Distinctive Maltese Cross Postmarks of Great Britain
The following are images of some of the Distinctive Maltese Crosses (MX) of Great Britain used between 1840 and 1844.
FOR COLOURED MALTESE CROSSES CLICK THIS LINK
The were hand made stamps that were inked on a pad before impressing on the stamps to cancel them. As they were handmade they have certain individual features that are indicative of the offices that used them. Many of the Maltese Cross cancels have been identified by covers showing the postage use and therefore the offices who used them. However the majority of handstamps that were made are almost identical as they were fashioned to a design. The London Chief Office introduced Cancels with numbers 1 to 12 in them (1843) and small crosses on them on the top of each (except the number 3 cancel that either had no cross or it was quickly damaged and fell off). Maltese Cross cancels are an indicator of the plate range of a 1d Red as it was used only up until 1844 when plate 45 was at press. The presence of a MX cancel therfore assures the owner that it is within plates 1b-45. It can still be found on slightly later plates as some towns continued to use the MX cancel until they recieved their '1844 type' cancels.
Distinctive Maltese Crosses
![]() Belfast (GB) 1st Type MX on Plate 20 stamp |
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![]() Dublin (IE) Type I MX on Plate 29 stamp |
![]() Dublin (IE) Type II MX on Plate 28 stamp |
![]() Dublin (IE) Type II MX with break in outer cross frame Type 2a | |
![]() Kelso (GB) MX on Plate 34 stamp, characterised by its 'straight' outer loop sides and deep loops of the outer cross. |
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![]() Kilmarnock (GB) MX on Plate 35 stamp |
![]() Leeds (GB) MX on Plate 25 stamp |
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![]() Limerick (IR) MX on Plate 28 stamp |
![]() Manchester (GB) Manchester Special MX on Plate 11 stamp |
![]() Manchester (GB) Manchester Special MX on Plate 4 BI | ||
![]() Montrose (GB) MX on Plate 21 stamp |
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![]() Scottish (GB) Type I MX on Plate 36 stamp |
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![]() Wincanton (GB) MX on Plate 33 stamp |
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![]() Wotton-under-Edge (GB) MX on Plate 18 stamp, characterised by the 'file' cuts across the cross |
Inland Office Numeral Maltese Crosses
1843 The London Inland Office later used a series of barred numeral postmarks with the number within a central diamond