LATEST
UPDATE: 2 SEPTEMBER 2003
This
section represents an ambitious project to list in detail
the
classical period Numerical and Alphabetical Cancellations of the
world. These cancellation types are commonly referred to as Numerical
or Alphabetical Oblits (for "Obliterators").
The
individual countries and/or postage stamp issuing entities will
be entered as their information is collated and verified; they are
listed in alphabetical order. Stamp-issuing entities currently detailed
in the listing include:
Braunschweig
Mauritius
Netherlands
Antilles and Dutch Guiana
Netherlands
Indies
Nicaragua
St.
Vincent
____________________________________________________________
BRAUNSCHWEIG The
obliterators are in the form of 16-count horizontal lines (bars)
in the shape of a small, upended, unframed square, with the numeral
designating the post office being centrally located on a plain field.
The
vast majority of the numerical oblits were in use during the time
period covering the Braunschweig 1852, 1853, 1857, 1861-1863, 1864,
and 1865 issues.
1 Badenhausen
2
Bahrdorf
3
Bevern
4
Blankenburg
5
Boden
6 Boerssum
7 Braunlage
8 Braunschweig
(Main Post Office)
9 Braunschweig
(Railroad P.O.)
10
Calvörde
11
Delligsen
12
Eschershausen
13
Fürstenberg
14
Gandersheim
15
Gittelde
16
Greene (to 10 Oct 1865)
Naensen (from 10 Oct 1865)
17
Gross-Winnigstedt
18 Halle/Weser
19 Harzburg
20 Hasselfelde
21 Helmstedt
22 Hessen
23 Hohegeiss
24 Holzminden
25 Jerxheim
26 Immendorf
(to 31 Dec 1860)
Hehlen (from 1 Nov 1862)
27 Kl.-Rhüden
(to Oct 1864)
Bornum b. Seesen (from
Oct 1864)
28 Königslutter
29 Kreiensen
30 Langelsheim
31 Lehre
32 Lutter/Bge.
33
Oker
34
Ottenstein
35 Rübeland
36 Salder
(thin Bars)
Salder (thick Bars)
37 Schoeningen
38 Schoeppenstedt
39 Seesen
40 Stadtoldendorf
41 Tanne
42 Thedinghausen
43 Vechelde
44 Velpke
45
Vorsfelde
46 Walkenried
47 Wolfenbüttel
48 Zorge
49 Mainzholzen
(from 1 Aug 1857 to 10 Oct 1865)
Vorwohle (from 10 Oct 1865)
50 Braunschweig
(Very Rare)
Reference:
Michel Deutschland-Spezial-Katalog 1995 (München: Schwaneberger
Verlag GmbH, 1995), 65.
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MAURITIUS From
1848 through 1860, seventeen post offices opened in Mauritius,
all using ringed numerical oblits identified as the following towns
(and postal districts). Several of the numerical oblits are considered
as being rare: "7", "9", "10", "13", "15", and "17".
1
Mahébourg
(Grand Port)
2
Centre
de Flacq (Flacq)
3
Pamplemousses (Pamplemous)
4
Souillac
(Savanna)
5
Plaines Wilhelms (Plaines Wilhelm)
6
Curepipe (Plaines Wilhelm)
7
Petite Riviére (Black River)[1851]
8
Ville
Bague (Flacq)
9
Poudre dOr (Riviere du Remp)
10
Grand Bay (Pamplemous)
11
Moka (Moka)
12
Black River (Black River)
13
Grand River S.E. (Grand Port)
14
Riviére du Rempart (Riviére du Remp)
15
Plaine Magnien (Grand Port)
16
Riviére
Seche (Grand Port)
17
Mare
dAlbert (Grand Port)
In
1869, the number of post offices were increased and reorganized.
They were given a new numerical obliterator, with the designated
post office number being enclosed by a lozenge of bars. These new
oblits were of two types: (1) with 3 bars above and below the number,
and (2) with four bars above and below the number.
The
numerical designations ran from "1" through "43", then preceded
by the letter "B" running from "B44" though "65". Only several of
the new oblits have been identified as to their origin, as the postal
system of the time was very primitive, and record keeping was practically
non-existent. Those post offices that have been identified include
the following;
1
Port Louis
2
Flacq
4
St. Pierre
5
Plaine Wilhelms
7
Mapou
8
Poudre dOr
9
Riviére du Rempart
14
Mahébourg
15
Union Vale
16
Rose Belle
20
Cluny
21
Curepipe
22
Vacoas
24
Quatre Bornes
25
Rose Hill
26
Moka
27
Beau Bassin
28
Petite Riviére
32
Pailles
33
Riviére Dragon
34
Riviére des Anguilles
35
Chemin Grenier
37
Curepipe Road
38 Midlands
43
Quartier Militaire
B45 Camp du Masque
B47 St. Julien
B48 Forest Side
B49 Réduit
B53 Port Louis
B64 Seychelles (a Dependency)
B65 Rodriguez Island (a Dependency)
References:
Mrs. M. S. Pierce, "Mauritius: Postmarks", Billigs
Philatelic Handbook, Volume VI (Jamaica, NY: F. Fritz Billig.,
1946), 88-91.
Rev.
H. H. Heins, The Numerical Cancellations of the British Empire,
2nd ed. (London: Robson Lowe Ltd., 1960), 16.
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_____________________________________________________________
NETHERLANDS
ANTILLES and DUTCH GUIANA The
Netherlands Antilles consists of several islands located in the
southern Caribbeans West Indies area: Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao,
Saba, St. Eustatius, and St. Martin (the southern section of the
island, the northern section being French).
Dutch
Guiana, also referred to as Netherlands Guiana or Suriname (the
current name), is located on the northern end of the South American
continent.
201
Curaçao
202 Curaçao (to 1881), St. Martin
(from 1881)
203 Curaçao
204 Suriname (Paramaribo)
205 Suriname
206 Suriname
207 Suriname
208 St. Eustatius
209 Saba
Reference:
Speciale Postzegelcatalogus 1996 (sGravenhage,
Netherlands: De Nederlandse Vereeniging van Postzegelhandelaren,
1995), 626.
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NETHERLANDS
INDIES Often called the Dutch
Indies, and now identified as Indonesia, the numerical oblits were
introduced on 1 April 1873 for usage on first class mail and postage
due stamps. The numerical oblit cancelling devices were recalled
on 14 April 1893, being replaced by circular datestamps.
Many of the numerical
oblits are very scarce due to their short periods of use, and command
premiums when found even on the most common of the Dutch Indies
stamps
Unless indicated
otherwise, the numerical oblits were issued to the corrersponding
post offices on the 1 April 1873 date. The first ten numerical oblits,
Nos. "1" through "10", are found in two different sizes.
1 Weltevreden
2
Samarang
3 Soerbaja
4 Batavia
5 Padang
6 Cheribon
7 Soerakarta
8 Buitenzorg
9 Makassar
10 Djokjakarta
11 Pasoeroean
12 Bandoeng
13 Tegal
14 Pekalongan
15 Salatiga
16 Ambarawa
17 Pati
18 Rembang
19 Toeban
20 Banjoemas
21 Tjilatjap
22 Poerworedjo
23 Magelang
24 Madioen
25 Grisee
26 Probolingo
27 Besoeki
28 Banjoewangi
29 Kediri
30
Pamekasan
31
Bandjermasin
32
Palembang
33
Amboina
34
Riouw (to 1878)
Tandjongpinang (from 1878)
35
Muntok
36
Pontianak
37
Serang
38
Anjer
39
Poerwakarta
40
Meester Cornerlis
41
Tjiandjoer
42
Soemedang
43
Indramajoe
44
Yjiamis
45
Kendal
46
Koedoes
47
Bodjonegoro
48
Klaten
49
Ngawi
50
Patjitan
51
Modjokerto
52
Malang
53
Sitoebondo
54
Soemenep
55
Fort de Kock
56
Siboga
57
Benkoelen
58
Telok Betong
59
Bengkalis
60
Billiton
Tandjong Pandan (later)
61
Singkawang
Poerwodadi
(after 5 Apr 1880)
62
Menado
63
Ternate
64
Banda
Neira
(after 1878)
65
Timor (to 1893)
Koepang (later)
66
Atjeh, 1st Brigade
(Atjeh
F.P.O.)
Kota-radja (after 1882)
67
Atjeh, 2nd Brigade
(Atjeh
F.P.O.)
Oenarang (later)
68
Atjeh, 3rd Brigade
(Atjeh
F.P.O.)
Padanh Pandjang (later)
69
Demak (to 1879)
Steamship
Mail Service,Batavia-Singapore Route
(1879-1880)
70
Blitar
71
Loemadjang
72
Bondowoso
73
Bojolali (1874-1875)
74
Kotaboemi (1874-1875)
75
Moeara Doea (1874-1875)
76
Tebingtinggi (Palembang) (1874-1875)
77
Lahat (1874-1875)
78
Sebiat (1874-1875)
79
Mokko Mokko (1874-1875)
80
Indrapoera (1874-1875)
81
Rau (1874-1875)
Loeboe Sikaping (later)
82
Padang Sidempoean (1874-1875)
83
Singkel (1874-1875)
84
Deli (to 5 Jan 1876)
Laboean Deli (after 21 Dec 1876)
85
Sidoardjo (5 Jan 1876)
86
Japara (5 Jan 1876)
87
Toeloengagoeng (5 Jan 1876)
88
Rorontalo (5 Jan 1876)
89
Singapore Postal Agency (5 Jan 1876)
90
Penang Postal Agency (5 Jan 1876)
91
Soekaboemi (5 Jan 1876)
92
Bandjarnegara (between 21 Dec 1876 and 1 Nov 1878)
93
Djember (between 21 Dec1876 and 1 Nov 1878)
94
Djoewana (between 21 Dec 1876 and 1 Nov 1878)
95
Kraksaän
96
Karanganjar
97 Ponorogo
98 Temanggoeng
99
Wonosobo
100
Langkat
Bangil (after
1880)
101
Baros
102
Garoet (30 Dec 1880)
103
Krawang (30 Dec 1880)
104
Soebang (1881)
105
Oleh-leh (12 Jul 1882)
106 Edi
(12 Jul 1882)
107
Telok Semawé (12 Jul 1882)
Keboemen (after
1885)
108
Medan (12 Jul 1882)
109
Wlingi (12 Jul 1882)
110
Djombang (12 Jul 1882)
111
Kalianda
112 Goenoeng
Toewa (between 1881-1887)
113
Bandar Klipan (to 1890)
Tebing Tinggi
Deli (later)
114
Rantau Prapat (between 1881-1887)
115
Tandjong Balei
116
Boeleleng (small numerals)
Gombong (large
numerals,15 Mar 1890)
117
Bindjei (small numerals, 1 Sep 1890)
Bangkalan
(large numerals)
118
Tandjong Poera (1 Sep 1890)
119
Lasem (1 Apr 1891)
120
Toeren (1 Apr 1891)
References:
F. Fritz Billig, "Netherlands Indies:
List of Numerical Cancellations", Billigs Philatelic Handbook,
Volume IV (Jamaica, NY: Billigs Stamp Co., 1944), 160-161.
Speciale Postzegelcatalogus 1996
(sGravenhage, Netherlands: De Nederlandse Vereeniging van
Postzegelhandelaren, 1995), 626.
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NICARAGUA:
Nicaragua is divided into 16 departmental political divisions: Boaco,
Carazo, Chinandega, Chontales. Estelí, Granada, Jinotega,
León, Madriz, Managua, Masaya, Matagalpa, Nuevo Segovia,
Rio San Juan, Rivas and Zelaya.
The
Caribbean seaport of San Juan del Norte, located on the extreme
southeast corner of the country at the mouth of the San Juan River,
was formerly named Greytown. The town was occupied by Great Britain
in 1848, and was the sight of the isthmian crossing terminus during
the 1849 "gold rush".
Square or octagonal framed numeral
with letter obliterators were used from the late 1870s through
the mid 1880s. The "12/J" obliterator has not been
positively attributed to a specific post office, as a complete cover
or other mailed piece documenting the actual town usage has not
been recorded
1/S San
Juan del Sur (Rivas)
2/R Rivas
(Rivas)
3/G Granada
(Granada)
4/J Jinotepe
(Carazo)
5/M Masaya
(Masaya)
6/M Managua
(Managua)
7/L León
(León)
8/CH Chinandega
(Chinandega)
9/C Corinto
(Chinandega)
10/O Ocotal
(Nuevo Segovia)
11/M Matagalpa
(Matagalpa)
12/J Juigalpa
(Chontales) or Jinotega (Jinotega).
13/N San
Juan del Norte [formerly: Greytown] (Rio San Juan)
Reference:
Personal E-Mail Communication: Brian Moorhouse, LATIN AMERICAN
PHILATELY (P.O. Box 105, Peterborough
PE3 8TQ, England), 15 August 2003.
WebSite:
http://www.Brian.Moorhouse.com
Contact: E-Mail: Brian@Moorhouse.com
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_____________________________________________________________
ST. VINCENT:
The coded "Lettered" circular
datestamps introduced in the 19th Century included abbreviated town
or village designations within the upper portion of the cancel.
Many of these cancels are rated very
scarce to rare, the reasons for which can be deduced from the 1871,
1881, and 1891 population census for the various towns and smaller
villages.
A
Kingstown,
Diameter Types:
19mm:
1858-1863,
19.5mm
[Oval
"C" in "ST. VINCENT"]:
1863-1866
19.25mm:1867-1871,
18.75mm:
[Round
"C"] 1st Period 1867-1873,
2nd Period 1908-1911,
18.75mm
[Narrow "C"]:
1873-1880,
18.75mm
[Slightly
Oval "C"]: 1881-1883,
18.5mm:
1890-1900,
19.5mm
[Round "C"]:
1901-1909)
A
New Adelphi
(Diameter 19.5mm
(?):
From
1 July 1913. One example recorded,
an
incomplete "albino" impression.
Transferred
to this office when it opened on this date)
BAR
Barrouallie
(1873-1884) -
1871
Population = 1,219, 1881 = 1,252, 1891 = 1,233
BEQ
Bequia
(1894-1908) -
1871
Population = 969, 1881 = 1,118
BI Biabou
(1873-1883) -
1871
Population = 56, 1881 = 98
BU Buccament
(1874-1882) -
1871
Population = 88, 1881 = 130
C Peruvian
Vale (1888-1894) -
1891
Population = 56
C Union
? (1894-1905) -
1881
Population = 246
C Bridgetown
? (1905-1908) -
1891
Population = 149
C Troumaca
(Diameter 18.75mm:
From
1 April 1910. Transferred
to
this office when it opened on this date)
CA
Calliaqua
(1873-1883) -
1871
Population = 535, 1881 = 578, 1891 = 514
CH
Chateaubelair
(1874-1901) -
1871
Population = 689, 1881 = 646, 1891 = 632
CO
Colonarie
(1873-1884) -
1871
Population = 153, 1881 = 246, 1891 = 157
CUM Cumberland
(1876-1902) -
1871
Population = 130, 1881 = 137
G Georgetown
(1873-1884) -
1871
Population = 965, 1881 = 1,021, 1891 = 879
K Kingstown
(1872-1892) -
1871
Population = 5,394
L
Layou
(1876-1884) -
1871
Population = 192, 1881 = 278, 1891 = 490
MES Mesopotamia
(1873-1885) -
1871
Population = 372, 1881 = 383, 1891 = 416
RAB Rabacca
(1872-1882) -
1871
Population = 234, 1881 = 306
ST
Stubbs
(1873-1882) -
1871
Population = 559, 1881 = 779
UE
Union
Estate (1873-1882) -
1871
Population = 224
Reference:
Arthur D. Pierce, J. L. Messenger,
and Robson Lowe, St. VINCENT: The Postal History (1762-1965),
The Postage Stamps (1861-1897), The Cancellations (1861-1915), and
The Revenue Stamps (1882-1887) (London: Robson Lowe Ltd., 1971),
90-116.
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