Page 5 - The Sideways Experimenatal Duplex 1852-1858

THE SIDEWAYS EXPERIMENTAL DUPLEX

By the end of 1853 the volume of mail had increased considerably and experin1ents began to find a quicker way of
cancelling the mail. The sideways duplex formed a most important part of the experiment which led to the duplex
hand stamp that was to dominate the cancelling of mail for over 40 years. These hand stamps which contained both
the town name and the obliterator meant that only one stamp was required instead of two which were previously
needed. One was used on the back to identify the town name and one on the front to obliterate the postage label
which is now referred to as the postage stamp. 'This not only saved time but money as well. Early in 1853 a double
stamp was tried in London but it did not have the city name in it. The first experiment with the town name in was at
Hull in December 1853 and it proved so successful that further towns were issued with them. On 30th May 1854
the Type I and a few of the Type II hand stamps were issued these being the first of many to be used in England
and Wales. There was a total of eight different types used, some of which had sub-types. Ip all a total of 165 towns
including London received this duplex some having more than one type and some having more than one of the
same type. Many of them were recut saving the cost of replacing them and some are rarely seen. Parmenter's rarity
factors (A-H) have been updated in light of the owner's recent research.

Key References.
1) R.G.Triall and Holland "The sideways duplex cancellations of England and Wales",
Published by RC.Alcock Cheltenham 1975.
2a) J.Pannenter "The barred muneral cancellations parts 1-6", Published by Author 1984-1988.
2b) J .Parmenter "The barred numeral cancellations of London", Published by British Philatelic Trust.
3) Author's research, for example: Kent Post Vol 23 No.3 P15-18 (1995), G.B.Journal Vol 34 No.2 P22-28 (1996),
G.B.Journal Vol 34 No.5 P96 (1996).
TYPE Ia
There were two Type I hand stamps a and b the first with a round date stamp the other with an oval date stamp.
The date stamps were all about the same diameter with the numeral facing the date stamp. I have seen only letter
codes used though strikes with no code have also been recorded.

BRIGHTON
A total of just four towns received this Type Ia this being one of them. The rarity rating is B.

Here you can see an example dated 2nd August 1854 cancelling an envelope to France with a lOd embossed
paying what turned out to be only part of the postage. An insufficiently stamped mark in red can be seen along
vvith the figure 16 ii""ldicating dot1ble the amou..~t underpaid in decii111es.