This Postmark was proofed on 29th December 1855 (Kirkwood often showed the following year when there was a December proof) and for the next 2 ½ years it had quite a ‘damaged’ life. There were no real recuts and therefore all the damage was cumulative albeit the ‘7’ in the year was replaced; see State 6 below.
The following describes the damage in chronological order and then evaluates the resulting States.
However, I cannot pinpoint precisely when the events took place and therefore I am currently seeking examples during the following inclusive periods:
a) 29th December 1855 to 8th January 1856
b) 9th April 1856
c) 14th May to 1st June 1856
d) 10th to 12th September 1856
e) 27th to 29th January 1857
f) 9th to 14th July 1857
1. Damage throughout the life of this Postmark
There are two breaks that are evident on every example I have seen (although this is not always easy to see due to printing imperfections).
The first is a break at 4 o’clock on the outer arc and this is also evident on the Proof impression above.
The second is a break at the left of the top horizontal bar. This does not seem to be evident on the Proof impression but it is certainly evident on the first example I have seen dated 9th January 1856.
2. Damage occurring on 9th April 1856
The break is at the bottom of the outer arc below the code letter
3. Damage occurring between 13th May –
Unbroken Broken
Sometime during this period the first ‘E’ of Dundee was damaged with the lower horizontal bar being truncated.
4. Damage occurring between 10th –
This damage took the form of a truncation to the right of the top horizontal bar
5. Damage occurring between 26th –
The break in the outer arc described in 2) above was significantly widened
6. Damage occurring during the first half of 1857
30th January 1857 11th May 1857 14th May 1857
It appears that the figure ‘7’ in the year was faulty from the start of the year (although the earliest date I have (20th January 1857) shows slight damage only) and this deteriorated over the next six months. This damage was corrected; see 7. below
7. Repair occurring between 9th –
Some time during the above period a bold ‘7’ replaced the faulty numeral.
DUNDEE DIFFERENT STATES
Following on from the above there are seven different States in which this postmark can exist.
State 1
Characteristics: Damage No: 1
Proofed: 29th December 1855
EKD: 9th January 1856 ( SPG report having seen 5th January 1856)
LKD: 8th April 1856
Months of Use:
Known Codes:
Scarcity Rating: D (Uncommon)
Picture Gallery
State 2
Characteristics: Damage 1 & 2
Proofed: N/A
EKD: 10th April 1856
LKD: 13th May 1856
Months of Use:
Known Codes:
Scarcity Rating: F (Rare) in view of the short period of this State
Picture Gallery
State 3
Characteristics: Damage 1, 2 & 3
Proofed: N/A
EKD: 2nd June 1856
LKD: 9th September 1856
Months of Use:
Known Codes:
Scarcity Rating: C (Average)
Picture Gallery
State 4
Characteristics: Damage 1, 2, 3 & 4
Proofed: N/A
EKD: 13th September 1856
LKD: 26th January 1857
Months of Use:
Known Codes:
Scarcity Rating: C (Average)
Picture Gallery
State 5
Characteristics: Damage 1, 3, 4, 5 & 6
Proofed: N/A
EKD: 30th January 1857
LKD: 8th July 1857
Months of Use:
Known Codes:
Scarcity Rating: C (Average)
Picture Gallery
State 6
Characteristics: Damage 1, 3, 4 & 5 and Repair 7
Proofed: N/A
EKD: 15th July 1857
LKD: 24th December 1857
Months of Use:
Known Codes:
Scarcity Rating: C (Average)
Picture Gallery
State 7
Characteristics: Damage 1, 3, 4 & 5
Proofed: N/A
EKD: 15th January 1858
LKD: 2nd September 1858
Months of Use:
Known Codes:
Scarcity Rating: C (Average)
