Page 108 - The Sideways Experimenatal Duplex 1852-1858

DARTFORD

A Kent town on the south side of the river Thames was sent only one TYPE VIII hand stamp
this being issued on the 30-10-57. The stamp was not recut.

Although the stamp is seen used over a period of two years not many strikes are seen especially on cover.
The three strikes above show the stamp used during the three years of 1857 ,58 and 1859 though only over a period
of two years, with a latest date of 19-10-59. The cover which is dated 03-12-57 is the earliest known date.
There are three of the five known codes shown in the strikes above, codes C,Cinv and D.
I can not be sure if the Cinv code was a collection time or an error when changing the code letter.
I believe that the Cinv code is an error as this is so far the only one recorded and it has not been seen in any latter
duplexes either. The other codes used are Band Dinv, also properly an error.
I think that this sideways duplex was only used between 1857 and 1859 as the last recorded 1844 cancel was
May 1857 and the first upright duplex was issued in Nov 1859.