Postal Usage
Genuine postal usage occurred occasionally during the general issue of the stamps and to a greater degree after they were withdrawn at the end of October 1881 when they were unofficially accepted for postage on a fairly widespread basis. Desire for postally used examples at the turn of the century led to many faked examples and stamps being sent philatelically through the mail.
Postal usage is particularly suspect on the high values. This London duplex is possibly genuine postal usage, but the Glasgow duplex is not. Many Scottish offices concurrently used a duplex for telegraph purposes up until late 1876. This duplex is found on large blocks and on blocks of 1872 used postage stamps, indicating telegraphic usage. Other examples are found from Leith and Sterling.
This Killucan CDS with an Irish diamond 275 is possibly postal but may have been telegraphic. The Liverpool roller cancel (Type 2 with a boxed 466) is also telegraphic. It is known on a pair, strips of four and five, and a block of 12, none of which are clear strikes.
Plate 2 used postally. The Gloucester cancel is fake (the CDS is genuine but the duplex added). The Manchester parcel cancel looks genuine. The registered cover is philatelic, one of many sent locally to this Liverpool address.
Fiscal Usage
Pen cancelled with a cross, probable fiscal usage.
Railway Telegraph Office Usage
Cancelled with “English Station” numerals in circles, “Scottish Station” numerals in rectangles, and “Irish Station” numerals in diamonds.
| England and Wales | Scotland | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plate 1 | 150, 266, 308, 443, 589, 704, 814, 839, 855, 878, 973, 1438, 1439, 1442 | 45, 96A | — |
| Plate 2 | 1442 | — | — |
| (p 14) | 1016 | — | — |