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The London Philatelist

Accounts of Meetings: Season 2019–2020.

13 August 2020: Online Meeting.
Malcolm Groom FRPSL.
Western Tasmania: Prospectors and the Post Office.

Report by Frank Walton RDP FRPSL Past President.

Although there are many downsides to the impact Penhanga to New Norfolk that appeared, on
of the worldwide lockdown, this presentation by the face of it, to be overpaid by one penny. I am
one of the Society’s Australian representatives sure postal historians all over the world would
demonstrates a real positive benefit that has shout a chorus of ‘late fee,’ which is the usual
arisen. Along with many other non-UK resident explanation offered when the postage paid is
members, Malcom has been a regular attender one penny more than expected. But no! Malcolm
at the RPSL’s Zoom presentations, and I was undertook research into the card and eventually
delighted when I heard that he was to give a discovered a post office notice announcing a
talk himself. He must have set the record for the service that was previously unknown. There
most unusual (local) time of day when he gave was a special service introduced on 19 October
his paper to the Royal! 1895 by the Tasmanian Post Office in Hobart
Malcom’s display was a masterclass in setting which, for the payment of additional 1d, would
the wider scene of a postal history exhibit. allow a post card bearing an advertisement to be
The social background to the development displayed in the post office to which it was sent.
of the service was explained in detail, with Delightfully, Malcolm’s card has an appropriate
some wonderful examples of ephemera to pin hole suggesting that this is exactly what
support the postal items. Amongst my personal happened in this case.
favourite were the examples of bag seals used The RPSL website has a video recording of the
as cancellations. presentation, a copy of the slides used and, most
But the item that stood out to me was the helpfully a much more detailed document giving
remarkable ‘Advertising Card.’ This was an much more information on the contemporary
ordinary-looking post card sent in 1896 from social history of Western Tasmania.

Left: 1896 1d postcard sent from Pohanga to New Norfolk,
paid with an additional 1d to cover the recently-discovered
charge for displaying an advertisement (written on the back)
in the post office.

Right: 1902 registered letter card from Mount Dundas to
London containing 9/- for the purchase of Costa Rican
stamps sent by the son of the Postmaster.

Right: 1906 Inland Parcel Post label bearing 2x9d Sideface issue, paying the 1s
6d rate for a 5 lb parcel within the State. Waratah datestamp with circle stops.

129 – 368 September 2020