Precancels of Great Britain This part of the web site is to consolidate information on GB precancels. The site has expanded. Click here for a site-map.

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Smith Elder & Co	H. S. King & Co	W.Dawson & Sons	W. H. Smith & Son	'Public Precancels'	Precancel Franking	Newspapers	Railway Precancels	Army Telegraphs
Private Telegraphs	Booklets	T.O.1 to T.O.6	Anomalies	Time frame	Embossed	Perfins	Sloper punch	Contributions

Private Telegraph Companies

The Private Telegraph Companies could be very busy at times.
The successful London District Telegraph Company (LDTC) was probably busier than most.

Unlike postage stamps and the GPO Telegraphs, the inner workings of the Private Telegraph Companies are generally undocumented and the only
evidence of the use of precancels would be cancelled examples still having their gum. The LDTC stands out a mile in this respect.
Presumably on their last close of business their remaining stocks were liberated onto the market, many already pre-cancelled.
What we have now is a lot of LDTC stamps that are cancelled, but still with gum.

This is a reconstructed strip, held together at the back. They still have full gum despite being cancelled.

Comments, criticisms, information or suggestions are always welcome.

Please include the word 'Precancels' in the subject.

Last updated 12th Nov. 2017

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Permission is hereby granted to copy material for which the copyright is owned by myself, on condition that any data is not altered and this website is given credit.