98 The Dumfries Post Office, 1642-1910. 



that it was still in use until the beginning of the year 1857. In 

 that year two new marks (Figs. 32 and 33) are met with. From 

 the position of the marks we ascertain that they were designed for 

 distinctive purposes. Thus Fig. 32 w'as used for endorsing inward 

 correspondence, while Fig. 33 was for obliterating the stamps and 

 endorsing the covers of outward correspondence. The reason 

 for the use of a double stamp was that while one impression fell 

 on the label the other would appear on the letter, and, as each 

 number was allocated to one particular office, it thus formed a 

 sufficient check on Postmasters and clerks against substituting an 

 obliterated for an unobliterated stamp. Fig. 33 has the further 

 peculiarity of having the index letter in the under portion of the 

 stamp. Another type of the double stamp (Fig. 34) appears to 

 have been in use in 1858, while a slightly different mark of the 

 same class (Fig. 35) seems to .have been introduced a few years 

 later. Fig. 36 shows yet another type with thick parallel lines. 



Other changes were made in regard to the marks for inward 

 correspondence and the markings (Figs. 37, 38, 39, and 41) were 

 afterwards brought into general use. 



Fig. 40 shows the small mark (Fig. 41) in use also on a com- 

 bined stamp. 



We are indebted to the late J. G. Hendy for particulars in 

 regard to the treatment of defaced stamps. He says, " All letters 

 bearing stamps which appeared to have been previously used were 

 to be charged with double rates of postage, as in the case of 

 unpaid letters, and to be marked ' Old Stamp.' " The suspected 

 stamps, whether appearing to have been previously obliterated 

 or defaced, or otherwise imperfect, were not to be again obliter- 

 ated, but carefully marked across, thus, X with pen and ordinary 

 ink, so that the mark should not be an obstacle to any subsequent 

 inquiry. 



Prior to the abolition of the Maxwelltown Receiving Office in 

 1889 two markings (Figs. 42 and 43) were in use at different 

 periods at that office. The latter marking (Fig. 43) is of interest 

 as showing an error in the spelling of the name and on account 

 of the use of the term R.O. for Receiving Office. 



Of the subsequent changes we do not purpose to speak 

 further than to mention that the double or combined date and 

 obliterator stamps were afterwards withdrawn, and that clock time 



