Gravesend (GB) Skeletons

Skeleton marks is the name given to temporary markings, usually made of steel, where the name of the office could be inserted in moveable type. Their use tends to be divided into early (ca. 1838 to 1855, called "travellers") and "third period" from 1889 until modern times. Gravesend had skeletons in both periods.

TEXT	Type	Size (mm)	Earliest date	Latest date	Comments
GRAVESEND	1		3 FE 1843
GRAVESEND	1		24 JU 1843	30 JU 1843
GRAVESEND/3	2	30	24 DE 1843		blue
GRAVESEND	3	34	19 AP 1853		brown
GRAVESEND	7	23	5 MR 1894		code G
GRAVESEND	5?	25	1906		Recorded by Awcock but no details.
GRAVESEND	11	36.5	4 DE 1908	24 DE 1908	On December 4 & 5 the day preceeded the month
GRAVESEND	11	30.5	5 MR 1913	8 AP 1913
GRAVESEND	11	31	23 JA 1915	1 MR 1915
GRAVESEND	11	31	31 DE 1915	18 JA 1916
GRAVESEND	11	29.5	25 JA 1916	9 MR 1916
GRAVESEND	11	31	23 OC 1916	5 JA 1917	two types used, in one letters offset to right. No time 21-22 Dec.
GRAVESEND	16	27	22 OC 18
GRAVESEND	11	31	6 DE 1918		Mis-read for 1916?
GRAVESEND	14	29	22 SP 1919	24 DE 1919	Spaced lettering
GRAVESEND	16	29	1 SP 1921	31 OC 1921	Spaced lettering
GRAVESEND / KENT	16	29	4 JU 1925

The traveller types come in two types. Firstly with Gravesend above and the date in two lines and secondly with a "3" below the date.

File:Gravesend (GB) Skeletons SK1.jpg First type traveller, recorded 3 Feb 1843 and 24 to 30 June 1843

Second type in blue, 24 Dec 1847, used on resending a missent letter The only recorded date.

Type 3 in brown on reverse of a 1d pink stationery envelope to Canterbury, 19 April 1853. Only recorded date.

type 7 with 12 slots and code (G) on cover from Harrow to Cobham, 5 March 1894. Also only recorded date.

File:Gravesend (GB) Skeletons SK5.jpg 1906 example, 25mm recorded by Awcock.

Gravesend 36mm with month preceeding day, recorded 4 to 24 December 1908. On December 4 & 5 the day preceeded the month. Here Dec 14.

Gravesend 30.5mm known 5 March 1913 to 8 April 1913. Here used 22 March.

This example of the early 1915 skeleton is used 17 FE 1915 from the V.A.D. Hospital, Yacht Club, Gravesend.

Gravesend 29.5mm in early 1916. This example 29 FE 1916.

1916/17 skeleton. This example shows letters rotated right, 6 NO 1916.

Gravesend 29mm with widely spaced lettering. Used 22 DE 1919.

Gravesend 29mm with widely spaced lettering. Here from the more commom 1921 useage but on non-delivery in Gravesend. Marked "Gone Away" on reverse, 7 SP 1921.

Remarkable use of the Gravesend 29mm, with widely spaced lettering, on 30 SP 1921 to cancel two postage dues. The postcard from Belgium was underpaid on the 30c rate and 1½d assessed in Dover (number 258). This is unusual in that the 1d and ½d marks have been used together.

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