SHOW MENUMultiple Strikes of the Maltese Cross
Introduction
The Maltese Cross was the world's first obliterator and the lessons learnt from its use would go on to influence the design and use of future obliterating handstamps, throughout large parts of the world, for years to come.
Although the intention was that the Maltese Cross obliterator would be used only once for each stamp, multiple strikes of the Maltese Cross are sometimes referred to incorrectly as contrary to regulations, which only stated that each stamp must be separately obliterated:
"You will carefully Stamp with the Cancelling Stamp that has been forwarded to you, the stamped Covers and envelopes, as well as the adhesive stamps, the two former must be struck on the figure of Britannia, and in the case of more than one adhesive Stamp being attached to a Letter, each Stamp must be separately obliterated." - Edward Lees, Secretary of the Scottish General Post Office, April 1840
Scope
This display considers why, contrary to intentions, the Maltese Cross was used multiple times on the same cover thus increasing the workload of the clerks and introducing inefficiencies during its period of use from 1840 to 1844.
Contents
Early lack of familiarity 2-4
Correcting unclear cancellations 5
Challenges caused by multiple stamps 6
Pressure of work 7-8
Insufficiently cancelled stamps 9
Problems caused by the wrong ink 10-12
Deliberate additional strikes 13-14
Additional impressions and unusual usages 15-16
References
Encyclopaedia of the Maltese Cross Volumes 1-3 - Professor S. David Rockoff & Mike Jackson
Maltese Cross Cancellations of The United Kingdom - R.C. Alcock and F.C. Holland
The Cancellations of the 1841 Penny Red - Goldsmith and Danzig
May Dates - Mike Jackson
