NUMBERS IN MALTESSE CROSSES

     The Maltesse cross cancellations, with the numbers in the centre, were introduced in the midle of March, 1843. These were in use at the London Head office, with one cancellation device per table. With the exception of number 3, all the obliterators originally showed a cross at the top and the known examples where this is not present are assigned to accidental damage or wear.

     We do not consider the listing presented here to be complette, but have made it avalible to show the various types and sub-types which we know to exist. Again some of these types may be repaired or re-cut impressions of an earlier type and they may be re-assigned as more information becomes avalible.

     The selection of pictures has been made to illustrate the major points of the cancellation, rather than the stamp and may be replaced as better examples become avalible. Most variations are known to exist on stamps printed in red but examples are also known on Penny Blacks and Two Pence Blues, Mulreadys and embossed envelopes.

1a
Plate 3 		Number 1 in cross

Flat top serif to top of numeral.
Cross (+) at top of impression.

Delivered (Re Post Office Records) on the 23rd March 1843

Earliest known use 22nd March 1843

Latest known use 11th May 1844

1b 1 in cross Number 1 in cross

Very thin small serif to top of numeral.
No base to foot of numeral.
Cross (+) at top of impression.

2a Number 2 in cross

Blob at top of numeral.
Sloping base to numeral
Intact cross (+) at top of impression.

Delivered (Re Post Office Records) on the 23rd March 1843

Earliest known use 21st March 1843

Latest known use 7th May 1844

2b Number 2 in cross

Blob at top of numeral.
Sloping base to numeral
Broken cross (+) at top of impression.

2c Number 2 in cross

Blob at top of numeral.
Dipped central portion to base to numeral.

2d 2 in cross
Plate 3 		Number 2 in cross

Blob at top of numeral.
Uniform base to numeral with sloped end.
Cross (+) at top of impression.

3
Plate 3 		Number 3 in cross

Blob at bottom of numeral.
No cross (+) at top of impression.

Delivered (Re Post Office Records) on the 1st April 1843

Earliest known use 16th March 1843

4
plate 3 		Number 4 in cross

No cross (+) at top of impression.

Delivered (Re Post Office Records) on the 23rd March 1843

Earliest known use 21st March 1843

5a Number 5 in cross

Blob at bottom of numeral.
Short top arm to numeral
Cross (+) at top of impression.

Delivered (Re Post Office Records) on the 23rd March 1843

5b
Plate 3 		Number 5 in cross

Blob at bottom of numeral.
Short top arm to numeral
No cross (+) at top of impression.

6a Number 6 in cross

Blob at top of numeral.
Straight back to numeral
Cross (+) at top of impression.

Delivered (Re Post Office Records) on the 23rd March 1843

6b
Plate 3 		Number 6 in cross

Blob at top of numeral.
Curved back to numeral
Cross (+) at top of impression.

7a
Known on 1d Mulready 		Number 7 in cross

Serif at top of numeral.
Uniform thickness top arm to numeral
Verticial arm thickens towards the base.
Cross (+) at top of impression.

Delivered (Re Post Office Records) on the 1st April 1843

Latest known use 7th May 1844

7b Number 7 in cross

Serif at top of numeral.
Uniform thickness to top arm to numeral
Verticial arm thickens towards the base. (Thicker than type 7a).
Cross (+) at top of impression.

7c
Plate 2     Plate 3     Plate 4 		Number 7 in cross

Serif at top of numeral.
Uniform thickness to top arm to numeral
Verticial arm thickens towards the base. (Thinner than type 7a).
Cross (+) at top of impression.

7d Number 7 in cross

Serif at top of numeral.
Scrolled top arm to numeral
Verticial arm thickens towards the base.
Cross (+) at top of impression.

7e Number 7 in cross

No serif at top of numeral.
Uniform thickness to top arm to numeral
Verticial arm thickens towards the base. (Thinner than type 7b).
Cross (+) at top of impression.

8
Plate 3 		Number 8 in cross

Smaller loop at top of numeral.
Cross (+) at top of impression.

Delivered (Re Post Office Records) on the 1st April 1843

Latest known use 14th May 1844

9
Plate 3
Known on 1d Mulready 		Number 9 in cross

Straight back to numeral.
Large loop to top of numeral.
Cross (+) at top of impression.

Delivered (Re Post Office Records) on the 1st April 1843

10 10 in cross
Plate 3
Known on 1d Blacks
Known on 1d Mulready 		Number 10 in cross

Flat serif to top of numeral 1.
Cross (+) at top of impression.

Delivered (Re Post Office Records) on the 1st April 1843

11a 11 in cross
Plate 3 		Number 11 in cross

Flat serif to top of numeral.
Cross (+) at top of impression.

Delivered (Re Post Office Records) on the 1st April 1843

11b 11 in cross Number 11 in cross

Flat serif to top of numeral.
Cross (+) at top of impression.

Note The left numeral appears to be larger than the right.

12a
Plate 3
A complette row of 1841 2d blues was part of the I T Pickering collection
Page 118 		Number 12 in cross

Blob at top of numeral 2.
Scrolled base to numeral 2.
Cross (+) at top of impression

Delivered (Re Post Office Records) on the 1st April 1843

12b 12 in cross
Plate 3 		Number 12 in cross

Blob at top of numeral 2.
Sloping base to numeral 2.
Cross (+) at top of impression

We believe this to be an inking variation of type 12a

12c 12 in cross
Plate 3 		Number 12 in cross

Blob at top of numeral 2.
Uniform base to numeral 2 with sloped end.
Cross (+) at top of impression