FPHS - Legacy Forum

General Category => Members Discussion Forum => Topic started by: Michael Johnston on January 07, 2022, 12:14:17 AM

Title: India FPO23 East Africa 1914
Post by: Michael Johnston on January 07, 2022, 12:14:17 AM
I have this East African WW1 cover originating at Bissel in Kenya. Alongside an Indian FPO23 cancel there is an inverted triangle mark "Welsh/4". Can anyone tell me more?
Title: Re: India FPO23 East Africa 1914
Post by: Peter Harvey on January 19, 2022, 01:48:14 PM
Hi Michael,

I replied, because no-one else has yet.

This almost looks like and 'inspectors' mark, small triangle cachet type, although I can not locate anything with this type of wording, although I only have a few reference publications that might cover this.

It certainly does not look like a military cachet, the majority of the Indian FPO cachets of the period have the I.E.F. lettering.

Whilst I would suggest this was applied in the UK, I am not sure where/why, hopefully other members might comment.

Peter
Title: Re: India FPO23 East Africa 1914
Post by: Michael Dobbs on January 19, 2022, 06:19:48 PM
Michael & Peter

I have found a reference to such a mark in Stanley Gibbons "Collect British Postmarks" 8th Edition, Edited by Bill Pipe, 2011

page 326 under "Inspectors' marks" lists this (no illustration) as 19/66 (19 representing section 19: Newspaper, Parcel, Registration, Express and Triangular Postmarks) with the comment "SCOTCH, WELSH and IRISH with numbers" - in this case WELSH / 4.

Could it be that it was accidentally routed to Wales?

Mike  :)
Title: Re: India FPO23 East Africa 1914
Post by: Michael Johnston on January 20, 2022, 10:26:24 PM
Interesting. Thank you both for your help.

Michael