Early Postage Stamps used in Roscommon.

The Postage Stamp was first introduced in May 1840. Early stamps came in sheets and each stamp had a different set of numbers. The stamps in the top row, from the left, were A - A, A - B, A - C, A - D, etc. up to A - L. The second row from the left was B - A, B - B, B - C, B - D, etc. In this way the individual please on the sheet could be determined. Early stamps were cut from the sheet with scissors, so they sometimes show severe mutilation. A stamp with good white borders all around is considered to be the best collectable example.

 

 

Part of a sheet of Two- Penny Blue stamps showing the numbering system.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Penny Red, was issued in 1841 to replace the Penny Black and continued as the main postage stamp in the UK and Ireland until 1879, with only minor changes to the design. The colour was changed because of the difficulty in seeing the black cancellation mark on the Penny Black; a black cancel is readily visible on a Penny Red.

 

Further information and examples welcome. Please contact us.

 

The following are some of the early stamps used in Roscommon.
Penny Red with Elphin numeral and poor margins. 1845 postmark. Penny Red with Boyle numeral and good margins. 1844 postmark.
Penny Red with Boyle numeral and good margins. 1844 postmark. Penny Red with "Maltese Cross". Clipped margin on right. 1843 postmark - Boyle.
Penny Red with Athlone numeral and poor margins. 1846 postmark. Penny Red with "Maltese Cross". Good margins. 1843 postmark - Athlone.
       

If you have any further information or examples please contact us.

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