Machine Cancellations
Early trials of stamp cancelling machines in the late 19th century and the early 20th century are listed and illustrated in Collect British Postmarks (Chapter 10), but it is impossible for such a general guide to include all the locations at which later machines were used – much less all the different dies used. However, BPS member Paul Carter has produced listings of the many dies known to have been used in Krag, Hey-Dolphin and Universal machines, including their earliest and latest known dates of use. Paul's files are being constantly updated, and additional information from readers is always welcomed. The most up-to-date information can be accessed by using the links below.
Universal Machines
Universal
Machine Postmarks of Great Britain & Northern Ireland is a new website exploring the many dies used in Universal stamp-cancelling
machines. Unified-style dies, used from 1933 onwards, in Hey-Dolphin and Krag
single-impression machines are also listed. There are separate listings covering dies used
for cancelling stamped mail and dies used on mail prepaid in cash. As well as these detailed listings, which are
downloadable as PDF files, there is an introduction to the history, development
and deployment of Universal machines, a reference guide to the early
machines (with illustrations of their dies) and an explanation of die styles
and their evolution. The site can be found by clicking on the following link:
Universal Machine Postmarks of Great Britain & Northern Ireland
Krag Machines
Krag Machine Postmarks of Great Britain &
Ireland by
Paul T Carter was first published by the British Postmark Society in September
2012, listing Krag stamp-cancelling machines and dies used
from 1905 to 2012 in Great Britain, Northern Ireland, Channel Islands, Isle of
Man and Irish Republic –the first time this had been attempted in a single
publication.
Second Edition: Fully revised and updated to 2022, this is available as a free PDF download. With 307 pages, including more than 130 colour and 4,500 mono illustrations, the new edition includes thousands of updated entries and has expanded sections delving more deeply into the realms of Krag triangular dies and Krag single-impression machines. There is also a much-extended image gallery of Krag machine dies. Please click on the following link to view the book (with the option to download the PDF file to your computer or device)
Krag Machine Postmarks of Great Britain &
Ireland (Second Edition, 2022)
Online Edition: Paul Carter has also created a new website which is essentially a fully updated version of the Second Edition. This provides an effective way of readily sharing the most up-to-date information (the site already includes more than 400 updates to the Second Edition, all highlighted in yellow in the data files). This online edition can be found by clicking on the following link:
Krag Machine Postmarks of Great Britain &
Ireland (new online version, 2023)
Hey-Dolphin Machines
Hey-Dolphin Machine Postmarks of Great Britain & Ireland is a new research site. It includes draft checklists of dies used in stamp-cancelling machines marketed by the International Postal Supply Company of New York, founded by George W Hey and Matthew J Dolphin. Postmarks from these machines were distinctive due to the year being an integral part of the die (until Universal-style dies were fitted in 1933, when the Post Office adopted a unified style for all single-impression machine dies). The listings are downloadable as PDF files and there is also an introduction to the history, development and deployment of the machines. The site can be found by clicking on the following link:
Hey-Dolphin Machine Postmarks of Great Britain & Ireland
Page updated October 2023