LONDON - LAST FEW DAYS OF THE CROSS, PRIOR TO NUMERAL CANCELS - 14 May 1844 1d pink l/sheet to Bristol, 15 May 1844 EL to Sheffield with three margin 1d red, and 18 May 1844 EL used within London with three margin 1d red; plus 18 May 1844 EL Richmond to with four margin 1d red. All items with MX cancels. (4) Cross Reference: LONDON POSTAL HISTORY, SURREY, 1841 1d REDS, POSTAL STATIONERY, Q.V. (Image)

LONDON INLAND OFFICE - EARLY NUMERAL USE INC. FIRST KNOWN DAYS - 18 May 1844 Es (2) to Mansfield or Cork with 1d reds (both three margins) cancelled with Nos. 6 or 14 and 21/22 May 1844 E/env. to East Grinstead or used within London (unusual with Inland cancel) with three or four margin 1d red cancelled by Nos. 12 or 16, these four being the earliest known dates for these handstamps. Plus a group May-July covers with various Inland Office numbered cancels inc. No. 12 on 22 May 1844 EL to Lynn and No. 17 on E to East Grinstead, each being the second known day of those handstamps. (26 covers) Cross Reference: LONDON POSTAL HISTORY, 1841 1d REDS, POSTAL STATIONERY, Q.V. (Image)

LONDON - EARLIEST USE OF INLAND OFFICE No. 15 & EARLIEST USE OF PLATE 47 - 18 June 1844 E to Brampton franked with 1d red strip of four, TF-TI plate 47 (a new EKU for this plate; one stamp with three margins, the others four margins), tied by four strikes of the No. 15 Inland Office numeral, this being the earliest known date (four are known).Cross Reference: LONDON POSTAL HISTORY, 1841 1d REDS (Image)

LONDON DISTRICT POST EARLY NUMERALS ETC - inc. very early 23 May 1844 E with three margin 1d red tied by fine "72" (District numbers used 21-23 May are rare), a group (4) of later May 1844 uses, plus undated wrapper to Hamburg cancelled with very rare H* rated Hampstead single "4". (7) Cross Reference: 1841 1d REDS, POSTAL STATIONERY, Q.V., OVERSEAS DESTINATIONS (Image)

CHESHIRE, STAFFORDSHIRE & SHROPSHIRE - EARLY NUMERAL USE INC. NEW EARLIEST DATES - all 1844 1d red frankings, inc. new EKUs for Cheshire 538 of Nantwich on 29 May E (single use contrary to regs. on a pair, faults) and 733 of Stockport on 24 May EL; Staffs 457 of Lichfield on 7 July EL plus 905 of Wolverhampton on 3 May E (the current EKU); and Salop 859 of Wellington on 21 May E. (8) Cross Reference: CHESHIRE, STAFFORDSHIRE, SHROPSHIRE, 1841 1d REDS (Image)

CORNWALL, DEVON & DORSET - EARLY NUMERAL USE INC. NEW EARLIEST DATES - mostly 1d red frankings all 1844, inc. new EKUs for Cornwall 609 of Penzance on 21 May EL and 673 of Mevagissey on 8 May env; Devon 724 of South Molton on 2 Aug. env. and 620 of Plymouth on 10 May E; and Dorset 256 of Dorchester on 19 May E. (10)Cross Reference: CORNWALL, DEVON, DORSET, 1841 1d REDS (Image)

CUMBERLAND, LANCASHIRE & DURHAM - EARLY NUMERAL USE INC. NEW EARLIEST DATES - all 1d red frankings, mostly 1844, inc. new EKUs from Cumb. 165 of Carlisle on 11 May E, 209 of Cockermouth on 4 May E, scarce 607 of Alston on 24 May EL and 879 of Wigton on 3 May EL; Lancs. 593 of Ormskirk on 8 May E (with three 1d reds, underpaid and charged '2d', faults); and 267 of Durham on 31 May E plus 761 of Sunderland (2) on 14 May Es. (17) Cross Reference: CUMBERLAND, DURHAM, LANCASHIRE, 1841 1d REDS (Image)

ESSEX, NORFOLK & SUSSEX - EARLY NUMERAL USE INC. NEW EARLIEST DATES - mostly 1844 1d red frankings, Essex inc. new EKUs from 112 of Braintree on 5 Dec. 1d pink, 494 of Maldon on 17 May E and 668 of Romford on 9 Nov. 1845 env; and Norfolk inc. rare G-rated 34 of Attleborough on EL to Acle and new EKU from 336 of Harleston on 28 Oct. EL. (9) Cross Reference: SUFFOLK, NORFOLK, ESSEX, 1841 1d REDS (Image)

GLOUCESTERSHIRE, HEREFORDSHIRE & WORCESTERSHIRE - EARLY NUMERAL USE INC. NEW EARLIEST DATES - all 1844 1d red frankings, inc. new EKUs for Gloucs. scarce 212 of Coleford on 10 May EL and 788 of Tewkesbury on 19 June EL; Herefs. 454 of Leominster on 7 May EL; and Worcs. 706 of Shipston on 10 May E. (12)Cross Reference: WORCESTERSHIRE, GLOUCESTERSHIRE, HEREFORDSHIRE, 1841 1d REDS (Image)

HAMPSHIRE/ISLE OF WIGHT, SURREY & BERKSHIRE - EARLY NUMERALS USE INC. NEW EARLIEST DATES - mostly 1844 1d red frankings, Hampshire inc. new EKUs from 625 of Portsmouth on 4 May 1d pink, 666 of Ryde on 18 May E, rare 732 of Stockbridge on 17 May env. ('G £80+' rated by Parmenter; plus another on 29 May E), and 888 of Winchester on virtually four margin block of four 1d reds on 15 June piece; Surrey inc. new EKUs from 637 of Reigate on 20 May EL and 316 of Godalming on 6 May E, plus rare G-rated 317 of Godstone (just fair strikes) cancelling 1d red pair on 17 Oct. E; and Berkshire 293 of Faringdon on 9 May EL and 544 of Newbury on 6 May E, both new EKUs. (14 + 2 pieces) Cross Reference: BERKSHIRE, HAMPSHIRE, SURREY, ISLE OF WIGHT (Image)

KENT & SUSSEX - EARLY NUMERAL USE INC. NEW EARLIEST DATES - mostly 1844 1d red frankings, Kent inc. new EKUs from 301 of Faversham on 8 May E, 493 of Maidstone on 15 Aug piece, 634 of Ramsgate on 2 May EL, and 650 of Rochester on 16 May env., plus 258 of Dover on 30 June 1d pink (the current EKU); and Sussex new EKUs from very rare 615 of Fittleworth on 19 Dec. 1845 E to Edinburgh ('H £100+' rated by Parmenter; stamp almost no margins) and 823 of Hailsham on 12 July E. (11 items) Cross Reference: 1841 1d REDS, KENT, POSTAL STATIONERY, Q.V., SUSSEX (Image)

LEICESTERSHIRE, BUCKINGHAM SHIRE, NORTHAMPTONSHIRE & WARWICKSHIRE ETC - EARLY NUMERAL USE INC. NEW EARLIEST DATES - mostly 1844 1d red frankings, inc EKUs for Bucks. 894 of Winslow on 13 May EL; Northants. 104 of Brackley on 31 July E, 238 of Daventry on 10 May 2d blue E, and 808 of Towcester on 19 July env; and Warwicks. 223 of Coventry on 4 May E. (20) Cross Reference: BUCKINGHAMSHIRE, LEICESTERSHIRE, NORTHAMPTONSHIRE, WARWICKSHIRE (Image)

LINCOLNSHIRE, NOTTINGHAMSHIRE, DERBYSHIRE & HUNTINGDON - EARLY NUMERAL USE INC. NEW EARLIEST DATES - all 1844 1d red frankings, inc. new EKUs for Lincs. 742 of Stamford on 8 July E and 477 of Louth on 6 May EL; Notts 583 of Nottingham on 4 May EL; Hunts. 680 of St Ives on 8 May E; and Derbys. 28 of Ashbourne on 19 May E. (9)Cross Reference: DERBYSHIRE, HUNTINGDONSHIRE, LINCOLNSHIRE, NOTTINGHAMSHIRE (Image)

SOMERSET & WILTSHIRE - EARLY NUMERAL USE INC. NEW EARLIEST DATES - all 1d red frankings mostly in 1844, Somerset inc. new EKUs from 720 of Somerton on 6 May E, 779 of Minehead on 5 June E, and 864 of Wells on 15 June EL, plus 777 of Williton on 6 May large part E (the current EKU); Wiltshire inc new EKUs from 191 of Chippenham on 14 May E and 516 of Marlborough on 30 May E, plus rare G-rated 769 of Wroughton tying two 1d reds to Oct. 1851 EL. (19) Cross Reference: SOMERSET, WILTSHIRE, 1841 1d REDS, 1840s CANCELLATIONS (Image)

WALES - EARLY NUMERAL USE INC. NEW EARLIEST DATES - small group of 1844 1d red frankings inc. new EKUs from 182 of Hawardine (just fair strike) on 8 May (undated but 9 May Manchester receiver) E (very rare: 'H £100+' rated by Parmenter), 568 of Newtown, Mont. on 13 Oct. E, 763 of Swansea on 3 May large part E and 826 of Usk (used on arrival) on 9 May EL. (6) Cross Reference: WELSH POSTAL HISTORY, 1841 1d REDS, 1840s CANCELLATIONS, FLINT (Image)

YORKSHIRE - EARLY NUMERAL USE INC. NEW EARLIEST DATES - all 1844 1d red frankings inc. new EKUs from 387 of Huddersfield on 2 May E, 714 of Skipton on 5 May E (cancelling a pair), 795 of Thirsk on 7 May EL and scarce 797 of Thorne on 11 May EL ('F £40' rated by Parmenter). (10) Cross Reference: YORKSHIRE, 1841 1d REDS, 1840s CANCELLATIONS (Image)

IRISH CROSS USES IN THE LAST MONTH - BELFAST & DUBLIN - Belfast distinctive MX on 6 June and 11 June (tone spots) 1844 pieces (17th June is the last recorded); Dublin distinctive MX on 6 June 1844 ELs (2) to London or to Roscommon then redirected in cash to Castlerea and 17 June 1844 env. to Armagh, all tying good three margin 1d reds (19th June is the last recorded); plus piece with 1d red and ABBEYLEIX cds alongside. (6 items) Cross Reference: BELFAST, DUBLIN CITY, 1841 1d REDS, REDIRECTED AND TURNED MAIL (Image)

IRELAND - EARLIEST KNOWN NUMERAL USES - mostly on 1d red frankings, 3 July 1844 1d pink env. (faults, one flap missing) to Twickenham cancelled with "32" of Ballinasloe, 4 July 1844 EL to Dublin with E-rated "215" of Ennistymon, 8 July 1844 EL (faults) to Ballymoney with E-rated "319" of Magherafelt, 8 July 1844 E to Edinburgh with "172" of Derry and 8 July 1844 E (faults, inc. to the stamp) with "357" of Newry. These dates are believed to be the earliest recorded uses. (5) Cross Reference: CLARE, DERRY, GALWAY, 1840s CANCELLATIONS (Image)

IRELAND - 1844 - MOSTLY COVERS GROUP IN THE EARLY NUMERAL PERIOD - on 1d red frankings - 186 of Dublin 25 June and 3 July, 259 of Kells 7 July (piece), 97 of Carlow 20 July, 212 of Enniscorthy 28 July (piece), 62 of Belfast 16 Aug. and 24 Oct. and 304 of Lisburn 16 Dec.; also fine 331 Moate struck in blue on 28 Oct. EL to Dublin. Mixed margins. (7 covers, 2 pieces) Cross Reference: WESTMEATH, IRELAND PRE-1922 - POSTAL HISTORY (Image)

SCOTTISH CROSSES - LATEST KNOWN DATES - all on 1d red frankings (stamps mixed condition), 18 June 1844 EL Kirkcaldy to Edinburgh, 18 June 1844 E Leith to Glasgow, 19 June 1844 EL Thurso to Tongue, 19 June 1844 E Elgin to Edinburgh, 20 June 1844 EL Stonehaven to Edinburgh, 20 June 1844 E Denny to Edinburgh; all believed to be the latest known dates of use of the MX for that office. Also 27 June 1844 EL Edinburgh to London, the second last recorded date of MX use for Edin. (7) Cross Reference: FIFE, ABERDEEN, STIRLINGSHIRE, MORAYSHIRE (Image)

SCOTTISH CROSSES - LATEST KNOWN DATES - June 1844, mostly on 1d red frankings, covers and stamps in very mixed condition, 3 June Wigtown, 4 June Banchory, 5 June Cumnock (damaged), 11 June Helmsdale, 13 June Skeabost (datelined, possibly the MX of Portree; ds indistinct), 13 June Kingsburgh (datelined, possibly the MX of Portree), 14 June Wick, 15 June Dumbarton, 17 June Langholm, 18 June Inverness, 18 June Inverary, 19 June Bonar Bridge, 19 June Selkirk, 22 June Maybole/Ayr on 1d pink env, 22 June Lamnavoulin/Ballindalloch. All are believed to be the latest recorded dates of use of the MX at that office. (15) Cross Reference: INNER HEBRIDES, ARRAN, BUTE, ETC., SCOTLAND, 1841 1d REDS (Image)

SCOTTISH CROSSES - JUNE 1844 MOSTLY 1d RED FRANKINGS - all from this last month of the MX in Scotland, inc. 1 June from Annan, 5 June E from Glasgow, 8 June from Ayr, 13 June EL from Hawick, 14 June E with Munlochy s/line & Beauly cds, 18 June from Inverary, 19 June 1d pink from Huntly, 22 June E with 1d blue cancelled with Edinburgh MX. Covers and stamps in mixed condition. (26) Cross Reference: SCOTLAND, 1841 1d REDS, 1840s CANCELLATIONS (Image)

SCOTTISH EARLY NUMERALS INC. MANY EARLIEST KNOWN DATES - all 1844, includes the following that are believed to be the earliest known dates: 24 June "20" Arrochar, 27 June "281" Peterhead, 29 June "306" South Queensferry, 30 June "325" Tobermory, 1 July "182" Inverkeithing and "280" Perth, 2 July "298" Rothesay, 6 July "31" Ballater, "187" Hawick and "312" Stranraer, 9 July "157" Gatehouse, 11 July "36" Banff and "151" Fushiebridge, 12 July "11" Annan, 15 July "233" Lockerby, 16 July "60" Bridge of Earne and "155" Galashiels (2), 17 July "308" Stirling, 20 July "46" Blairgowrie, 22 July "130" Ecclefechan and "188" Johnstone, and 24 July "112" Dunblane. Plus a group of July covers, some in the few days after the earliest known. Mixed condition of both covers and stamps. (43) Cross Reference: SCOTLAND, 1841 1d REDS (Image)

SCOTTISH NUMERALS ON 1844 COVERS - mostly 1d red frankings, inc. 159 of Glasgow on 24 June and 25 June, 103 of Dumfries on 3 July (possibly the first day, as this office ack. receipt of the handstamp on this day), 1 of Aberdeen on 8 July and 14 July, 90 of Cumnock on 31 July, 174 of Hawick on 25 July, 36 of Banff on 29 July, 171 of Haddington on 7 Aug, rare 164 of Glenlivat [sic; s/line on the back) on 30 Aug. Also Oct. 1844 EL Edinburgh to Bathgate with 1d red then turned and used to Anstruther with 2d blue (large enough to be folded to display both uses). Mixed condition. (28 covers; 2 pieces) Cross Reference: SCOTLAND, MORAYSHIRE (Image)