Numerical cancellations of the British post office

Abstract

With the introduction of the postage stamp in 1840 some means of cancellation was deemed necessary to prevent their re-use. This "means" was to deface or obliterate them using a hand-stamp for this purpose. All post towns, and certain sub-offices, were supplied with an obliterator in the form of a so-called 'Maltese' cross. As all the obliterators were of the same design, with slight variations, thus giving no clue as to where the cancelling was done, even though the name of the office was sometimes impressed or even applied during transit, a method was adopted whereby a different number was given to every office at which the cancelling was done. These new obliterators were put into use in May 1844.