Accountancy markings on Malta mail, 1866-1875

Abstract

A substantial measure of uncertainty surrounds the 1860-1870s accountancy markings found stamped on covers to and from Malta. The purpose of this study is to attempt to provide answers to some of the various queries which confront collectors of Maltese postal history. An examination made by Hadrian Wood and myself of all the postal material we could lay our hands on, has yielded some satisfactory results. We were not concerned with those accountancy markings in fancy geometrical frames established by the Regulations of the Postal Convention of September 24, 1856. Those elusive cachets in French Francs and Centimes may form the subject of a future paper. The items examined range between December 14, 1866 (earliest) and February 9, 1875 (latest). [excerpt]