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This site was last updated on 5 June 2011
WELCOME TO BRADFORD ...
and Bradford and District Philatelic Society
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About Us :: Our Meetings :: Contact Us
Society Officers :: Our Syllabus for 2010-2011
Links ::
Bradford Postal History
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President: Mr Max Smith Past President: Mrs Yvonne Wheatley Hon Secretary: Mrs Judith Holder Hon Treasurer & YPA Delegate: Mrs Yvonne Wheatley Publicity Officer: Mr Tony Hammond Syllabus Secretary: Mr Richard Wheatley Competition Secretary: Mr Stephen Holder |
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Diary of Philatelic Events Yorkshire Philatelic Association Home Page More links on the Yorkshire Philatelic Association's Links Page Information about Bradford's attractions can be found at Visit Bradford |
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by Stephen Holder FRPSL |
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The first postmark of Bradford is a straight line handstamp in two lines BRAD FORD
(Figure 1). The late Martin Willcocks (The British County Catalogue of Postal History
Volume 4) records it as being from about 1737 to 1744. However the writer has an example
dated 16 October 1727 and a later one dated 24 January 1766.
Figure 1: Actual size circa 24x14mm.Dating from circa 1750 a series of different handstamps, similar in nature but varying in size and style, followed this first mark, continuing in use until the adoption of the circular datestamps which were designed to indicate the place of origin and the date of posting in one item. This happened throughout Great Britain, and Bradford around 1830.
From about 1771 the letter 'Y' was added to the Bradford handstamps to indicate Yorkshire
(Figure 2).
Figure 2: Actual size circa 45x13mm.This format continued in use in a variety of different sizes again until about 1830 when it was changed to 'Bradford Yorks' on the early circular date stamps.
In the eighteenth century postal charges on a letter were based on the number of sheets (under
one ounce) and the distance carried. The charges were often applied inaccurately. In 1784
handstamps were introduced indicating the mileage from London, which aided the calculation of
charges. After John Cary had surveyed the Post Roads a new series was issued in 1801. These
have become known as 'mileage marks' and the distance from London for Bradford was surveyed as
216 miles, with this figure appearing in the mark (Figure 3).
Figure 3: Actual size circa 34x10mm.Part of the charge for a letter was calculated on the number of sheets contained in it, up to a limit of one ounce for a single sheet. There was thus an incentive to use a large sheet folded up to make a four (or more) page letter. A bulky looking letter would be assumed to be more than one sheet and was liable to be inspected to verify its true content. Such a letter was sometimes marked to indicate its actual size; for example the writer has one dated circa 1815 marked 'Single Sheet'.
Initially the function of the Post was to deliver between one town and another without any
detailed local delivery. London was the only city to have a local post for many years but
towards the end of the eighteenth century similar systems were created in Dublin, Edinburgh,
Manchester, Bristol and Liverpool. By about 1808 many towns had instituted some sort of local
or suburban post and Penny Post handstamps (Figure 4) appear indicating the use
of these local collection services. Such handstamps continued to be used in some areas until
the middle of the nineteenth century.
Figure 4: Actual size circa 50x11mm.Some outlying areas linked to the Penny Post scheme of the local Post Town were given handstamps indicating the place of origin, such as the example illustrated with the fine strike of Idle Penny Post in red (Figure 5) of 26 June 1840. 
Figure 5: Actual size circa 34x15mm.Throughout the 'pre-adhesive' period the postal charge to be paid (usually by the recipient) is shown as a manuscript figure depicting the amount due.
Before the creation of postage stamps most mail was sent postage due, this being considered
correct etiquette to indicate the ability of the recipient to pay. There were exceptions,
especially for some business and official mail, or in deference to a party higher up the
social scale. A small amount of mail was prepaid and handstamps were produced to indicate this.
One unique to Bradford Figure 6 shows mirror image N's in 'One' and 'Penny'. Later a
small oval prepaid handstamp to indicate such mail appears, first seen in use at Bradford in
1835 Figure 7.
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With the advent of the Penny Post in 1840 a new 'PAID 1D.' handstamp was introduced (Figure 8).
Occasionally mail was misrouted and had to be forwarded on to the correct destination. the
endorsement 'Missent' was usually added in manuscript or applied with a special
handstamp (Figure 9).
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Eventually the straight line forms of handstamp gave way to a general use of the circular date
stamp, indicating the time and place of the application of the handstamp. Such circular
datestamps were originally used as backstamps to designate the office of despatch, or on the
front of letters to show the name of the distributing office and the date of arrival. These
datestamps slowly replaced all the previous handstamps and datestamps and eventually became the
standard canceller of postage stamps, still used today.
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Postal history students wishing to learn more about the postal history of Bradford can consult "A Postal History of Bradford to 1884", by D Boyes, 1977. Some of the information included in this work has been superceded by later discoveries. |
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