Earliest Known Use of the No.3 in Cross

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howard H
Posts: 18
Joined: Sun Dec 02, 2007 6:00 pm

Earliest Known Use of the No.3 in Cross

Post by howard H »

The no.3 in Cross is something of an enigma. It doesn't have a small cross on top and wasn't entered in the Proof Books
Alcock stated many years ago (and has been quoted in many publications since) that it is known used on 16th and 17th March 1843, several days before the other numbered Crosses were put into use. Nobody I know seems to have seen either of these covers and I was beginning to think they may not exist but, incredibly, one has just turned up on eBay (see attached).
SG persist in theorising that the small cross may have fallen off this obliterator (based on a correspondent misinterpreting a poorly inked 8 in Cross many years ago) and, hopefully, this scan will show that no small cross appears to have been present even on its probable first day of use.
More likely, is one of Alcocks other published theories; namely that this Cross was trialled and the addition of a small cross made to the other Numbers, as a result of the trial.
Wonderful to actually see this mythical cover!
Howard
Attachments
5158_1.jpg
5158_2.jpg
5158_3.jpg
Winston W
Posts: 113
Joined: Fri Nov 02, 2012 6:00 pm
Location: East Anglia

Transfer from previous board: original post 9204

Post by Winston W »

Howard
Marvellous to see it exists and is now documented. I trust you were successful at eBay and will be exhibiting it shortly?
Winston Williams
howard H
Posts: 18
Joined: Sun Dec 02, 2007 6:00 pm

Transfer from previous board: original post 9222

Post by howard H »

Thanks Winston,
Yes I did get it. I was lucky that the seller described it as being from Southampton so got a bit of a bargain.
Will certainly display it but will need to reflect on the 'condition versus rarity' tussle before deciding if it is acceptable to exhibit.
Best wishes,
Howard
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