The farthing negative mark of the 1920s

Abstract

In the 20th century the General Post Office used standard types of handstamps for cancelling and backstamping normal daily mail. These handstamps varied from time to time. The first 'POSTAGE PAID' marks since the appearance of adhesive stamps were two 1/4d (farthing) so-called 'negative ' marks with white lettering on a double round circle in black ink. It was held at one time that they were used at the end of the nineteenth century before the introduction of the 1/4d stamps, the evidence shows that they were used in 1924 and shortly after. There were two types of this mark. One had a round inner circle with the 'D' on the right alongside the full %, while the other type had the 1/4D in a vertical oval, but with the 'D' alongside the top part of the 1/4 next to' 1 '. [excerpt]