The First Handstamps
Here we look at the first handstamps issued to the post towns of Lanarkshire before the introduction of mileage marks in 1808.
Prior to 1808 there were nine post towns in the county, some dates of opening are unknown and dates are taken from a list of Scottish post towns made in 1715, others are dated from available postal material. Below is a list of the Post Towns and their early handstamps, arranged by their date of opening. Catalogue numbers are from "Postal Markings of Scotland to 1840" published by the Scottish Postal History Society 1995.
Illustrations are not actual size or to scale.
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Hamilton - opened by 1715
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LK92 known used 28 Aug. 1738 to 29 Sept. 1775 |
LK94 known used May 1777 to 28 June 1804
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LK96 known used 1793 to 17 April 1799
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LK98 known used 5 May 1800 to 9 Dec 1805 |
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Biggar - opened by 1715
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LK22 known used 1793 to 1805
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Lanark - opened by 1738
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LK160 known used 1750 to 27 Jun 1771
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LK162 known used 9 Nov 1785 to 1806
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Douglas - opened by 1757
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Lk66 known used 27 Sept 1760 to 15 Sept 1775
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Carnwath - opened c1786-87
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LK52 known used 12 Sept 1791 to 1806
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Douglas Mill - opened 1793
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LK82 known used 13 Dec 1803 to 1807
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Airdrie - opened by 9th June 1800
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LK3 known used 1800 to 2 Feb 1807
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Holytown - opened by 1802
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LK140a known used 16 Feb 1807 LK140b late use 28 Aug 1817
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Wilsontown - opened 23 June 1805 closed 8 February 1833
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LK238 known used 3 May 1806 to 1807 |
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Click here to see examples of these postmarks on pages from my collection