos. i to 960. Rouletted. Yellow-green. 2nd Printing, about 1896, Nos. g6i to 1920. Perf. 12. Bluish-green. Arrangement of Types on Sheet. 12 12 12 3 4 3 4 3 4 Unused specimens are seldom seen. 210 NORTH PEMBROKESHIRE AND FISHGUARD RAILWAY. North Pembrokeshire and Fishguard Railway, TH E North Pembroke and Fishguard Railway ran from Clynderwen Junction with the Great Western Railway (by which it has now been acquired) to Letterston, near Fishguard, the four intermediate stations being Llanycefn, Maenclochog, Rosebush and Puncheston. NORTH PEMBROKESHIRE AND 5ISH0UARD RAILWAY j NORTH PEMBPOKESHIRE 'i f* A»0 fISHCUARD RAILWAY , Letter stamps were issued early in January, 1S98, but were withdrawn in August of the same year, on the acquisition of the Company by the Great Western. I am informed by Mr. J. L. Wilkinson, General Manager of the latter Company, that only about 2G0 stamps were printed. The size of the sheets I am unable to say, but the stamps were issued in blocks of eight, with marginal paper removed. As these blocks always show the same types, it is not unlikely that they represent a sheet as printed. Type 3 may be distinguished by a fine line above H of " Fishguard," and type 4 by the minute dot on each side of the figure " 2." Although the remainders of these stamps are stated to have been destroyed after their recall from stations in August, 1898, a small supply was still on hand at Clynderwen in the following October, as letters despatched from there and now in my possession testify. NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE RAILWAY. 211 North Staffordshire Railway* THE North Staffordshire Railway was formed in 1841 by the amalgamation of the Churnet A'alley, Harecastle and Sandbach and " Potteries " lines. The system now extends through North Staffordshire, Derbyshire and Cheshire, and is 200 miles in length (of which II are only partly owned). The letter stamps were at first supplied by Messrs. AUbut & Daniel, of Hanley, but since 1S98 ^Messrs. JNIcCorquodale & Co., Ltd. (Newton-le-\\"illows), ha\-e printed them Seven printings have been made up to date. !Mr. J. F. A. Jones, Accountant to the N. Staffs Railwav, has kindly furnished me with particulars concerning the later four, but no information regarding the date of issue and quantity of the first three can be found. The following is, I believe, a complete list of all printings made. First Type- Lithographed by Allbut & Daniel, Hanley. -)'°- °f Date. Q".^"/''>' t'f f Perf. Colour. Issue. Printed. Sheet. 1 Jan. iSqi ? ? 20 12 Bright green. 2 ? ? 20 12 Olive green. 3 ? ? 20 12 Grey-green. Second Type. Printed by McCorquodale & Co., Ltd., Newton-le -Willows. 4 Aug. 22nd, iSqS 1200 S II Bright yellow-green. 5 Nov. 30th, 1898 2000 20 II Dark blue-green. 6 Dec. 19th, 189S 2000 ? ? Second Type altered. 7 No\-. 17th, 1899 8000 20 II Sage-green. The chief point of distinction between the two types is that the earliest has three lines at top or bottom, whilst type II. has four. The first three printings of type II. had a full stop after " North Staffordshire," but this was erased in the printing of 1899. A fresh transfer has been prepared for each printing. 2 12 NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE RAILWAY. Type I. Three printings were made of this type, and in each case the machining stone was specially prepared by duplicating the original drawing twenty times. It is probable that this drawing was transferred to a stone and so preserved until about 1897, when it was last used. When a printing was required, twenty separate impressions were taken from it and transferred to the machining stone. In making the twenty iinpressions the pressure varied considerably, as in some instances the design was transferred very lightly and in others heavily, causing thick and somewhat blurred impressions. In the first printing, for instance, the second stamp in the third row of each sheet has the appearance of being feebly printed, whilst the first and third stamps — those on either side of it — stand out boldly. The identity of type I., or, in other words, the common origin of the three first printings made for the North Staffs Railway, is easily proved. An examination will show that the design of a stamp is in each case similar, whilst the spaces between any two stamps vary according to the printing. The first E of " Fee " has a very thick lower stroke, and this defect became more prominent each time a transfer was made. In the second and third printings two lines in the lower portion of the N.E. triangle are blurred on each stamp of a sheet, and on many stamps the three lines under W'A of " Railway " appear to have been touched up. In the second stamp of the top row of a sheet of the second printing the first E of "Fee" does not show the thick foot, nor in the last stamp of the lower row. 1st Issue, type /., Issued Fel)ruaty, 1891.' Colour, green (pale and dark shades). Clear impressions. Printed in sheets of 20, four rows of five. Perf. 12. Spaces between the stamps a^-erage about 4 to 4|mm. An entire sheet of this issue is not known to exist. 'ind Issue, type /., Issued 1895 ! Colour, olive-green (varies considerably in shade). Impressions usually more or less blurred. Perf. 12. Space between stamps \aries from barely 4 to 4-J^n;m. At least two entire sheets of this printing are known. NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE RAILWAY. 213 yd Issue, type /., Issued 1897? Colour, grey-green ('V'aries slightly). Impressions fairly clear but slightly hea\v. Perf. 11. Space between the stamps in a horizontal row of a sheet a^•erages about 7mm., and in a vertical row varies from 3} to 5mm. Note. — In December, 189S, all stamps of the first type were withdrawn from use. The quantities so recalled were about 1200 and were roughlv in the following proportion : — ist Issue, 300 ; 2nd Issue, 500 ; and 3rd Issue, 400. Amongst them were eight entire sheets of the 3rd issue, one of the second and none of the first, although one sheet of this print had only a single stamp missing from one corner. The remainder of the stamps were in singles or small blocks. In addition to the above quantities, small numbers of each issue had been obtained bv collectors direct from the stations. Type 11. As already stated, type II. is mostly easily distinguished from type I. by means of the lines above "North Staffordshire" and below "Railway," three in each case in type I. and four in type II. The whole design and inscription, however, was redrawn, with perhaps the exception of the shield and " 2d." The centre inscription is printed slightly larger and is placed within two circles, whilst the triangular ornaments in the spandrels are filled in with more finely drawn lines. There is a small white dot on the body of the figure "2," just above the le\-el of the bar under " d." A similar dot in exactly the same position is found on the last stamp in the lowest row of sheets of the first printing, thus furnishing the only point of resemblance between types I. and II. It may be only a coincidence or as suggested abo^e, the shield bearing the "2d." may ha^•e been left unaltered. In type II., there is also a small white dot on the upper part of the "2" and the fine above "IR" of "Staffordshire" is broken. 4/^ Issjie, type II, Issued Aiigi/sf iiiid, 1898. Colour, bright yellow-green. Printed in sheets of eight, two rows of four. Although a new printing was made in November, 1898, about 600 stamps of this issue were still on hand in the middle of the following month. 214 NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE RAILWAY. First Issue, Type I. Third Issue. Type Fifth Issue. Type II. Seventh Issue. Type M. (retouched). NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE RAILWAY. 215 ^th Issue, type II., Issued November loth, 1898. Colour, dark blue-green. Printed in sheets of 20, four rows of five ; edges of outer stamps perforated. This issue was mainly used to supply stations from which the stock of stamps of type I. had been recalled. iith Issue, type II. ? Issued December igth, li able to meet with examples of this printing. I have not been Type II. (Altered). Before the stone was prepared for the seventh printing, the design appears to have been slightly modified by removing the stop after " North Staffordshire." At the same time, the topmost vertical bar in the left hand pillar was cut in two, probably accidentally. jth Issue, type II. (modified). Issued November \']th, 1899. Colour, sage-green. Perforated 11. Printed in sheets of 20, four rows of five. 2l6 NORTH WALES AND LIVERPOOL RAILWAY COMMITTEE. North Wales and Liverpool Railway Committee. THE North Wales and Liverpool Railway is owned jointly by the Great Central and Wrexham Mold and Connah's Quay Railways. The line runs from Seacombe to Connah's Quay, a distance of 17^ miles. The letter stamps are lithographed by Messrs. Hy. Blacklock & Co., Ltd., of Manchester, and three printings have been made down to the present time. No. Date Ordered. Quantity I St July I, 1896 240 2nd Sept. 27, iSgS 252 3rd April 27, 1899 600 Sheets. Colour. j2x6| 14x3) Deep green. 4x3 Blue-green. ? ? The latter I have not been able to meet with, all sheets issued ■during igoo and 1901 which I have seen being apparently of the first printing. The letter stamps of the North Wales and Liverpool Committee ha\e a specially interesting history. The order for their printing was sent to this firm a few weeks after that for the last printing of the old \ORTH WALES AND LIVERPOOL RAILWAY COMMITTEE. 217 M.S. & L. Railway, and as the transfer inscribed "Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway" was not likely to be required again, owing to the change in the title of the Company to " Great Central Railway," it was utilized for the North Wales and Liverpool stamps by cutting out or erasing the old inscription. In this process, type 2 was spoilt and had to be cut out, whilst some of the other types required touching up. They may be distinguished as follows ; — Type I. The gth line of shading from the bottom in the triangular ornament in the N.W. spandrel is broken in half. In the N.W. & L. stamps there is a small L to Railway. Type 2. Xot found on X.W. & L. stamps. Type 3. Second line under H of "Sheffield" broken (or in N.W. & L. stamps, under LI of "Liverpool"). The first line under " Sheiifield " (or " Liverpool " — that immediately under it — was damaged in altering the inscription and redrawn, both ends extending slightly beyond the edge of the stamp. Type 4. Single line at top. This line was slightly damaged in altering the inscription and evidently redrawn thicker over the letters, " .ALES &." Tvpe 5. The outer line but one on the left hand side of the stamp is broken opposite the three horizontal strokes under the topmost perpendicular bar of the pillar. The inner line of the right hand pillar is also slightly defective towards the top. In the N.W. & L stamps, there is a small R to "Railway." Type 6. Line under the lowermost perpendicular bar of the right hand pillar is broken. The fourth line of shading from the top in the S.E. triangular ornament is broken off short at the upper end. I ha^'e met with panes of the first and second printings shewing the following arrangement of types : — State of Transfer. Sheets of ist Printing. Sheets of 2nd Printing. 1—3 456456 163 133 456 456456 456 456 153 163 456 456 The transfer as altered consisted of types i, 3, 4, 5 and 6, the space for type 2 being left blank. In preparing the machining stone for printing, a number of duplicates appear to be made (some being cut up), sufficient impressions being thus transferred to the stone to enable a sheet of at least 36 (?) stamps to be printed. 2l8 NORTH WALES AND LIVERPOOL RAILWAY COMMITTEE. Entire Pane of First Printing: (1896). NORTH WALES AND LIVERPOOL RAILWAY COMMITTEE. 219 Sheets of the first printing were cut into panes of either two rows of six or four rows of three. (Both panes are in exactly the same shade, and both were known before September, 1898, so there can be no doubt as to their both being of the first printing). All the 2x6 panes I have seen show exactly the same defecti\'e marking, whilst those in four rows of three are also uniform ; but no defects on the former occur anywhere on the latter. Are the two panes portions of sheets of 36 (six rows of six), or were they printed separately on the same or different stones ? Any reply to this question which suggests itself seems unsatisfactory, as the printing, presumabh', consisted of only 240 stamps. If the panes formed part of a larger sheet, there would surely be two panes, 2x6, and one, 4x3, or vice-^•ersa, yet all panes of a size are apparently alike. 220 OLDHAM, ASHTON AND GUIDE BRIDGE RAILWAY. Oldham^ Ashton and Guide Bridge Railway. THE Oldham, Ashton and Guide Bridge Railway is the joint property of the Great Central and London and North Western Railway Companies. The line is six miles in length and runs from Oldham (Glodwich Road and Clegg Street) through Park Bridge and Ashton to Guide Bridge. The letter stamps are lithographed by Messrs. Henry Blacklock and Co., Ltd., of Manchester, and are issued in sheets of six or 12. The following is a list of the printings made down to the present time : Issue. Transfer. Date. Quantity. Sheets. Colour. I St I Jan. gth, 1891 102 2x3 Deep green. 2nd I June 1st ,, 286 2X3 Olive-green. 3rd n Nov. 5th, 1898 240 4X3 Dull green. 4th II Apr. 27th, 1899 600 4X3 Deep green. Although the stamps are issued in panes of six or twelve stamps, it is probable they are printed in larger sheets. First Transfer, 1891. I have met with six types, which may be distinguished as follows : Type I. Two of the three horizontal strokes under the topmost perpendicular bar in the right hand pillar are defective or broken. Type 2. The " & " is broken at the top. Type 3. The topmost bar in the right hand pillar is slightly defective on the right hand side. Type 4. '■ Oldham " is close to the lower line (as in type i). The first stroke of the H is broken off short at the bottom. Type 5. The topmost bar on the left hand pillar is defective. Type 6. The second line under D of " Oldham " is slightly broken (break sometimes indistinct). The topmost perpendicular bar in right hand pillar is joined by a blot of colour to the line on right hand side. These defects occur in all sheets examined. The relative positions of the stamps in sheets of each printing are identical. OLDHAM, ASHTON AND GUIDE BRIDGE RAILWAY. 221 Second Issue I1S91I. Transfer I. Entire Sheet of Second Printing, as issued. 222 OLDHAM, ASHTON AND GUIDE BRIDGE RAILWAY. 1st Printing, 1891. Colour, deep j^reen ; surfaced paper. Issued in sheets of six. Very faint guide lines. In some impressions, types i and 4 have the guide lines on right side only, but in others they are fairly distinct. 2nd Printing, i8gr. Colour, dull green, olive-green. Type 4 always has a dash under the " &." Some panes show a white dot above the ball of the figure 2 on type 5 and another to right of the "D." Second Transfer, 1898. I have not been able to meet \\ith sufficient examples to say with any degree of certainty how many types exist. There were probably more than six types. The second transfer is chiefly remarkable for the thick lines round each stamp, taking the place of the more or less faint guide lines in earlier issues. yd Printing, 1898. Dull green, dark green. Perf. 12. \th Printing, 1899. Deep f^reen. Perf. 12. In the two sheets I have met with, stamps Nos. 9 and 12 both have the right pillar defective, the third bar in the right pillar being broken in No. 9 and the fourth bar in No. 12. PEMBROKE AND TENB\' RAILWAY. 223 Pembroke and Tenby Railway* THE Pembroke and Tenby Raihvay, like its neighbour, the X. Pembrokeshire and Fishguard, is now merged in the Great \^"estern, having been acquired by the latter in 1S96. The line ran from Pembroke Dock to \\'hitland, passing through Pembroke (town), Lamphey, Manorbier, Penally, Tenby Laundersfoot, Kilgetty and Xarberth. the length being 27} miles. The letter stamps were printed by !\Iessrs. T\lcCorquodale & Co., Ltd., in sheets of 12, arranged in two rows of six. Two printings were made, but no specimens are now known to exist of the first of these. I am informed b^ the printers, that it was furnished in January, iSui, and would almost certainly be similar to the printings made by them at the same time for other Companies, the Garstang and Knot End or Aylesbury and Buckingham Railways, for instance. Issue. Control Numbers. Date of Supply. Description, ist I to 1000 Jan. 27th, 1S91 Rouletted ; yellow-green. 2nd looi to 2000 Dec. 15th, 1803 Perf. 12; blue-green. IMr. J. L. Wilkinson, General Manager of the Great Western Raihvay, informs me that the stamps were recalled from the stations about October, i8c)h, stamps of the Great Western Railway being substituted, but is unfortunately unable to furnish any other information. At that time the stamps had been issued up to about No. 1500, those bearing control numbers above this being remainders. Only two used copies are known, numbered between 1400 and 1500. 2 24 PEMBROKE AND TENBY RAILWAY. PEMBROKE AND TENBY. Second Issue (1893). PORT TALBOT. First Issue (1901). RHONDDA AND SWANSEA BAY. First Issue (1891). RHYMNEY. First Issue (1891). PORT TALBOT RAILWAY AND DOCKS COMPANY. 225 Port Talbot Railway and Docks Company. THE Port Talbot Railway and Docks Company was incorporated in 1894, 3.nd partly opened on September ist, 1897. The line now open runs from Port Talbot through Maesteg (junction with Great Western Railway) to Pontycymmer, and is 35 miles in length. The letter stamps are printed by Messrs. McCorquodale & Co., Ltd., of London, in sheets of 24, arranged in four rows of six. Mr. E. Knott, Secretary to the Company, kindly informs me that only one supply has yet been obtained, and that it was received from the printers on October 28th, 1898. The first issue did not, however, take place until February 28th, 1901, when 12 stamps (half a sheet) were sent to each station. The stamps are printed in dark green, and rouletted. The control numbers (running from i to 500) are in small black figures. Rhymney Railway* THE Rhymney Railway was incorporated in 1854 and opened in 1858 and is 48:^ miles in length. The line runs from Cardiff through Ystrad Minach to Hengoed Junction and Rhymney, with a branch from Ystrad Minach through Llancaiach Junction to Dowlais. A second line runs from Cardiff to Senghenith. The letter stamps are printed by Messrs. McCorquodale & Co., Ltd. (London), in sheets of 60, arranged in ten rows of 6. I am informed by Air. W. Fairlamb, Secretary to the Company, that only one printing has been made, a supply of 50 sheets or 3000 stamps having been furnished in January, 1891. These are similar in design, colour, rouletting, numbering and size of sheet to the first issue for the London and North Western Railway. 220 RHONDUA AND SWANSEA BAY RAILWAY. Rhondda and Swansea Bay Railway* THE Rhondda and Swansea Bay Railway was incorporated in 1882 and partly opened in 1885, the last section not being completed until 1895, The line is now 32 miles in length and runs from Swansea into the Tafif Vale station at Treherbert, passing through Briton Ferry, Aberavon, Port Talbot and Cymmer (junction with the G.W.R.) The letter stamps are lithographed by Messrs. Waterlow & Sons, in sheets of 24, arranged in four rows of six. The transfer appears to have been formed from 24 duplicates of an original drawing, and the few imperfections are very slight. In No. 7 (ist in 2nd row), the "P" of "Post" is very defective, and in No. 13 (ist in 3rd row), the second line under " NS" of "Swansea" is broken. These defects occur on sheets of both printings, so that evidently only one transfer has been used. 1st Printing, February, i8gi. Colour, green, dark green. Perforated iii. Thick surfaced paper; wide imperforated margins to sheet. I have only met with a single entire sheet of this printing, although blocks are fairly common. 2ud Printing, 1899 ? Colour, bright green (pale and dark shades). Perforated 10. Thick paper. Margins of sheets clipped. SEVERN AND WYE JOINT RAILWAY. 227 Severn and Wye Joint Railway, THE Severn and \A"ye Raihva)? is the joint property of the Great Western and ^Midland Raihxavs. The Hne is 42 miles in length, and runs from Berkeley Road (Junction with the Midland Railway on the English side of the River Severn) through Sharpness, Severn Bridge, Lydney (Junction with Great \\'estern Railway on the ^^'elsh side of the river), Parkend (branch to Coleford) and Cinderford to Lvdbrook, the Welsh terminus and junction with the G.W.R. SEVERN BR1DCERAILWA^ The letter stamps are issued in sheets of 12, arranged in four rows of three, and were at first lithographed by Messrs. Waterlow & Sons. The printers of the present issue are unknown, but the stamps bear a great likeness to those of the G.W.R. The following is a list of the printings made down to the present time : — I. — Inscribed " Severn and \A/ye and Severn Bridge." ist Printing, Jan., 1891. Lithographed by Messrs. \^'aterlow & Sons. II. — Inscribed "Severn and Wye Joint Railway," 2nd Printing, 1S95 ? Lithographed by ?\fessrs. \\'aterlow cV Sons. 3rd Printing, 189S ? Lithographers unknown. The first supply appears to have been printed in sheets of 24, later supplies being in sheets of 12 only. 22? SEVERN AND WYE JOINT RAILWAY. First Printing-, inscribed "Severn and Wye and Severn Brldg-e Railway. Entire Pane, as issued. SEVERN AND WYE JOINT RAILWAY. 229 I. — Severn and Wye and Severn Bridge (1st issue). The first issue was probably made in January, i8gi, and was lithographed by Messrs. Waterlow & Sons in sheets of 24, four rows of six, divided before delivery into panes of 12, four rows of three. The two panes are not difficult to distinguish, as both show a number of minute defects. Every stamp on each pane shows a break in the line abo\'e the first stroke of the letter ^^' of " Railway," and generally also in that below R of ■• Severn." The following defects occur : — Pane A (left pane). Line under A of "And" broken. Line over first E of " Conveyance " broken. White dot on neck of figure 2. Curve of D of " And " broken. Line under second E of "Severn" broken. Stop after "Severn.' S of " Severn " defecti\'e at top. Line under 5th bar in left pillar broken. indented. Dot before S of " Severn." Line broken to the left of top bar in right pillar. No. r. No. 4- No. 5- No. 6. No. 7- No, 8. No. 10. No. II. No. 12. Lower curve of figure No. IS- No. IS- No. 19- No. 21. No. 22. No. 23. Pane B (?-ighf hand pane). Hairline over ND of " And." Two white dots on neck of figure 2, near ball. S of " Severn " broken in centre. Upper bend of S of " Severn " defective. White scratch opposite TER of " Letters." R of " Severn " indented at top. As I have only met with panes bearing these two sets of imperfections, I conclude that there was only one printing, in sheets of two panes, as already described. It is however curious that . part of the sheets should ha\e been perforated only between the stamps (i.e., two vertical and three horizontal rows of perforation across each pane, as in the sheet illustrated), whilst in others the outside stamps were perforated all round as well [i.e., four vertical and five horizontal rows of perforations to each pane). The two illustrations of corner stamps on page 227 will make the method clear. ist Issue, Febniarv, 1891. Perforated about ii\. Colour, pale to SEVERN AND WYE JOINT RAILWAY. Half Sheet of Second Printing. r a « 4 a « (I Half Sheet of Third Printing. • ••'•• t 1 [ SEVER N AMP WYE -I SEVERN and WYE ...... ^. ^ SEVERN AND WYE JOINT RAILWAY, [ _jnOjJNT RAILWAY^ SEX'ERN AND WVK JOINT RAILWAY. 231 deep green ; pale yellowish-green. Thick surfaced paper. I ha\e met with about 15 panes, which may be grouped as follows : — Printed on surfaced side of paper, panes A (all with perforated margin). B (all with imperforate margin). Printed on unsurfaced side, panes A and B (all with imperforate margin). I have not been able to meet with pane B with perforated margins. II. Severn and Wye Joint Railway. In 1895 ' *^he title of the Company was altered to " Severn and Wye Joint Railway," and a new transfer was prepared. It presumably consisted of only 12 sta.mps instead of 24, as all panes examined present the same imperfections. The following defects occur : — Line broken to left of foot of left pillar. Third line under O of " Joint " broken. Dot about imm. from left edge of stamp, near top. Coloured dot on edge of shield, near D of " 2d." White spot on foot of figure 2; short I to "Joint." Second line over RN of " Severn " broken. Line over left pillar broken. Y of " Railway " broken (circular inscription). Centre bar of second E of " Conveyance " defective. Line broken nearly over R of " Railway." Both lines broken over 01 of " Joint." In every stamp the line above "JOINT" is broken between the "O" and "I." i)id Issue, 1895 ? Perforated 12. Colour, dark green. Entire panes are not particularly rare. Third Type, 1898. In 1898, the design was redrawn, giving a much clearer appearance, almost entirely free from defects. The sheets as printed seem to consist of 12 stamps only, arranged in four rows of three. The eighth stamp, second in third row, has a full stop after "Wye" and this appears on all panes I have met with. ■i,rd Issue, i8g8. Perforated about 12. Colour, olive-green. This issue was first chronicled in November, 1898, and is still current. No. I No. 2 No. 3 No. 4 No. 5 No. 6 No. 7 No. 9 No. 10. No. It. No. 12. 232 SHEFFIELD AND MIDLAND RAILWAYS COMMITTEE. Sheffield and Midland Railways Committee, THE Sheffield and Midland Railway is, as the title implies, owned jointly by the Great Central (formerly Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire) and Midland Railway Companies. The joint railway was formed in 1869 by an amalgamation of the Manchester and Stockport and the Marple, New Mills and Hayfield Junction Railways. The lines are 28 miles in length and run from Hayfield, through Birch Vale, Strines, Marple, Romiley (branch to Woodley Junction), Bredbury and Reddish to Bellevue (trains running thence over the G.C.R, into Manchester) and from Sankey to Hough Green (loop line passing through Tanhouse Lane and Widnes, the main line being owned by the Cheshire Lines Committee.) The letter stamps are lithographed by Messrs. H. Blacklock and Co., Ltd., of Manchester, and have generally been supplied to the Railway Company in sheets of 12, arranged in four rows of three. Five printings have been made, as follows : — Guide Supply. Transfer. Date. Quantity. Perf. Sheets. Lines. Colour. 1st I 9. 1. 9 1 204 12 2x3 Faint. Dark-green. 2nd I 1. 6. 91 574 12 2x3 Faint. Green. 3rd I 24.1.94 900 12 4x3 Clear. Green, deep-green 4th I 27.9.98 708 12 4x3 Faint. Deep blue-green. 5th n 6.7.00 720 12 4x3 Very clear. Pale green. All the above issues are known, but examples of the first two are very rare. First Transfer, 1891. The same transfer of six types seems to have been employed for all four earlier printings, but may not always have been Arranffcment of . r o ' j j Types on duplicated the same number of times on the machining First Transfer. r i r stone, in the case of the third printing I have evidence _j g which seems to show that no fewer than eight such duplications were made, thus causing a sheet as printed to consist of 48 stamps. SHEFFIELD AND MIDLAND RAILWAYS COMMITTEE. 233 The six types may be recognized as follows : — Type I. The R of " Railways " is partly merged in the outer hne of the stamp. Line over second D of " Midland " broken. Line under FO of " For" indented. Dot over foot of L of " Single." AY of " Railway" (circular) connected by hairlines. Slight smudge on guide line opposite lowest bar in right pillar. Type 2. Clear white dot on lowest bar in right pillar. Line over M of " Midland '' broken. Centre strokes of M of " Midland " short at foot. G instead of C in " Committee." No guide line at left side. Type 3. Line under "Committee" broken off short at right hand end. Line under Y of " Conveyance " minutely defective. Type 4. Left stroke of second A of " Railways " broken at foot. Line under S.E. triangle smudged. Line at top of N.W. triangle broken. Type 5. Coloured dot between LE of " Letters." Dot under YA of " Convey- ance." Type 6. Line under Y of " Railways " defective. Line under NV of " Con- veyance " weak. Second line over fourth bar in left pillar broken. Both types 3 and 6 have no full point after " Committee." In the first printing I have not yet met with types i and 5, nor in the second printing with type 6. 15/ Printing, ordered from printers 9.1. 91. Dark green, perf. 12. Similar in colour, paper, etc., to first printings for Oldham, Ashton and Guide Bridge, and Manchester, South Junction and Altrincham Railways. Guide lines are very faint. Impression clear. Only three unused examples have come under my notice. Several are known used. ind Printing, 1.6. 91. Ordered at same time as the second printing for the Oldham, Ashton and Guide Bridge Railway, and printed in a very similar shade. I have been able to meet with ten unused examples, including a reconstructed pane of five (type 6 missing) and duplicates of types i, 2 and 5. I have not met with any used copies. ird Printing, 24.1.94. Dull green, deep green. Shade somewhat similar to that of the third issue of Macclesfield Committee. Guide lines generally clear. Impression blotchy, lines over " Sheffield and Midland " appearing thicker than usual. In preparing the machining stone for this printing, the transfer appears to have been duphcated at 234 SHEFFIELD AND MIDLAND RAILWAYS COMMITTEE. Third Printing; (i8q4I. Fourth Printing (1898). With very faint Guide Lines. SHliFFIELI) AND MIDLAND RA1L\VA^■S COMMITTEE. 235 least eight times. Two of these duplicates were placed too close together, type i on one being ^ery close to type 4 on that above it. To remedy this, one of the lines at the top of the stamp (type i) was partially removed, the usual double line only remaining over " SHEF." The " single line at top " variety of the jNI.S. & L. stamps was caused in a different manner, the inner of the two lines being removed from the transfer. In the case of the Sheffield and Midland stamps, the outer of the two lines was removed from the machining stone and did not affect the transfer. The evidence in favour of supposing this printing to have been made in sheets of 48 (arranged in four rows of 12, and afterwards cut into four panes of four rows of three) is as follows : — Duplicates of Transfe?- for Third Printing. 123123123123 456456456456 123123123123 456456456456 It seems probable that the four panes were placed side by side, because every pane I have met with shows a portion of its neighbour on one side, but never at bottom or top. Fortunately the guide lines at the edges of the panes \ary as they were often partially removed in order that the duplicate transfers might be close together on the stone. The panes and blocks which ha^-e come under notice I have been able to divide into three groups, apparently A, C, D, if we take the four panes side by side as A, B, C, D. Pane D shows guide lines on the left which tally with those on the right -of pane C. Another pane C, which I identify with the first by means of defects on the stamps, is cut close on the right hand side, but shows part of another pane on the left side (B ?). The pane I take to be A shows part of another on the right side (B ?). Unfortunately I have no examples of B, and cannot consequently say whether more than one pane separated A and C. Stamps Nos. 4 and 7 on pane B were evidently ^•ery close together, and as the variety with single line at top is known to have occurred in position 7 on a pane, it was probably on pane B. Stamp No. 7 on panes A and D are both normal ; in my Pane A, No. .■i- No. 9- No. 12. Pane c, No. 6. No. 9- No. 12. Pane D, No. 12. 236 SHEFFIELD AND MIDLAND RAILWAYS COIV^MITTEE. pane C No. 7 is, unfortunately, missing. " All 48 types on the printers sheet could probably be distinguished by means of defects in the design. The following are the most noticeable which occur on panes A, C, D : — White dot on tail of figure 2. Line over AN of "Conveyance" broken. Hairline over second D of " Midland " like acute accent. Numerous dots on shield over ball of figure 2. Second line over H. of "Sheffield" broken. Line over O of " Post '' broken. Right arm of Y of "Conveyance" broken. Throughout the sheet of the third printing type 3 has a blot on the upright stroke of the second T of " Committee." \th Printing, 27.9.98. Blue-green. \'ery faint guide lines. Ordered at same time as the second printing of the North Wales and Liverpool Railway Committee, and printed in the same shade. I have met with very few examples, fortunately including a block of six, which shows the six types of the first transfer. The guide lines have evidently been removed from round the transfer, but still show faintly between the stamps, and occasionally outside. Second Transfer, 1900. The fifth printing, ordered on July 6th, 1900, is from a new transfer, which shows three types, distinguishable as follows : — Type I. R of "Railways" close to left edge of stamps. Slight smudge attached to lower edge of second line over D of " Sheffield." Two dots attached to lower edge of line above apex of NW triangle. Type 2. R of "Railways" nearly as close to left edge of stamp as in type i. Minute dot on upper edge of NW triangle near apex. Type 3. White dot on foot of top bar in right hand pillar (also less clearly on 2nd and 5th bars). No stop after Committee. Short I in " Committee." I have said that the transfer shows the above three types, but I am unable to say whether it consisted of one example of each type, or more. The types are placed very irregularly on the panes I have met with. SHEFFIELD AND MIDLAND RAILWAYS COMMITTEE. 237 Pane A. 123 I 2 3 332 12 1 I have seen four panes, or portions of panes ; three of these I identify as A and one as B. I cannot say what were the original positions of panes A and B when printed, nor whether other settings occur. Before printing, several stamps had the two lines under "Railway Committee" thickened. This is very noticeable on Nos. i, 4, 5, g, 10, 12, 14 and 23. Type 2, in positions 5, g, and 23, has a very defective guide line under " Committee." Disregarding the type varieties, the stamps on the sheets may be distinguished as follows : — Pane A. spelt with three C's. Railways " defective. Pane A. — 23 3 3 3 — No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. 10, No. II No. 12 No. 14. No. 15. No. 18. No. 22. No. 23. Nos. 13, " Ccnveyance " Left arm of Y of Crossbar of first T of " Committee " broken at left side. Line to right of lowest bar in right pillar broken. Line to right of 4th bar in right pillar broken. Line under R of " Railways " broken. Two lines over first E of "Committee" joined. Second line over AN of " Midland " joined. Third bar in right pillar nearly broken in two. Dot over first E of " Committee." Line to left of 3rd bar in right pillar broken. Blot over S of " Railways " Pane B. Hairline at foot between OS of " Post." Line to right of 3rd bar in right pillar broken. Line over EE of "Committee" broken. Smudge between left outline of stamp and 5th bar of left pillar. T of "Post" broken; line over EL of "Sheffield" broken. 16, 17, 19, 20, 21 and 24 not seen. Other defects occur. The guide lines are drawn so clearly round each stamp as to form an important part of the design. The most interesting variety of this printing is that without full point after Committee, which always occurs on type 3, and consequently four times on each pane. The same error also occurred a similar number of times on panes of the third and 4th printing (types 3 and 6), a curious coincidence. 238 SOMERSET AND DORSET JOINT LINE. Entire Sheet of the Second Printing. SOMERSET AND DORSET JOINT LINE. 239 Somerset and Dorset Joint Line. THE Somerset and Dorset Line is owned jointly by the London and South- Western and Midland Railway Companies, and runs from Bath through Shepton Mallet, Wincanton, Templecombe, Sturminster Newton, and Blandford to Wimborne, with branches to Bridgwater, Glastonbury, V\'ells and Burnham. The length is 94 miles. The letter stamps are lithographed by Messrs. Bemrose & Sons, Derby, and form a particularly interesting series. Mr. W. Leaker, Accountant to the Company, has kindly furnished the following particulars of the five printings made down to the present time : — Issue. Date of Supply. Quantity, Control Numbers. Perf. 1st January, 1891 1000 None 10 2nd September, 1891 1000 ; to ,„'„„ (vert.) 1 1 3rd ^farch, 1893 1000 I to 1000 ( „ ) 10 4th November, 1895 1000 A I to A 1 000 (horiz, ,) 10 5th September, 1898 I GOO Aiooi to A20QO (vert.) 10 Each of the twelve types on the transfer shows minute defects. No. I. (ist in ist row). The lower outline c Df triangle in S.E. spandrel is broken. No. 2. (2nd in ist row). No. 3. (3rd in ist row). No. 4. (4th in ist row). 5. (ist in and row) 6. (2nd in 2nd row). No No, No. No. No. 7. (3rd in 2nd row). 8. (4th in 2nd row) g. (ist in 3rd row). Line to left of " o " of " Conveyance " is slightly broken. Line above "o " of " Post " defective. " NE " of " Line " defective at bottom. " R " of " RLY" defective at top. Line to right of second bar (from bottom) in left hand pillar broken. White dot on ball of figure 2. Two white dots to right of lower tip of shield. Line to right of lowermost bar in right hand pillar broken. Line between left hand pillar and outline of stamp broken towards the lower end. Second " E " of " Fee " broken, reading nearly like " FEF." (Corrected in 5th printing). " o " of "joint " very slightly defective at bottom. A minute coloured dot occurs between the letters "j" and "o" of "joint" in every specimen, and proves that the transfer was prepared from a single original drawing, of which twelve duplicates were made and arranged in the form of a sheet (three rows of four). No. 10. (2nd in 3rd row) No. II. (3rd in 3rd row). No. 12. (4th in 3rd row) ^40 SOMERSET AND DORSET JOINT LINE. First Issue (1891). iSOM5DOft.J01NTUN^- Third Issue (1893). Fourth Issue (189s). Fifth Issue (1898). SOMERSET AND DORSET JOINT LINE. 241 Un-numfaered Issue. 1st Issin\ February, 1891, No control numbers. Perforated 10. Colour, dull green (similar to that of other Bemrose printings, e.g., South- Eastern (i8gi), Cheshire Lines, Early Midlands, West Lancashire, etc). Only some twenty unused specimens are known, and but few used. I have, however, been able to reconstruct a sheet lacking only types i, 4 and 7 (which no doubt exist). Specimens may be found with either brown or white gum. Numbered Issues. ind Issue, received from printers, September, 1891. Fractional control numbers, ; to „'„. Perforated 11. Colour, as before. This printing has a special interest owing to the curious method of numbering, which is unique in the history of railway letter stamps. Specimens of this printing are now of extreme rarity, as apart from the entire sheet illustrated, and which is in mint condition, I have only been able to hear of about eight specimens, (including Nos. y*,, /^?, 3J3, 3;^, 3^^, 3^5 and ^^, the latter torn), of which three are unused, and none very fine. The sheets were numbered from left to right and top to bottom. yd Issue, March, 1893. Large vertical control numbers, i to 1000. Sheets numbered from bottom to top and left to right. Perforated 10. Colour, dull green. About thirty unused specimens are known, including a reconstructed sheet of eleven (Nos. 805-15, 816 being missing), and a reconstructed block of six (Nos. 722-3, 725-6, 728-9). A number of used copies are also known, ranging from No. 398 upward. \th Issue, JVoveinl'er, 1895. Large horizontal control numbers, Ai to A 1 000. Sheets numbered from top to bottom and left to right. Perforated 10. Pale yellowish green to dark green. Seven or more entire sheets are known, besides numerous single specimens . and blocks ranging from No. A37 to A994.. The shade of green varies consider- ably all through the printing. ^fh Printing, September, 1898. \'ertical control numbers, Aiooi to A2000. Sheets numbered from bottom to top and left to right. Perforated 10. Colour, grey-green. The variety, type 11, with " FEF " appears to have been corrected, or entirely replaced. 242 SOUTH EASTERN AND CHATHAM RAILWAY. SOUTH EASTERN AND CHATHAM RAILWAY. 243 South Eastern and Chatham Railway* THE South Eastern Railway was incorporated in 1836, the first section (to Tunbridge) being opened in 1842, and the second (to Dover) in 1844. The S.E.R. mainly serves the counties of Kent, Sussex and Surrey, the most western town entered being Reading. The length of the line now open is 458 miles. In 1899, the title of the Company was changed, owing to amalgamation with the London, Chatham and Dover Railway Company. Letter stamps were issued in 1891 and were first printed by Messrs. Bemrose & Sons, Derby, the contract being afterwards transferred to Messrs. McCorquodale & Co., Ltd. (London). The following particulars concerning the several printings have been kindly furnished by Mr. C. R. Jarrett, Audit Accountant to the Company. (The description I have added.) I. Lithographed by Bemrose & Sons, Derby (Sheets of 20). Printing. Date of Issue. Control Numbers. Description. ist January 25th, 1891 i to loooo Perf. 10, vert, figures. II. Printed by McCorquodale & Co- (Sheets of 60). Inscribed " South Eastern Railway.'" and x\pril 21st, 1892 loooi to 20000 Perf. 12, vert, figures 3rd Sept. ist, 1893' 20001 to 30000 Roul., horiz. figures 4th May 20th, 1895 30001 to 40000 Perf. 12, horiz. figures 5th Sept. 17th, 1896 40001 to 50000 ,, ,, ,, ,, 6th May 12th, 1898 50001 to 60000 Rouletted „ „ Inscribed " S.E. cr C. c^ D. Railways:' 7th June 6th, 1899 i to loooo Roul, horiz. figures Inscribed " South Eastern and Chatham Railway." 8th June nth, 1900 loooi to 20000 Roul., small figures 9th Aug. 19th, 1901 20001 to 30000 Roul., large figures The description of the London, Chatham and Dover issues (1891 to 1899) will be found under a special heading. 244 SOUTH EASTERN AND CHATHAM RAILWAY. I, Bemi-ose Type. As already stated, the first printing of letter stamps for the S.E.R. Company was made by Messrs. Bemrose & Sons. Each sheet consisted of 20 stamps arranged in four rows of five, the sheets being numbered consecutively from left to right and top to bottom. To the larger stations an entire sheet was distributed, but to the smaller only half a sheet, about 125 sheets being thus absorbed by the initial distribution. When in 1898 enquiries were made for any specimens which might have been preserved at the smaller stations, it was found that in only three instances were the original half sheets still intact, and altogether only some sixty specimens were discovered, all of which bore control numbers under 2500. The later sheets numbered 2501 to 10,000 were necessarily only issued to stations at which there was a proved demand, and it is probable that all were used on letters, as I have been unable to meet with an unused specimen. Certainly none were on hand at stations in 1898. 1st Issue, Februaiy, i8gi. Control Nos. i to 10,000. Colour, dull green, deep green ; variety, bright yellow-green. About sixty unused specimens are known, including three half sheets (Nos. 651-60, 671-80 and 1731-40), all dull green ; strip of five, yellow-green (probably faded), Nos. 2306-10; and pairs and singles, all numbered below 2500. Used copies are not so rare and may be met with bearing numbers up to 10,000, the earliest we have seen being No. 7. The control numbers are placed vertically on the left side of each stamp, reading up, and are sometimes almost off the stamp. II. McCorquodale Type. Eight printings have been made for the South- Eastern Railway Company by Messrs. McCorquodale & Co., Ltd., the three later ones bearing the altered title caused by the amalgamation with the Chatham and Dover Company. In every case the sheets have consisted of 60 stamps, arranged in six rows of ten. An examination of sheets shows that the " South Eastern " plate consisted of a number of groups of six types arranged in the following SOUTH EASTERN AND CHATHAM RAILWAY. 245 order. On the other hand, the plate for the " S.E. & C. & D." stamps T\'as made up of a number of groups of four types. The blocks of six types are however reverted to, in the case of the " South Eastern and Chatham " plate. Arrangemetit of Types on the Plate. "South Eastern." " S. E. &; C. & D." "South Eastern and Chatham." I233I23I23 I2I2I2I2I2 II23123I23 4566456456 3434343434 4456456456 1232123123 "1212121212 1123123123 4565456456 3434343434 4456456456 1123123123 1212121212 2323123123 4456456456 3434342434 5656456456 The types are rather difficult to distinguish, but the following marks are generally distinct enough to be of service. Plate I. " South Eastern Raikvay.'" Type I. Faint indentation under L of "Railway" (circular). This mark is clearest in the second and sixth issues, and is generall}' indistinguish- able in most examples of the fourth and fifth issues. Tj-pe 2. \\'hite circle on ground to left of shield ; second line over RN of "Eastern" broken. Upright stroke of first E of "Conveyance" broken just belo\\' centre bar. No marks of importance. The lines between second and third bars in left pillar are generally faint. Smudge to right of T of " Eastern." Plate II. ''S.E. e- C. e- D. Railways." Blot of colour over lower outline near right hand extremity. N.E. corner of stamps rounded. {In lesser degree, also in fs"pe 4). and 4. Xo marks of importance. Plate III " South Eastern and Chatham Railwav." Left outline broken towards the top. Lower outline broken towards the top. , 6. Xo marks of importance. Top outline broken over OU of " South." In some cases, this defect has been corrected, often obviously so. Control JYumlvrs. In the 2nd Issue (the first of McCorquodale's printing) the control numbers are placed vertically, reading up, and run from bottom to top and left to right. In the later printings they are placed horizontally and read from left to right and top to bottom. Type 3- T\-pe 4 T)-pe 5- Type 6. Type I. T>Te 2. Types 3 T}-pe I. Type 2. Type 3. Type 4- 246 SOUTH EASTERN AND CHATHAM RAILWAY. Perforation. The 2nd, 4th and 5th issues were perforated, the others rouletted. South Eastern Railway. The five printings bearing the title "South-Eastern Railway" are all exactly similar as regards type, and the same plate has evidently been used. I have fortunately been able to compare large blocks or sheets of each of the four later printings, and they are exact replicas in all but the minutest particulars. I may perhaps mention a few of the defects which show in all the issues. ist row, No. 4. Letter R of "Railway" in the Circular inscription looks like a defective H. ist row. No. 5. Line broken under Y of " Railway." 4th row, No. 5. Outer line of stamp (right hand side) defective. 6th row. No. I. Line above "Railway" defective. ,, No. 2. Three coloured spots in the plain space to left of " Railway." 6th row. No. 2. Tail of figure 2 defective. These errors are reproduced in all sheets of the 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th printings that I have seen, and it may therefore be presumed that the same plate was used without re-grouping of the types, or rearrangement in any way. The spacing between the rows of stamps is also similar in each printing. As regards the 2nd printing, I have only had single specimens to compare, but these confirm the supposition that the same plate was used as for the four later printings ; in fact, it was then that it originated. ■2nd Printing, Nos. loooi to 20000, Issued April list, 1892. Vertical numbers. Perf. 12. Colour, green, deep green. Unused specimens are not known, although used examples may be frequently met with. yd Printing, Nos. 20001 to 25000 and 25001 to 30000, September 1st, 1893. Horizontal numbers. Rouletted. The printing appears to have been divided into two halves, each 5000 stamps being numbered from a different machine. The first series, 20001 to 25000, has the control numbers in small figures, whilst Nos. 25001 to 30000 have large figures. Colour, a uniform yellow-green shade. The search made at the various S.E.R. stations in 1898, whilst unproductive in the SOUTH EASTERN AND CHATHAM RAILWAY. 247 South Eastern Railway. Type II. 2nd Issue (iSp2), Vertical Numbers. 3rd Issue (1893). Horizontal Numbers, Small Figures. 3rd Issue (1893). Large Figures. 4tb Issue (1895). Small Figures. 5th Issue (1S96). Small Figures. 6th Issue (1S98). Large Figures. RAILWAY. 248 SOUTH EASTERN AND CHATHAM RAILWAY. case of the 2nd issue, fortunately resulted in the discovery of about 30 unused specimens of this issue, all with small figures. These include a part sheet of 13, Nos. 22748 to 22760, with the lowermost row of 10 intact, a strip of 10, Nos. 23561-70 from the centre of a sheet and a few singles and pairs. These are, I believe, the only unused specimens now known. Used specimens are not so rare, specimens I have seen ranging from No. 20083 to 24356 (with small figures) and from 25317 to 28353 (with large figures). Of those with large figures, I have never met with an unused example. The earliest postmarked copy of the large figure issue I have seen is No. 25317, dated Nov. 26, 1894. i^th Printing, Nos. 30001 to 40000, May 20th, 1895. Perforated. This printing is almost similar to the 5th, which follows, and is only readily distinguishable by means of the control numbers. Whilst the latter, however, is fairly common, there are very few unused specimens of the 4th issue known. I have seen a part sheet of 17, Nos. 33284- 300, including the lowermost row of 10 complete ; and also part of the lowest row of the sheet Nos. 30421-60. Used specimens are not at all rare. A considerable number of this issue was still current in October, 1898, twenty or thirty stations having supplies, but in most cases no attempt was made to secure them until the following year, when it was found that comparatively few were left. ^th. Printing, A^os. 40001 to 50000, Issued September, I'jth, 1896. Perforated. Similar to previous issue except that the colour is more of a yellow-green shade. Unused specimens are not common, but by no means rare. I ha\e seen an entire sheet, Nos. 48941 to 49000, which was afterwards broken up. As no sheet is now in existence, an attempt has been made to reconstruct it, but Nos. 48945, 48961, 48962, 48965 and a block of 12 from the S.W. corner are still missing. Over 100 other unused specimens of this issue are certainly known, btii Printing, Nos. 50001 to 60000, Issued May 12th, 1898. Rouletted. Large control figures. Colour, green, yellowish-green. Some hundreds of unused specimens are known, including two entire sheets, Nos. 50241-300 (green) and Nos. 51081-140 (pale green). SOUTH EASTERN AND CHATHAM RAILWAY. 249 S. E. & C. & D. Railways- Owing to the amalgamation of the Soutli Eastern and London, Chatham and Dover Railways in 1899, it became necessary to alter the inscription on the letter stamps, and the title " S.E. & C. & D. Railways " was adopted. A new plate was of course prepared and the printed sheets necessarily show a fresh set of imperfections. As however there was only one printing, no useful purpose would be served by giving a list of these. The size of the sheets was the same as before — 60 stamps in six rows of ten. The control numbers were also placed horizontally as before, but lower down instead of across the centre of each stamp. Each stamp shows a white blot above the shield. ']th Printing, Xos. i to loooo, June 6th, i8Qy. Rouletted. Colour, dark green, olive-green. One entire sheet is known, Nos. 5 161 -5220, issued from the Company's offices in December, 1899. Unused specimens of this issue are not rare. S. E. & C. & D. Railway. South Eastern & Chatham Railway. South Eastern and Chatham Railway. Last year (1900) a further change in the title of the Company was made and the stamps are now inscribed " South Eastern and Chatham Railway." A fresh plate had of course to be prepared, and as it may be used in the future for further printings, I think it best to mention some of the defects by which it can be recognized, apart from the descriptions of the types gi\-en above. 250 SOUTH EASTERN AND CHATHAM RAILWAY. 1st row, No. 7- 2nd row, No. 3 3rd row, No. 3- 4th row, No. 3- ,, No. 4- ,, No. 10. 5th row, No. 3- ,, No. 7- White dot on horizontal stroke of figure 2. White spot just above shield. Blot of colour on ornament in N.E. spandrel. Blot of colour just below T of "Eastern." Large white circle between shield and "EY" of "Conveyance." White dot on ball of figure 2. Blot of colour opposite S of " Letters." White spot above D of 2d." On many of the stamps the upper strokes of the letter Y of " Railway " are much clipped, and on one stamp only the short horizontal stroke is alone visible (2nd row, No. 3). 8//% Issue, Nos. 1000 1 to 20000, received from printers June ^th, 1900, issued June o.'jth, 1900. Colour, green. Small horizontal control numbers, placed at the foot of each stamp, and sometimes covering the inscripton " Chatham Railway." The first sheet issued (Nos. 10001-60) is now in a collection. gth Issue, Nos. 20001 to 30000, issued August iCjth, 1901. Colour, dark green. Large horizontal control numbers placed across the centre of each stamp. lO). SOUTHWOLD RAILWAY. 251 Southwold Railway* THE Southwold Raihvay was incorporated in 1876, and opened in September, 1879. The hne is nine miles long and runs from Southwold, through W'alberswick, Blythburgh and Wenhaston, to Halesworth, where a junction is effected with the East Suffolk branch of the Great Eastern Railway. The only supply of letter stamps made for this Company was printed by iNlessrs. ^IcCorquodale & Co., Ltd. (London), in i8gi, in sheets of 12, arranged in two rows of six. The stamps are all numbered consecutively with small figures in black. 1st Issue, January., 1891. of 12, two rows of six. Colour, yellow-green ; rouletted. Sheets 252 TAFF VALE RAILWAY. Taff Vale Railway* THE Taff Vale Railway was incorporated 1836 and opened in 1840. The main line runs from Cardiff Docks to Merthyr, passing through Pontypridd and Abercynon. Branches serve Aberdare, Ferndale, Treherbert, Abertraw and other towns. The length is 121 miles. The letter stamps are lithographed by Messrs. Bemrose & Sons, of Derby, in sheets of 12, arranged in three rows of four. The stamps have black control numbers, placed vertically, and are printed in dull green and perforated 10. The paper is bluish- white and similar to that of the first printings made by Messrs. Bemrose & Sons for other companies in i8gi. Mr. E. Edwards, Secretary to the Company, has been good enough to inform me that only one printing has been made. This was supplied in January, i8gi, and consisted of 10,000 stamps, numbered consecutively from i upwards. The use of the stamps for railway letters is very small. Mr. S. Coleman, Accountant to the Company, informs me that the number of stamps issued from 1891 to 1897 was as follows: — 1891, 281; 1892^ 240; 1893, 120; 1894, 72; 1895, 168 ; 1896, 108; 1897, 72. The quantity given for 1891 presumably includes the initial distribution to the stations, which must have been very small. When renewing supplies, howe\er, sheets of 12 have been sent. WEST LANCASHIRE RAILWAY. 253 West Lancashire Railway* T HE ^^'est Lancashire line is now part of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway, having been acquired by the latter towards the end of 1897. The chief terminus of the line was Southport, from which it ran in a Xorth-Eastern direction to Preston and Southward (in a semi-circle) to Altcar. A supply of letter stamps was obtained in January, i8gi, from Messrs. Bemrose & Sons, Derby, and was printed in sheets of 12, arranged in three rows of four. The stamps were all numbered consecutively in black, the figures being placed at the left hand side of each stamp. Each station, with the exception of Southport and Preston, received a supply of four sheets or 48 stamps, about eight sheets being probably sent to each of these larger towns. Very few of the stamps were ever used and out of the 1020 that were altogether issued, something like 800 remained at the stations in 1897 and were then recalled, being no doubt replaced by the issues of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway. I have been able to examine a considerable portion of the remainders, practically all in fact bearing numbers over 252, and believe that the issue was made as follows. 254 WEST LANCASHIRE RAILWAY. I. Southport — Preston Line. Name Sheets C ontrol Number Remainders. of Station. Supplied. Numbers. Issued. Southport Ash Street Hesketh Park 8 ? 4 4 13? log 157 to 108 „ 156 ,, 204 ? j Very few of these were issued. Number of remainders un- Church Town 4 205 ., 252 -> ) Crossens 4 253 ,. 300 48* None Bank 4 301 „ 348 I Nos. 302 to 348 Hundred End 4 349 .. 396 nil All Hesketh Bank 4 397 n 444 14 Nos. 411 to 444 Hoole 4 445 ,, 492 nil All Longton Bridge 4 493 ,. 540 32 Nos. 525 to 540. Howick 4 541 „ 588 nil All Preston 8 589 ,, 684 ? Nos. 625 to 684 and perhaps others. Second Supply. Crossens 4 685 to 732 9 Nos. 694 to 732 IL Southport— -Altcar Line. Southport and Ash Str. See above. Meols Cop 4 1309 to 1356 nil All Kew Gardens 4 1357 ., 1404 I Nos. 1358 to 1404 Shirdley 4 1405 ., 1452 5 Nos. 1410 to 1452 Halsall 4 1453 „ 1500 48' None Barton 4 1501 „ 1548 28 Nos. 1529 to 1548 Second Supply. Halsall 4 1549 to 1596 25 Nos. 1574 to 1596 I have seen letters from the station-masters of Meols Cop, Shirdley and Halsall, which are endorsed to the effect that stamps to the values of 8/-, 7/2 and 3/10 were respectively returned by them. All the remainders mentioned above I have seen except No. 1574. The four sheets Nos. 1021 to 1068 were also evidently issued, as all except three (i.e., Nos. 1024 to 1068) were amongst the stamps recalled. With this exception I have seen no specimens numbered between 732 and 1309, nor any with numbers above 1597 and it is not unhkely that they were destroyed together with the unissued remainders when the change in the name of the line rendered them useless. \st Issue, 1891. Colour, dull green. Perf. 10. Printed in sheets of 12, three rows of four. Used copies do not appear to be known. The control numbers run from left to right and top to bottom of each sheet. WEST RIDING AND GRIMSBY RAILWAY. 255 West Riding and Grimsby Railway* (" Great Northern and Great Central Railways.") THE \\'est Riding and Grimsby Railway has been the joint property of the Great Northern and Great Central Railways since June, 1866, but a special issue of letter stamps was not made until recently. The joint line is 28 miles in length, and runs from Doncaster to Wakefield. The letter stamps are lithographed by Messrs. Waterlow & Sons, in sheets of 60, arranged in six rows of ten. Only one printing has been made down to the present time. This consisted of 100 sheets, or 6000 stamps, and was ordered from the printers on August gth, 1899. Arrangfement of types on sheet I2I2I2I2I 343434343 2 12 I have been able to examine an entire 34 3 4343434 sheet, which measures about i2i x 8 inches, ^^^^^^"^^^^ and has imperforate margins. It shows 15 3434343434 ,, ^ ,-, 11 u groups of four t^'pes, which may generally be distinguished, although the defective markings are very minute, and in heavy or blurred impressions often absent. Type I. Faint dot on outline of stamp, opposite " RLYS." In the sheet before me, this mark is fairly clear in all cases except that of stamp No. 49 on the sheet. The dot also shows sometimes to a slight extent on the other types. Tj-pe 2. The second line under "&" is broken. Type 3. The second line over HE of "Northern" is generally very faintly broken. Type 4. The line to left of the foot of the fifth vertical bar in the left pillar is generally clearK- broken. Other defects occur on particular stamps on the sheet. On No. 8, for instance, there is a large white spot on the coloured ground to left of the shield. In No. 50 the top bar in the right hand pillar is broken. The stamps are printed in bright green and perforated 10. 256 WIGAN JUNCTION RAIJ.WAY. Wigan Junction Railway. Entire Sheet as issued. WIGAX JUNCTION RAILWAY. ^57 Wigan Junction Railway, T HE \\'igan Junction Railway runs from Wigan, through Lower Ince, Hindley, Bickershaw and W. Leigh to Lowton St. Mary's. The letter stamps are lithographed by Messrs. Henry Blacklock and Co., Ltd., of Manchester, and are issued in sheets of 12, arranged in four rows of three. Only one printing has been made, consisting of 20 sheets or 240 stamps, and it was ordered from the printers on July 6th, igoo. I have only been able to examine two entire sheets and portions of two others, and thev all show the same marking, which would seem to indicate that the stamps were printed as well as issued in sheets of 12. It is however not unlikely that the printed Arrangement of greets Were larger, and that the other portions have i. \ pes oil a. iTtinc. o *- I 2 I not yet been issued. The following description of the ^ " ■* types I have met with should therefore be taken as I ^ probably referring to only a portion of a printed sheet. The types occur very irregularly on the sheet, and I have found evidence of only five, instead of the usual six. Type I. Line over W of "Wigan" broken. Two lines under IL of "Railway" joined by a vertical stroke. Guide lines on south side very faint, although fairly clear under " Railway " ; very faint (and sometimes absent) near right hand end. Type 2. Line over CT of "Junction" broken by white hairline which passes across S of "Post" (very faintly) and under second T of "Letters." Coloured dot on upper edge of line over E of "Single." Guide line very faint on south side, but generally distinguishable under RA and ^\'AY of " Railway." Tvpe 3. As this type occurs only once on the panes before me, I am unable to distinguish between defects peculiar to the stamp (No. 4 on sheet) and those which would distinguish the type in anv position. The guide line is absent or very faint over W of "^Vigan" and under RAIL of "Railway." The "tail of the R of "For" is broken. Type 4. Slight smudge on line over EE of " Fee." Guide lines fairly clear all round. Type 5. Line broken twice over TI of " Junction." Line between left pillar and outline of stamp broken opposite lines under top bar in left pillar. Xo. 8 on the sheet has clear guide lines all round the stamp, but in No. 7 the guide is absent over W of " ^Vigan." The stamps are printed in dark greyish-green and are perf. 12. 258 WREXHAM, MOLD AND CONNAH'S QUAY RAILWAY. Wrexham^ Mold and Connah^s Quay Railway, THE Wrexham, Mold and Connah's Quay Railway runs from Wrexham (Denbighshire, N. Wales) through Hope, Buckley Junction, Hawarden and Connah's Quay to Chester, both termini affording junctions with the London and North Western Railway. Connection is also made at \\^rexham with the Cambrian Railways, at Connah's Quay with the line of the North Wales and Li\'erpool Joint Committee, and at Chester with several Companies. A branch runs to Brymbo. The length is 25 miles. The letter stamps are printed by Messrs. McCorquodale & Co., Ltd. (London), in sheets of 12, two rows of six. Only one printing has been made, this having been supplied in January, 1891. The stamps are printed in yellow-green, rouletted, and each has a black control number in small figures, the highest number I have seen being 576. /iG)^j) \^ V V AYRSHIRE AND WIGTOWNSHIRE RAILWAY. 259 SCOTTISH RAILWAYS. Ayrshire and Wigtownshire Railway* THE Ayrshire and Wigtownshire Une runs from Girvan (G. ^: S.AV. station) through Pinmore, Pinwherry, Barrhill, Glenwhilly and New Luce, to Challoch Junction (P.P. & W. Ry.), and is 30 miles in length. It possesses three stations in Ayrshire and two in Wigtownshire, but there is very little traffic on the line and it has been more than once closed. It is now part of the Glasgow and South Western Railway, having been acquired as from February 1st, 1892. I ^.-l^ii'l LWA Y. The letter stamps were lithographed by !Messrs. McCorquodale A: Co., Ltd., of Glasgow, in sheets of 12. arranged in three rows of four, and it is stated that one printing of 2004 stamps (167 sheets) was made. The stamps were issued from February ist, i^gi, to February, 1S92, and very few were used. What became of the remainder, and the unsold stock recalled from stations, is unknown, but it is generally supposed 200 AVRSHIRK AND WIGTOWNSHIRE RAILWAY. they were destroyed. No specimens, either used or unused, have yet been disco\'ered. An original proof is in the possession of Mr. E. Beveridge, j.p., who has permitted a photograph to be taken for reproduction. An examination shows the following minute defects : — 1. The " & " is broken at the lower end. 2. The top line but one of the stamp extends too far at right hand end. 3. The centre portion or body of the stamp is exactly similar to that of the Dundee and Arbroath stamps (compare lettering, etc.) 4. The I of " Railway " at bottom is partly broken. 5. The third bar from the bottom of the right hand pillar is smudged on the right side. 6. The R of "For" is broken at the upper corner. 7. The second line under A of " A\Tshire " is nicked. 8. The line between the right hand pillar and outline of stamp is drawn slightly too far at lower end, as in the Dundee and Arbroath stamps. The colour of the proof impression is dark olive-green, and it is on the usual thick paper. An illustration is also given of a proof in black, which I am told from an authoritative source is one of the original impressions taken from the first drawmg. I think my informant inust however be in error, as the example does not show one of the defects described above, and is moreover an almost exact replica (except in name) of type II. of the Glasgow and South Western Railway letter stamps, brought into use in i.Sy.S. The coloured dot ov'er first N and dash under second N of "Conveyance" are very distinct. I prefer therefore to classify it as a posthumous printing made to oblige collectors. CALEDONIAN RAILWAY. 261 Caledonian Railway, THE Caledonian Railway was incorporated in 1S45, the iirst portion of the line being opened in 1S47. The main line runs north from Carlisle (terminus of the L. & N.\\'. main line), through Gretna, Ecclefechan, Lockerbie (branch to Dumfries, and thence b\- G. & S.W. lS: P.P. & ^^^ Railways to Stranraer), Beattock, Lymington (branch to Peebles), Carstairs Junction (branches Avest to Ayr and north to Edinburgh), Law Junction, Motherwell (branch to Coatbridge), Glasgow (branches to Greenock, Gourock, Edinburgh, Lanark, Strathaven and Hamilton), Greenhill (branch to Edinburgh), Stirling, Bridge of Allan (branch to Callander, Dalmally and Oban), Crieff Junction (branch to Comrie), Perth, Coupar Angus, Forfar, Dubton (for Montrose) and Aberdeen. The total mileage is 783. The letter stamps are lithographed by Messrs. McCorquodale and Co., Ltd., (Glasgow), and are issued in sheets of 12, arranged in three rows of four. Mr. James Martin, Audit Accountant to the Company, has courteously furnished the following list of printings which have been made down to the present time. I have added particulars as to perforation, paper and colour. The order given for the various issues, especially the second, third and fourth, is somewhat uncertain. Issue. Date. Quantity. Perf. Paper. Colour. I St Jan. 23rd, 1S91 20000 I 2 Surfaced Yellow-green 2nd Sept. 1st, 1893 5000 12 Thin Dark green 3rd Aug. 17th, 1894 12000 I 2 Rough Black-green 4th ^far. 14th, 1896 6000 T 1 Medium Deep green 5th June 9th, 1897 6000 I 2 Thin Olive-green 6th Mar. 15th, iSg8 12000 I 2 ,, Yellowish-green 7th Sept. 6th, iSgg 1000 I ^ ,, Do. ? ' 8th Oct. 9th, 1899 1 1 000 T t ., Pale green Unfortunatelv I have been unable to examine many examples of the above stamps, and only three entire sheets — of the ist, 6th and 8th issues — have come under notice. 262 CAI.EDONIAN RAILWAY. Fifth Printing (1897). Outline to left of "Caledonian" is faint. RAILWAY COMPANY. Eighth Printing (1899). Line to left of "Caledonian" redrawn ; lines above generally smudged. t««*»**»ft« • t > t > % f ' V RAILWAY COMPANY. CA[,KD()MAX RAILWAY. 263. First Printing, January, 1891. As with the North British, the first printing made for the Caledonian Railway consisted of 20,000 stamps. The North British stamps were printed in sheets of at least 48, and it is probable therefore that those of the Caledonian were at least printed in larger sheets than 12. I have fortunately been able to examine an entire sheet and portions of five others (coinprising in all 29 speciinens), and it is rather remarkable that with one exception the latter all show exactly the same defecti\e marking as the entire sheet. Pane A. No. I. Coloured dot over tail of figure 2. Coloured dots under S of "Post" and P of "Company. 3. Coloured dot under TT of " Letters." 4. Line defective under N of " Company." 5. Dot between P and A of "Company." 6. Right line of right pillar broken 3J mm. from bottom. 7. Smudge on O of " Conveyance." 8. Dot between O and F of "Of." Line over NV of "Conveyance" defective. Small dot to right of large dot under D of " 2d." Letter I of " Single " broken. Dots before L and after E of "Caledonian." Pane B. No. ? (Position on pane unknown). Left outline of S.W. triangle broken opposite loNN'est bar in left pillar. The single copy of pane B is dated September 14th, 1893. The left outline of each stamp is clearly drawn (see 4th printing). Second, Third and Fourth Printings. Of what I take to be the second printing, I have only met with a single copy dated July 3rd, 1894. It is heavily cancelled and might be a discoloured copy of the first printing, but is on rather too thin paper, apparently unsurfaced. Its date proves it to be second or first printing. Of the third printing, I ha^-e also only a single example, black-green in shade, rough perforation, soft medium paper, somewhat rough. Of the fourth printing I ha\e two examples, one being dated 264 CALEDONIAN RAILWAY. August, i8l)S. The left outline of each stamp is very defective at top and bottom, opposite C of "Caledonian" and R of "Railway." I do not doubt that many other examples of the above printings still exist, but the above are all that I have been able to meet with as yet. Fifth Printing (1897). I have only been able to examine ten specimens of this printing. The fifth line of shading in the X.E. triangle is broken opposite S of " Post " in all. This defect does not appear to occur in other printings. The lines to left of " Caledonian " and " Railway " are still defective, as in the fourth printing. The vertical rows of stamps on the sheets are about 6mm. apart, as against 4 to 5mm. in those of the first printing. Sixth Printing (1898). In the sixth printing, the outline of each stamp opposite '■Caledonian" and "Railway" is either extremely faint or entirely absent. I have been able to examine two entire sheets and portions of five or six others, but can only find evidence of twelve types. Two dots under S.E. trianc^le. Second line under R of "Railway" defective; dot over TT of "Letters." Hairline under L of " Letters." Very faint dot J mm. under left edge of stamp and under P of " Company." Ball of "2" indented opposite Y of "Conveyance." Dot on shield to right of stop under D of "2d." Line under V of " Conveyance " connected with ground of shield. Line under N of "Company" faintly broken. Smudge under first A of "Railway" very distinct. Foot of left pillar defective. White spot on S.E. triangle. Circular line absent over second T of " Letters." Back of first C of "Conveyance" inverted. No. I. No. 2. No. 3- No. 4' No. 5- No. 6. No. 7- No. 8. No. 9- No. 10. No. II. No. 12. Some of the above marks are very minute. All twelve types ha\e a coloured dot near the apex of the S.E. triangle (also in 5th printing) ; and the line under the V of " Company " is cut through diagonally, more or less clearly. This hitter defect appears to occur in all printings except the first and sexenth. It is most marked in CALEDONIAN RAILWAY. 265 the second and third. The outline of each stamp is very faint all round. I am unable to find any trace of the seventh printing. Possibly it consisted of stamps left over from that of T.Sg8. Eighth Printing (1899). The eighth is a very blurred printing, the lines above and below the title being very smudgy. The outline to left of C of " Caledonian " and R of " Railway " has evidently been redrawn and now shows clearlv. Although I have examined portions of about 15 different sheets, I can only find e\-idence of 12 types, as in the preceding issue. Dot between AN of Conveyance." Upper portion of right pillar very much smudged. Long hairline on top half of left pillar. Portion of stamp over COM of '■ Company " both rubbed and smudged. Circular "IL" of "Railway" joined by blot; sometimes coloured dot before " 2." The eighth issue is printed in bright green, sometimes pale and washy and sometimes ^'ery deep. No. I. Xo. 4- No. 9- Xo. II. No. 12. M^M 266 CITY OF GLASGOW UNION RAILWAY. City of Glasgow Union Railway, THE City of Glasgow Union Railway ran from Springburn (Junction with the North British Railway) to a point just beyond Shields Road Station, where connection was made with the Paisley Joint Railway. The line is mostly underground and there are nine stations, Springburn, Barnhill, Garngad, Alexandra Park, Duke Street, Bellgro^'e (joint with N.B. Railway), Gallowgate, Main Street (between these two latter stations the line passes under the river Clyde) and Shields Road, situate between Pollokshields on the Paisley Joint Line and Shields Station on the Glasgow and South Western. The line between Gallowgate and IMain Street gives access to St. Enoch Station, which was originally built by the C.G.U. Ry. but since acquired by the G. & S.W. Ry. A portion of the City of Glasgow Union Railway has also been purchased by that Company, the date being about 1897, the remainder being acquired by the North British Railway Company. The letter stamps were lithographed by ?ilessrs. .McCorquodale and Co., Glasgow, and were issued in sheets of 12, arranged in three rows of four. No examples were known to collectors until September, 1898, when an unused specimen was discovered by Mr. G. F. Napier. Since then, six other unused specimens (one of which is illustrated above) and one used ha\'e been found. Very few of the stamps were ever issued and only one printing was required. On the amalgamation of the Compan)-, they were called in and the remainders destroyed. CITY OF GLASGOW UNION RAILWAY. 267 In July, i^gS, a reprint was privately ordered by Mr. \V. R. Lawson, formerly Secretary to the Company, 12 sheets being litho- graphed by Messrs. McCorquodale & Co., Ltd., of Glasgow. These are in very nearly the same shade of yellow-green as the originals, but are on much thinner paper, and as is natural in the case of stamps printed by lithography, the sheets do not show the same defects as those of originals, nor are the stamps in the same relative positions. I have also met ^^ith imperforate proof impressions in black. Both are, I believe, reprints from the original drawing. Both reprints and originals have a slight smudge or blot of colour attached to the lower side of the I' of " Union." The former also show additional defects which do not occur in the originals. There is. for instance, a vertical hairline under \^' of " Railway," and generally a faint dot between E and Y of " Conveyance." The S.W. triangle is attached bv a hairline to the line beneath it. The O of "Glasgow" is generally faintly indented at the foot in both originals and reprints. Dumbarton and Balloch Railway, THE Dumbarton and Balloch line became the joint property of the Caledonian, North British and Lanarkshire and Dumbarton- shire Railways on October ist, 1896. The line runs from Dumbarton to Balloch Pier, and is 5-^ miles in length. The letter stamps are lithographed by ^Messrs. McCorquodale & Co., Ltd., of Glasgow, in sheets of tweh'e, arranged in three rows of four. Only one printing has been made, the colour being yellow-green and the perforation 11. The supply was deli\ered in March, 1901, and consisted of 44 sheets or 528 stamps. Every stamp on the sheet has a full point after " Balloch." 26S DUMBARTON AND BALLOCH RAILWAY. Dumbarton and Balloch Joint Line. Slieet of First Printing (1901). DUMBARTON a BALLOCH. JOINT LINE DUMBARTON & BALLOCH DUNDEE AND ARBROATH JOINT RAILWAY. Dundee and Arbroath Joint Railway. THE Dundee and Arbroath Railway is jointly owned by Cale- donian and North British Railway Companies and is 23 miles in length. The line runs from Dundee to Arbroath, through Broughty Ferry and Elliott Junction (branch to Carmjdlie) DUNDEE /.«p ARBROATH. DUNDEE i.^;. ARBROATH JOINT RAILWAY. The letter stamps are lithographed by Messrs. JMcCorquodale & Co., Limited, in sheets of twehe, arranged in three rows of four. Mr. G. G. Hamilton, Manager and Secretary to the Company, informs me that two printings ha^•e been made down to the present time. ist Issue; January, 1S91. Perf. 12; Dark green. 2nd Issue; June i6th, iSgg. Perf. 12 Bright red. The latter issue is still current. Of the ist issue, 500 sheets or 6000 stamps were printed, and of the latter, 100 sheets or 1200 stamps. Every t\pe on sheets of both printings has a full stop after " Arbroath." jyii ci.Ascow A\i) soriii wksikkn l■;All.\\'A^■. Glasgow and South Western Railway. THIi Cllasf^fow and South Weslrin Railway is an ainalf,'aniation of tile (ilas^ow, i'aisley, Kilniarnoclv anti Ayr and tiu'^ (llas^'ovv, DunilVies and Carlisle I'tailways, tiic roiincr iil vviiicli was opened in iS^o. Tile main line now extends IVom (iiclna (ncH'n (the Company havinff runnint^' powers only IVoni ('ariislc;) to ("llasf^ow, passinff throuf,di Dumfrit^s (hraiieh lo Castle 1 )oufj;las, wlu-re a juiiclion is effected with the P.I'. & \V. Ky.), Maueliline, Kilniarnoel< (branch to Ayr and junction with i)A>. S: K. Ry.l, Johnstone and Paisley. The G. lV S.W. Ry. also possesses the line iiinnin^' IVoni (ilas^^'ovv throuf^h Paisley, Kilwinniii;.,' (hraneh to Ardrossaii, Pairlie and Lar{,fs), Ayr, Cjirxan and Dunraf^it to Stranraer. The total lenj^th of line is ■ii;j-[ miles. The letter stamps are lillioi,'raphed by Messrs. MeCorcjuodale and Co., Ltd., of (ilasj^ow, and are issued in sheets of 12, ariaiija;ed in three rows of four. Mr. V. H. (iillies, Secretary to the Company, has kindly furnished the following particulars of the lalc;r printinf,^s, but unfortunately the Company's records do not show the dales of supplies received before iSi^j, of which I have evidence of al least two. I ha\'c added parti( idars as to type, perforation and colour. Printing. Date of Su pply. Quantity. Type. I'fif. Colour. I St Jan., I«( ^I ? ? I 2 Olive-j^ncen 2nd lK()2 ? ? 1 2 (il'een 3rd 24. 6.(,j 3(>o() I 2 1 )cep f^'rci^n 4th ')• 4'')5 ]i n )() I 2 P)lacl<-[;re(;n 5th 22. i.<)7 J072 1 2 ( jl'een (.th 25.10.9S 3000 11 I 2 ( iicen (shades) 7th 27.10.00 3000 II I 1 Dark ^'rt-en The actual number of stamps used or sold between iMcjj and 1897 was as follows : -i.Si;i, 1,370; iHi)4, 1,(1^3; 1X95, 1,784; iKcjG, l,6()f); and i.S.,7, 1,418. As the avera^^e .annual sale appears to be about i,f)(j(j, I think it is unlikely that there were more than two GLASGOW AND SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY. 27 1 printings pre^-ious to 18^3, even allowing for the initial distribution to stations. The order given above for the 2nd, 3rd and 4th issues is not certain. I am unable to sav in what size of sheet the stamps were printed. The fourth and fifth issues are the onlv ones in which I have found evidence of more than one set of 1 2 tvpes. Tvpes I. and II. are very easih' distinguished. Tvpe I. almost invariably has the line o\er the first E of '-Letters" cut through, whilst type II. always shows a large coloured dot o\er the first X of " Conveyance " and a coloured dash under the second N. The principal differences in the markings found on the se\en printings are as follows : — li"/ J^ri/////ix (Tvpe I.). There is a white line across the S.K. triangle. This shows more or less indistinctly in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th printings also, but is absent in those of later date. 2//tf a/id yd Printings (Tvpe I.l. There is often a fine hairline between the letters AI of " Raihva\' " in the circular inscription. The hairline shows sometimes beneath the letters in the 4th printing. \tlL Printing (T^■pe I.). There is always a clear dot under the lowest bar in the left pillar. 5/// Printing (Tvpe I.). The above markint;"s do not show, although the line over the first E of "Letters" (by which type I. is identified) is still broken. The upper part of the S.W". triangle and the portion of the left pillar opposite to it appear to have been roughlv redrawn. There is a coloured dot o\"er OX of " Conveyance." (.V// and -jtli Printings (Type II.). There are no prominent distinguishing marks common to all the stamps on a sheet. Both printings show the marks of type II. In addition to the aboxe defects, which are of a general nature, there are others which are peculiar to each stamp on a sheet. For instance, the first stamp on sheets of the first printing always shows certain marks which are not to be found on any other stamp. A short description of these sub-t\pes, as far as they have been identified, may not be without interest. I give a table showing the number of Examined. Identified. Issue. Examined. Identified 24 nil 4th 18 14 7 7 5th 52 52 21 21 6th 64 64 272 GLASGOW AND SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY. specimens of the six obsolete issues which I have been able to carefully examine and compare. A second column shows the proportion I have been able to identify with their original positions on a sheet. Issue. I St 2nd 3rd Subsequent remarks are based on my examination of these 186 specimens. First Printing (1891). Although seven of the 24 examples I have examined still have marginal paper attached, and four pairs are included amongst them, I ha\e not been able to identify even one with its original position on a sheet. The following defects occur : — IVifh margin at top. [a] Coloured dot in second angle of W of " Western." [b] Dot attached to left side of L of " Glasgow." [c] Line under top bar in left pillar broken. With margin at left side. [d] White spot, semi-circular in shape, on lower edge of S.E. triangle. [e] No marks of importance (see h). (/") Two dots between fourth bar and left outline of left pillar. With margin at right side, [g) Two dots over S of " Glasgow." Without margin, (h) In pair with e\ line under GO of "Glasgow" broken. (;',_;) Pair ; i has a faint semi-colon between IL of "Railway" ; _;' has a smudge under lowest bar in right pillar. (A) Dot immediately under right foot of H of " South." (I) Line over TE of "Western" faintly broken. Twenty-three of the 24 examples have been positively identified with the above 12 types, but as it is not unlikely the stamps were printed in sheets of 24, other types may occur. The four pairs mentioned above are types t//, eii, eh, and ij. It is an unfortunate coincidence that three of the pairs should be exactly similar. If any reader of these notes should meet with pairs or blocks, I should much like to have a note as to their defects. GLASGOW AND SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY. 273 Second Printing (1892). I have fortunately met with a block of seven of what I presume is the second printing. The following defects occur : — No. 2. Line between left pillar and left outline of stamp is broken opposite R of " For." Nos. 2 and 6. Line over first E of 'Letters" is not broken as usual. No. 3. Line over W of "Western" broken. No. 6. Small first C to "Conveyance"; left outline of pillar broken over fourth bar. No. 7. S of "Glasgow" broken at top. No. 10. Foot of third bar in right pillar broken. No. II. Line under "&" broken. No. 12. Line under second G of "Glasgow" broken. As the stamps have full margin attached, there is no difficulty in deciding their position on the sheet. Third Printing (1893). The 21 examples of this printing include an entire sheet of 12 and a half sheet of six. No. I. Line broken over L and R as well as E of " Letters." Two lines under ST of " Western " are cut slanting. Line between left pillar and outline is broken 7 mm. from bottom. Line under Y of " Railway" broken. " Western " is ver}' faint. One line in N.W. spandrel is broken. Line under E of " Single " is cut through. CON of "Conveyance" is very much misshapen. U of "South" is defective at bottom. Line below second bar in right pillar is almost absent. Triangle defective over ST of "Post"; dot before F of "For." Line between right pillar and outline is broken 10 mm. from bottom. Line over second A of "Railway" is nearly broken. Line under " tS; " nearly broken. Line under second G of "Glasgow" broken. No. 2. No. 3' No. +■ No. 5- No. 6. No. 7- No. 8. No. 9- No. 10. No. II. No. 12. I have only met with the twelve types. Glasgow and South Western Railway. Type I. Third Issue (1893). The line over first E of "Letters" is broken on all except Nos. 7 and Type II. Sixth Issue (1898). Dots over first N and under second N of "Conveyance." I WE STERN RAtLW^.Y GLASGOW AND SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY, 275 Fourth Printing (1895)- The 18 examples of this printing come from fi\-e different sources, and comprise (a) pair and single (types 3, 9 and 10, 11 or 12); (b) two singles; (c) strip of three (types 13, 17, 21); (d) pair (types 19, 20); and (e) strip of three and two pairs (types 17, 21, ig 23, and 16, 20, 24). This printing was evidently made in sheets of at least two panes of 12 each. The following defects are noticeable on the examples under notice. Pane A (or B !). No. 5. Outer edge of right outline of left pillar indented twice opposite top of fifth bar. No. 9. Line broken near base of N.E. triangle. No. 10, II or 12. Line broken near centre of N.E. triangle. Second line \mder \\'.\ of "Railway" broken. Pane B {or A I). Second line under fifth bar in right pillar broken. Neck of " 2 " indented, near " U " ; apex of S.E. triangle damaged. White dot on foot of lowest bar in left pillar. White dot on fifth bar in left pillar. Dot between AN of "Conveyance" Line under F of " For " defective. Line under S of "South" broken and under O indented. Vertical white hairlines under E and S of "Western. The line over first E of " Letters " is clearly broken in Nos. 16 and 21 only, instead of in all types, as usual with other printings. All have a distinct coloured dot under the left hand lower corner of the lowest bar in the left pillar. I have seen a used copy of this printing dated April 2nd, 1896. Fifth Printing (1897). This printing, the last of Type I, remained in use until 1898, when the special interest taken by collectors generally in railway letter stamps caused a considerable number of examples to be secured whilst current. I have carefully examined 52 specimens, including tw entire sheets, and find 23 distinct types, which I classify as follows :- Pane A [or B ?). (I have examined two complete examples of this pane). No. I. Circular line over S of "Single" cut through. No. 13- No. 16. No. 17- No. 19. No. 20. No 21. No. 23- No. 24- o 276 GLASGOW A\D SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY. No. 2. Two lines only between first and second bars in left pillar ; also between second and third bars (also in type 21) ; dot between arms of Y of " By." Line under B of "By" broken. Dot under VE of " Conveyance." Dot after tip of centre bar of second E of " Western." Two lines only between first and second bars in left pillar. Left edge of N.W. triangle broken near apex. Line between right outline of stamp and right pillar broken opposite third bar. Outline to right of Y of "Railway" broken. Smudge over FO of " For." Line under second C of " Conveyance " broken. Outline under WAY' of "Railway" very faint. Pane B [or A .?). The second bar in left pillar is very thick (i mm.) Line over S of "Post" broken; R of "Western" defective. Line under UT of " South " broken ; two lines only between second and third bar in left pillar. Line under RA of "Railway" broken. Right stroke of second A of "Railway" missing. Line over FO of " For " defective and very thin. Dot in corner, N.W. of W of "Western." White dot to right of shield, near LE of " Letters." Left pillar redrawn as in No, 2 (see above) ; line broken in N.W. triangle, under A of "Glasgow." O of "Glasgow" broken on each side. Not seen. Dot under foot of figure 2, near F of " F'or." The chief peculiarity about the fifth printing is in the left pillar. It appears to ha\-e been damaged without its defective nature being discovered till the machining stone was ready for printing. It was then roughly re-drawn or " painted " over on the stone, several mistakes being made. In the normal design, there are three hori- zontal lines between each of the six vertical bars in the left pillar. In re-drawing the second of these bars, one or other or both of the lines immediately under or over it were absorbed (see Nos. 2, 6, 15 and 21). In No. 13, the bar was redrawn too thick. The spaces between the vertical rows of stamps vary greatly in this printing, the No. 3- No 4- No. 5- No. 6. No. 7- No. 8. No. 9- No. 10. No. II. No, 12. No 13- No. 14. No, 15- No. 16. No. 17- No. 18. No. ig. No. 20. No. 21. No, 22. No. 23- No. 24. GLASGOW AND SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY. 277 space between the ist and 2nd rows on pane B being as much as 6J to 7mm., and that between the 3rd and 4th rows only 3-! to 4mm. In pane A the contrast is nearly as great. In addition to other general markings, all the types have a smudge across the fourth bar in the left pillar. Sixth Printing (1898). The sixth printing, the first of Type II. is very evenly printed and shows but few defects, beyond those which are common to all types on the sheet. I have carefully examined four sheets, and am unable to discover the slightest difference between them. The prmcipal defects are as follon's ; — Dot between TH of "South." Top outline broken over OW of " Glasgow." Line broken to right of top bar in left pillar. Top outline broken over W of " Glasgow." Lines of shading in S.E. triangle faint opposite S of This printing was made in a dull green shade, siderably between pale and dark. No. 5- No. 9- No. 10. No. II. No. 12. ' Letters." varying con- Seventh Printing (1900). The seventh printing is also of Type II. and shows more defects than its predecessor. The following are some of the most prominent : Lower outline broken under IL of " Railway." Foot of G of " Glasgow " broken. Second bar of left pillar broken at top. White scratch to left of shield, opposite ER of " Letters." Line between E of " Single " and shield. Dot between lines at S.E. corner of stamp. Line under first C of " Conveyance " broken. Faint dash before F of " Fee." The stamps print very faintly between the S.E. triangle on No. 7 and the N.E. triangle on No. 11. No. 3- No. 4' No. 7- No. 8. No. 9- No. 10. No. II. No. 12. 278 GLASGOW, BARRHEAD AND IvILMARNOCK JOINT RAIIAVAY. Type I. First Printing iiSpr). The line is invariably broken under the second N of "Conveyance.' GLftSGQW, BARRHEAD & MLMARHOCK JOINT R) KILMARNOCK JOINT R Type la. Fourth Printing (1896). Similar to Type I., but very much scratched. GLASGOW, BARRHEAD AM) KILMARNOCK JOINT RAILWAY. 279 Glasgow^ Barrhead and Kilmarnock Railway* THE Glasgow, Barrhead and Kilmarnock Railway is the joint property of the Caledonian and Glasgow and South \\'estern Railway Companies and is 29^ miles in length. The line runs from Glasgow, through PoUokshaws, Barrhead, Sugton (branch to Beith) and Stewarton, to Kilmarnock. The letter stamps are lithographed bv ^lessrs. McCorquodale and Co., Ltd., of Glasgow, and are issued in sheets of 12, arranged in three rows of four. Xo official details as to the number of issues and printings are forthcoming. I have evidence of the following : — Printing. Date. T\-pe. Perf. Margins. Colour. I St 189I I 12 Perf. Dark grey-green. 2nd iSg2 1 12 ? ? ? 3rd 1894 L^ 12 Perf. Yellow-green (smudgv 4th 1896 I.A 12 Deep green ( 5th iSgS II 12 Impf. Green 6th 1900 II 12 Perf. Yellow-green The order given for the 2nd, 3rd and 4th printings is uncertain. No examples are known of the and, and only one of the 3rd printing. The tvpes may be distinguished as follows : — Type I. Line under second N of "Conveyance" and upper right hand tip of shield broken. Type i.\. Same type, but very much scratched and smudged, chiefly across the two left hand triangles. Tvpe 2. Similar to type 2 of the Glasgow and South Western, Dumbarton and Balloch and other railways. There is a coloured dot over the first N and a dash under the second N of " Conveyance." There is also a curved white scratch across the top right hand corner, and there are four instead of three lines over GLA of " Glasgow." 28o GLASGOW, BARRHEAD AND KILMARNOCK JOINT RAILWAY. First Printing (1891). I have fortunately been able to meet with a block of six of this scarce printing, Nos. 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11 on the sheet. These six stamps show the following defects : — No. 5. Lower bar of first E of "Fee" broken (like " FF.E ") ; line over ET of "Letters" broken; second line under W of "Glasgow" broken. No. 6. Dot between N and V of "Conveyance"; white dot on foot of 2nd bar in left pillar. No. 7. Left foot of M of " Kilmarnock " broken. No. g. White dot on line over R of " For." No. 10. Line under T of "Joint" broken; line over second G of "Glasgow" indented. No. II. Right outline of stamp broken opposite T of " Post." Most Other specimens examined are duplicates of the above types, but I have met with the following additions, positions on sheet unknown : — Nos. I, 2, 3 or 4 (Margin at top). Hairline attached to tip of top bar of second E of " Fee." No. ?. Line between right outline of stamp and right pillar indented opposite lower tip of top bar. No. ?. Line over T of "Joint" minutely indented on upper edge. All stamps on the sheet have a coloured dot over P of " Post " (also in some of the later printings). Second and Third Printings. I am unable to give any additional information respecting these printings. Fourth Printing (1896)- I have only been able to examine four examples of this printing, fortunately including a strip of three (illustrated on page 280). These show the following defects : — No. 10. Back of second C of "Conveyance" missing; Second line under D of " Barrhead " broken. No. II. Line over FO of "For" broken; I of "Railway" broken in two; Dot over E of " Single." No. 12. White hairline across lower portion of V of " Conveyance." Of these, No. 12 is the only one to show the dot over P of " Post." GLASGOW, BARRHEAU AND KILMARNOCK JOLNT RAILWAY. jSl Type II. Fifth Printing (1898). Dots over first N and under second N of "Conveyance ' ,KILWAHNOCK JOINI «^ I KILMARNOCK JOINT Rv. KILMARNOCK JOINI R KILMARNOCK JOINI K- )l;LMARNOCK JOINI Rv, 1 KILMARNOCK JOIN C'H LMARNOCK JOINT R^ KILMARNOCK JOINl" R KILMARNOCK JOINT RT. 2,S2 GLASGOW, BARRHEAD AND KILMARNOCK JOINT RAILWAY. Fifth Printing (1898). Entire sheets of this printing" have fortunately been a\ailable for examination. All show the following series of defects : — White dot on ball of figure 2. White dot on crossbar of first G of " Glasgow." Dot between D and hyphen of " 2d." (Always imperf. at top and right side). (Always imperf. at left side). Second line under L of " Kilmarnock " broken. Lines near apex of S.E. triangle are defective. Line under N of "Kilmarnock" broken. Line under " B\' " broken. Background of shield indented under S of " Single." Left edge of S.W. triangle indented. Outline ol stamp very faint under " Joint Ry." No. 12. Thick white scratch across lowest bar in right pillar. All the stamps on the sheet show the distinguishing marks of Type II. Stamps of this printing are easy to reconstruct into sheets owing to the assistance given by the imperforate margin. Sixth Printing (1900). This printing shows very few defects. The stamps average 5mm. apart, as against 3 to 3fmm. in the fifth printing. The first examples I received of this printing were issued in June, igoo. No. I. No. 2. No. 3- No. 4- No. 5- No. 6. No. 7- No. 8. No. 9- No. 10. No. II. %6p3fj|M> m liH GREAT NORTH OF SCOTLAND RAILWAY. 2S3 Great North of Scotland Railway* THE Great North of Scotland Railway was incorporated in 1S46. The main line runs from Aberdeen through Dvce Junction (branches to Peterhead and Fraserburgh), Kintore (branch to Alford) Inveramsav (branch North to IMacduffl, Huntly (branch A\'estward to Keith, Dufftown, Rothes and Elgin), Portsoy, Cullen and Buckie to Elgin. A second important line runs from Aberdeen to Ballater. The total length of the G.N. of S. Rv. is 331^ miles. The letter stamps are lithographed by the Company, and are issued in sheets of 12, arranged in three rows of four. ^Ir. W. ;\lofFatt, Secretary and General Manager to the Company, has kindly informed me that five supplies ha\e been furnished down to the present time, each consisting of 500 sheets or 6000 stamps. The dates of the five supplies are February, i8gi, ^fay, 1893, November, 1896, ]\Iarch, i8qS, and August, 1900. I cannot, however, reconcile these dates with the number of printings of which I have e\-idence. Perhaps one of the abo\e supplies was printed in two lots. I have met with the following : — Printing . Date. Colour. Perf. Space. Paper. Gum. 1st i8gi Yellowish-green 12 6 to 6imm. Thick \Miite 2nd 1893 ? ? ? ? ? 3rd 1S96 Dull green 12 5^ to 6mm. Thin Brown 4th 1898 Blue-green 12 5 to 6mm. ? White 5tli i8g9? Dull green 12 4^ to 5mm. Surfaced Brown 6th 1900 Dark green 12 3^- to 5mm. White The third of the above printings was that in use early in iSg8, the existence of the blue-green issue not being noted until September of that vear. The third printing was apparently in use 16 months and the fourth 29 months, unless there was an intermediate 1899 printing. Of the earliest supplies I have only met with h^e e,\amples, which may be of either the first or second printing. They include a block of four, Nos 3, 4, 7 and 8 on the sheet. Nos. 3 and 4 both have a faint dot to left of the left pillar, opposite N\' of 284 GREAT NORTH O;-^ SCOTLAND RAILWAN' First Printing fiSpi GREAT NORTH OF :reat north of GREAT NORTH OF SCOTLAND RAILWAY. Fourth Printing (i8p8). GREAT NORTH OF SCOTLAND RAILWAY. 285 No. I. No. 3- No. 5- No. 6. No. 12. " Conveyance " and the line under the fourth bar. Nos. 7 and 8 do not show the dot, but it occurs on e^•ery impression of later printings I have met with. The block has wide imperforate margins, 4-|mm. at top and gimm. at the right side. In subsequent printings the margins of sheets are clipped and average from 2 to 5mm. in width. Third Printing (1896). The sheets I have examined only show one set of defects, of which the following are the most noticeable. Dot under R of " Great." Smudge at lower tip of N.W. Triangle. Smudge between S. and C of "Scotland"; tail of "2" defective. Top outline broken {nearly! over H of " North." Smudge at top of 5th bar in right pillar. All the tvpes show the dot to left of the left pillar. Fourth Printing (1898). All examples examined only show one set of defects, of which the following are the most prominent : — Defective N in " Scotland." Lines broken over RT of " North." Dot under second A of "Railway" (circular). Faint dot under L of " Railway." Smudge on lower edge of foot of " 2." Faint dot between RA of " Railway." Smudge under second A of " Railway." All types show the dot to left of left pillar. The foot of first E of "Conveyance" is faintly broken on Nos. 2, 4, 6, 11, 12. This defect also occurs faintly in the earlier printings and distinctly in those of later date. Fifth Printing (1899 ?) Evidence offers of one set of defective marking only. No. 2. No. 4- No. 6. No. 7- No. 9- No. 10. No. 12. No. I. Right stroke of second A of "Railway" broken. No. 5. Smudge on line over OS of "Post." No. 6. Small blot of colour on S.W. triangle, under F of No. 10. R of " North " defective at top. Fee. Several of the stamps have the line over O of "Of" defective. The lower bar of first E of " Conveyance " is generally clearly broken. GREAT NORTH OF SCOTLAND RAILWAY. No. I No. 2. No. 3 No. 4- No. 5- No. 6. No. 7- No. 8. No. 9- No. 10. No. II. No. 12. Sixth Printing (1900). This is the first printing of which 1 have found more than one set of markings. Pane I. Line under 4th bar in right pillar broken. Line under second bar in right pillar broken at left end. Outline of right pillar missing to right of lines under 5th bar. Centre line of the three over lowest bar in left pillar missing. Both lines over W of " Railway " broken. Two faint dots under cro>is-b.ar of H of " North." White dot on 4th bar in left pillar. Line broken over of " North.'' Second line under second A of "Railway" broken. Upper tip of S.W. triangle indented near C of " Conveyance.'' White dot on foot of 2nd bar in right pillar. .N'.E. triangle defective near apex. J 'line II. No. 13. Smudge at foot of V of "Conveyance" and on line over A of "Great." No, 14. Smudge under ND of " Scotland." No. 15. Owing to breaks, lower portion of ER of " Letters " consists of 3 dots in a row. No. i5. Line under R of " For " broken. Nos. 17, iS. Not seen. No. 19. Line under 2nd bar in right pillar broken in centre. No. 20. Line under N of " Single " faintly indented. No. 21. Foot of R of " Letters " broken. No. 22. White dot on top bar in right pillar. No. 23. Lower half of first E of " Letters " defective. No. 24. Small blot at top of S.E. triangle, near RS of " Letters." The lettering of the circular inscription is exceptionally defective in this printing;. There are many defects which are common to several of the types. G\^^S^ HIGHLAND RAILWAY. iSj Highland Railway, THE Highland Railway was incorporated under its present title in i86j and was formed by an amalgamation of the Inverness and Aberdeen Junction and Inverness and Perth Junction Raihvava. The line is now 492 miles in length. The main line runs from Perth through Kingussie, Aviemore, Forres, and Nairn to Inverness, and there are numerous branch lines. The letter stamps are lithographed by ^lessrs. ?iIcCorquodale and Co.. Ltd., of Glasgow, and are issued in sheets of 12. arranged in three rows of four. Mv. W'm. Gowenlock, late Secretary to the Company, has kindly furnished the following list of printings made down to the present time : — Issue. Date. Quantity Perf. State. Colour. 1st Jan., i8gi 5004 12 A Olive-green 2nd Julv, 1 89 2 5004 :) -) ? 3rd Feb.. 1893 500+ 12 B Yellow-green 4th Aug.. 1894 5004 12 B 5th Sept., 1896 5076 12 C Green 6th Dec, 1898 1008 12 D Yellowish-green 7th April, 1S99 1008 12 D 8th Oct., 1899 1008 II D 9th ^lay. 1900 looS II D ., loth Oct.. 1900 1008 II D Green I have added particulars as to perforation, state or condition of design and colour, but am not quite certain that the correct order is given. The design undergoes minute variations from time to time, and the principal defects may roughly be classified in three groups. J. — This state is most readily distinguished by the absence of the dot or smudge to left of the upper tip of the S.\^". triangle. There is a fine hairline to left of the right pillar opposite LE of " Letters." (ist printing). 2S,S HI(',HI.AXD RAILWAY. First Printing, 1801 (State A). Fifth Printing, 1896 (State C). HIGHLAND RAILWAY. B. — The dot mentioned above is present throughout the printings of this group. There is also a dot attached to the lower edge of the line over I of " Highland." The hairline to left of right pillar is also present as in state A. (2nd ?, 3rd and 4th printings). C. — Same marks as in state B, with the addition of a dot over E of " The," similar to that over I of " Highland." The hairline to left of the right pillar is now clearly connected with it. (5th printing). D. — The L of " Railway " is connected by a vertical hairline with the line beneath it. The G of " Single " is similarly connected with the line above it. All the principal marks of states A, B and C are present. The hairline to left of the right pillar is represented by merely a dot. Owing to very faint printing the defects are difficult to distinguish in the loth printing. (6th and later printings). The above list only mentions the most prominent defects. The following is an extended list of those of less importance, although, nevertheless, of a more or less general nature. The following marks all have their origin in the first printing. Most, as will be noticed, occur in all subsequent issues : — (a) Faint curved line to left of right pillar opposite LE of " Letters." This mark is useful to distinguish the states (see above). Especially faint in sixth and seventh printings, (i) Dot between V and E of " Conveyance." (Generally clear in all except tenth printing). (c) Fourth bar in left pillar smudged at upper left hand corner (all). {d) Dot of colour on upper edge of line over W of " Railway." In the third printing it connects with the line above it ; in the fourth printing it is clear of the line above ; and in the fifth and later printings a second dot appears immediately to right of it. («) The right foot of the second A of " Railway " (circular) is too short. (All printings). (/) Faint dot under OS of "Post." This mark apparently only occurs very faintly in the first to fifth issues. (g) P of "Post" Smudged at top, the upper cuive of the letter being irregular in shape. After the first printing the smudge becomes rounded and is merged in the letter. (A) Two small dots over PO of " Post." Generally clear after the fifth printing ; generally absent in earlier supplies. 290 HIGHLAND RAILWAY. Seventh Printing, 1899 (State D). Eighth Printing, 1899 (State D). The smudge over T of "The" extends above top outline of each stamp. HIGHLAND RAILWAY. 29 1 [i) There is often a dot between AI of " Rail\A-ay " (circular). /) The line under XD of "Highland" is faintly broken (all issues). [k) The two lines under RA of " Railway " are joined hv a short vertical stroke. (Present in all issues ; clearest in the tenth). (/) Coloured dot over OM of " Company." (Generally distinct in most printings except the tenth). (»i) Faint dot of colour on line under I of " Highland.'' (First issue only). ill) Faint dot over T of " The." (Clearest in the eighth and ninth printings, but is found occasional!}' in other issues). (0) There is a faint dot to left of foot of the fourth bar in right pillar. (First to fifth printings onh'). The second printing I have not met with, but the third exhibits the following further marks : — {p) Blot of colour to left of upper tip of S.^^". triangle. .\11 present in all later printings. (17) Faint blot on lower edge of line over I of " Highland." .\lso present in all subsequent printings. (r) Vertical hairline to left of 3rd bar in left pillar. .Also present in all sub- sequent printings. The following mark appears in the 5th printing : — (s) Dot over E of ■■ The." (.\lso in subsequent printings). With the sixth printing, quite a number of fresh defects originate. {t) G of '■ Single " connected with line above. (h) L of '■ Railway " connected with line below. (v) The hairline connecting the two lines immediately to left of the foot of the 5th bar in the left pillar becomes a thick blot of colour in the 6th printing, but subsides in the 7th, leaving a very faint trace outside the left edge of the stamp. In the Sth printing this curious defect becomes a nebulous smudge extending well over the left edge of nearly every stamp on the sheet. There is generally a faint dot below it, also outside the edge of the stamp (more often in the Sth printing than in the 7th). In the gth and roth printings the smudge has almost vanished. (ir) Most tvpes on the sheet have a faint vertical scratch across the lines over (and slightly to left of) T of " The." All types of the 7th printing show it and in the Sth it is very prominent, extending very clearly above the upper outline of each stamp. In the gth and loth printings it does not show over the edge of the stamp. {x) There is a faint hairline attached to top of O of " Conveyance." Were it a little thicker it would give this letter the appearance of being an inverted Q. It is most distinct in the 7th, Sth and gth printings. 292 HIGHLAND RAILWAY. The following defects appear to originate in the seventh printing. {y) Faint hairline over Y of "Conveyance." Sometimes there are two hairhnes either parallel or >• shaped. They are indistinct or absent in the gth and loth printings. The eighth printing furnishes a new defect, which, however, does not appear in subsequent issues. [z] There is on most types (all except No. r2 ?) a faint horizontal hairline between H and E of " The." I have described the above defects at some length, because they seem to offer the only satisfactory means of distinguishing between most of the printings. First Printing (State A). The first printing, as already stated, may be most readily distin- guished by the absence of the marks given above as p and q. I am unable to say whether it was printed in sheets of 12 stamps, or in larger sheets, but all the examples I have met with are of one or other of the following twelve types : — Nos. I and 3. Both have a dot between EY of " Conveyance." No. 2. Lower outline of S.W. triangle broken over LW of "Railway." No. 3 ? There are two lines only between the first and second bars in left pillar. Line under E of " The " broken ; lowest bar in right pillar broken in two. Second E of "Fee" defective; line under H of "The" broken. Line between left pillar and outline broken opposite foot of third bar. Second line under PA of "Company" broken. Not seen. Dot over CE of "Conveyance"; stop after L of "Railway"; white hairline across top bar in right pillar. No. ro. S.W. corner of stamp defective. No. ir ? Apex of N.W. triangle defective ; line broken in S.W. triangle near O of "For." No. r2. Upper bar of first E of " Conveyance " missing. I am doubtful of the positions on the sheet of all except No. 12, and especially as regards Nos. 3, 4, 7, 8 and 11, so that the above arrangement is only provisional. Apart from single copies, I have only met with one pair (Nos. 5 and 9 ?), and a block of four (Nos. No. 4? No. 5- No. 6. No. 7? No. 8 ? No. 9- HIGHLAND RAILWAY. 293 I, 2, 5, 6 ?). This latter has margin at top, whilst the vertical pair has margin at bottom. No. 12 is identified by means of its corner margin. A single of No. 4 (or 8 ?) has margin at right. The second printing I have not met with. Third Printing (State B). I have only met with a block of four stamps, Nos. 5, 6, g and on the sheet. The following defects occur : — 10 No. 5. Blot inside right stroke of V of " Conveyance." No. 6. Two dots attached to lower edge of lower outline, near right hand extremity. No. 9. Lower outline of S.E. triangle broken over PA of "Company." Small blot over N.W. triangle. Left foot of A of " Highland " broken. 9- No. 10. The printing generally is clear, but heavy. Fourth Printing (State B). The fourth printing is nearly similar in colour to the third. The easiest method of distinguishing between them is by means of mark (d), see above. I have been able to find evidence of 24 types. Pane A. Second line under HE of " The " broken. Second line over T of " The " broken. Large break in line to left of left pillar, over fourth bar. g. Not seen. Line broken over LA of " Highland." Line broken under left foot of R of " Railway." Blot on right arm of "Railway" (circular). Second line over HL of " Highland " indented. Second line over R of " Railway " broken. Line broken over Y of " Railway." Line broken over right arm of Y of " Company," Upright stroke of R of " Railway " broken. Pane B. 14. Not seen. Line broken under left foot of R of "Railway" (as in No. 6). Line over second T of " Letters " faintly broken. Upper half of C of " Company " very defective. No. I. No. 2. No. 3- Nos ■ 4. No. 5- No. 6. No. 7- No. 8. No. 10. No. II. No. 12. Nos 13 No. 15- No. 16. 294 HIGHLAND RAILWAY. Highland Railway, Fifth Printing, 1896 (State B!. An Entire Sheet as issued, showing wide spaces between vertical THE H I C H LA N D THE HIGHLAND THE HIGHLAND iRAILWAY COMPANYJ RAILWAY COMPANY. I THE HIGHLAND , ta i RAILWAY COMPANY! j TH E H 1 GH LA N D THE HIGHLAND: -V-V-' A-f-> Jt> J.J>^,*JU * THE H I GW LA N D HIGHLAND RAILWAY. 295 No 17- No. 18. No. 19. No. 20. No. 21. No. 22. No. 23. No. 24- Blot under N of "Company"; line broken over T of "Post." Line broken under R of " Railway." Large white dot on lowest bar in left pillar. Line in S.E. triangle too short (over P of " Company.") Line over GH of " Highland " faintly broken. White dot on foot of D of " 2d." Faint white dash under S.E. corner of shield. Lower outline broken under CO of " Company." I am not absolutely certain that Nos. 15 and 16 are correctly placed, but thev occup)' either those positions or Nos. 13, 14. Fifth Printing (State C). Of this printing I have fortunately been able to examine an entire sheet, but there are very few defects. Pane A. No. I. White dot on upper tip of top bar in left pillar. No. 2. Line over 3rd bar in right pillar broken. No. 7. Line under E of " Single " broken. No. II. Dot after Y of "Company" above the stop. This printing may be most readily distinguished by the presence of mark (s) and absence of marks (t) and (u) described above. The stamps in each horizontal row are 6|- to 7mm. apart, instead of the usual -I- to jimm. Sixth Printing (State D). The sixth printing is most readily distinguished by means of the defects described as (t), (u) and {\). The latter is represented by a clear round blot of colour. I ■ have not met with sufficient examples to enable me to describe each stamp on the sheet. No. 5 has a large white scratch across the third bar in the left pillar and the figure " 2." Seventh Printing (State D). The seventh is one of the two printings of State D which has perforation of the old gauge 12. It is most readily distinguished from the sixth printing by means of marks (v) and (y). In both these issues, the shade of green varies. No. 3. Top outline broken over I of " Highland." No. 8. Apex of S E. triangle connected with right pillar. No. 9. Thick smudge on lower portion of S.E. triangle. I have evidence of 12 types only. 296 HlGHr.AND RAILWAY. Eighth Printing (State D). The eighth printing, the first to be perf. 11, is most readily distinguished from the later printings by means of defect (w), which extends above the top outline of the stamp. I have met with an entire sheet, which shows the following defects : — Nos. I No. I No. 3 No. 4 No. 5 No. 6 No. 8 No. II No. 12 , 3. The lower portions of Nos. i and 2 are covered with white patches which extend over RA of " Railway " on No. 3. White scratch across N of " Company." I of "Highland" broken in two. Line broken under EH of " The Highland." Second line over HE of " The " broken ; H defective. Shield defective at N.E. corner. Line under O of " Company " broken. White dot on top bar in left pillar. Large white blot on line under OR of " For." I have only met with 12 types. Ninth Printing (State D). The ninth printing may be distinguished from the tenth by means of the absence of the dot over E of " The " and that between V and E of " Conveyance," marks (b) and (s). The following defects occur : Dot over PA of " Company." Line to left of left pillar broken near top. "UF." Line over fifth bar in left pillar defective. Blot over W of " Railway " (circular), white scratch over second bar in right pillar ; second line under H of " The " broken. lAne under AN of "Highland" broken. Dot over A of " Company." Both lines broken over A of " Company."' The fourth stamp in the sheet, that in the upper right hand corner, furnishes a very interesting error, OF being spelt " UF." I have evidence of 12 types only. Tenth Printing (State D). The tenth printing is generally faintly printed and many of the defects are difficult to distinguish. No. I. No. 2, No. 4- No. 5- No. 7- No. 8. No. 10. No. II. NORTH BRITISH RAILWAY. 297 North British Railway* THE North British Railway was incorporated in 1S44 and opened in 1S46. The main Hne runs from Berwick through Dunbar, Edinburgh, Kilcaldv, Dundee, Arbroath and ^lontrose, to Aberdeen. Xumerous lines extend southward to Hawick and Jedburgh, westward to ^lorningside, Glasgow and Oban, and northward to Perth. The mileage, 1049^, is considerably greater than that of any other Scottish line ; in fact the line compares fayourably in this respect with many of the principal English lines. The letter stamps are lithographed by Messrs. AlcCorquodale & Co., Ltd., in sheets of 24. di^■ided into panes of twehe (three rows of four) before deliyery. ^Ir. W. F. Jackson, General Alanager of the Company, kindly informs me that the following printings ha^e been made. I add particulars as to colour and perforation : — Issue. 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th Se\eral dated copies of the four last issues ha\e come under notice and render their classification an easy matter. I ha^■e, howeyer, experienced considerable difficulty in distinguishing between the two first issues. Until iSq.S the ayerage annual issue of Xorth British stamps appears to haye been about 10,000. .\s the first printing of 20,000 was used up at a much quicker rate (eyen assuming that the second supply may haye been ordered six months in advance), it is natural to suppose that the initial distribution to stations was large, and that in consequence many examples would remain on hand till recent years. 36 Date Received. Quantity. Perf. Colour. Jan. 27th, iSgi 20004 12 Grey -green Jan. 2 1st, iSl)2 20004 12 Dull green Feb. 22nd, iSq4 20004 12 Yellow-green Feb. 26th, 1896 20004 12' Greyish-green iNIar. I St, iSq5 20004 12 Emerald-green June 5th, iSl)9 2UOO4 12 Olive-green 29N NORTH BRITISH RAILWAY. Second Printing (18921. Tliickcr Outline to left of "North" than in First Printing. NORTH BRITISH NORTH BRITISH ! RAILWAY COMPANY. I NORTH BRITISH Third Printing (1896). The second stamp shows the error " Nurth. Fourth Printing (1898). [ RAILWAY COM PA wy I '. j NORTH BRITISH RAILWAY. 299 On the other hand, the second supply would probably be issued to stations where there was a proved demand, seeing that thev have had in most cases to dispose of a first supply before receiving the second. Consequently the second printing cannot be expected to have been preserved in the same way. This is important as showing that stamps obtained by collectors during recent years are more likely to be of the first printing than of the second. I haye closelv examined iig examples of the 1891-1893 period and have reconstructed all but four into sheets, by aid of blocks and defective marking. There are five different sets of markings : — I. Grey-green, sometimes discoloured (?) to oli\'e-green. I have portions of at least five sheets. II Grey-green shade only. I have portions of three sheets. Ill, Gre^^-green. Portions of two sheets. I\". Dull green, green. Portions of four sheets. V. Dark green. Portions of two sheets. There are three distinct shades — grey-green (I., II., III.), green (I\'.) and dark green (\'.] — and I should be inclined to say they were three distinct printings, but that we know they form part of two supplies only. Were that the case, panes I., II. and III. could be classified as first printing and indeed, after taking all the exidence into consideration, this seems to be correct, with the addition perhaps of pane W, pane IV. being left as the representatiye of the second printing. Examining the defective marking of the panes, we find that pane IV. shoW'S a peculiarity w-hich does not occur in any other North British stamps, but which is well known in the stamps of one or two other companies. The second line under " Railway Company " is too short at the left extremity. In other printings signs of this defect occur, but it has been corrected. Apparently all the stamps on panes I. and II. and most on panes III. and IV. have a faint serif to the right arm of Y of "Company" but there is no trace of such in any of the stamps of pane \'. 300 NORTH BRITISH RAILWAY. In panes I., II. and III., the top outline of every stamp is smudged for a space of about 4mm. at the left hand end. In panes I\'. and v., the line is clear of any smudge and generally faint in pane V. In panes I., II., III. and \'., the outline to left of N of "North" is faint and broken ; in pane IV. it is clearly drawn, with one break in the centre. The fact that pane V. shows fewer defects than the others would lead to the supposition that it was the first printing, but this could only be correct on the hypothesis that the first supply was printed on two occasions. I think there can be no doubt that the bulk of the first supply consisted of panes I., II. and III. First Printing (1891). Under this heading, I propose to describe the four panes mentioned above as I., II., III. and \'. (a) Pane V. No serif to Y of " Company.'' Clear design. (b) Panes I. H. III. Serif to Y of "Company." Smudge on top outline, at left hand end. Outline faint to left of N of " North." The former are printed in dark green, the latter in greyish-green. The paper is sometimes discoloured by the gum and gives the latter an olive-green appearance. The following defects (amongst many others) occur on the panes : — Pane I. Tip of N.W. triangle cut across, under T of " North." Line of S E. triangle near apex defective. Line under \' of " By " broken. Line under NV of "Conveyance" broken ; white dot over shield, near F of "Of" (also type 5). Apex of S.W. triangle defective ; line broken to right of lines under top bar of right pillar. Second line over N of " Company " broken ; second line under top bar of right pillar broken off at left end. White scratch across lines over SH of "British" and across N.E. triangle. Left foot of first .\ of "Railway" broken. No. I. No. 2. No. 3' No. 4- No, 5- No. 6. No. 7- No. S. NORTH BRITISH RAILWAY. 301 No. 14- No. 15- No. 16. Nos . I No. ig. No. 20. No. 21. No. 22. No. 23. No. 24- No. g. Dot immediately over crossbar of first T of " Letters."' Line smudged under PA of " Company." No. to. Line over NO of '■ Xortli " broken ; line of left of top bar in right pillar broken ; top bar indented. No. II. Fifth bar of right pillar broken at foot ; scratch under top bar in left pillar. No. 12. Line over IS of " British " clearly broken (nearer I than S). Pane II. Line under left foot of A of "Company" broken. White dot to right of shield, near T of " Post." Smudge on right side of upright stroke of T of " North," near top. Large white spot to left of shield, opposite first C of " Conveyance." T of " British " fainth' printed and broken, and 18. Not seen. Line over IS of "British" faintly broken ; O of "For" broken, left side. Line over top bar in left pillar cut through. Dot on body of figure 2, opposite TT of " Letters." Dot on ball of figure 2. Two lines under left foot of R of "Railway" broken." White dot to right of shield, opposite TT of "Letters" ; line to left of foot of lowest bar in right pillar broken ; line under N of " Companv " broken. Pane III. Two lines over first I of " British " broken (like steps). Line over T of "North" and (to left of) B of "British" broken. Nos. 27, 28. Not seen. No. 2g. O of " For " broken near top ; second line over TH of " North " broken. No. 30. Line over IT of " British " broken ; white dot on ball of figure 2. Nos. 31, 3;. Not seen. .No. 33. Dot over S of " Letters." Line to left of 5th bar in right pillar indented. No. 25 No. 26, No. 34. Nos. 35, 36 No. 4g. No. 50. -Not seen . Pane V. \\'hite hairline across lines over 4th bar in right pillar. Line to left of 2nd bar in right pillar broken. No. 51 (or 52). O of "Conveyance" broken at foot. No. 52. Not seen. No. 53. Slight smudge on line over SH of "British." No. 54. Coloured line attached to upper curve of R of upward.;. Railway," pointing 303 NORTH BRITISH RA1L\\'A\-. No. 55 (or 56). Top of 4th bar in right pillar indented. Nos. 56, 58 and 60. Not seen. No. 57. Faint dot to right of 2nd bar in right pillar. No. 59 (or 60). Second line under R of " North " broken. Pane \'. is very clearly printed and shows comparatively very little defecti^■e marking. I have a vertical strip of three which may be either types 51, jj), 59, or 52, 56, 60. In this pane there is generally no trace of the smudge on the line under Y of " Railway." Second Printing (1892). Of what I take to be the second printing (pane I\'. mentioned above) I have met with 29 examples, apparently from four different sheets. All show the same set of defective markings. No. I. Second I of " British" broken in two ; Dot between EY of " Conveyance"; LWAY of " Railway " re-drawn roughly. No. 2. White dot on body of figure 2 ; 2nd bar in right pillar indented. No. 3. V shaped scratch below CO of " Company." No. 4. Left side of S.W. triangle broken. No. 5. Hairline between NV of '-Conveyance"; O of "North" and lines above are faint. No. 6. White circle on line to left of 2nd bar in left pillar ; Smudge on left edge of first N of " Conveyance " (see No. 8.) No. 7. Wide break in both lines over AY of "Railway"; line under FO of " For " defective. No. 8. Same type as No. 6 in all respects. There is an additional smudge between N.E. triangle and right pillar. No. 9. Right pillar broken to left of fourth bar. No. 10. Sometimes has a faint dot on right edge of fourth bar in right pillar. No. II. Faint dot over shield, under O of "Of." No. 12. White circle on foot of "2," near F of "For." I have met with several of the above showing different states. For mstance, 1 have type 9 (a) with white dot to left of shield opposite EY of " Conveyance " ; {/i) same, with additional faint scratch lower down ; and (<-) without white dot. One of the stamps on the transfer for this printing was evidently spoilt, as the points of resemblance between Nos. 6 and tS on the sheet could not be accounted for by coincidence. The readiest method of distinguishing this printing from the first is by the thicker outline to left of "North." Both the first and second printings are on a somewhat thick surfaced paper, but later printings are on quite a different quality. NORTH BRITISH RAH. WAV. 303 Third Printing (1894). This printing was deHvered l^y the printers in February, 1894, but the earliest copies I have met with are postmarl-;ed April, 1895. It was printed in sheets of at least 48 stamps, as I have panes showing four different sets of markings — panes I., II., III., IV. Impressions from pane II. are generally dark yellowish-green, whilst those from the others are generally in a much brighter shade. The chief points of resemblance and difference between the third and other printings are as follows : — (a) There are almost invariably two smudgy dots between the two lines under RA of " Railway," generally connecting them. They do not occur in other printings. {b) The lower outline of each stamp is noticeably fainter under .ANY of "Com- pany." This peculiarity is only seen in the 3rd and 4th printings. (c) The serif to the right arm of Y of " Company " is exceptionally prominent. (rf) The line to left of "North" is drawn distinctly (except for a break in the centre!, as in all printings except the first. (e) There is often a coloured dot inside the O of " Conveyance." It is most noticeable in the 3rd, 5th and 6th printings. It never occurs in the 1st or 2nd. I have been able to e.Kamine between 60 and 70 examples of this printing, but unfortunately most were single copies, so that I could not reconstruct the sheets \'ery successfully. I have evidence of the following four panes : — Pane I. Base of S.E. triangle defective near B of " By." Line broken under fifth bar in left pillar. 4, 7, 8. II, 12. Not identified. Second line under T of "British" broken. Line broken under O of "Post." Lower outline broken under second \ and LW of " Railway." of "Of" broken at top; left foot of H of "British" absent. Pane II. Two dots, side by side, to right of H of " British." 1 of "Single" broken; white scratch across OS of "Post." Small semi-colon after " North " ; right arm of H of " British " absent. Not identified. Second line over k of " Company " indented. No. I. No. 2. Nos - 3 No. 5- No. 6. No. 9- No. 10. No. 13- No. 14- No. 15- No. 16. No. 17- 304 NORTH BRITISH RAILWAY. Sixth Printing (1899). An Entire Sheet, as issued. RAILWAY company; NORTH BRITISH • NORTH BRITISH NORTH BRITISH RAILWAY COM PA MY. '<• • NORTH BRITISH No. ig. No. 20. No. 21. No. 22. No. 23- No. 24. NORTH BRITISH RAILWAY. 305 No. 18. Second line over A of "Company" nearly broken in two; second line over BR of "British" broken. Lines under CO of " Conveyance " and over S of " Post " indented. Second line under OR of " North " indented ; line to left of left pillar broken under top bar. Upper portion of R of " Letters " missing. Line broken under left foot of R of " Railway." Faint dot to right of top of H of " British." Line to right of right pillar broken near fifth bar. Pane III. No. 25. Line over Y of " Conve}'ance " broken. Nos. 26 to 36. Not identified. Pane IV. No. 37. O of " Convej'ance " broken at top; I of "Railway" (circular inscription) broken. Nos. 38 to 48. Not identified. I have most of the corner stamps of panes III. and IV., but cannot say to 'which pane each belongs, as they are all single copies. I have also a large number of e.xamples I cannot identify at all. Amongst these there is a very interesting variety, inscribed "NURTH" instead of "North." The following horizontal pairs are unidentified: — (a) Margin at foot. No. i has line under "Of" broken; and body of I of " Railway " (circular) missing. No. 2 has a wide break in second line over W.A of " Railwaj-." (&) Margin at right side. No. i has line over G of " Single " broken. No. 2 shows the "Nurth" error. (c) No margin. No. i has second I of " British '' broken near top. No. 2 has second line over SH of " British " broken. Should other blocks of this printing turn up at any time, it may be found possible to complete the reconstruction of the panes. Fourth Printing (1896). As this printing was current until i8g8, a considerable number of examples ha\e come into the hands of collectors. I have e.xamined a number of sheets, but have only found two sets of markings. The stamps are placed on the sheet about 5 to 6mm. apart, instead of the 3o6 NORTH BRITISH RAILWAY. usual 4 follows : — No. 3. No. 6. No. 8. No. 10. to 5mm. The most noticeable defects which occur are as Pane I. Line over O of " North " broken. Dot at foot between TE of " Letters." Vertical scratches under IVI of " Company." Line (nearly) under C of "Company" broken. No. 3. No. 7. No. II. Pane II. Post." Two dots to right of the stamp, opposite Two dots over D of " 2d." Vertical scratch across whole stamp, from B of E of " Fee " and between LW of " Railway.' This printing has smaller margins than usual, in both pale and deep shades of greyish-green. ■ British " across first Examples occur Fifth Printing (1898). The fifth printing is in an emerald-green shade and on thinner paper than usual. There are very few defects in the design. I have not sufficient material to say how many types occur on the sheet. The lower outline of all the stamps is evenly drawn, and is no longer faint under ANY of " Company," as in the third and fourth printings. No. 6 on two sheets I have seen has the line over EF of " Fee For " broken. Sixth Printing (1899). Sheets of this printing vary considerably in shade, some being almost yellow. I have examined a number of sheets but all show the same defective marking. In every stamp the dot in O of " Conveyance" is unusually clear. The principal defects are as follows : — No. 5. D of " 2d." indented at top. No. 6. Faint dot between TI of " British." In heavy impressions the lower inscription " Railway Company " is often very spotty, especially on Nos. i and 2. PORTPATRICK AND GIRVAX JOINT RAILWAY. 307 Portpatrick and Girvan Joint Railway, THE Portpatrick and Girvan Railway is now meryed in the Glasgow and South Western. It was a short line running from Stranraer through Castle Kennedy and Dunragit to Challoch Junction, where it met the Ayrshire and Wigtownshire line to Girvan and the Portpatrick and Wigtownshire to Castle Douglas, both of which Companies, by possessing running powers o\er it, being enabled to reach Stranraer. The letter stamps were lithographed bv Messrs. INIcCorquodale and Co., Ltd., of Glasgow, in sheets of 12, arranged in three rows of four. I only know of one printing, which is stated to have been delivered on No^■ember 13th, 1894. Four used specimens are known, and ^ one of these is on the original letter, postmarked Jan. 22nd, 1895. and endorsed " Instructions concerning the change of name of this Railway.' The stamps are printed in yellow-green and are perf. 12. 3o8 PORTPATRICK AND WIGTOWNSHIRE RAILWAY. Second Printing {1891). Issued in sheets of 12, arrangred in three rows of four. PORTPATPiCK&WIGTnWNSHiRt' Third Printing (1895). Issued in sheets of 12, arranged in two rows of six. ' a ■ r • w n I ■ B 4 k a « ■ Liin RAILWAYS, e • •_*J PORTPATRICK AXH WIGTOWNSHIRE RAILWAY. 30Q Portpatrick and Wigtownshire Railway, THE Portpatrick and \"\'igtownshire Railway is the joint property of the Caledonian, Glasgow and South \\'estern, London and North W^estern and Midland Railway Companies. The line is 82 miles in length, and runs westward from Castle Douglas through Newtown-Stewart (branch to A'X'hithorn) and Glenluce to Stranraer, from which station a second line runs to Colfin and Portpatrick. The letter stamps are lithographed by Messrs. McCorquodale & Co., Ltd., of Glasgow, and are issued in sheets of twelve, consisting sometimes of two rows of six, and generally of three rows of four. All are perforated 12. Mr. J. Jardine, Accountant to the Company, has kindly furnished the following list of printings made down to the present time : — No. Date Delivered. Quantity. Sheet * Colour • I St Jan. 29th, i8gi 1008 3X4 Dark green 2nd Oct. 15th, 1891 1968 3X4? Deep green 3rd Feb. 1 2th, 1895 1512 2x6 Yellow-gren 4th June 18th, 1898 3576 3x4 Dark green. impf. margin * These particulars I have added. The first and second issues are on the surfaced paper of medium thickness found on early issues made for other Companies by oNIessrs. McCorquodale & Co., Ltd., of Glasgow. The first issue is similar in shade to the first issues of the Cockermoath, Keswick and Penrith, and Dundee and Arbroath Railways. I have only seen a used copy postmarked London, April i6th, i8gi. The second issue is less rare. I have also met with a specimen in a bright yellow-green shade, on the early surfaced paper, and very lightly printed, " RAILWAYS " being very faint. This is apparently from a distinct printing, for which the above table makes no allowance. 310 PORTPATRICK AND WIGTOWNSHIRE RAILWAY. - 2 — ||l-lli-lll-»l ^iS r-m-ia-jJI-lll-lltr-. - i ^ BALLVCASTLK RAILWAY. 311 IRISH RAILWAYS. Ballycastle Railway, THE Ballycastle Railway was incorporated in 1S78 and opened in iSSo. The line is 16 J miles in length, and runs from Ballycastle through Capecastle, Armoy, Gracehill, Stranocum and Dervock to Ball^Miionev, where a junction is effected with the Belfast and Northern Counties Railway. The letter stamps are lithographed by Afessrs. R. Carswell & Sons, Belfast, and are issued in sheets of nine, arranged in three rows of three. , There have been several printings, but, unfortunately, no official details respecting them are obtainable. I have met with the following : — inting. Approx. Date. Type. Transfer. Perf. Colour. 1st Itiqi ? ? ? 5 ? 2nd 1895 ? I. 2nd Yellow-green 3rd 1896 ? II. 3rd Dull grey-green 4th 1898 ? II. 3rd Yellowish-green 5th 1899 ? III. +th Deep green 6th igoi IV. 5th Bright green The third and fourth printings may possibly be the same, as they vary considerably in shade, and are sometimes difficult to distinguish. I cannot sa\' definitely whether they were preceded or followed by the printing which I give as the second. A sheet of the third printing is known watermarked ■■ [Whjatman '96." The second is similar in colour to the Sligo, Leitrim and Northern Counties stainps, which were current until 1898, and of which examples are known watermarked 1895. 312 BALLVCASTLE RAILWAY. Ballycastle Railway. Type II. Third Transfer (1896). "Way" of "Railway" Aipm. from line above. ■' Lj. V CAS TJ- j._ J ri^e A L Lx" *■ s jj- e: 'J, BALLVCASTLE RAILWAY. 313 The readiest method of distinguishing between the types is by means of the position of the title. Type I. " Ballycastle " is equidistant from the lines above and below it; "Railway" is close to the line above it. Type II. "Ballycastle" is near the line above and "Railway" near the line below. \\'idth of each stamp, 27jmm. Three lines of equal thickness over " Ballycastle." Type III. "Ballycastle" is close to the line below it, whilst "Railway" is placed slanting, reading up, the R being near the line below and the Y that above. \\'idth of each stamp, ayjmm. One thin and two thick lines over "Ballycastle." Type ly. The positions of " Ballycastle " and " Railwa\- " vary. One thin and two thick lines above and below. Width of each stamp, 27jmm. In types I. and III. the bar of " 2d." is irregularly shaped and the lowest outline of the stamp is weak towards the left extremity. In type IV. the bar of " 2d." is also irregular. Of type I., I have only met with three single examples, so am unable to describe the defects on the transfer. One is postmarked 10.9.97. The background of the shield has a solid appearance, whereas in later printings, especialh' those from the third transfer, it appears to consist of crossed lines. Third Transfer (1896 ?). In this transfer each of the nine stamps or types is 27imm. wide, instead of ajfmm., as in the transfer of 1S99. The WAY of " Railway " is about imm. below the line above it, and the >two lines under " Ballycastle " are slightly bent upwards at the right hand end. All nine types also individually show minute distinguishing marks : — Type I. ^Vhite spot on lower portion of third bar in right hand pillar. Type 2. Break between right hand branch and trunk of Y of "Railway" (circular inscription). Lower bar in right hand pillar broken at top. Coloured spot at S.E. corner of stamp. \\'hite spot at top of fourth stamp in left hand pillar. Line broken under Y'.A of " Conveyance." White spot at bottom of fifth bar in left hand pillar. Second line under " Railway " does not extend quite to left hand end. Vertical strokes of N of " Single " slightly broken. Type 3, Type 4 Type 5 Type 6 T^-pe Type 8 Type 9 This transfer appears to have been used for two printings, unless as suggested above, the third and fourth printings are really one. 38 314 BALLYCASTLE RAILWAY. Ballycastle Railway. Type II. Fourth Transfer (1899 ?). 'Way" of "Railway" close to line above. AL j-YCA ST LE J , U_B M, i-Y C A S Ti ?_ _ RAll WAY ' ^ RAILWAY ~ BALLYCASTLE RAILWAY. 315 Fourth Transfer (1899 ?). This transfer differs considerably from its predecessor. Each stamp measures 27fmm. in width instead of 2j^mm., and the lines under " Ballycastle " are clear and straight, and the WAY of " Railway " is close to the hne above it. The last E of " Conveyance " is badly formed, the lowest bar projecting too far at the left hand end, that is to say, beyond the upright stroke of the letter. The right outhne of the left hand pillar is broken 3mm. from the bottom. Only one printing appears to have been made, deep green in shade and perforated 1 1 . Fifth Transfer (1901). The fifth transfer consists of nine very distinct types, as the title of the Company, " Ballycastle Railway," was printed on each independently, together with the three lines respectively above and below. Each stamp is 27:fmm. wide, as in the earlier printings. The types may be identiiied as follows : — Type I. The two lines under '■ Ballyc " of "Ballycastle" are blurred together. Type 2. The line over "Rail'' has been redrawn thicker, as also those immediately above and below " Ballycastle." Type 3. The second A of "Ballycastle" is slightly "dropped"; the second line over the first A of " Railway " is broken. Type 4. All three lines under "Railway" are redrawn thicker. "Ball" of " Ballycastle " is slightly dropped, the B being too small. Type 5. The second line under E of "Ballycastle" is bent so as to rest on the top bar in the right pillar. Type 6. Faint blots on outline to left of "Railway" and on N.E. triangle. Type 7. Scratch across S.E. triangle. Type 8. "Way" of " Railway " slanting down; line under "Ballycastle" redrawn thicker ; blot to left of left pillar, near top ; faint dot over O of " Post"; very faint dot near right arm of Y of " Railway." Type g. Small C and L in "Ballycastle," letters being irregularly placed; dot before first A of " Railway." The sheets are very distinctive, owing to the margins being left imperforate. The position of a stamp on the sheet may be easily told by means of such alone. The general appearance of the stamps of this printing is very clear. The first examples I met with came to hand in September, 1901. 3i6 BELFAST ANT) COUNTY DOWN RAILWAY. Belfast and County Down Railway. Type I. First Printing, 1st Transfer (?), 1891. j^BELFAST AN D COUNTyI r_D OW N R A jl-W AY _ n BELFAST AND COUNTY DOWN RAILWAY. 317 Belfast and County Down Railway. THE Belfast and County Down Railway was incorporated in 1846 and partly opened in 1S48. The main line nffw runs from Belfast (Queen's Quay Station) to Newcastle (Co. Down), and is 76J miles in length. Starting from Belfast, the line passes through Comber (whence a branch runs to Newtownards and Donag- hadee), Ballygowan, Ballynahinch Junction, Crossgar and Downpatrick (branch to Ardglass). A second line runs from Belfast to Holywood and Bansror. The letter stamps are lithographed by Messrs. Carswell (V Sons, Belfast, and are issued in sheets of nine, arranged in three rows of three. Mr. Thos. J. Brittain, Secretary to the Belfast and County Down Railway, has courteously furnished ine with the following list of printings made for the Company down to the present time. I have added details as to type, transfer and colour, as far as is known, but it is not possible at present to describe the earlier printings. Colour. I Jan. 29th, 1891 306 I. *ISt? Yellowish-green, grass-green 2 July loth )? 500 I. 2nd? Yellowish-green 3 May 23rd, 1892 500 I. 3rd? Emerald-green 4 Nov. 25th ,, 500 ■ I. 4th? Deep green 5 Sep. 14th, 1893 500 6 Aug. 20th, 1894 500, 7 Aug. 7th, 1895 500 I. 5th? Yellowish-green ? 8 June 18th, 1896 500 I. 5th Dull grey-green ? 9 Mar. 13th, 1897 500 I. 5th Deep yellowish-green ? 10 Feb. I St, 189S 500 I. 5th Bright yellow-green II Aug. 1 8th, 1898 594 II. 6th Brownish -grey 12 Nov. 27th, 1898 500 II. 6th Dark green, black-green 13 Jan. 1 8th, 1900 500 II. 6th Deep green (margins clipped) 14 7 1901 ? II. 6th Black-green (margins torn off) * These printings are known, but it is impossible to decide their order. 3l8 BELFAST AND COUNTY DOWN RAILWAY. Type II. may readily be distinguished from type I., as it has a thicker dash under D of "2d." and the fourth bar of the left pillar is smudged at the foot. In the later printings of type I. — those from the fifth transfer — the fourth bar of the right pillar is similarly smudged, whilst that on the left is clear. In the earliest printings the bars and lines of each pillar are all clear and distinct, but the top and bottom outlines of each stamp are faint. All printings are perforated 1 1 . First Transfer (1891). I have been able to meet with an entire pane of nine stamps of what is almost certainly one of the earliest printings, as it is on paper watermarked " AVhatman, '91." The stamps are similar in type to those which were current in 1897 (type I.), but are evidently from a different transfer as the stamps are placed closer together, the average space being 3mm. The following defects occur : — Type I. Line to left of lowest bar in right pillar broken ; line to left of left pillar broken opposite line over second bar ; line under LW of '■ Railway " broken. Right stroke of N of "County" broken; outline broken to right of foot of Y of "County." Dot before B of " Belfast " ; dot between two lines over third bar in left pillar and lines broken to left of foot of second bar ; right outline broken opposite lowest bar in right hand pillar. White dot in N.E. corner of lowest bar in right pillar ; centre stroke of R of " Railway " broken. Left outline broken S.W. of B of " Belfast " and very faint opposite lower portion of left pillar. Line to right of top bar in right pillar broken ; left stroke of N of " Down " very faint. Upper edge of lowest bar of E of " Belfast " faintly indented. Faint blot on second line under AI of "Railway"; line under L of " Letters " indented. Dot attached to right side of U of " County " ; line broken S.W. of "Down"; second line o\er L of "Railway" faintly broken. .\11 the stamps have very faint outlines at top and bottom. The abo\'e described sheet is illustrated on page 316. Type 2. Type 3- Type 4- Type 5- Type 6. Type Type 7- 8. Type 9- BELFAST AND COUNTY DOWN RA1L\VA^•. 3 19 Fourth Transfer (1896 ?). Of the other 1891-94 printings I have only been able to meet with two singles, one of which is known to have been issued before 1896, and a block of six, all of which are apparently from different transfers to any others I have met with. I am, therefore, quite unable to say how many transfers were used for the first six printings, and in the absence of any evidence I am calling that used for the se\enth printing " No. 5." Messrs. Carswell & Sons, however, generally employ a transfer for several printings, so that it is not unlikely this allowance may prove too liberal. The block of six stamps shows the following defects : — Type I. Second line to right of lowest bar in right pillar broken ; lines under O of "Post," S of "Belfast," V of "Conveyance," and L of " Railway " broken. Type 2. Line under A of "And" broken; upright stroke of P of "Post" broken ; dot over W of " Railway." Types 3, 6, g. Not seen. Type 4. Top outline broken over left stroke of N of "County" (nearly also in type 6). Type 5. Base of N,E. triangle broken over O of "Post"; line to left of lowest bar in left pillar broken very clearly. Type 7. Line over E of " Belfast " broken ; line under L of " Letters " broken ; AN of " Conveyance " very defective. Top outline broken over U of " Counties." Type 8. Clear dot under first E of "Letters"; dot before centre stroke of of " Bv " ; right outline too long at foot. The three lines at top and bottom are all very clearly drawn, and of equal thickness at the bottom. Side pairs are 2 3 mm. apart instead of 3mm. as in the first printing. Of the two singles, that in yellowish -green is known to ha^•e been issued before 1896. It has faint outUnes and the O of "For" is very defective at top, and there is a faint dot over second E of " Fee." It is apparently imperforate on the right-hand side. The other single is in emerald green, but unfortunately dirty and heavily cancelled. 3^0 BELKAST AM) COUNTY DOWN RAILWAY. Belfast and County Down Railway. Type 1. Fifth Transfer, lotli Printing (1898). The fourth bar in the right pillar is connected with the line beneath it. ■ DOWN RAILWAY "j ' I BeiF&ST ANC COUNTY j t DOWM RAILWAY^ BELFAST AND COUNTY DOWN RAILWAY. 32 1 Fifth Transfer (1897). The fifth transfer appears to have been employed for at least four printings — the 7th, 8th, 9th and loth. Of the 7th and gth printings I have only met with single copies, and I am unable to say in what order they were issued, beyond that they were undoubtedly from the same transfer as the 8th and loth printings. The 8th printing is similar in colour and general appearance to the 1896 (?) printing of the Ballycastle Railway. I have only two examples of it, one dated 10.9.97. Of the loth printing I ha^'e, however, met with a number of entire panes, which enable me to give the following list of defects : Type I. Smudge under top outline, over T of "County"; faint vertical line before D of " Down." The single example referred to above does not show the latter mark, but has a dot before B of " Belfast," and another under ST, and there is a bar across the top of the second N of " Con\-e>'ance." T^'pe 2. Lines faint over D of " Down," two white spots on N.W. triangle, near E of '" Belfast." Type 3. Foot of Y of "Conveyance" defective ; foot of B of "Belfast" broken. Tvpe 4. Foot of lowest bar in right pillar indented. Type 5. Line under F of "Belfast" broken. Type 6. Right stroke of U of " County " broken. Tvpe 7. Clear dot over F of "Fee"; B of "Belfast" broken at foot; L of "Belfast" smudged. Tvpe 8. Line under right pillar faintly broken. Dot before foot of B of "By." Tvpe g. Two lines over T of " County " faintly smudged. The top and bottom outlines are very faint, and on Nos. 2 and 4 are almost entirely absent. The stamps in side pairs are 3f or 4mm. apart. Owing to the rough surface of the paper on which the stamps are printed, the above defects vary in intensity and are frequently indistinguishable. Sixth Transfer (1898). The sixth transfer — the first of type II. — has been used for all printings since the summer of iSy8. I have fortunately been able to compare several entire sheets of each and find the following defects are general : — Type I. White spot on lower edge of S.W. triangle ; line over RA of " Railway " broken ; top outline broken near right hand end ; second bar of left pillar indented at left side ; line broken S.W. of D of " Down." 322 BELFAST AND COUNTY DOWN RAILWAY, Belfast and County Down Railway. Type II. Sixth Transfer, izth Printing: (1898). Thicker bar under D of '*2d." BELFAST AND COUNTY DOWN RAILWAY. 323 Type 2. Type 3- Type +• Type 5- T}'pe 6. Type 7- Type S. Type 9- Line broken near left foot of R of " Railway." No general marks of importance. Line broken to left of lowest bar in left pillar, and also to left of foot of fourth bar. Line between right pillar and outline broken opposite top of fifth bar. White smudge on upper edge of shield ; under N of " Single." The nth and 12th printings have a dot at top, between A and I of "Railway"; also some panes of the 13th printing. Second line under U of "County" broken. No general marks of importance. In addition to the above, there are several defects which are common to most of the types, for instance, the dots under 0\\' of "Down" and second E of "Letters." The upper right hand corner of each stamp is rounded, and the fourth bar in the left pillar is always smudged at foot. Eleventh Issue, Aui^ust, 1S9S. The colour of this printing is nearer grey or brown than green. It was first chronicled in Eweiis Weekly Circulai- of October 22nd, iSqS. The panes which have come under notice may be divided into two groups, each showing a different set of defects (those by which the transfer types are distinguished, being, of course, present also and common to both). The most noticeable marks are as follows ; — Pane A. Type i „ 3 Pane B, Type i .> 4 ., 6 Coloured blot under S.W. triangle. Foot of Y of "County" very faint. Dot over tip of figure 2. Dot under top outline, over BE of " Belfast." Second line under R of "Railway" broken. O of " Of" broken at foot. Line over AN of "Conveyance" broken. White dot at top of fifth bar in right pillar. The stamps of this printing are 27|mm. or even 27mm. in those of later printings. ide as against only 27^ Tivelfth Issue, Nuvembei- i-]th, i«98. The date of this printing was given me by Mr. Brittain as 1899, but this must I think be an error for 1898, as the later date is only a few weeks before that of the 13th printing. The first sheets I received of what I assume to be the 1 2th issue were described in Eweiis Weekly Circular of May 6th, 1899, but may have been received some little time previously. The 324 BELFAST AND COUNTY DOWN RAILWAY. date 1S98 is the more likely, as a printing in exactly the same shade of green and having similar characteristics was delivered to the Belfast and Northern Counties Railway on the following day, November 28th, 1898, the inference being that both were printed at the same time. The panes I have examined mav be divided into two groups, showing several different defects : — Pane A, Type 2. Coloured dot S.W. of S.W. corner of stamp. 8. Vertical white scratch under shield. ,, ,, 9. Smudge under top outline o\'er N of " And.'' Pane B, Type 4. Dot after " And." 9 Dot under O of " Down " ; smudge on top outline over D of "And." The margins round the sheets are fairly even and average from 7 to 12mm. in width. Thirteenth Issue, January i8//;, igoo. The sheets of this printing are very distinctive, owing to the margins being clipped close to the edges of the outer stamps and left imperforate. The paper is thicker than usual, and the perforation clear cut, instead of " blind," as in preceding issues. I ha\-e examined a number of sheets and find they show two sets of defective marking. Pane A, Type 2. Coloured dot S.\\'. of S.W. corner of stamp (as in Pane A of 1 2th Issue). ,, ,, 4. Dot under bar of " 2d." 5. Two white dots on upper edge of shield, ,. 6. The usual dot under OW of " Down " is absent. Pane B, Type 3. Upright stroke of F of " For " broken near top. .. >> 7- The usual dot between .\I of " Railway " is absent. M >. 9- Large white smudge on lowest bar of right pillar. I have sheets of this printing which were issued on December 24th, 1900, and March 8th, 1901. Fourteenth Issue, 1901 ? The first sheets of this issue I met with were issued early in 1901, others being received in July, 1901, so that I presume it to be the latest. The sheets are torn mto blocks of nme before issue, all marginal paper being removed from those I have seen (on the left side by cutting the perforation and on the other tliree sides by tearing it). BELFAST AND NORTHERN COUNTIES RAILWAY. 0-3 Belfast and Northern Counties Railway, THE Belfast and Northern Counties Railway, incorporated under its present title in i860, is an amalgamation of various companies, of which the Belfast and Ballymena, opened in 1S48, was the oldest. The main line now runs from Belfast (York Road station) to Londonderrj?, passing through Antrim, Cookstown Junction (branches to Randalstown, Magherafelt, Coleraine and Cooks- town), Ballymena, Ballymoney (junction with Ballj'castle Railway), Coleraine (branch to Portrush) and Limavady Junction. At Londonderry a junction is effected with the Great Northern of Ireland Railway. Important branches run to Greenisland, Carrickfergus and Larne, Ballyclare, Portrush, Draperstown, Limavady, Dungiven and Parkmore. The length of line now open is 211 miles. The letter stamps are lithographed by ^lessrs. R. Carswell & Sons, of Belfast, and are issued in sheets of nine, arranged in three rows of three. Eighteen printings have been made down to the present time, and ;\Ir. James Cowie, Traffic ^Manager to the Company, has courteously given me the following particulars of the various dates and of the quantities supplied. I have endeavoured as far as possible to describe each printing, but very few examples of the earlier supplies are now known to exist. The stamps all appear to be of one or other of three types. Printings of Letter- Stamps made for the Belfast and Xorthern Counties Railway. Quantity. Type. Transfer. Colour. Of these printings I have only met with a single sheet, and a few single copies. Colour, yellowish-green. Rather smudgy appearance. Printings were supplied on the same dates to the Belfast and County Down Railway, and both were probably lithographed together. Date received Printing, from printers. Quantit i''= Jan. 29th, I 89 1 1008 2 Apr. 20th, ,, 504 3 Jan. ist, 1892 900 4 Apr. ist, 1893 900 5 !\Iay i6th, 1894 900 6 Dec. 20th, ,, 936 320 BKLFAST AND NOk 11 IKkN COlIM'lh'.S kAIIAVAV. Belfast and Northern Counties Railway. Type I, First l?l Printins: (1801). Eacli stamp, except No. S, lias the line over K of "Sin^rlc" broken, whilst oil, except No. 2, have the line over N of "Counties" broken. BELMST^ANO NORTHERN BELFAST AND NORTHERN i COUNTIES RAILWAY I COUNTIES RAILWAY^ BELFAST AND NOKTHERN ICOUNTIFS RAILWAY BELFAST AND NORTHERN COI'NTIES RAILWAY. 327 Date received Printin g. from printers. Quantity. Type. Transfer. Colour. f Aug. 6th, 1S95 900 ISt ? Yellowish-green ? 8 Apr. 1 6th, 1896 1800 2nd ? Deep green ? (clear) 9 Oct. 23rd, 900 2nd ? Dark grey ? (clear) 10 Feb. 19th, 1897 2700 2nd ? Pale green (clear) II* Feb. 3rd, 1898 900 2nd Yellow-green (clear) 12 INIay 3rd, 900 II. 3rd Brownish-yellow 13^' Aug. 19th, 2790 II. 3rd Brownish-grey 14* Nov. 2Sth, ,, 1800 II. 3rd Deep green 15 Aug. 2nd, 1899 2700 III. 4th -1- Black-green 16 June gth, 1900 900 III. 4th Green (imperf. edges) 17 Aug. 2 1st, 900 III. 4th Green 18 ? 1901 ? III. 4th Black-green t The 4th transfer is really the 3rd retouched. Type I. — The line over E of "Single' is almost in\-ariably line over broken or indented. In light printings the lines near the apex of the S.E. triangle are defective. The line over S of "Letters" is indented, and in early printings the line over the right arm of the N of " Conveyance " is broken. There are generally faint blots on two or three of the lines under R of "Railway" and sometimes also under S of "Counties." The upper and lower outlines of each stamp are famt. I am unable to say how many transfers of this type were employed. Type II. — The outlines of each stamp are thicker, especially that on the right hand side. There are generally distinct dots under I and G of "Single." A faint dot is attached to the lower edge of the line over E of " Belfast." There is also a faint dot in the angle of the figure " 2." In both this and the preceding type there is a faint dot attached (and sometimes nearly merged in) the lower tip of the S.W. triangle, just over N of " Counties." The line over " Ounties Rail " (" Counties Railway ") has been thickened. Type III. — This is reallv the second type retouched, as the defects were merely erased from the old transfer prepared from type II. The dot under G of "Single" was removed from all the types on the transfer, and that under the " I " from all e.xcept type 9. The N of "Single" was apparently damaged on type 6 and had to be redrawn. The relative positions of the types are necessarily the same as on the original transfer. ?28 BELFAST AND NORTHERN COUNTIES RAILWAY. Belfast and Northern Counties Railway. Type II., isth Printing (1898). Each stamp has faint dots under I and of "Single.' BELFAST AND NORTHERN COUNTIES RAILWAY. 329 Early Printings (1891-1898). Of the earliest printings I have met with a sheet or pane of nine stamps, which shows the following defects : — Type I. Hairline under B and over S of " Belfast." Type 2. Second line under F of "Belfast" indented or broken. T-\pe 3. Two faint white dots to left of shield. Type 4. Line under IE of "Counties" broken. Type 5. Right outline faintly broken opposite top bar in right pillar. Type 6. Dot under S.E. triangle. Type 7. Faint smudge before E of "Belfast." Type 8. Dot between A and N of " Conveyance." Type g. Dots under L of "Belfast" and E of "Northern." The defects, except those on types 8 and 9 are not very distinct. All types, except No. 8, have the line over E of "Single" broken, and all, except Xo. 2, that over the right arm of X of "Counties." Of other early printings I have only been able to carefully examine nine single examples and one pair. .Vll except one have the line over E of "Single" broken or indented, and the exception is a heavy, blurred impression. Three single examples are of rather a heavy blurred printing. All three have a thick smudge under S of " Counties " and a dot over the upper tip of the S.W. triangle. There is also a slight smudge to left of the third bar in the right pillar. In one example the lower edge of the shield is -smudged. In all the above the S.E. triangle is very smudgy. The earliest, which I provisionally classify as the 7th issue of 6.8.95, is postmarked " Coleraine, 3.1.96." Earlv Printings. Clear Impressions. — Three of the other examples are very faintly printed in pale green and show the background of crossed lines very clearly. One is known to have been issued in January, 1898, and is probably the loth issue (19.2.97). Fortunately the margin shows the position on the sheet : — Type I has a blot on the N.W. triangle, near left edge, and another on lower outline, under AI of " Railway." The right outline shows a wide break opposite the top bar in the right pillar. Type 7. Blots under GL of "Single" and over RN of "Northern." Types 3, 6 or g. (Margin at right side). Blot on S.W. triangle, near left edge ; line broken under W of "Railway" (circular); line over E of " Single " broken t\\ice instead of once. 330 BELFAST AND NORTHERN COUNTIES RAILWAY. Two examples, one in deep green and one in dark grey (8th and gth issues ?) also have a very clear appearance. Both are from the same position on a transfer, there being in each case a blot on the left foot of the 3rd bar in the left pillar (No. 4 ? on sheet). The pair is similar in colour to the printing which was supplied to the Belfast and County Down Railway on February ist, i8g8, and I therefore provisionally identify it with that received by the Belfast and Northern Counties Railway on February 3rd, 1898. The pair have margin at top and must therefore be either types i, 2, or 2, 3. Type 2 ? Dot attached to lower edge of line over {and slightly to left of) B of "Belfast"; blots under S.E. triangle and over right arm of W of " Railwa)'." Type 3 ? Dot outside left outline, opposite B of " Belfast," with blot just above; lines under Y of "Railway" broken; stamp very defective at N.E. corner. I am not at all sure that all the above printings are from the same transfer, but, in the absence of any evidence to the contrary, I classify them together. Type II. Third Transfer (iSgS'igoi). The third transfer has been employed for all printings required since early in iSg8, but in the following j'ear several of the more important defects were removed. The types may be distinguished as follows : — Type I. Upper edge of N.W. triangle under LF of " Belfast " broken. Type 2. Line or lines sometimes broken S.W. of C of " Counties " ; second line under second A of "Railway" broken. Type 3. Lower outline smudged under " Nties " of "Counties"; line over ST of "Belfast" broken faintly. Type 4. Dot under Y of "Railway" (circular). Type 5. Dot under S.E. triangle. Types 6 and g. Lower outline bent upwards at left end. Type 6. Left outline broken to left of " Counties." Type 7. Line broken under ST of " Belfast." Type 8. Line to left of fourth bar in left pillar broken (except 13th and 14th printings). Type g. Dot under C of " Counties." Most of the above marks occur in the 12th, 13th and 14th printings only. Before printing the 15th supply the transfer appears to have BELFAST AND NORTHERN COUNTIES RAILWAY. 331 been cleaned and most of the defects removed, new ones originating. The marks on types 6, 7, 8 and 9 show clearly, however, in nearly all printings. The " fourth " or retouched transfer is most readily distinguished from the third by means of the absence of the dots under I and G of " Single," but type 9 still shows the dot under I. In type 6 the N of "Single" looks like a letter W from which the left arm has been broken off. In type 9 the line over " Counties " is completed, it having been at first too short at the left extremity. Twelfth Printing (3.5.98). Special interest attaches to the date of this printing, as it was the iirst from the third transfer. I have several sheets which were issued at the end of July, 1898, so that there can be little doubt of its identity. Thirteenth Printing (19. 8. 98). This printing is in a brownish-grey shade, resembling very little the colour green. It was probably printed at the same time as the nth issue (18.8.98) of the Belfast and County Down Railway, It was chronicled in Ewen's IFee/c/v Circular of September 17th, 189S. Fourteenth Printing (28.11.98). Dark green, perforation generally blind. I have an example postmarked " Belfast, 23.2.99." In all sheets which have come under notice, there is a blot under IL of " Railway " (circular) in type i and a dot over the Y. This printing, in dark green, was chronicled in Eiven's JVeekly Circular of May 6th, 1899. Fifteenth Printing (2.8.99). Black-green, perforation usually clean- cut, large holes. I have examples postmarked 2. 11. 99, 21.2.00, 4.3.00, and 16.5.00, the latter being exceptionally dark. Sheets are known to have been issued on 15.1.00., and were on hand at Belfast Terminus as late as December, igoo. The paper is sometimes watermarked " Jones." 332 BELFAST AND NORTHERN COUNTIES RAILWAY Belfast and Northern Counties Railway. Type III., l6th Printing (1900). Type 9 alone sliows the dot under I of "Single." BELFAST AND NORTHERN COUNTIES RAILWAY. 333 Sixteenth Printing; (9.6.00). Green, pale green; perf. 11, clean-cut. Very thick paper, margins clipped close and left imperforate. Similar to the 13th issue (iS.i.oo) of the Belfast and County Down Railway. I have specimens which were obtained in August and December, igoo, and one which is postmarked 17.7.00. Sheets are occasionally watermarked vertically down the centre row of stamps, " NSON & Co." The other half of the watermark I have not met with. Seventeenth Printing (21.8.00). Green, dark green ; perf. 11, clean- cut or blind. I have not met with an entire sheet, but have a block of seven, which was issued in March, 1901. 1 have not met with any examples showing margins, and the printing mav very likely have been in larger sheets than nine. Eigiiteentli Printing (igoi). The earliest examples of this printing which have come under notice were issued in June, 1901, and were evidently printed in sheets of 36, with fairly wide margins. Each sheet is apparently torn into four blocks of nine — each having margin on two sides onl}- — before issue. The printings from the third transfer ha\e a peculiarity worth noting. The stamps vary in size. In the [3th and 14th printings, the width of each stamp is 28jmm. whilst in the i6th it is only 27imm., the normal measurement being 27fmm. 334 CASTLEDERG AND VICTORIA BRIDGE TRAMWAY COMPANY. Castlederg and Victoria Bridge Tramway Company* THE Castlederg and Victoria Bridge Tramway runs from Castle- derg, through Spamount, Crew and Fyfin, to Victoria Bridge, where a junction is effected with the Great Northern Railway. The line is 7J miles in length. iXASTLESEWi VICTORIA BRIDSE LI R;> M WAY C M p/^Tj yT CaSiLEflERlsVICTDRiAJRIDS t.V5^5^l^j;r; TRAMWAY COMPANY. The letter stamps were lithographed by Messrs. Sealy, Bryers & Walker, and are issued in sheets of 24, arranged in four rows of six. The original design was prepared from this firm's stock design. No. 2 (small C to Conveyance), the title of the Company being then printed in and 24 (or 48 ?) duplicates made. ^Ir. W. J. Davidson, Secretary and General Manager to the Company, informs me that the Company's authority from the Post Office is dated November 13th, 1897, and that 2000 stamps were probably printed. There has been only one printing, but specimens are known perforated both i2i and 10, the latter being scarce. In stamp No. 4 the lines above T of " Tramway " are very defecti\e. No. 10 shows a white spot on the figure " 2," and in No. 17 there is a white spot between the shield and first C of "Conveyance." CAVAN AND LEITRIM RAILWAY. 335 Cavan and Leitrim Railway, THE Cavan and Leitrim Railway runs from Dromod (Junction with the M.G.\\'. Railway) through Mohill, Ballinamore (branch to Arigna), Bawnboy Road and Ballyconnell to Belturbet, junction with the Cavan to Clones branch of the Great Northern Railway, and is 48J miles in length. There have been two printings of letter stamps. ist, 1891 ? 2d. green, " Cavan, Leitrim & Roscommon Lt. RaiF." 2nd, 1901. 2d. carmine, " Cavan & Leitrim Railway Company." The former was lithographed by Messrs. Sealy, Bryers & Walker of Dublin, and was issued in sheets of 24, arranged in four rows of six. The printers of the second supply are unknown. I. Cavan, Leitrim and Roscommon Light Railway. The first printing was made in a bluish shade of green, and the stamps are exactly similar in type to Messrs. Sealy, Bryers & Walker's stock design No. i (which was used for all printings, made by the firm down to 1897). An impression from the drawing was obtained and after printing in the title of the Company, 24 duphcates were made and arranged in the form of a sheet, four rows of six. The 24 stamps on the sheet may all be distinguished by means of defects in the design, and they also show (amongst others) the following in common : — (a) Large second C to "Conveyance" and small ^ B to "By," the chief distinguishing marks of Sealy, Bryers & Walker's design No. i. (Design No. 2. has a small C and large B). {b) The lower bar of the first E of "Conveyance" is broken. (c) There is a white spot on the S.E. triangle, near the right edge. (d) The first of " Roscommon " is somewhat like Q. {e) The line to right of second bar in left pillar is broken. (/■) There are often dots under the R and second O of "Roscommon." (g) The line under "Roscommon Light Railway" is too short at the right end> Type I. Cavan, Leitrim and Roscommon Light Railway. Issued from 1891 to 1901. CAVAN. LEffflM. AND fLS-rMMON LTftAlLv CA VA N. LEITRIM, A HC' J>OGC0MM0N LT RAiLY Private Imitations (189S). Easily distinguished by the small C in "Cavan.' Proof Impression of above imitation. r CA\AN AND LEITRI.M RAILWAY. 337 Xo. 2. Xo. ^■ Xo. 5- Xo. 6. Xo. ^3- Xo. 15- Xo. 19 Xo. 20 Xo. 22. At each corner of the sheet there is a small blot of colour. The following are a few of the distinguishing; marks of single stamps on the sheet. Line broken to right of third bar in right pillar. S.E. triangle broken opposite B of ■' B\-." White spot on triangle opposite of " For." Outline absent to left of " Cavan." Whits spot over shield. Blot over third O of " Roscommon." \\'hite mark on dot of '• 2d." of " Conve^'ance " broken at left. White mark attached to left of shield. The stamps are perforated lo, with a verv defective machine. They often have the appearance of being pin perf. A description of the machine is given later isee ■■ Kanturk and Newmarket Railwa\- " . Private Imitations. Towards the end of June, iSgS. a number of stamps, inscribed '■ Cavan, Leitrim and Roscommon Light Railway," were put on the market, with the description that they were "remainders of a first issue which had been withdrawn." The various characteristics of the stamps at once led me to believe them of quite recent manufacture, and I was fortunately able to expose their true character before they had been accepted bv collectors. Under date, July igth, iSgS, the Secretary of the Cavan and Leitrim Railway Company confirmed mv opinion and wrote : — " I beg to inform you that this Company has made only one issue of letter fee stamps, and that is still in use." An enquiry into the matter was then instituted and on July 29th, the Secretary sent me the following report : — "I am obliged for your letter of 25th inst.. and having now fully investigated the matter, am satisfied that the stamps in question [the Cavan, Leitrim and Roscommon imitations] were put in circula- tion under a misapprehension. They were printed in error to the order of another Company. Snme of them got into the hands of a private collector in this Citv [Dublin] and were ,!_;iven by him in exchange, or presented (I am not sure which), to an English friend, 338 CAVAN AND LEITRIM RAILWAY. E » i = £^ i CAVAX AND LEITRIM RAIL\VA\\ 339 in the belief that they were part of a first issue by us which had been withdrawn. As a matter of fact, ^\-e do contemplate withdrawing our first (and present) issue, in consequence of a change in the name of our Company. I am informed that an announcement of this intention was made some time ago in a publication connected with stamp collecting." This letter clears up the matter to a certain extent, but is somewhat ambiguous. It is hardly likely a Railway Company would make the mistake of ordering stamps with the title of another Company. There is strong evidence, moreover, against this. (a) The imitations bear exactly the same title as the originals, the words " Light Railway " being contracted in the same way. This has some significance, as " Rally." is a Aery unusual contraction. The inference is that the printers of the imitations had a specimen of the original to copy, and if that is the case, there can hardly be any question of a mistake having been made, at any rate in the sense implied in the letter above. (li) If an order had been sent by another Company to Messrs. Sealy, Bryers & "Walker, of Dublin (the printers of the originals), and they had printed stamps inscribed " Cavan, Leitrim and Roscommon Light Railway " in error, the}' would surely have done so in a straightforward manner and would have used the old transfer, type I., or made a new one from their then current drawing, type II. The firm had two general drawings (consisting of the body of a stamp with spaces at top and bottom for the title). Type I. was invariably employed from 1891 to 1897, ^"d type II. from 1897 down to the time of the fire on October 12th, 1898, which destroyed their premises. The new stamps are, however, merely an imitation of their type I. (c) Before forming a transfer, proofs of the finished drawings were made, and such are on exactly the same paper and in the same shade as proofs of an imitation of the Kanturk and Newmarket Railway, made about the same time, the inference being that both were ordered and printed together. If that is the case, there can 340 CAVAN AND LEITRIM RAILWAY. be no doubt that the imitations were made for disposal to collectors, but by whom is unfortunately unknown. The imitations were lithographed in sheets of 48, and a large number were printed. I have been shown specimens perforated 10, II and i2|- respectively. The colour is rather a bright green, pale and deep shades. Imperforate proofs occur in a pale shade of green, with wide margins (see illustration). None of the defects found on the originals occur, but all appear to show the following : — 1;) No dot under V of " Rally.'' b) Xo commas after " Cavan " and " Leitrim." c) Small, badly formed C to "Cavan." d) No stop after "Railway" (circular). e) Second line over "And" broken off short at right hand end. /) Slight dot after "Letters." g) Line under MA of "Leitrim and" smudged. I am able to illustrate a pair of the perforated imitations, as well as the imperforate proof. 11. Cavan and Leitrim Railway Company. Early in igoi, the new stamps inscribed "Cavan and Leitrim Railway Company, Ltd." were brought into use. They are litho- graphed and issued in sheets of 24, arranged in four rows of six, with very wide margins all round. On the top margin, over the sixth stamp, is a control number in black, sheets before me being numbered respectively 8, 20, 21, 27 and 100. The stamps are very evenly placed on the sheets, but show numerous defects. The following appear on all the stamps : — (o) The second bar in the left pillar is misshapen. (i) The line over "Of" is broken. (c) The left outline of the left pillar is drawn too far at the bottom. Each of the stamps on the sheet also shows distinguishing marks. The stamps are perforated 11. The earliest copy I have met with is postmarked April 25th, 1901. CLOGHER \'ALLEV RAILWAY. 341 Clogher Valley Railway, T HE Clogher \'alley Raihva}- runs from ^laouiresbridge to Tynan, both junctions with the Great Northern Railway. The line is 37 miles in length, and starting fronr the Maguiresbridge terminus passes through eight stations, Brookeb:iro. Colebrooke, Fi\-e- miletown, Clogher, Augher, Ballygawley. Aughnacloy and Caledon (next station to Tvnan). TRAMWAY. C° L"^'' ' CLOGHER VALLEY RAILWAY C^LTP The letter stamps of the Clogher Valley Railway are printed by Messrs. Sealy. Br3rers & Walker, and two printings have been made down to the present time. The first of these was made in sheets of 24, arranged in four rows of six, each stamp being inscribed " Clogher \'alley Tramwa^■ Co., Limited," whilst in the second, the inscription " Tramway " was altered to " Railway," and the sheets contain 48 stamps. Mr. W. Irvin, General ^lanager of the Clogher Vallev Railway Company, has kindh' informed me that the two printings were made as follows : — Clogher \"alley Tramway Co., Ltd. 2000 stamps January, 1891 Clogher \'alle\' Railway Co., Ltd. loooo stamps January, 1898 CLOGHER \ALLEV RAILWAY. 343 The original drawing for the "Tramway" printing was made by taking an impression from Messrs. Sealy, Bryers & Walker's stock design No. i (large C to "Conveyance") i 2 3 i 2 3 and adding the title of the Company. Six impressions ^ ^ * ^ I 2 3 I 2 3 were then made and the resulting- block duplicated » f 456456 four tmies. On all six types there is a white spot on the lowest bar in the left hand pillar. In type 6, the T of "Tramway" is broken in half. Only one printing was made from this transfer, the colour being pale yellowish-green and the perforation 11. Specimens are of con- siderable rarity, although two entire sheets have been fortunately preserved. Title changed to Clogher Valley Railway Co., Ltd. The original drawing was prepared from Messrs. Sealy's stock design No. 2 (small "C" to " Con^'eyance"), the name being then printed in and four impressions 12121212 taken. The block of 4 was then duplicated 34343434 12121212 12 times and arranged as shown, the resultmg "^ .. "^ 34343434 sheet consisting of 48 stamps in six rows of 12121212 eight. The types may be distinguished as 34343434 follows : — Types I and 3. The line between the right hand pillar and the outer line of stamp is bent at the bottom. Types 2 and 4. The second line above E of "Valley" is broken. Type I. Slight smudge under L of "Clogher." Three top lines of stamp broken at right hand end. Types 2 and 3. Coloured dot under Y of "Valley." Type 3. Line broken under L of " Clogher." Type 4. Line over T of "Ltd." broken. Only one printing has been made, the colour being dark green and the perforation 10. 344 CORK AND MACROOM DIRECT RAH, WAV. ■= ^~ X It I, C .- X ~0 CORK AND MACROOM DIRECT RAILWAY. 345 Cork and Macroom Direct Railway. THE Cork and Macroom Direct Railway was incorporated in 1 86 1 and opened in 1866. The line is 2^^ miles in length and runs from Capwell Station (Cork) through Ballincollig, Kilumney, Kilcrea, Crookstown Road and Dooniskey to Ivlacroom (station for Glengarriff and Killarney). The letter stamps are lithographed by Messrs. Purcell & Co., of Cork, in sheets of eight. Three printings have been made down to the present time. ssue. Date. Quantity. Size of Sheet. Colour. Perf, I ? 1000 ? 2 rows of 4 Blue 12 2 May, 1898 500 2 rows of 4 Green 12 3 1900 ? 500 4 rows of 2 „ 12 All three issues differ in the number of lines at top and bottom. Type I. has three lines at top and two at bottom. Type II. has three lines at top and three at bottom. Type III. has two lines at top and three at bottom. The body of the stamp remains unaltered in each case and is exactly similar to that of Type III. of the Cork, Bandon and South 346 CORK AND MACROOM DIRECT RAILWAY. Type III. Third Printing (igoo). An entire siieet, as issued. CORK & MACROOM CORK & MACROOM CORK AND MACKOOM DIRECT RAILWAY. 347 Coast Railway. Type I. has only one line above "Direct Railway " whilst Types II. and III. huxe two lines, the lower of the two being divided into two portions in type III. The title of the Company is entirely redrawn in Type III., but in Type II. it only appears to have been slightly altered from Type I. Arra/igemenf of Types on Sheet. First Issue. Second Issue. Third Issue. I 2 3 4 1234 I I 5 6 7 8 5 6 7 . S 2 I 2 2 I 2 First Printing. Sheets of eight, arranged in two rows of four. Printed in blue (dark and pale shades) ; \erv clear impression. This issue was recalled from stations in INlay, iSgS, a new supply in green taking its place. Second Printing, May, i8g8. Sheets of eight, arranged in two rows of four. Colour, bright green ; clear impression. In stamp No. 2, there is a coloured dot over " l\; " : in No. 6, the lower line of the S.W. triangle is broken ; and in No. 7, the second line under C of " Cork " is broken. Third Printing, igoo. Sheets of eight, four rows of two. Colour, yellowish -green ; clear impression. The sheets show two types : — Type I. Thin line over "Direct Railway.'' Type 2. Thicker line over " Direct Railway." The stamps of the first and third rows are Type i and those of the second and fourth rows Type 2. A.^^\ 348 CORK, BANDOX AND SOUTH COAST RAILWAY. Cork, Bandon and South Coast Railway. Type I. First Printing. No index number in top left hand corner. CORK,BANDON,AND SOUTH COAST RAILWAY. CORK.BANDON.ANd' SOUTH COAST RAILWAY. Type 11. With Comma after " Bandon. Type ill. No Comma after "Bandon." CORK, BANDON AND SDLTH COASI RAILWAY. 349 Corkt Bandon and South Coast Railway* THE Cork, Bandon and South Coast Railway was incorporated in 1S45 and opened as far as Bandon in 1S51. During the last 25 years, the line has been considerably lengthened, and now runs to Baltimore. Starting from the Albert Quay Terminus at Cork, it passes through \^■aterfall, Kinsale Junction (branch to Kinsale), Bandon, Clonakilty Junction (branch to Clonakilty), Dunmanway, Drimoleague Junction (branch to Bantrv, whence coaches run to Glengarriff, Kenmare and Killarney), and Skibbereen, to the \\"estern Terminus at Baltimore. The length of the line is 103 miles. The letter stamps are lithographed by ?\lessrs. Purcell lV Co., of Cork, in sheets of 12, var\'ing in shape with the different transfers. I am much indebted to ^Ir. E. J. O'B. Croker, General ^lanager of the Cork, Bandon and South Coast Railway, for the following list of the printings made down to the present time. I have added details as to arrangement of the sheets and colour of the impression. !ssue. Date. Quantity. Type. Xo. Sheet. Colour. I Jan. lOth, 1 89 1 2000 None 3X4 Yellow-green 2 Xov. , 1 6th ,, 3000 195 2x6 Bright yell. -green 3 Jan. 1 6th, 1893 3000 iy5 2x6 Dark green 4 Feb. 26th, 1894 3000 IM5 2x6 Pale gre^•-green 5 Oct. 22nd, 1895 3000 195 4x3 Pale green 6 Dec. 14th, 1S95 3000 9^ 2x6 Green 7 :\Iay 1 2th, iSgS 3000 92 4x3 Green s Oct. 4th, iSyg 3000 :) - -i Types L and II. both ha\-e a comma after " Bandon," but this was omitted from type III. Only one transfer was made from type I. and the same from its successor, but type III. has served for all subsequent printings. The method seems to have been to draw the design of a single stamp on transfer paper and transfer thence to a stone for preser\-ation. \\'hen a supph- of stamps was required, o « CORK, BAXDOX AXD SOUTH COAST RAILWAY. 351 twelve impressions were taken, and transferred to the machining stone in whatever form of arrangement was most con\enient at the time. In the case of the first two printings, even the original drawing for them does not seem to have been preserved, as the design of each of the three first issues was slightly different. The numbers "195" and " 92 " found on the stamps are private marks of the printers. In type III., there is a slight space between the 9 and 5 of " 195," and the right hand bracket is too high up. This latter defect is also seen in later issues and leads one to suppose that "(195)" was altered to •• (92) " b}* simply erasing the figures " i " and " 5 " and substituting "2." It will be noticed there is a space before the "9" in " 92." I do not know for certain, but assume that the issue without the private index numbers was the first. A used specimen bearing the number •• 195 " is known postmarked Oct. 26th, 1892, and is therefore probably the second issue. The order of the 3rd, 4th and 3th printings as given in the table is not established beyond doubt, but all eyidence met with confirms the arrangement given. When the old issues were recalled from the stations in 1898, those chiefly on hand were the 5th and 6th of my list. Sheets of the 7th printing do not appear to haye come into the hands of collectors till several months after their dehvery by the printers They were described in Ewens Weekly Circular of December loth, iSqs. Fii-st Printing, 1N91. I ha\-e only seen portions of two sheets, including a block of four. These are evidently from sheets which were arranged in three rows of four, as in the case of the first issue for the Cork, Blackrock and Passage Railway made by ^•"'"'''' the .same printers about 1S92 (?). The only positions on ' " ^ ^ a sheet of which I ha\-e seen examples are Xos. 2, 5, 670 10 and II. In each the lowest line but one 9 10 II 12 /' "' extends too far at the left end. No. 5 has a white dot just over the shield. In No. 6 the vertical stroke of the " D " of "Bandon" is broken. Xos. 7 and 10 each have a white spot on the body of the figure ■■ 2." whilst No. 10 also has a coloured dot at the top of C of "Cork." The perforation is clean cut and gauges 12. CORK, BANDON AXD SOU fH COAST RAILWAY. 353 Second Printing, Xovemhe}-, iSgi. I ha\'e fortunateh' been able to examine an entire sheet of this issue. The arrangement is in two rows of six, and the impression in yellow- green is by no means clear. In each stamp a line in the lower left hand triangle is broken near the apex. Types. 23456 S 9 10 II 12 No. I. No. 2. No. 3- No. 4- No. 5- Xo. 6. No. 1 • Xo. S. Xo. 9- Xo. 10. No. II. Xo. 12. The defects on the sheet are difficult to define, owing to the heavy and blurred printing, but the following are of use in recon- structing a sheet ; — Coloured smudge between body of figure 2 and bar under D of "2d." Faint horizontal scratch across line over V of "By." Left stroke of .A of " -And " very faintly smudged near top. White dot on line over first E of "Fee''; C of "Coast" broken. Faint white dots on line over P and S of "Post"; smudge under lower outline, under O of " South." Blot on I of " Railway." Always imperforate on left and lowest sides. Lowest vertical bar in right pillar faintly connected with line beneath. Left outline defective 7 mm. from lower end. White dot on line over O of " Of." Second -A of "Railway" cut through, ilinute smudge on top outline over B.A of " Bandon." Owing to the stamps being printed in sheets of 12, arranged in two rows of six, with outer edges left imperforate, it is very easy to appro.ximately decide the position of any stamp on the sheet by means of its margin, at least one side being always imperforate. Third Printing, iSqj. I ha\-e been able to examine two sheets of this printing. The colour is deep green, and the-impression is, if an)thing, less clear than its predecessor. The arrangement of each sheet is two rows of six, as in the preceding and succeeding issues. The twelve stamps on the sheet are distinguishable, the chief marks being as follows : — Xo. I. Coloured dot to left of shield, opposite EY of "Conveyance." No. 2. Dot over FO of " For." Xo. 3. Coloured dot after " Post." No. 4. C of "Coast" defective at foot. Types. 23456 8 g 10 II 12 Cork, Bandon and South Coast Railway. Entire Sheet of the Fifth Printing, type III. (1895)- CORK. BANDON AND SOUTH COAST RAILWAY. -SOUTH COAST RAILWAY.' SOUTH COAST RAILWAY. CORK. BANDON AND SOUTH COAST RAILWAY. CORK, BANDON AND SOUTH COAST RAILWAY. 355 No. 5- No. 6. No. 7- No. 8. No. 9- No. 10. No. II. No. 12. F of " Fee " broken near top. X of " Single " connected with line above. Hairline across NV of " Conveyance." Curved hairline before S of " South." R of " Letters " blurred. Hairline passing between " Con^eyance " and " Of" Line under ND of "And" broken. Coloured dot over R of "Letters." Blot over first E of "Fee' under B of " Bandon." and All the types of this printing are comparatively easy to distinguish. Fourth Printing, 1894. This printing is a strong contrast to its predecessor, being in a pale green shade and very clearly ^■''"' impressed, with few defects. Specimens are of some 8 10 II 12 rarity, nothing larger than a pair being known and but very few " singles." Evidence is, however, sufficient to show that the sheets were arranged in two rows of six. In stamp No. 12 the printer's number is given as "(19.5)." Fifth Printing, 1895. Of this issue I have been able to examine two sheets of twelve and a part sheet of ele\en, as also smaller blocks. The arrangement is in four rows of three, and the impression is clearly made in a very similar shade of pale green to that of the preceding issue. Stamp No. 5 shows a coloured blot at each end of the lower inscription. The following other defects are noticeable : — Types. I 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 II 12 No. I No. 2 No. 3 No. 4 No. 5 No. 6 No. 7 No. 8 No. g No. 10 No. II No. 12 Faint dot i mm. to right of D of "And." Second line under O of " Bandon " indented. The two strokes of L of "Letters" do not join. Dot under second C of " Conveyance." Faint dot to right of right outline. See also above. Coloured dot 2 mm. to right of top of D of " And.^ Line over OU of " South " broken. Faint white dot on line under E of " Single." Left stroke of U of " South " broken. Line over ND of "Bandon" broken. Second line under U of " South " broken. Dot over first E of " Conveyance." The Stamps may be almost equally well arranged by means of their imperforate margin. S "J UJ P • • • V t 4 > «»• « • • « »•*»••••■ »••**•••* CUKK, BANOON A\D SOU IH COAST RAILWAY. 357 S/'xt// I^ri/!ti/ix\ iSg6. As this printing was still current when interest by collectors in letter stamps began to manifest itself, specimens are by no means rare. Sheets are arranged in two ■^''*' , rows of six, and are chiefly remarkable for very large 123456 -' . 8 Q 10 II 12 niargins at top and bottom. Each stamp is perforated on all four sides, whereas in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th issues e\er\' stamp has at least one side left imperforate, and even in sheets of the other printings only the two centre stamps show perfora- tion all round. The following defects occur : — Outline broken at S.W. corner. Line under first A of '" Railway " broken. Line over \V of "Railway" broken; O of "Conveyance" broken. Dot over A of " Coast." Dot over X of '' Single." White dot on foot of figure 2. Hairline between " For " and " Conveyance." Dot under 0.\ of "Coast"; smudge under A of " Bandon." Line under BA of "Bandon" broken. C of "Coast" broken at top. Top bar in right pillar broken at foot. Left pillar incorrectly drawn at foot. Second line under N of "And" broken. The defect on type 12 has a very peculiar appearance, an attempt having apparently been made to insert seven instead of six vertical bars in the left pillar. No. I. No. 2. No. 3- No. 4- No 5 No. 6. No. 7- No. 8. No. 9- No. 10. No. II. No. 12. Tj-pes. I 2 3 456 7 8 9 10 II 12 No. I No. 2 No. 3 No. 4, No. 5, No. 6 No. 7. Seventh Printing, 1898. Sheets are clearly impressed in a shade of green similar to that of the preceding issue, and are arranged in four rows of three, the outer margins being left imperforate and clipped close. The following defects occur : — Upright stroke of R of "For" broken in centre. Line under C of "Cork" broken. Smudge at other end of line. Smudge on line over IL of " Railway." Line broken between S.^^■. triangle and second E of " Fee." Outline broken at S.W. corner. Top and lowest bars in left pillar are too long. Blot on line under OR of " Cork." Cork, Bandon and South Coast Railway. Entire Sheet of tlie Seventli Printing, Type III. iS CORK, BANDOX AND SOUTH COAST RAILWAY. 359 No. 8. Blot on lower outline, under AS of "Coast"; B of "By" defective. Xo. 9. Faint stop after "Coast"; blot on R of "Letters." No. 10. Blot between S.E. triangle and R of "Railway" (circular). No. II. Faint dot in corner, about 2 mm. left of C of "Cork." Xo. 12. CE of " Con\'eyance " ver\- faint. Xos. 2 and 12 have very distinct variations of tlie printer's number " (92) " at the top left hand corner of the stamps. In Xo. 2 the figure "2" is more hke "3" or "S," and in Xo. 12 it is larger than usual, with a straight foot. In the other ten stamps the figure 2 has a curly foot. Eighth Printing, 1899. I ha\"e not been able to meet with any examples of this printing. The seventh supply seems to be still current and was being issued from the Company's offices as late as September, 1901. Several sheets received in that month are e.xactly similar to those I received in Xovember, iSgS, which were of the seventh printing, as described above. 360 CORK, BLACKROCK AND PASSAGE RAILWAY. Cork, Blackrock and Passage Railway. Entire Sheet of First Printing-, type I. CORK, BLACKROCK AND PASSAGE RAILWAY. 361 Cork, Blackrock and Passage Railway* THE Cork, Blackrock and Passage Railway was incorporated in 1S46 and opened in 1850. The line is only 6 J miles in length and runs from the Albert Street Terminus at Cork to Blackrock, Rochestown and Passage. AND PASSAGE RAILWAY The letter stamps are lithographed by Messrs. Purcell & Co., of Cork, in sheets of 12, arranged in three rows of four. There have been two printings, which Mr. J. J. O'Sullivan, General Manager of the Railway, informs me were received about 1892 and 1898, exact dates not being available. The issue of the second printing was chronicled in Ewt IVeek/v Circulai' of December loth, i8g8. Both issues are perforated 12, but that of 1S98 is on paper of much inferior quality, and the holes are not so clearly cut. The two printings are distinct in type, and they also differ in colour, the first being in dull grey- green and Types on Sheet. ^ j - j 1234 the latter in bluish-green. The design of the 5678 second issue is similar to Type III. of the 9 10 II 12 Cork, Bandon and South Coast Railway. Type I. First Printing:. Printed by McCorquodale & Co., Newton=Ie=Winows. Type I. Second Printing. Printed by McCorquodale & Co. Newton-le^Wiilows. Type II. Third Printing. Lithographed by McCorquodale & Co., Glasgow. Type HI. Fourth Printing. Lithographed in Dublin ? DONEGAL RAILWAY COMPANY. 363 Donegal Railway Company, THE Donegal is an amalgamation of the Finn Valley and \A'est Donegal Railways, and was incorporated under its new title in October, 1892. The Finn Valley Railway ran from Stranorlar, through Killygordon, Liscooly, Castlefinn and Clady to Strabane, and was incorporated in i85o and opened in 1863, whilst the West Donegal line ran in an opposite direction from Stranorlar to Donegal, passing through Meen Glas, Lough Eske and Clar, and was not opened until 1889. Subsequently the line has been extended westward from Donegal to Inver and Killibegs (1893) and northward from Strabane to Londonderry (1899). A branch from Stranorlar to Fintown and Glenties has also been opened (1895). Letter stamps bearing the new title, " Donegal Railway Company," do not appear to have been issued until the extension to Glenties was made in 1S93, but whether the old stamps of the Finn A'alley and ^^'est Donegal Railways remained in use till then is unknown. :Mr. W. R. Lawson, Secretary and Accountant to the Donegal Railway, has kmdly furnished the following list of the printings which have been made down to the present time. The description I have added. /. Printed bv Messis. McCorqiiodak c^ Co., Ltd. {yewton-k-WiUows). Issue. Date Quantity. Size of Sheet. Perf. Colour. 1st July 19th, I S95 1000 10, 2 rows of 5 Roul. Green, pale green 2nd Mar. 25th, 1896 2000 10, 2 rows of 5 Roul. Green (shades). //. Lithograped bv Messrs. McCorquodale i^ Co., Ltd. {Glasgoiv). 3rd July 14th, i8g8 5000 12, 3 rows of 4 Perf. 12 Olive-green. ///. Lithographed by Messrs. A. Thorn &- Co. {Duhliii) >. 4th May i6th, 1900 5000 42, 7 rows of 6 Perf. 11 Greyish-green. The chief distinction between the first and second issues lies in the margin. Each stamp on the sheet has one or two sides imperforate, and in the first issue the margins are wide, whilst m the second they are clipped close. 364 DUBLIN, WICKLOW AND WEXFORD RAILWAY. Dublin^ Wicklow and Wexford Railway. THE Dublin, Wicklow and Wexford Railway was incorporated in 1846, the first portion being opened for traffic eight years later. The main line runs southward from Dublin to Bray, Wicklow, Ovoca, Woodenbridge Junction (branch to Shillelagh), Arklow, Enniscorthy and Wexford, the southern terminus. Between Dublin and Bray are two important lines, one running from Harcourt Street Station through Rathmines and Carrickmines, and the other from Amiens Street, Tara Street and Westland Row Stations, via Kings- town and Dalkey. A third suburban line runs from these three stations to Kingstown via Blackrock. The total mileage is 142^. First Printing (1891). UUB>.iN W I C L 5W S.WE<>ORD RAILWAY! awExfOPQw LMr The letter stamps of the Dublin, Wicklow and Wexford Railway are lithographed by Messrs. Browne & Nolan, of Dublin, in sheets of sixty, arranged in ten rows of six. There appears to have been two printings, but I am unable to give dates. Each sheet printed is numbered over the 3rd stamp in the top row, two sheets under- notice bearing the figures 249 (ist issue) and 449 (2nd issue). The two printings are as follows : — 1st Printing (ist Transfer) 2nd ,, (2nd ,, ) Jan., 1891 Perf. 10, lol Dull green. 1900 Perf. ii-J Dark green. UfBLIN, WICKLOW AND WEXFORD RAILWAY. 365. In the first printing, the stamps in each horizontal row are 7 to 8mm. apart, and in the second Si to 9mm. First Transfer. Only one printing appears to have been made from this transfer, the date being January, 1891. I am unable to say how many stamps were Arrangement of Types on a printed, but the second printing is stated 12^125 to have consisted of 100 sheets, or 6000 456456 stamps. As these sheets are known to be i 2 3 i 2 3 numbered as high as 449 and are still in 456456 issue, the first printing probabl)' consisted of about 400 sheets, or 24,000 stamps. 23123 456456 I 2 3 I 2 3 456456 I 2 3 I 2 3 4564^6 Each sheet shows six types arranged in the same way as those of the Midland Great Western Railway (see table). They may be distinguished as follows : — Type I. Dash after " Wicklow." Type 2. Faint dash after " Wicklow." Types 3 and 5. Stop after " \Mcklo\v." Type 3. Faint dot in centre of O of " Wicklo\\-." Type 4. Faint stop after " \\"icklo\v." Type 6. No stop after "Wicklow"; dot instead of dash after "Railway' faint dot at top of of " Wicklow." Types I, 3, 5 and 6 all have a faint stop before "&." Second Transfer, Arrangement of Types on Sheet. Mr. M. F. Keogh, Secretary to the Dublin, Wicklow and \^'eaford Railway, 34343 informs me that the second printing of i 2 i 2 i letter stamps was made in 1900, and 3 4 3 4 3 consisted of 100 sheets, or 6000 stamps. A new transfer was employed. 2 I 4 I 2 I 2 I 2 3 4 3 4 3 4 I 2 I 2 I 2 Unlike the first, the second transfer 3 4 3 4 3 4 shows four types only, arranged as shown. 3 4 3 4 366 DUBLIN, WICKLOVV AND WEXFORD RAILWAY. They may be distinguished as follows : — Types I and 4. Long dash after " Railway." Types 2 and 3. Short dash after " Railway." Types I, 2, 3 and 4. All have a short dash after "Wicklow." Type 2 shows a distinct dot before " &." Type 3 has a distinct dot before " Dublin." Type I has a hairline across the N.W. triangle, and there are distinct coloured dots over V and Y of " Conveyance " apart from the generally smudgy appearance. Type 2 has a dot over first E of " Conveyance." Type 3 has a dot over L of "Letters"; line under "& WEX" is defective. Type 4 has a dot under EY of " Conveyance " and a smudge to right of third bar in right hand pillar, opposite S of " Letters." There does not appear to be any very striking difference of design between stamps of this printing. nUNDALK, NEWRV AND GREENORE RAILWAY. 367 Dundalkt Newry and Greenore Railway* THE Dundalk, Newrv and Greenore Line is the property of the London and North Western Railway Company, and runs from Greenore, through Bush, Bellurgan and Dundalk (Quay Street) to Dundalk Junction (G.N.R. of I. Station). A branch runs from Greenore, through Carlingford and Omeath to Newry. The length of the two lines is 27 miles. The letter stamps of the Dundalk, Newry and Greenore Railway are printed by Messrs. ^NlcCorquodale & Co., Ltd. (London), in sheets of 20, arranged in five rows of four. Each sheet of stamps is numbered consecutively in black from left to right and top to bottom. There have been two printings, both similar except for shade. ist 1S91 yellow-green Nos. i to 500 Rouletted. 2nd 1898 blue-green 501 to 1000 Stamp No. 10 shows a white spot above the shield. G^'^S^SS^ .368 FINN VALLEY RAILWAY COMPANY. Finn Valley Railway Company. Used specimens, authentic orig:inals. The First Reprint (1897). Finn- Valley and West Donegal Railway. A doubtful "Reprint" (1897). FINN \ALLEV RAILWAY COMPANY. 369 Finn Valley Railway Company, THE Finn \'alley Railway was incorporated in i860 and opened in 1S63. On October i8th, 1892, it was amalgamated with the West Donegal, under the new title of the Donegal Railway. The Finn A'alley line ran from Strabane (Junction with the Great Northern of Ireland), through Clady, Castlefinn, Liscooly and Killygordon, to Stranorlar (Junction with West Donegal Ry.), the total length being 14 miles. The letter stamps of the Finn A'alley Railway Company were lithographed by ^Messrs. Sealy, Bryers & Walker, in sheets of 24, four rows of six, and are similar in shade, design, paper and perforation, to the issue of the Clogher A'alley Tramway Company. Only one issue was made, and it apparently remained in use until 1895, when the stock on hand at stations was recalkd and destroyed. I have seen an example postmarked as late as January ist, 1894. Reprints or Facsimiles. During 1897 and 1898 various "reprints" were made. The first of these were obtained by Mr. T. A. Stodart, of Dublin, with the permission of the manager of the line, and he informs me they are perfect impressions from the original Finn A'alley plate. I doubt however if the Finn A'alley "plate" consisted of more than the title of the Company, which would be used in conjunction with Messrs. Sealy, Bryers uV- Walker's general plate, type I. This is confirmed by the fact that whilst both portions of the stamp are very close reproductions of the original, the relative positions of the two differ, the tip of the arm of the Y of "Valley" being 3 mm. from the right outhne of the genuine stamps and 3^ mm. from that of the reprints. The lettering of the inscription is much smaller and fainter in the originals, the N and G of "Single" appearing to be of different shape. The following are a few of the defects which occur in the reprints {a and l> occur also in the originals and in Sealy, Bryers & AA'alker's stock design). (n) Line broken to right of second bar in left pillar. (6) Lines broken near apex of S.E. triangle. (c) Right stroke of second A of "Railway" broken. 370 FINN \ALLEY RAILWAY COMPANY. (d) Curved smudge over CO of " Company." {e) Lowest bar in right pillar broken at foot. (/) Smudge in corner N.E. of Y of "Valley" (first two reprints only). ig) Faint blot on top outline over V of " Valley." The design when completed was apparently transferred to a stone for preservation, and all reprints have been made by its aid. I have met with the following : — I. Green ; imperforate proof, small margins (size of each proof about 32 X 33 mm.). Mr. Stodart informs me that only six of these proofs were made. II. Black; imperforate proof. The lines to left of F of "Finn" and the top outline above LL of " Valley " are scratched out, apparently with a penknife. I have only seen one e.xample of this proof. III. Dark bluish-green ; imperforate proof. The outlines of the stamp are faint or absent in places, and are almost invariably drawn over with pen and ink. The following are the more important lines drawn by hand in black. {n) Second line over first L of " Valle)'." (b) Third line over ALL of " Valley." [c] Line to left of " Finn." (rf) Line to right of " Valley." [c) Line to left of '* Railway." (/) Line to right of " Company." {g) Left outline opposite EY'A of " Conveyance " is generally very faint, but not inked over, except in the perforated examples (see IV.) I\". Dark bluish-green. Same as above, but perforated 11. This latter reprint is the one described in Stanley Gibbons' Monthly Journal of January 31st, 1S9S, as the original Finn A'alley issue, but there is not the slightest doubt this view is erroneous, and that it is merely a reprint or facsimile. This and the three previous reprints were, 1 understand, made to the order of collectors. \. Bright emerald green. Perforated 13. Lithographed by by Messrs. Sealy, Bryers l\: \A"alker, to the order of the Donegal Railway Compan\', and received by the latter on Juh' 26th, 1898. This reprint consisted of eight sheets of t^veh'e, each arranged in three rows of four. The outer stamps of the sheet ha^•e imperforate margins on one or two sides. The stamps are placed about 6 or 7mm. apart. FINN VALLEY AND WEST DONEGAL RAILWAYS. 37 1 Finn Valley and West Donegal Railways* THE Finn A'alley and West Donegal Railways were amalgamated as from iSth October, 1S92, under the title of Donegal Raihvay. The former ran East from Stranorlar to Strabane and the latter South from Stranorlar to Donegal. The Finn \'alley Railway is known to have issued stamps from February, 1891, till about 1895, when the first stamps inscribed " Donegal Railway Company " were placed in circulation. I am unable, however, to find any evidence that the West Donegal Railway issued special stamps. If it was leased or worked by the Finn ^'alley Railway, the issues of the latter may have been used, but I have no knowledge that such was the case. \\'riting in Stanley Gibbons' Monthly Journal for January, 1898, Air. Stodart states that staaips inscribed " Finn A'alley and AA'est Donegal" were issued in July, i8gr, although on what authority I cannot learn. The title suggests that they were a printing made for the amalgamated Companies, and not for the \\'est Donegal alone. As the Donegal Railway stamps were printed by ^Messrs. McCor- quodale & Co., Ltd., of Xewton-le-\\"illows, enquiries appear to have been addressed to that firm in 1S97, with the result that they printed a few stamps bearing the desired inscription, " Finn Valley and West Donegal Railways," although whether the original plate, or any part of it, was employed, I am very doubtful. These proofs are yellow- green in colour, and imperforate, and were, I believe, made to a private order. The Donegal Railway Company also received many enquiries from collectors as to whether specimens of the Companies' distinctive issues were still obtainable, and in order to meet these applications, ordered a small reprint of the stamps of both Companies. These were delivered by Alessrs. Sealy, Bryers l\: \\'alker on July 26th, 372 FINN VALLEY AND WEST DONEGAL RAILWAYS. 1898, and were respectively inscribed, "Finn Valley" and "West Donegal," there being eight sheets of 12 of the former and nine of the latter. Both reprints were exactly alike in paper, colour and perforation (emerald-green, perf. 12^). As, however, stamp collectors had no knowledge of any genuine stamps inscribed " West Donegal," and as Mr. Stodart had stated that the " F. V. & W. D." stamps were originally printed by Messrs. McCorquodale & Co., Ltd., of Newton-le- Willows, and not by Messrs. Sealy, Bryers & Walker, of Dublin, it was felt that the "West Donegal" productions were purely bogus, and they were destroyed. The order for the reprints was then sent to Messrs. McCorquodale and Co., who replied that they could not reprint, unless they had a sample to copy from. I understand that one of the imperforate proofs mentioned above was then sent, and a "reprint" was duly furnished on August 20th, 1898. This exhibited all the characteristics of Messrs. McCorquodale's work at their Newton-le- Willows branch. Each sheet contained ten impressions, arranged in two rows of five, and rouletted in colour between. The colour is similar to that of the first reprint — yellow-green. It is significant that Messrs. McCor- quodale were not able to make a reprint until an example was furnished them, from which I infer the first "reprint" was merely looked upon by them as a posthumous printing bearing the necessary title required by collectors. There does not appear to be any evidence that stamps inscribed " West Donegal " or " Finn Valley and West Donegal Railways " were ever printed, except to meet applications of collectors. GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAY (IRELAND). 373 Great Northern Railway (Ireland), THE Great Northern of Ireland Railway was incorporated under its present title in 1876, having been formed by an amalga- mation of various existing railways. The Dublin and Belfast Junction and Dublin and Drogheda Railways had been amalgamated in the previous year under the title of the Northern of Ireland Railway, and on the acquisition of the Ulster (incorporated in 1836) and some other lines, a few months later, the present title was taken. The main line runs from Dublin (Amiens Street) to Belfast, passing through Malahide, Drogheda (branch to Oldcastle), Dundalk, and Portadown. Important branches from Dundalk to Londonderry (via Clones, Enniskillen, Omagh and Strabane), and from Portadown to Clones (via Armagh and Monaghan), and to Omagh (via Dungannon) serve many of the more important towns in Ulster. Other branches run to Howth, Newry, Warrenpoint, Antrim, etc. Mileage, 528. Six printings of letter stamps have been made down to the present time, and through the courtesy of Mr. F. Morrison, Secretary to the Company, I am able to give a detailed list. /. Lithographed by Seal_\\ Bryers and Walker, Dublin. Printing. Date. Quantity. Transfer. Perf. Size of sheet. Colour. 1st Jan., iSgi 10,000 I. II 24 Green 2nd Dec, 1892 10,000 I. II -> Greyish-green 3rd Jan., 1895 10,000 I. 1 1 ? Emerald green 4th Aug., 1897 10,000 II. II 48 Olive-green //. Lithographed by Johi, ! Falconer, Dublin. 5th April, 1899 10,000 III. II 4S Green 6th Mch., 190 r 10,000 \\. II 48 Green I have added, as far as possible, particulars as to transfer, per- foration, size of sheets (as issued), and colour. The first and second printings are rather difficult to distinguish between. The fifth and 374 GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAY (IRELAND). sixth are almost exactly alike in appearance, but may readily be distinguished, as in the sixth printing, the white circle round the shield is invariably broken under RA of " Railway." The fourth printing generally has a blot of colour to left of the 4th bar in the left pillar. Type II. Type III. '^et^ff^SSB^B^r^"^.!.* -2*^-"- Arrang^ement of Tjpes. 23123 56455 23123 56456 First Transfer (1891). The first transfer appears to have been made up of four blocks of six tj'pes arranged as shown. The stamps were probably at first printed in sheets of 24 only, as in the case of early printings for other Companies. The types may be distinguished as follows : — Type I. White line across " By." Type 2. Left arm of Y of " Railway " (circular inscription) broken and left foot of second A defective ; dot at upper tip of S.E. triangle ; line under "Northern" broken at right hand extremity. Type 3. Left arm of Y of " Railway " (title) broken at tip and line under W broken ; dot over left upper corner of D of " 2d." Type 4. White dot on left upper corner of bar of 2d." ; of "Of" indented at left side ; line broken or indented under S of " Letters." Type 5. Right arm of W of " Railway " (circular) broken ; faint dot before second E of " Letters." Type 6. Line broken under O of "Company." The transfer of these six types was used for the three first printings. The first is in dull green, on thin surfaced paper, the second in dark greyish-green on slightly thicker paper, unsurfaced, and the third on similar paper, in dark emerald green. 7 8 9 10 II 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 ig 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 GREAl NOKTHERX RAILWAY (IRELAND). 375 Second Transfer (1897). The second transfer apparently consisted of 48 stamps and was emplo3'ed for the fourth printing only. All 4S Arrangement of Tvpes. , 1 ■ r/- i r - 11.. . \ fi types appear to show different defects, m addition i ^ j 4 ^ u to those which are common to all of them. All stamps except Nos. i, 2, 4, 10, 13, 19, 38 and 39 have a very distinct blot connecting the two lines to left of the fourth bar in the left pillar. Xo. 38 is the only one which shows 37 3S 39 40 41 42 46 47 48 ^'^ trace at all of the blot. Other important defects which occur are : — No. 2. Upright stroke of " Railway " broken. No. 6. RX of " Northern "' and NCE of '" Conveyance " redrawn. No. 7. Blot on second line under HE of " Northern." No. S. Blot on lines over RE of " Great." No. 14. Blot S.^^^ of top bar in right pillar. No. 15. " Northern " redrawn ; lines over right pillar too wide apart. No. 22. Lower outline broken undei Y of " Company." No. 23. Blot under "(I.)" No. 25. Blot under E of " Northern." No. 32. Blot over "2d." No. 33. Blots to left of top bar in left pillar. No. 34. " 2 " connected with " D " by two parallel hairlines. No. 37. Smudges over " 2 " ; top bar in left pillar broken. Nos. 39 and 45. Vtry smudgy and defective impressions. No. 41. Top outline carelessly redrawn. No. 47. Blot on N.E. triangle. Centre bar of second E of "Letters" is merely a dot. All the Stamps on the sheet are more or less defective. Those in the upper row are imperforate at top. Third Transfer (Falconer, 1899). Owing to the lire which destroyed the premises of Messrs. Sealy, Bryers & Walker, in October, 1898, subsequent supplies of letter stamps have been furnished by Mr. John Falconer, 53, Upper Sackville Street, Dublin. 376 GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAY (IRELAND). The first printing of the new type — the fifth of the whole series — was made in sheets of 48, divided by a \-ertical space, 8mm. wide, into two panes of 24, each arranged in six rows of four. The right hand pane shows nearly the same defects as the left, so that the transfer probably consisted of the following 24 types : — Arrang^ement of Type 1234 I 5678 5 ^ g 10 ir 12 13 14 15 i6 17 18 10 20 21 22 23 24 g 10 II 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 ig 20 21 22 23 24 No. No. No. No. No. 5 No. 6 No. 7, No. 8, No. g No. 10 No. II No. 12 No, 13 No. 14 No. 15 No. 16, No. 17 No. 18 No. ig No. 20 No. 21 No. 22 No. 23 No. 24, Blot under HE of " Northern." Third bar of left pillar broken at foot. Short white scratch immediately over shield. Line faintly broken under dot of "(L)" In the left pane, there is a blot over top outline of stamp. Blot resting on top outline, over HE of " Northern." Lower outline broken under C of " Company." Top outline missing over G of " Great." Fifth bar in right pillar broken in centre. Blot on right edge of N.E. triangle. White dot between shield and second E of " Fee." White scratch nearly crossing fifth bar in left pillar. S.E. triangle defective opposite top of lowest bar in right pillar. Top outline broken over GR of " Great." Dot over N.W. corner of stamps. Faint blot on Hne over first A of "Railway" (circular). Smudges on upper half of S.W. triangle and on left pillar. Third bar in right pillar nearly broken in two. Curved white hairHne on fourth and fifth bars of right pillar. White dot under shield and over Y of " Railway." White scratch across body of figure 2. Line slightly broken to right of foot of fifth bar in right pillar. Left foot of H of " Northern " very faint. Foot of T of " Northern " faint. Line faintly broken over ET of " Letters." The stamps average about 5mm. apart, and are perforated round. GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAY (IRELAND). 377 Arraiig'ciiieiit of Types I ■! 3 4 -5 26 -7 2S 5 6 7 S -9 30 31 3- 9 10 II 12 33 34 35 36 '3 14 15 16 37 3S 39 40 17 iS 19 20 41 4^ 43 44 21 22 ^3 25 45 46 47 4S Fourth Transfer (1901). The second printing made by ]Mr. John Falconer — the 5th of the whole series — was also made in sheets of 48, arranged in two panes of 24 each, six rows of four. The two panes are di^•ided bv a \'ertical space, S^mm. wide, whilst the stamps in each pane are about 5mm. apart. In e^■er)' one of the 48 types, the white circle round the shield is broken under RA of ■' Railway," thus forming" a ready means of distinguishing specimens from those of the preceding issue. Some of the principal defects found on the sheet are as follows : — White dot under shield and over Y of " Railway-." ^^'l^ite dot on body of figure " 2 ", opposite second E of " Letters." Coloured blot between ■■Of" and ■■Single." Left outline missing at N.W. corner. Lines between third and fourth bars in right pillar hea\^ih- smudged, o. White dot to right of shield, opposite hrst E of ■■ Letters." White dot to left of shield, opposite CO of '■ Con\'eyance." Blot on S.\\'. triangle. Line broken to right of fifth bar in right pillar. Dot over M of ■' Company." and 23. White dot on ball of figure 2. White dot on neck of figure 2, under ■' Of" White dot to left of shield, opposite O of Irregular white mark on foot of figure 2. White scratch to right of shield, opposite LET of ^Yhite dot over shield, under N of " Single." ^\'hitc dot to right of shield, near TT of ■■ Letters." \\'hite dot under shield and over I of '■ Railway." White dot on bodv of figure '■ 2," opposite NA" of ■' Conveyance." \\'hite dot on top bar in right pillar. Many other defects occur. The outer stamps of the sheet have imperforate margins on one or two sides. Xo. I. No. 2. Xo. 6. No. 7- No. S. Xos ■ 9 No. II. Xo. '-i- No. 16. No. n- Nos Xo. 22. No. 24- Xo. 25- Xo. 27. Xo. 28. Xo. 29. No i^- Xo. 42. Xo. 43 ■ ■ Conveyance. Letters." 46 378 GREAT SOUTHERN AND WESTERN RAILWAY. Great Southern and Western Railway. Type I. Third (?) Printing (1894). Shading in triangles very faint. Type II. Sixth Printing (1898). (Sealy, Bryers & Walker, Dublin). Type III. Seventh Printing (1899), (A. Thorn & Co., Dublin). GREAT SOUTHERN AND WESTERN RAILWAY. 379 Great Southern and Western Railway, THE Great Southern and Western Railway was incorporated in 18S4, and the original line ran from Dublin to Cork. From time to time various new lines have been absorbed, including in recent years the Kanturk and Xewmarket (July ist, 1892), Clara and Banagher (May 14th, 1895), Waterford and Central Ireland (July ist, 1900) and Waterford, Limerick and Western (January ist, 1901). The mileage is now 1077. The letter stanrps were lithographed bv ^Messrs. Sealy, IJryers and ^^'alker, of Dublin, down to the time of the fire on their premises. Unfortunately, few official details as to the number of printings is forthcoming. I have met with the following : — /. Lifho,i(i-aJ>/iecf by Sealy, Bi-xers e~= ]]'alker for A. Thorn e^' Co., Ltd. Size of Prtg. Approx. date. Quantity Type. Transfer. Perf Sheets. Colour. I St 1 89 1 ? I. 1st II 24 Dull green 2nd 1892 ? ? I. 1st II ? . Dark green 3rd 1894 ? ? I. ist II ? Green 4th 1895 ? ? I. ist II ? Green 5th iSg6 ? ? I. 2nd 11 24 Emerald green 6th July 6th, i8g8 6000 II. 3rd 11 24 Bluish-green //. Lithographed by A. Thorn c^ Co.. Ltd. 7th 1899 ? ? III. 4th II 24 Blue-green 8th May loth, 1900 ? III. 5th loxii 24 Grey-green gth Feb. 25th, 1901 20,000 III. 6th 11 24 Yellow-green As regards the number of early printings, I am extremely doubtful. That in emerald-green was current at the end of 1897 and during the first half of 1898, but how long it had been in use previously is not known. All other examples of Type I. which have come under notice are e^■idently from the same transfer, and are m nearly the same shade of green, so that it is exceedingly difficult to distinguish between them. Hitherto, they have all been classified together as the first printing. 38o GREAT SOUTHERN AND WESTERN RAILWAY. Great Southern and Western Railway. Half Sheet of the Fifth Printing, type I. 1 GREAT SOUTHERN AND WESTERN RAILWAY. 38 I First Transfer (1891). Of the various printings from the first transfer, I have only been able to closely examine fourteen single examples and a block of four. The latter is from the lower left hand corner of the sheet and the ornamentation on the margin points to the sheet having consisted of Arrangement of Types. ^4 Stamps, as in the casc of the iirst 123123 printing for the Great Northern Railway. 456456 There can be but little doubt that the ^^3123 first transfer consisted of a block of six "^ ^ "^ ^ types, which was duplicated four times to make the sheet of 24. The block of four mentioned above shows four of these types : — Type I. Right stroke of A of " Conveyance " broken ; line broken to right of upper tip of fourth bar in right pillar. Tj'pe 2. Third line under left foot of \\' of "Western" broken. Centre hne under top bar in left pillar too short at left end. Type 4. Line under A of " Great " broken. Type 5. Dot under top outline, o\"er D of " And." Several of the single examples show the following defects : — T\pe ?. Line under AN of " And " fainth' broken. Tj'pe 3 or 6 ? Line broken under right foot of R of "Great"; dot (sometimes \"erv faint) over N of " And." As regards colour, the specimens mav roughl}' be classified as follows : — I. Dull green, pale grejdsh-green (including block of four, known to be 1891 printing). In none is the figure "2"' indented at top, as in those of other shades. II. Dark green, bluish-green. One example is dated 19. 10. 92. III. Green, dull-green. Lines of shading in triangles very faint. One is dated 1.9.94. ly. Green, bright green. \'ery similar to West Clare printing, but a little darker and not quite so yellowish. One is dated 15.10.98, but must of course have been issued much earlier. Beyond this, I have no evidence whatever to offer respecting the early printings. 38- GREAT SOUTHERN AND WESTERN RAILWAY. Great Southern and Western Railway. Half 5heet of the 5ixth Printing, type II. WESTERN RAILWAY WESTERN RAILWAY GREAT SOUTHERN AND WESTERN RAILWAY. 383 Second Transfer (1896 ?). The second transfer appears to have consisted of 24 separate impressions from the original drawing, arranged so as to print a , . t T sheet similar in size to those of precedinsr Arrangement or 1 ypes. ^ '^ 123456 issues. As in the first printing, all the 7 8 g 10 II 12 types show certain defects in common. 13 14 15 16 17 18 For instance, the line o\-er second A of 19 20 21 22 23 24 " Railway " is broken, and there is a faint dot after F of " For." Owing to the printing being very heavy and blurred, it is difficult to find defects that are likelv to have occurred in all the sheets, but the following are noticeable : — Upright stroke of R of "Railway" broken. Second A of " Railway " (circular) broken. Line broken over second E of " Conve3'ance." Centre bar of second E of " Fee " is represented by a dot. T of " Southern " broken. Line under S of " ^^■estern " broken. Dot over tip of tail of " 2." Line under W of " Railway " (circular) defective. The dot under the lowest bar of the right pillar which is one of the general distinguishing marks of type I., does not often show, owing to the blurred printing. The stamps of the upper row are imperforate at top. Third Transfer, Type II. (1898). The third transfer was formed in the same way as the second, but the 24 impressions were duplicated from a new drawing taken from Messrs. Sealy, Bryers & \\'alker's design No. II. It was very defective and the following defects are all reproduced in each of the 24 types. (a) Dot near tip of right arm of V of " Railway." (6) Large B in " By." (c) Lines above and below W of "Railway" broken. [d) Second line under S of " Southern " broken. No. I. No. 4- No. 7- No. 12. No. 15- No. 17- No. 20. No. 22. 3'^4 GREAT SOUTHERN AND WESTERN RAILWAY. Great Southern and Western Railway. Half Sheet of Seventh Prinfin?, type III. GREAT SOUTHERN AND WESTERN RAILWAY. No. 4- No. 6. Xo. 8. No. 12. No. 13- No. i6 No. ig. No. 21 {e) Second line over "Western Railway" too short at both ends. (/■) Outline to left of "Great" broken (y^) Dot over upper tip of S.E. triangle. Mark (a) is alone sufficient to readily identify this tvpe. The figure '■2" of ■•2d." is of a different type. On the other hand there are few distinguishing marks of individual types, but the following may be noted. No. 2. Faint dot over R of ■ Great.' Smudge on second line under ER of "Southern"; dot after "And." Blot on second line o\'er E of Southern." Line defective under first C of " Con\-e3'ance." Blot to left of 3rd bar in left pillar. Dot under E of " Great." Lines under ER of " ^\■este^n " smudged. Line to right of " Railway " missing. ^^'hite dot on lowest bar in left pillar. Nos. 23 and 24. Dot in G of " Great." No. 24. Line under RE of " Great " broken. There is a coloured dot on either side margin, between the two centre rows. The upper row of stamps is imperforate at the top. The shade of green varies from pale to deep bluish green. Fourth Transfer (1899)- Since the fire which destroyed the premises of JNIessrs. Scaly. Bryers \- \\'alker's in October, 1S98. the Arrangement of Types. j^^j.^^. gf^„ j^ave been printed elsewhere, 12121212 , , , , , , and are not onlv of a different tvpe. but 34343434 I 2 I 2 12 12 the arrangement of the sheet differs. Each 3434 3434 sheet as printed apparently consisted of I 2 I 2 I 2 I 2 ^^.^.Q panes of 24, each arranged in six 3434 3434 j.Q^^.^ Qf fpyj.^ j^jj(j formed by duplicating I2I2 I2I2 ,,,r,- -i- TU a block of tour tvpes six tnnes. ihe 3434 3434 .■ irir sheets were cut mto panes before delnery. The four tvpes may be distinguished as follows : — Type I. Dot to right of top bar in left pillar; Dot over B of "By." Type 2. Dot between S and T of "Post"; top outline broken over OV of " Southern." 38(, GKKAT S()l'ril|.-.KN AND WKSIKKN RAII.\VA^•. Type 3. Blot attached to ri^'ln loot ol' N of "And." Type 4. Faint point Ixtwceii " SoiitlieDi " and " And " ; line o\ur first E of "Letters" broken; Second line inider NR of "VN'estcin Railway" broken. Types I, 3 and 4 all show faint hairliiu's ovcv and untlci' "('"or" and <)\er VAN of " Con\ eyancc," especially lypc 3. An entire pane I have examined shows the following- inthxidual distinguishing marks (amongst others). No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. II No. 19, No. 22 Line under IN of " Hinfjle " broken. IL of " Kailway " broken. Dot between AY of " Railway." Line to left of 5tb bar in left pillar broken. Dot under lowest bar in right pill.ir. Dot over Y of " Railway." Blot on [vine over A\' of " Railway." Blot under line of H ol' " Southern.' Dot to left of 5th bar in right pillar. Dot over N.li. triangle. Of the second pane I have met with variotis singles and pairs, but can only determine the positions of three. No. 28. 5th bar in right pillar broken. No. 45. Left stroke of U of "Southern" broken. No. 46. Top outline faintly broken over liR of " Southern," As the sheets have imperforate margins, it is in most cases easy to locate the appro.ximate position of a stamp. Fifth Transfer (1900). The first sheet of the ninth printini: 1 met with was fssiicd in March, iijoi, and it was not until July 1 recei\ed a sheet of the eighth printing (5th transfer). Suh.se(|iicntly the issue a])peai-s to have revei'ted to sheets of tlie ninth printing, which is presmnably the latest. The; hfth transfer appears to haxc been formed by duplicating eight times a bl.K'k of lour types, which may be distinguished as follows : to right of 3rd bar in right pillar. attached to ed,';e of coloured ground, cuider first T of "Letters"' " And." .\rr,-iiiKCni.i I 2 3 4 I 2 3 4 it ..r T\ I 2 3 4 I 2 3 4 I 2 3 4 1 2 4 3 Type I, Type 2. Blot Blot laint dot be GREAT SOL'THERX AND WESTERN RAILWAY. 3S7 Xo. 4- No. 9- No. 12. No. 13- No. 19. No. 24- Type 3. Top outline broken over R of " Great " ; second and third lines over T of " Great " joined by hairline ; second line over E of " Southern " broken. Type 4. Dot over D of " 2d." near edge of shield. Individual stamps on the sheet show the following amongst other defects : — White dot over "Shield." Second line over A of "And" broken. Line under \VA of "Railway" broken. Shield indented at top ; line over UT of " Southern " broken. Second line over RN' of " Southern " broken. Blot on top outline over AT of " Great." I have only met with panes showing the one set of defects. The sheets have imperforate margins. Sixth Transfer (1901). The sixth transfer apparently consisted of twelve duplicates of two types only, thus printing a sheet of 24 stamps, equal in size and shape to the preceding printing. All the panes I have met with show the same set of defects. As in the case of the fourth transfer, only one printing was made (the gth). The two types are \"erv distinct. Arrangement of Types. I 2 I 2 T\-pe Clear guide lines over 'For Conveyance" and partly below also; dot under G of "Great"; dot after "Letters." Type 2. Dot under left foot of first .\ of " Railway." Both types have a blot on the two lines over G of " Great." The more prominent marks of individual stamps on the sheet are as follows : — Dot under S of " Letters." Dot under Y of " Conveyance." Blot in second C of ■' Conveyance." Dot over tip of tail of lii;ure " 2." \\'hite dots to ri^.ht of shield. White blot to left of shield. No. 4- No. 8. No. 15- No. 16. No. 20. No. 23- The margins of the sheets are left imperforate. 388 KANTURK AND NEWMARKET RAILWAY COMPANY. Kanturk and Newmarket Railway Company* THE Kanturk and Newmarket was a short line about lo miles in length and situated in Co. Cork. There were only two stations, trains running from Kanturk, through Newmarket, to the IJanteer Station on the Tralee to Mallow, Lismore and Waterford section of the Great Southern and Western Railway, by which Company the Kanturk and Newmarket Railway was purchased as from July ist, 1S92. The letter stamps were lithographed by Messrs. Sealy, Bryers and Walker, of Dublin, and were probably in sheets of 24, arranged in four rows of six. The colour is dark green. The largest block known is a strip of three from the right hand lower corner of a sheet. The stamps have very defecti\e perforation (gauge 10), as in the case of the first printing inade by the same firm for the Cavan, Leitrim and Roscommon Railway. The stamps of both Companies were perforated by the same single-line machine, and apparently on the same occasion, as in both cases the needles were in exactly the same defecti\-e state. As genuine original specimens of the Kanturk and Newmarket stamps are now of such considerable rarity, I consider it worth while to describe fully the vagaries of the machine. By examining se\ eral sheets, I am able to state that it contained a row of at least 139 needles, and that the following were in good condition and almost in\'ariably cut out the holes cleanly — Nos. 2, 17, 19 to 23, 39, 43, 46 (59, needle missing), 68, 76, 78, S3 (S3, 99, needles missing), loo to 104. The strip of three Kanturk and Newmarket stamps illustrated are e\-idently perforated horizontally by needles No. 65 to 115. \'ertically, the perforation is done by a part <,>f the niachine unknown to me. The needles not mentioned abo\e either lea\e the holes quite blind, or pin-perforated, as may be seen in the illustration. The horizontal KAXTL'RK AND NEWMARKET RAILWAY C(JMFAN\'. 3.S9 rows of perforation on the sheets of Kanturk and Newmarket stamps were probably similar to those of the Cavan and Leitrim (approximately Nos. 10 to 120). The original position of a stamp on the sheet may often be determined by this means alone. Private Imitations. As in the case of the Finn Valley stamps, numerous so-called "reprints" have been made, but they appear to me to be imitations rather than anything else. In preparing them, Messrs. Sealy, Bryers iN; Walker's stock designs appear to have been made use of. These consist of the body of a stamp only — shield in centre surrounded by circular band containing inscription, with a pillar at either side and triangles in the four spandrels. Two such drawings were used by the firm of lithographers. Type I., 1891 to 1S97. Small B to "By" and large second C to " Conveyance." The lowest bar in the right pillar is a thick rectangle. Thin bar under D of " 2d." Type II., 1897 and 1898. Large B to "By" and small second C to " Conveyance." The lowest bar in the right pillar is thinner and shorter, and damaged at the lower end. Thick bar under D of " 2d." The "reprints" I have met with are as follows (I cannot say for whom or in what order they were made) :— I. Bluish-green, iinperforate. Type I., but the circular inscription appears to be smaller, although this may be due to faint printing. The lines in the triangles are frequently blurred. One or two blots on lower portion of X.E. triangle. The title is apparently redrawn, as in the originals the T of " Newmarket " is lower than the E, or on a level with it, whereas in all the reprints, the cross-bar of the T is distinctly above the E. There are four varieties of these reprints:— {a) With two lines over " Rail\\ay Company " close together. (b) With two lines wide apart. (c) As in (b) but with the louer line of (o) faintly showing. (rf) As in (n) with the two broken lines near the apex of the S,E. triangle redrawn. Facsimiles. Lines over " Railway Company" close together. ■KANTURK3; NEWMARKET i^^J Made with type I., wide lines over "Railway Company.' Small B in " By." Made with type II. Large B in " By." rkA NTURKSjilEWIHARK, ET RAILWAY COMPANY ^'l' Al'LWAY COMPANY; Authenticated Originals. Kanturk and Newmarket Railway Company. Strip of three stamps from lower right had corner of sheet. r>- 1 ■■■ 1 J" ..> KANTURK AND NEWMARKET RAILWAY COMPANY. 391 Mr. T. A. Stodart, of Dublin, informs me that he had a small sheet of these, and supposed at the time that they were proofs of a rejected transfer, but I am afraid thev are merely a reprint made to oblige collectors. I have no doubt that the Raihva}' Officials were continually being asked for specimens inscribed " Kanturk and New- market Railway," and they may have supposed that such would do as well as originals. They were evidently made at the same time as the Finn \'alley proofs ; the lettering of the circular inscription is similar in size. II. Olive-green, perforated 10. The above were apparently not considered satisfactory, and a new reprint was formed by taking the body of Messrs. Sealy, Bryers & ^^'alker's design, type I., and sub- stituting the pillars of Type II., the title being copied from the last reprint. A transfer was then prepared in the usual way, and stamps printed in olive-green and perforated 10. This reprint was in existence earl}' in i8g8, if not before, as Mr. T. A. Stodart, in his article in the Monthlv Joui-nal of January 31st, 1898, erroneously assumes it to be the original printing for the Company. There is a faint vertical line between the S.W. triangle and the left pillar, in the specimen before me. III. Pale green ; imperforate, wide margins. Made entirely from Type II., with the title added from previous reprints. This reprint is exactly similar in paper and colour to the imperforate proofs of the Cavan, Leitrim and Roscommon reprint. 392 LONDONDERRY AND LOUGH SWILLV RAILWAY. Londonderry and Lough Swilly Railway* THE Londonderry and Lough Swilly Railway was opened in 1863, and is 14^ miles in length. The line runs from Londonderry, through Gallagh Road, Bridge End, Burnfoot Junction (branch to Carrowen, Newton-Cunningham, Sallybrook, Manor- cunningham, Pluck and Letterkenny), Inch Road and Fahan to Buncrana. The first letter stamps have a particular interest, owing to the value id. having been assigned to them Arrangtment of Types on Sheet. ggj234. instead of 2d., thus causing two stamps I 2 3 4 I 2 3 4 to be used for each railway letter. They 56785678 are stated to have been drawn by Mr. '^341234 James Calhoun, of Derry, and are litho- 3 785678 graphed in sheets of 40, arranged in five rows of eight. Each sheet shows eight types arranged and distinguished as follows ; — Type I Type 2 Type 3 Type 4 Type 5, Type 5 Type 7, Type 8 " (L) " defective at foot. Line under second A of "Railway" broken. Pillar broken opposite ON of " Conveyance." Second D of " I^ondonderry " defective. Line broken under F of " Fee." 5th bar in left pillar broken at top. Line broken under " Y &." Line broken under " OF.'' Two lowest lines under YC of " Railway Company " broken. As will be noticed, each sheet shows four blocks of eight types, with a fifth block, divided in two, represented in the top row. Mr. F. Dawson informs me that 5000 of these stamps were printed about 1 89 1. The perforation gauges 12, and the colour - ranges from pale blue to deep violet-blue. Mr. T. A. Stodart, in an article which appeared in Stanley Gibbons' A/oiit/i/v Journal in Janu£vry, i8g8, states that the first issue of these stamps was made in September, 1893. LONDONDERRY AND LOl.'GH SWILLV RAILWAY. 393 Londonderry and Lough Swilly Railway. First Printing (id. blue). Second Printing, iSqS ^d. rosel. Original. Imperforate Proof. r~ ;w;p7: 5^^2"} \ l f l2^\^i3i/inan"«omvi^*:.^ iJ Private Essay in the old design. ^LO N D O N DER RV an LOUGH SWILLY RAJLWAY_C0MPANXj4iJ 394 LONDONDERRY AND LOUGH SWILLY RAILWAY. Second Issue, 2d. rose. In 1898, the letter stamps of the id. value were withdrawn from circulation and a 2d. label took their place. This is of entirely original design, which is claimed by Mr. F. Dawson as his own idea. A proof had been submitted to him by the Sub- Editor of the Irish Times, but was put aside in favour of a drawing showing the City of Derry Arms and done in the City of Derry colours. The new stamps were lithographed by Messrs. Sealy, Bryers & Walker, in sheets of 30, arranged in five rows of six, the colour being rose-pink and the perforation gauge 10. They first came under my notice on October 10th, 1898, but I am unable to say their exact date of issue. Mr. Dawson informs me that 10,000 were printed. Subsequently a number of proofs have come into the hands of collectors. Some of these would be more properly described as bogus. They consist of imperforate copies of the 2d. rose of the Arms type, apparently run off from the stone at the same time as those which were supplied to the Company for issue. Impressions of the Arms type are also known in green and other colours, and as they do not show defects found on the issued stamps they were probably reproduced from the original drawing and taken off in singles only. A 2d. stamp in the design of the old id. and printed in green is also known to collectors, but the Secretary of the L. & L.S. Company states that he has no knowledge of it and it would appear to be an unauthorized proof or essay. y^^ MIDLAND GREAT WESTERN' RAILWAY. 395 Midland Great Western Railway, THE Midland Great Western Railway was incorporated in 1845, and is 516^ miles in length. The main line runs westward from Dublin through Mullingar, Athlone and Galway to Clifden, on the West Coast of Ireland. Important branches run North from Mullingar to Sligo, and from Athlone to Achill and Killala. Type I. Type II. r [WESTERN RAILWAY jWESJiRNRAIkML The letter stamps are lithographed by ^lessrs. Browne & Nolan, of Dublin, in sheets of 60, arranged in ten rows of six. ^Ir. G. W. Greene, Secretary to the Company, informs me that there have only been two printings down to the present time, the particulars of same being as follows : — ist Printing Jan. 30, 1891 500 sheets of 60 Perf. 10 2nd Printing Jan. r, 1899 500 sheets of 60 Perf. 11 The first is in a somewhat deep green and the second in a bright pale green. The design was entirely redrawn in preparing the second transfer, the most noticeable alteration being in the letter :M of "Midland," the centre 'W" portion of which is too small. Every sheet has a consecutive number printed in black on the margin above the third stamp in the top row. I have seen entire sheets numbered 425 (ist issue), and 560, 563 and 693. MIDLAND GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY. First Transfer {1891). The first transfer shows six types, which are arranged as shown, but the differences between them are I 2 3 I 2 3 . , 5 . . g extremely minute. In type 2, lines in the I 2 3 I 2 3 N.W. triangle are broken opposite NC of 4-56456 "Conveyance" and the right arm of W of I 2 3 I 2 3 ^ g "Railway" is too short, whilst in type 3 I 2 3 I 2 3 there is a white spot on the dot under 456456 " D " of "2d." Type 6 shows a coloured , "■ ^ dot over TT of " Letters." Only one 456456 ■' printing was made from this transfer, the colour varying considerably between dark and dull green. Proofs of the design in black on card are known. Second Transfer. The second transfer show six types, like its predecessor, but these six types may be further sub-divided into three. The types may be distinguished as follows : — Type I. There is a white patch on the top bar in the left hand pillar, and two white dots on the bar below it. 1. Coloured dot over " OF." la (or 4). Coloured dot to left of 2nd bar in left pillar. Type 2. The top _bar in the left hand pillar is too narrow. There are several white patches on the N.E. triangle and the first stroke of the A of " Conveyance " has a curved foot. 2. Middle bar of second E of "Conveyance" is too thick, causing it to be confused with upper bar. 2a (or 5). Lines broken over E of " Great." Type 3. Wide upper bar in left pillar. White dot in lower bar in right hand pillar. 3. Coloured blot before W of " Western." 3a (or 6). Middle strokes of W of "Railway" defective. The arrangement of the six types is somewhat peculiar, each block showing types i, 2 and la in the upper row .\,-,-a„geme„t of Types, and 3, 3a and 2a in the lower. The blocks of i 2 la six are then reproduced in a sheet as in the first 3 3^ 2a issue. In the second transfer of the Dublin, \\'icklo\v and \\'exford MIDLAND GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY. 397 Railway (stamps for which Company are also printed by Messrs. Browne il' Nolan), which was made about the same time as this second transfer for the M.G.W'.R., I have shown that only four types exist, and it seems not unlikely that the same may have been intended with the latter. Perhaps the fourth type was spoilt. However that may be, there can be no doubt as to the three types being duplicated as shown in each block of six. Only one printing has been made from the second transfer. SLIGO, LEITRIM AND NORTHERN COUNTIES RAILWAY. Sligo^ Leitrim and Northern Counties Railway. THE Sligo, Leitrim and Northern Counties Railway was incor- porated in 1875 and opened in 1882. The line runs from Enniskillen through Florence Court, Belcoo, Glenfarne, Manor- hamilton, Dromahair, and Ballintogher to Collooney (Junction with M.G.W. Railway from KilfiU to Sligo), and is 49 miles in length. SUSP, LEITRIM AND The letter stamps are lithographed by Messrs. R. Carswell and Sons, of Belfast, and are issued in sheets of nine, arranged in three rows of three. It is not known when they were first issued, nor how many printings have been made. I have met with evidence of five. mtmg. Approx. Date. Type. Transfer. Perf. Colour. 1st 1891 ? ISt ? Dark green 2nd ? 2nd? Pale olive-green 3rd 1895 ? 3rd Grey-green 4th 1898 4th Brownish-grey 5th 1901 5th Emerald-green The fourth printing is similar in colour to those supplied to the Belfast and County Down and Belfast and Northern Counties Railways SLIGO, LEITRIM AND NORTHERN COUNTIES RAILWAY. 399 in August, 1898. The stamps differ from those supplied to other Railway Companies by Messrs. Carswell & Sons, as they have two lines only, under " Northern Counties Railway," instead of three. Early Printings (1891-95). Of the early printings I have been able to examine three single examples only, two in dark green and one in pale olive-green. One of the former is cancelled " INIanorhamilton — .3 [or 5] .93." In both the dark green examples, the left arm of the W of " Railway " is broken. It is impossible to say whether either of the two printings was the first, and the arrangement given above is therefore only tentative. Third Printing (1895 ?). This printing was current until the summer of i8g8. I am unable to say when it was first issued, but I have several sheets showing part of the watermark, " \\'hatman, 1895." T^i^s types may be distinguished as follows : — Type I. Second line over " Sligo " broken near left extremity. Type 2. No marks of importance. Type 3. No comma after " Sligo.'' Type 4. No marks of importance. Type 5. White dot on ground to left of shield. Type 6. Line over O of "Northern" broken. Type 7. Top bar in right pillar is joined to line above. Type 8. Line broken to left of 4th bar in left pillar. Type g. Left stroke of first N of " Northern " broken off. The stamps measure the normal 27! mm. in width. All sheets seem to show the same set of defects. Fourth Printing (1898). As already stated, the fourth printing is similar in shade to printings made for other Companies in August, 1898. It was current until early in 1901. I have met with numerous panes, which may be divided into two groups, each showing a different set of defects : — /'a/ie A. Type I. The word "OF" is almost entirely missing. Type 2. Blot over N of " Counties." 400 SLIGO, LEITKIM A\D NORTHERN COUNTIES RAILWAY. Siigo, Leitrim and Northern Counties Railway. Entire Slieet of the Third Printing. Type 3 has no Comma after " Sligo." SLIGO, LEITRl.M AND NORTHERN COUNTIES RAILWAY. 401 Type 3- Type 4- Type 5- Type 6. Type 7- Type 8. Type 9- Type 10. Type II. Type 12. Tvpe 13- Type 14 Type 15 Type 16 Type 17 Type 18 Lo\\'ei edge of S.E. triangle indented near apex. Line undei IM of " Leitrim " broken. I of " Sligo " broken in two. Blot under D of " And." Line broken over Y of " Railway." Dot before left foot of first N of " Northern." Line broken over C of " Counties." Fane B. Left stroke of second A of " Railway " broken. Line over N of " Counties " broken. Faint dot between AY of " Railway." Right foot of N of " Single " too short. Line broken over RS of " Letters." Dot under second C of " Conveyance." Line broken under E of "Leitrim"; O of "Northern" broken. Line broken under RT of " Northern. ' Left arm of Y" of "Railway" too short. Sheets are always imperforate on the right hand side, so that types 3, 6, 9, 12, 15 and 18 may be partly recognised by this means. Side pairs are generally 3I mm. apart, as in the preceding printing. Fifth Printing (1901). The first sheets of this printing which came under notice were issued in April, 1901. They are printed in a very distinctive shade, bright bluish or emerald-green. I have as yet met with panes showing one set of defects only. Tvpe 2. Blot nearly under L of " Leitrim." Type 3. Dot under M of " Leitrim." Type 4. Blot on line under RN of "Northern." Type 7. Blot over IE of " Counties." Type 8. S.E. triangle connected near apex with right pillar. Type 9. Smudge over N of " And." The stamps are about 5 mm. apart. 402 TRALEE AND DINGLE LIGHT RAILWAY. Tralee and Dingle Light Railway, T HE Tralee and Dingle Light Railway was opened in 1898 and is 2i7i miles in length, the line running from Tralee through Castle Gregory Junction (branch to Castle Gregory) to Dingle. The letter stamps are lithographed by Messrs. Sealy, Bryers and U'alker, of Dublin, in sheets of 48, arranged in eight rows of six. Only one printing 456455 ^ ■> . J 2 3 I 2 5 appears to have been made, the colour being 456456 dark green and the perforation gauge 10. I 2 3 I 2 3 Each sheet shows six types, three of which, ''■56456 Nos.3,4 and 5, are readily distinguishable, and the types are arranged as in the annexed 456456 -'^ .*= table. Type 3. The third bar in the right pillar is smudged at left. Types 4 and 5 have no stop between "&" and "Tramway." The number of stamps printed is unknown. TRALKE AND DINGLE LIGHT RAILWAY. 403 Tralee and Dingfle Light Railway. Quarter Sheet of the First Printing 118991. 404 WATERFORD AXD CENTRAL IRELAND RAILWAY. Waterford and Central Ireland Railway* THE Waterford and Central Ireland Railway was incorporated in 1S45 and from July ist, 1900, has been amalgamated with the Great Southern and \\'estern Railway. The line runs from Waterford through Kilkenny and Abbeyleix to Maryboro and Mountmellick, and is 65 miles in length. The letter stamps were printed by Messrs. N, Harvey & Co., of Waterford, and were issued in sheets of 24, arranged in four rows of six. E^•ery stamp has a minute dot under A of " Central." Two printings are known : — 1st Bright green 1S91 Perf. 12 2nd Brown-red 1898 Perf. 11 In sheets of the latter, the stamps are placed slightly further apart. The 2d. brown-red was chronicled as a new issue in Ewen's Weekly Circular of September 17th, 1898. -:^-)^-^'-? c5 '■ I. II / 12 § 4/6 — Dull green § The second and third issues are perf. 11 and 12 and compound (see belo*.'.'). //. Inscribed ' • Waterford, litnerick and ]Ve stern Railway." (The title of the Company was changed on January 1st, I. -596). 4th 1896 ? II. II ? — Emerald-green 5th 1^597 ? III. II 4/6 — Yellowish-green 6th Mar. 30, 1-^98 III. II 6/4 § 1000 ? Bright green 7th i.'^98 ? HI. II f,,^\ — Dark green 8th Nov. ? I ■^9. -5 W. II 6/4 § — Dark green 9th Mar. 10, i'f99 * R-. II 3x4: 2 1 12 ? Olive-green loth i\ug. 30, 1900 ■- IV. II 3x4: 1440 ' Light green Dates when printed (see below;. Printed in sheets of 48 (f.vo panes of 24, second tete-beche). Printed in sheets of 24 (tv,o panes of 12, lower tete-beche). VVATERFORD, LIMERICK AND WESTERN RAILWAY. 41I The above is not to be relied upon as a complete list, nor is it known with certainty if the issues given are in their correct order, although the following evidence collected from various quarters throws some light on the subject. I have had the good fortune to be able to inspect three proof sheets which had been preserved by the printers : 1st (6th Issue in above table). Inscribed "No. 8345 i m. ; Med. 8vo. ; 24 off; IMarch 30th, 1898; Machine i Hour; George Towie." The sheet contains 48 stamps, arranged in two panes of 24 each, si.x rows of four. The panes are side by side, the second being tete-beche. 2nd (gth Issue in abo\'e table). Inscribed "No. 10451, 88 runs, machine 2 hours, 10.3.99." This sheet contains 24 stamps, arranged in two panes of 12 each (three rows of four), one below the other, tete-beche. It is not clear though, whether the 24 stamps are intended to represent a sheet as run off. 3rd (loth Issue in abo\'e table). Inscribed "No. 12514, 60 sheets as this, Aug. 30th, igoo. H.E.W." The sheet is similar in size and arrangement to the second, but has the appearance of being half a printed sheet of 48. Looking over the sheets which I received direct from the Company whilst they were current, I find that two sheets supplied on April 4th, 1898, are identical with the 5th Issue in the above table, whilst others ordered on May 13th, 1898, and received some time within three weeks of that date, were of the 6th Issue. On December ist, 1898, I received several further sheets, which I presume are the 8th Issue. In Ewen's Weekly Circular of June 17th, 1899, I find a note to the effect that the size of the sheets had then been altered, and take this to refer to the gth Issue, which was in sheets of twelve. The 7th Issue was chronicled in my reference list of railway letter stamps, published early in October, i8g8. As regards the order I have assigned to the three printings known with the inscription, " Waterford and Limerick," I think there can be no doubt the issue perf. 12 412 WATERFORD, LIMERICK AND WESTERN RAILWAY. was the earliest, the first printings for other Companies having had the same gauge. The precedence of the other two is doubtful, but the dull green is placed last on account of its being more common. Having roughly classified the different printings, it is now neces- sary to give a further description. I. Waterford and Limerick Railway. Of the first printing, I have been able to examine half a sheet, and of the third, the greater portion of a sheet, but reconstructed. Of the second, printed in emerald green, a pair and a few singles have alone come under notice, although a small block in this rare shade is known. The relative positions of the stamps are the same, as well as the minute defects in all three printings, hence it is to be presumed the same transfer was used for all three printings. In the Waterford, Limerick and Western issues, on the other hand, a transfer of only a single impression was preserved. The following defects are the most prominent : — Dot over LI of " Limerick." Line over TT of "Letters" broken. White dot on curved back of D of " And." Not identified. No marks of importance. No marks of importance. Line over M of " Limerick " broken. Lower outline broken under right foot of W of " Railway." Top outline broken over right stroke of N of " And." No. I. No. 2. No. 3- No. 4- No. 5- No. 6. No. 7- No. 8. WATERFORD, LIMERICK AND WESTERN RAILWAY. 413 Waterford and Limerick Railway. Half Sheet of the First Printing (1891). jjU MEmCifR AILVv/C^ ) [LIMERTcK^R liui\^ )|LIMERICK RAJLWAyJ i 414 WATERKORD, LIMERICK AND WESTERN RAILWAY. No. 13. No. 14. No. 16? No. 17 ? No. 18? No. 19 No. 20, No. 21 No. 22 No. 23 No. 24, Dot between S and T of "Post"; White dot on foot of "2" over "Fee." Second vertical line to left of foot of top bar in left pillar broken. Faint dot under tail of R of " Railway." Faint dot under R of " Railway." Faint dot over IL of " Railway " (circular). S.W. corner of stamp defective. White dot on 4th bar in left pillar. Line over lower tip of L of " Railway " broken. Curved foot of D of "And" broken. Dot under NC of " Conveyance." Both lines over second T of " Letters " are defective. Dot over right stroke of first N of " Conveyance." Nos. I to 6 are imperforate at top, Nos. ig to 24 at bottom, Nos. I, 7, 13 and 19 at the left side and Nos. 6, 12, 18 and 24 at the right side. The second and third issues may be found perforated II, 12, and compound, and each sheet of 24 (four rows of si.\) had three horizontal and five vertical rows of perforation. In the partially- reconstructed sheet of the 3rd issue referred to above, the top hori- zontal row of perforation (i.e. that between ist and 2nd rows of stamps) gauges 12 and the other two rows 11, whilst the first vertical row is also perf. 12 and the others perf. 11. No regular rule seems to have been followed however. ^WESTEPNRAIUWM ! II. Waterford, Limerick and Western. The issues inscribed Waterford, Limerick and Western Railway may be classified in three groups, distinguished by means of certain WATERFORD, LIMERICK AND WESTERN RAILWAY. 415 minute defects which are common to all the stamps on a sheet. These marks are as follows : — [a) White dot on edge of ground, opposite first C of "Conveyance" (4th and 5th printings only). [b) Dot near apex of N.W. triangle. Clear in 4th printing; occasionally (and generally faint) in 5th, 5th and 7th printings. [c) Vertical hairline over T of " Post,'' 4th printing only. [d) Dot under top outline, over M of "Limerick" (all printings). With the fifth printing several additional defects originate : — [e) Coloured dot under first E of " Conveyance," 5th, 6th and 7th printings. (/) Stop after " Letters " ; 5th and all later printings. (g) Dot under line under RS of "Letters"; 5th, 6th and 7th printings. {h) Two dots near right foot of R of " Western " ; 5th, 6th and 7th printings, but occasionally missing in the first of these. The sixth printing introduces three further defects : — (i) Dot over " &." This defect also occurs three times on each sheet of the 5th printing. (_;■) Dot over Y of " By." Sixth printing only. {k) Dot before first C of " Conveyance." Also occurs on types 10 and 20 of the 5th printing. The fourth printing is readily distinguished by the presence of mark (c) and the absence of (e), {/) and (g). The fifth, sixth and seventh printings, classified as type III. are equally well identified by the presence of (e) and (g), whilst the three later printings (type IV.) may be most easily told by the presence of mark (/) and absence of («). Commencing with the eighth issue, as will be noticed, most of the defects disappear. In the fifth printing the stamps are placed only 4^ to 5 mm. apart ; in later printings the space averages 6 to 7 mm. The width of a row of four stamps in the si.xth issue varies from 5*; in. at the top to 54 in. at the bottom of a sheet. In the sheets of 12 (ninth and tenth issues), the average width of a row is nearly 5,"^ in. ^ o ■n 0. E 5 ^ -h WATKRKORD, LIMERICK AN[) WKSTERN RAILWAY. 417 Fourth Printing (1896?!. This printing is \ery distinct on account of its emerald green shade. It is generally supposed to have been the first with the altered title and this is borne out by its \ery clear printing. I have onlv been able to examine two examples closely, both from the bottom row of a sheet, and either \os. 20, 21, 22 or 23. No. ? Dot over \'E of " Conveyance " ; right stroke of N of " Single " brolcen. Xo. ? Top outline broken over TE of " Waterford " ; B of '-By" Defective. There are other marks common to both stamps and evidently of a general nature (see abo^e). Fifth Printing (1897). The fifth printing — the last to be arranged in four rows of si.\ — ,\rrangeincnt of Tvpes on Sheet, ed. S 14 13 19 No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. g No. 10. No. II No. 12 No. 13 No. 14 No. 15 No. 16 No. 17 : Is: 3 9 15 21 4 10 i5 iS ^4 was fortimateh' current until early in iSgS, so that sexeral entire sheets were obtained and preserved by collectors. The principal marks by w^hich the types mav be recognized are as follows: — Faint white dot on edge of ground, opposite second N of " Conveyance." Line over R of " Western " broken. Line under IL of "Railway" (circ.ilarl indented; circle indented over N of '■ ^^'estern." Two faint white dots on neck of figure " 2." Faint white dot under shield, opposite first E of " Fee." i'pright stroke of second T of " Letters " broken. Faint dot on lower extremity of " 2." Dot over "&" (see Nos. 17, iS) ; dot under second E of '■ Western." Right strokes of W of "Western" and M of "Limerick" broken. Clear dot before first C of "Conveyance" (see No. 20). White dot on neck of figure "2," under I of "Single." S of "Single" indented at foot. Line over RS of "Letters" indented twice. Sixth vertical bar in right pillar broken in two. White dot between the two white bars under IL of " Railway." White bar on line over ST of "Western" missing. Dot over "&"; line under first E of "Conveyance" broken; second bar of left pillar broken. 4i8 WATERFORD, LIMERICK AND WESTERN RAILWAY. Dot o\'er " & " ; lowest bar of left pillar broken. Faint dot under the dot of " 2d." Faint dot before C of "Conveyance" (see No. lo) ; 3 white dots on Hne over F of " Waterford." Centre stroke of second N of " Conveyance " broken. S of "Letters" broken; right arm of Y of "Conveyance" curved. Line under second E of "Western" defective. White dot on foot of R of " Railway" and on line over L of " Railway" (circular). Sixteen of the above stamps — those from the outer rows of the sheet — have imperforate margin on one or two sides, which greatly assists in reconstructintr a sheet. No. 18. No. 19. No. 20. No. 21. No. 22. No. 23- No. 24. Sixth Printing (1898). Sheets of this printing are known to have been issued about May, 1898, and a proof sheet preserved by the printers records the date of printing as March 30th. The chief characteristic is the dot o\er " & " on each stamp on the sheet. In the previous printing, the dot only shows on three stamps — Arrang^cment of Tjpes on Printed Sheet. I 2 3 4 ^z £z Z3 IZ s 6 7 8 or 61 81 Li 9 10 1 1 12 91 Si fl Ei 13 14 15 i5 SI II 01 6 17 18 19 20 8 /. 9 £ 21 22 23 24 t e z I Nos. y, and 18 on the sheet- and in subsequent issues it does not occur at all. Every type on the sheet has a dot over Y of " By," a defect which does not appear to occur at all in other printings. There is also a dot before "Conveyance," 1 have carefully examined two entire sheets, and find on both the following noticeable defects : White dot on upper edge of shield, under IN of " Single." Coloured dot inside upper curve of figure " 2." White dot over shield." Top outline broken over LI of " Limerick." Lower outline broken under W of "Western." Dot to left of centre bar of E of " Waterford." Line to right of N.E. triangle broken; dotted band under second A of " Rail\\a\- " indented. Line under first C of " Conveyance " indented. Foot of first E of "Conveyance" broken. Coloured dash on lower tip of shield. No. I. No. 2. No. 3- No. 4- No. 5- No. 6. No. 7- No. 8. No. 9' WATERFORD, LIMERICK AND WESTERN RAILWAY. 419 Coloured dot just under top No ir. No. 12. No ^3- No. 14- No. 15- No 16. No. 17- No. iS. No. ig. No. 20. No. 21. No. 22. No. 23- No. 24. No. 10. Line under second E of " Fee " broken. outline above E of " Limerick." First C of "Conveyance" connected by hairline with line beneath. Dot under lower outline of stamp, under second E of " \Vestern." Faint dot between IC of " Limerick." Curved hairline inside O of " Waterford." Two faint dots attached to upper edge of lower outline under second E of " ^^'estern." Faint dash, nearly horizontal, over V of " Railway." Y of "Railway" broken in centre. White dot on line over first C of " Conveyance." Dot under L of " Railway " ; second line to left of AN of " Conveyance " broken. Centre bar of F of "Waterford" very faint. Blot over S of " Letters " ; top outline broken at left end. \\'hite dot on upright stroke of L of " Railway." White dot over shield, opposite P of " Post " ; first E of " Letters " broken. Faint dot on shield, opposite O of "For." Ground fainth" indented between shield and I of " Railway " (circular). This printing is remarlvable for quite a large number of defects which are common to all the types on the sheet. Both panes in the printed sheets show the same 24 types, so that probably each pane was printed separately from the same impression on the machining stone, the paper being turned round to take the second. Seventh Printing (1898). The seventh printmg is almost exactly similar in shade to the eighth, but as regards defects in the design the former belongs to the class of type III. and the latter are type IW I have unfortunately not been able to meet with an entire sheet, but have a block of 10, which is sufficient to show that the stamps were issued in sheets of more than three rows of four. The sheets as printed and issued, are no doubt similar to those of the precedin.g issues. I have only identified the following types : — No. I. Right arm of Y of "Railway" nearly detached from body of letter. No. No. 3 No. 4, No. 5 Circular line over R of "For" connected with S.W. triangle. Right arm of W of " Waterford " broken. Centre tip of W of "Waterford" broken. Line under first C of " Convevance." 420 WATERFORD, LIMERICK AND WESTERN RAILWAY. ^ = WATERFORD, LIMERICK AND WESTERN RAILWAY. 421 Arrang^ements of Types on a Sheet as Printed. I 2 3 4 Ji II 01 6 5 6 7 8 8 L 9 S 9 10 II 12 I' £ K I I 2 3 4 31 II UI 6 5 6 7 8 8 Z 9 S 9 10 II 12 t e z I No. 6. Third bar from top in right pillar broken in two. No. 7. No marks of importance. Nos. 8 and g. Not identified. No. 10. Line over second E of "Conveyance" broken. No. II. Line over B of "By" indented; white dot on T of "Western." Nos. 12 to 24? Not seen. Duplicates of some of the above show additional marks. I have an example of this printing on a letter dated October 12th, 1898. Eighth Printing (1898). I have fortunately been able to examine an entire pane of this printing, in which the printed sheets of 48 were divided into panes of 24. Subsequent printings were made in sheets of 48, but each of such was cut into four panes of 12 before delivery. As in the latter printings however, there are only 12 types, as against the 24 of preceding printings. No. I. R of "Railway" faint at top; No stop (sometimes faint stop) between "Railway" and "Fee"; line under AI of "Railway" (circular inscription) faint; tail of R of " Waterford " very faint. Left outline faint, opposite V of " Convej'ance." Line under apex of S.E. triangle broken. Dot between AN of "Conveyance"; line over R of "Limerick" broken. L of "Limerick" very defective; line broken under G of "Single." Dot on upper edge of shield, under LE of "Single"; neck of "2" indented near " d." Line over W of " Waterford " broken ; dot under lower outline, under R of "Railway"; neck of "2" faint. Line over K of "Limerick" broken. White dot at upper corner of R of " Limerick." Shield connected with white circle round it, opposite R of " Railway." N of " Western " defective. Dot over lower tip of first E of "Western." No. 24 on the sheet has a dot under the line under ER of "Letters." The twehe types on the upper half of a sheet are almost indistinguishable from those of the lower half. My sheets of this printing were issued by the Company on November 30th, 1898. No. 2. No. 3- No. 4- No. 5- No. 6. No. 7- No. 8. No. 9- No. 10. No. II. No. 12. 422 WATERFORU, LIMERICK AND WESTERN RAILWAY. \rrangeme: nt of Types on a Sheet as Printed. Ninth Printing (1899). Several issued sheets of this printing have come under notice, each containing twehe stamps, in three rows of four ; also half the proof sheet preserved by the printers, inscribed with the date of printing, March loth, i8gg. As several of the sheets were issued by the Company in March, igoo, this issue appears to have been in use rather longer than usual. The quantity printed The 12 types may be distinguished 234 678 10 II 12 ZI II 8 i 01 5 9 zi 8 10 1 1 11 01 was howe\'er as follows : — much larger. No. I. Line broken or faint under LE of " Single." No. 6. Line broken over fir.st " C " of " Conveyance." No. 10. White dot on third stroke of W of " Waterford." No. II. Lowest bar of E of "Single" nearly detached. No. 12. Shield indented at top, under O of "Post." The Other types do not show any defects of importance Tenth Printing (1900). The tenth printing was made on August 30th, igoo, and remained in use until December 31st, \vhen the issues of the W.L. & W. Railway were recalled and replaced with those of the G.S. & W.R. Company. The printed sheets apparently consisted of four groups of twelve types arranged as in the preceding printing. The following defects occur : — No. I. The dotted band over .AY of " Railway " is defective. No. 2. K of "Limerick" smudged at foot; Y of " Railway " defective at foot. No. 4. White dot on neck of figure " 2." No. 8. R of "Limerick" slightly smudged at top. No. 10. Blot below line under GL of " Single." No. II. Upright stroke of R of " Railway," weak at top. No. 12. White dot above the shield and below G of " Single " and another to left of shield and opposite first N of "Conveyance." The Other types do not show any defects of importance. WEST CLARE RAILWAY. 423 West Clare Railway, T HE West Clare Railway is situated in the North of the Province of Munster. The line runs westward in a semi- circle from Ennis through Corofin, Millbrook, Ennystymon and Lehinch to Miltown Malbay, where a junction is effected with the South Clare Railway, which however is worked by the former company and uses the same letter stamps. The South Clare line extends Southward from Miltown Malbay to Kilkee (Junction with the old W. & C. I. Ry.), with a branch to Kilrush. The total length of the two lines is 53 miles. The letter stamps were lithographed by Messrs.. Sealy, Bryers and Walker, of DubHn, and are issued in sheets of 24, arranged in four rows of six. Mr. \A'. J. Kennedy, Secretary and Manager to the Company, informs me that only one printing has been made, consisting of 48,000 stamps, which was delivered in April, i8gi. They are printed in green and perforated 11. G^#^=^Sj^ 424 WKSI CLARE RAILWAY. West Clare Railway. Issued in sheets of 24 14 rows of 6). WE 7 CLARt ':r ._ . RAILWAY COMPANY ; WE S T C L A__R E ^ v^v'li!:: il! WEST CLARE ;; RAiLVMY companyI; •_ WEST CLARE JIRAILWAY COM PANY_ ' _RAI_l.WAY COMPANY APPENDIX. 425 APPENDIX. ENGLAND AND WALES. Cockermouth, Keswick, and Penrith Railway. I have fortunately been able to closely examine the two unique unbroken sheets of the first printing in the collection of the Earl of Crawford, and find that the twelve types may be distinguished as follows. The arrangement, as already stated, is in three rows of four : — Type I Type 2 Type 3 Type 4 Type 5, Type 6 Type 7, Type 8 Type g T\'pe 10, Ts'pe I [ TN-pe 12 Second line to left of lowest bar in left pillar broken. White dot in centre of second bar in left pillar. Line over T of " Post " cut through. \\'hite scratch across the upper tip of the S,^V. triangle. Stop after •'Rail\va^•" broken in two. Faint hairline between R and S of "Letters." Line over R of "For" broken. White scratch on ground under first N of " Conveyance." Blot on K of "Cockermouth." Lower outline of N.E. triangle broken over P of " Post." Outline to right of "Keswick" broken. White scratch on ground under R of " For." Second line over H of "Cockermouth" broken. Dot over IC of " Keswick." Lines over ES\\' of "Keswick" blurred. I of "Penrith" broken at top. Clear dot over T of " Penrith." All the tvpes are readily distinguishable by means of the above marks, and all stamps of this printing which I have met with have been identified with one or other of them. East and "West Junction Railway. The third printing does not appear to have been yet brought into use (September, 1901). London, Chatham and Dover Railway. The black-green printing of the third transfer, with rough perforation, perf. loj, would appear to have been the latest, as I have received several sheets which are known to have been issued from the Company's offices in ^May, 1899. At the same time, thev may, of course, have been old stock. 426 APPENDIX. Midland and Great Northern Joint Railways. The title of this Company has "Railways" in the plural, and not "Railway," as given on page 165. I ha^'e succeeded in securing an entire sheet of the stamps, and find that the transfer was made up of twelve groups of fi^•e types, arranged as follows : — Types 4 and 5 are readily distinguishable, but the other three are almost impossible to identify with certainty. The most noticeable marks are as follows : — Types r, 2, No marks of importance. Type 3. Usually has a very faint clot between J and O of "Joint." Type 4. The lower outline is broken under JO of "Joint." Type 5. Smudge between the two lines under YS of " Railways." Individual stamps on the sheet show other defects, but no useful purpose would be served by giving a list of them. I may mention : No. No. 8. No. 15- No. 20. No. SO- No. SO. No. 53- Only one line instead of three between the fourth and fifth bars in the left pillar. Line o\'cr ND of "Midland" broken. D of "Midland" broken at Ibul. Dot under \'A of " Conve\'ance." Dot under ET of "Letters." N.E. corner of stamp defectise. Blot between I and I> of " Railways." The sheet before me varies considerably in shade. The colour is palest in the upper right hand corner and deepest at the left side of the sheet. Most of the stamps are more or less smudgy. APPENDIX. 427 Neath and Brecon Railway. Messrs. ^IcCorquodale & Co., Ltd., tiave been good enough to ascertain for me the following hst of the printings of letter stamps which they have made for the Neath and Brecon Railway since the beginning of 1896. I have added particulars as to colour, perforation, and size of sheet : — Issue. Date. Quantity. Perf Size of Sheet. Colour. 2nd April, iSqj 250 12 12 Yellowish-gj 3rd Sept., 1S9S 100 12 12 Blue-green 4th ^[ar.. 1900 144 I I 12 Green 5th Mar., 1901 100 Roul. 12 8 Black-green The first issue, as already stated, was supplied in iSgi by Messrs. Waterlow & Sons. In the absence of any evidence of printings between that date and 1896, I classify the printing of April, 1897, as the second. The latest issue is really in a very dark bluish-green, but the description " black-green " gives a better idea of the colour as compared with the blue-green shade of the third issue. The plate used for the Types. 2nd, 3rd and 4th printings was Plate Xos. I 2 I 2 made up of three blocks of four 3 4 5 6 3 + 34 types, side by side. The first of ^ ^° these four blocks has now been removed, so that the plate only prints a sheet of eight stamps. The stamps on the sheet therefore corres- pond to Nos. 3, 4, 5, 6 — 9, 10, II, 12 on sheets of preceding issues. No. 9 (ist in lower row) still has the white dash over the shield, and the dot under the second A of " Railway." North Eastern Railway. The two lower illustrations on page 181 are transposed. Stamp No. 18169 is 2nd issue and Xo. 23713, 3rd issue. The 52nd Issue, Xos. 178001 to 181000, may be added to the list given on page 175, as it was issued in September, 1901. I have not yet met with specimens. 428 APPENDIX. North Staffordshire Railway. Mr. J. F. A. Jones informs me that the second and third printings were supplied by Messrs. Allbut and Daniel in 1895 and 1897 respectively. North "Wales and Liverpool Railway Committee. The length of the line is incorrectly given on page 216. It runs from Bidston Junction to Hawarden Bridge and is about 14 j miles long. SCOTTISH RAILWAYS. Highland Railway Company. I have been able to meet with several sheets of the sixth printing, and can now give the following list of defects by which the types may be identified. No. I No. 2 No. No. No. No. No. 7 No. 8 No. g No. 10 No. II No. 12 Dot in C of " Company " Dot under MP of " Company." Upper edge of D of " 2d." nicked. Left foot of R of " Railwa}- " broken. Faint dot under stamp, under M of " Company." White scratch across third bar in left pillar, O of " Conveyance " and figure, " 2." No marks of importance White dot to left of shield, opposite first E of "Conveyance." Scratch between I and N of " Single," at foot. Faint dot before P of " Post." Line to left of lowest bar in left pillar defective. Line N.W. of T of "The" is slightly indented. The scratch across the shield and left pillar is on type 6, not 5 as stated on page 295. The colour, of the impression varies from pale to dark. The eighth printing is in a very similar shade of yellow-green to the sixth, but I have met with greater extremes of pale and dark shades. The white patch on types i, 2 and 3 is clearest in sheets of the pale-green shades, but in all I have met with it is fairly clear. APPENDIX. 429 u o O c -a 5 5 a- ^ « - 5 i <0 13 430 APPENDIX. IRISH RAILWAYS. Ballycastle Railway. Mr. Hamilton McAllen, Secretar}' and. General Manager to the Company, has succeeded in ascertaining the dates and quantity of all the printings which have been made, e.xcept the first, of which there appears to be no record. Mr. McAllen states that it was probably obtained at the same time as the first supplies of other Companies. I append the list and have added, as far as is known, particulars as to colour, type, etc. : — Printing. Date. Quantity. Transfer. Perf. Colour. 1st Jan., 1891 ? ? 2nd Apr., 1891 250 3rd Jan., 1892 250 Examples of these six printings 4th Sept., 1892 200 are entirely unknown. 5th May, 1893 500 6th Aug., 1894 300 t 7th May, 1895 500 7th ? II Yellow-green 8th July, 1896 5110 8th II Dull grey-green gth Dec, 1897 500 8th ? n Yellowish-green loth Oct., 1898 1000 9th II Deep green nth July, 1 90 1 900 loth n Bright green Belfast and County Down. The 13th issue was chronicled in Eweiis Weeklv Stamp News of January 20th, igoo. Cork and Macroom Direct Railway. The first printing has two lines under " Direct Railway," and not " over Cork and Macroom," as stated on page 334. A sheet of the first printing is now illustrated. FINIS. IN order that this history may be kept up-to-date, I propose to edit annually — probably in the summer of each year — an addenda embodying any new information which may come to light res- pecting Railway Letter Stamps, and of course including a description of such new printings of these stamps as may be made in the future. To the end that the many still unsolved problems may be brought a step nearer solution, I hope that all fellow-collectors will reciprocate by co-operating with me in continuing the work which, as regards this present volume, I must now bring to a close. I take this opportunity of expressing my wilUngness to at any time assist in identifying or in ascertaining the genuineness of any specimens which may prove puzzling. H. L'ESTRANGE EWEN. 32, Palace Square, Noi-wood, London, S.E. September igth, igoi. '1 ':■,!"'// '''ft fi'i:/fl!/«'i /I H , li'n ' ) (,i « «ii!'ii;filte;;!!i:'