As might have been expected new slogan postmarks - absent in August - made a return in September. Several readers sent examples and if I fail to acknowledge your contribution, please accept my apologies now.
The default British Heart Foundation slogan continued for the first week - thanks to KD for this example from Bristol Mail Centre dated 06/09/2024 and the other format from Inverness dated 05-09-2024.
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| British Heart Foundation slogan from Inverness Mail Centre 05-09-2024 |
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| British Heart Foundation slogan from BA,BS,GL,TA (Bristol) Mail Centre 06/09/2024 |
The first new slogan marked Air Ambulances Week (9-15 September 2024). (Two different organisations' wesbites: Air Ambulances UK and The Air Ambulance Service which seems a bit odd.)
First used on Saturday 7 September for delivery on 9th (thanks AB for a N&W Yorkshire example). few of the impressions received have been clear, sadly, the one from Glasgow Mail Centre 11-09-2024 being the best by a country mile (thanks to JF).
AIR AMBULANCES UK
Air Ambulance Week
September 9th - 15th
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| Air Ambulances UK slogan, Glasgow Mail Centre 11-09-2024 |
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| Air Ambulances UK slogan, North & West Yorkshire 13/09/2024 |
Other examples from South East Anglia on 10th (RW), Croydon (MM & KD), and a particularly poor one from Chester & N Wales (KD)
This was followed by another in aid of the Greetings Card Industry, marking Thinking of You Week which this year ran from 16th - 22nd September.
The slogan repeats the format from previous years.
Send A Card
Deliver A Smile for
Thinking of You Week
16th-22nd September 2024
MM provided an example from North & West Yorkshire on (Saturday) 14/09/2024 for delivery on 16th, and KD sent the same format from Manchester dated 17/09/2024.
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| Thinking of You Week slogan used at North & West Yorkshire 14/09/2024 |
It seems unlikely that there will be any more?
Other postmarks, postal markings etc.
Our Canadian correspondent (SS) has sent a selection of postmarks including a second counter date stamp from Littlehampton's Wick News, first reported in February. That one had the B ident, and this one is the A, dated 20 SE 24.
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| Wick News A counter date stamp, 20 SE 24. |
SS also sent an image of a cover postmarked with the HEATON MOOR STOCKPORT E counter date stamp from 30 AU 22
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| Heaton Moor Stockport E cds 30 AU 22 |
The branch has been in the same location for some years but comparison of Google streetview in 2023 with 2012 shows the changing face of the high street as companies reinvent their appearance with not only the Post Office, but also The Plough and the Co-op supermarket having changed.
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| Heaton Moor Post Office 2015 (top) and 2023 (Google Streetview) |
We also have two packet stamps, Sheffield Mail Centre of 09 SEP 2021 from SS, and Enquiry Office Norwich 27 SEP 2024 from JH who asks whether it is normal to have postmarks at the EO.
At one stage one of Norwich's two EOs housed a Post and Go machine which enabled stamps to be sold without large stocks of sheets being held behind the counter and sold for cash. The idea was also that Customs and other penalty charges could be made through the machines but I don't think this ever worked in practice.) The EO also accepted mail - predominently from businesses which also collected their mail from PO Boxes - and cancelled the stamps.
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| Sheffield Mail Centre S9 2XX packet stamp 09 SEP 2021 |
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| Enquiry Office Norwich NR? 1AA packet stamp 27 SEP 2024 |
Postboxes, post offices, mailvans
Our holiday in Ireland concentrated on enjoying the views, eating out, and relaxing. Nonetheless I felt compelled to take some photos related to the postal system. Here are a few postboxes. It took a while to get used to seeing them: Irish streets are so colourful that the green boxes do not stand out quite as much as our red ones do. And I don't think I saw any pillar boxes, although many exist in the cities, and there is a Penfold in Skibereen which I missed through not knowing about it until we had left the area.
The smart but tinny wall boxes stand out quite well, this one from Union Hall, a small fishing village in Co. Cork.
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| An Post wall mounted box in Union Hall, Co Cork September 2024 |
This one in Goleen, on the Mizen Head peninsula in Co. Cork was not as well cared for.
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| An Post wall mounted box at Goleen, Co Cork, September 2024. |
A good - and unexpected - find, was this wall-encased box surrounded by ivy in Co. Donegal. It's on the border of the townlands of Mullanmore and Buncroobog, east of Glenties. Much repainted it is difficult to see the shape of the harp, but the SE letters are clear, dating this to the 1922-24 period. These are said to be rare but a few are pictured on the web which also have the E R cypher at the very top (hidden by the ivy in this picture).
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| An Post Edward VII wallbox with door adapted to show the Saor Stat Eireann logo; dating from the 1920 this one is east of Glenties, Co. Galway in Buncroobog. |
Lastly, this Victorian wall box is at The Glen Tavern or Dinny's in Co Donegal. This is a house, which also contains a small shop, and a much larger public bar, where music is frequently played, and a good pint is served!
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| An Post Victorian wallbox in the Glen Tavern, Greenans Townland, Co Donegal. |
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| The Glen Tavern. |
That's all on postmarks etc for this month. October should bring some more slogans if only to start the Movember campaign rolling.
The postbox at Greenans (Co. Donegal) is listed as an item of historic heritage - https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/40907505/greenans-co-donegal
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