Well maybe the Central PO in Bath has run out of Machin Faststamps - because they were using the Sheep (due for issue on 24 February) yesterday:
Thanks to Robert for this fine example - his other one didn't get a postmark - still time to repost it and try again for an early posting example!
Note that Bath is also using the original font, which means that the Worldwide 10g stamp will be printed with no weight on, and all service indicators and branch/session codes will overlap the picture.
Please let us know if you see any early uses from Bath (when did they actually start) or anywhere else!
UPDATE: Malcolm reports more sheep were let loose at Farnham and were on sale on Saturday 18th February. These were the standard (by which I think he means new) font.
Early release in BAAATH ? surely not.
ReplyDeleteI wish I'd thought of that :-(
DeleteAnd now FAAAARNHAM Kiosk 1
DeleteBut Birds 3 back at Harlow. (Branch 008124) Purchased 17th February!!
ReplyDeleteDoug (Enfield)
I think the earliest date is 14th Feb for Bath large font .....I obtained some on 16th Feb.......glad Rob got his one with lst Class single cancelled I sent him! About 3pm on 16th Feb the Manager at Bath took out the Sheep stamps after realizing they were being used in error. She said five, yes FIVE rolls had been exhausted in those few days. The other kiosk in Bath was normal new font...but only had Machins loaded. I have some posted on 17th Feb with different place datestamps, if you want I can email you images.
ReplyDeleteThank you for filling in the details. What's interesting, of course, is that previous allocations of the labels were one box (5 rolls) per machine or per office. I know Bath has two machines and if they only had 5 rolls then they almost certainly won't have any for the day of issue - which will upset a few people who want to get them on the FD and haven't read this blog!
DeleteThanks for the offer of more pics; if you can find any sheep postmarked earlier than 16th that would be good.
Yes for Bath maybe - but as we know there are plenty of offices with large font kiosks across the country, unless they are altered before sheep issue this week - my guess is there will be plenty obtained to service fdcs.
ReplyDeleteOh I agree - I actually meant people in Bath and area. They could go to Bristle of course, but that may mean a double journey, a nuisance if you came from Keynsham because you thought Bath would be easier!
DeleteThere was nearly a whole roll of sheep taken out of the large font kiosk in Bath on 16th Feb. So should this go back in the same kiosk on Fri 24th, supplies should not be a problem for fdcs on the day of issue at this office.
ReplyDeleteIt was a day yesterday when the sheep did not want to get rounded up or the dog had a day off !
ReplyDeleteI went into the Paignton PO to get the new P&G's but none in the machine and no one knows how to load them in because the person who does is off until Tusday.
Then I went too the Exeter Office all ok 3 machines working from there I went to the Exmouth PO but that machine did not like the sheep and would not load up the software,after many hours it still would not play ball so it was put out of order.
Not the best of days for F.D.C's
Sorry, that should have been edited to show that the events occurred on 25 February, ie the day after the Sheep were issued.
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