Brisbane GPO Datestamps, Handstamps, Obliterators and Cancellations by Dr Jeremy Hodes: Brisbane GPO and QL Obliterators

QL Obliterator (Concentric circles)

Type 1 'Q.L' (stop after Q, no stop after L), 4 mm high within three concentric ovals, the outer measuring 23 mm and the inner one 18 mm. Known used from May 1860 to May 1869. Rated common although good, complete examples command a premium. Rated 2R on cover.

QL Obliterator (Oval circle)
Type 2 'QL' (No stops), in thin letters 5 mm high within an oval of 32 or 34 broken rays consisting of four thin strokes. Known used on covers from around November 1864 to February 1872. Rated 2R on stamps and 3R on cover.

Type 2a 'Q.L' (Stop after Q), in thin letters 5 mm high within an oval of 32 broken rays consisting of four thin strokes. Known used on covers from July 1866 to 1890. Rated 2R on both Chalon and Sideface stamps and 3R on cover.

Type 3 'Q.L' (Stop after Q), in thick letters (Q is 5 mm high and L is 5.5 mm high) within an oval of 35 broken rays consisting of four thick strokes. Seen on cover from June 1869 to December 1874. Rated Rare on Chalon stamps, with good clear and complete examples commanding a premium and 4R on cover.

Type 3a 'Q.L' (Stop after Q), in thick letters with the tail of the Q being crooked (Q is 5 mm high and L is 5.5 mm high) within an oval of 36 (?) broken rays consisting of four thick strokes. Rated 2R on Chalon stamps and 4R on cover. Seen on cover September 1874 to September 1876

Type 6 'Q.L' (Stop after Q), in thick letters within an oval of 37 thick, solid unbroken rays. There is no stop after L and the Q has a straight tail. Seen on cover from December 1873 to February 1880. On Chalons rated Rare on stamps and 2R on cover.

Type 6a 'Q.L' (Stop after Q), in thick letters within an oval of 37 thick, solid unbroken rays. There is no stop after L and the Q has a crooked tail. Only found on Chalons and very rare. Seen on cover from November 1876 to March 1877. Rated 3R on stamps and on covers

Type 6b 'Q.L' (Stop after Q), in thick letters within an oval of 36 thick, solid unbroken rays. There is no stop after L and the Q has an angled tail. It is found on some later era Chalons and 1st Sidefaces. Seen on cover from July 1877 to April 1883, it superceded type 6. Rated 2R on Chalon stamps and 3R on cover; Rare on 1st Sideface stamps and 2R on cover; and 3R on 2nd Sidefaces

QL Obliterator (Brunswick Star)

Type 4 'QL' (no stops) 5 mm high within a star shape commonly known as the "Brunswick Star" being superficially similar to the one used at Edinburgh. There are 50 rays in all arranged around six points; the centre is clear with the 'QL' wording in white rectangle. Two types are known, 4a with the tail of the Q being straight and 4b with the tail of the Q being curved. Known used on covers from May 1867 to April 1878. Common in partial or indistinct condition, rare in clear or complete condition and 2R on cover. Also known used in red and rated 3R (not seen by me)

QL Obliterator (Horizontal Bars)

Type 5 'Q.L' (stop after Q, no stop after L), 7 mm high within nine horizontal bars, 3 below, 3 above and the 3 in the middle on either side of the Q. L letters. The scarcest of the Brisbane GPO obliterators, used from 1877 to 1883

GPO Obliterator (Vertical oval)

Type 7 A vertical oval showing 'GPO' (no stops) with three horizontal bars above and below, and a curved bar at each side and is rated Scarce on a postage stamp (worn), Rare if not worn, and 2R on cover as well as on Chalon. Recorded usage on cover is September 1879 to March 1888. Most examples are very worn and often the letters GPO is indecipherable. Crisp unsmudged examples with clear lettering are rare and this obliterator is rare on cover.

Type 7a As type 7 but there is no connecting curved sidebar enclosing the letters 'GPO'. Only seen on Chalons and 1st Sidefaces and rated 3R on Chalons and 2R on 1st Sidefaces. Very rare on cover

G.P.O. Obliterator

Type 8 An oval of 32 unbroken rays with G.P.O with stops in the centre and letters 5 mm high and is rated Common on a postage stamp and 2R on cover. Recorded usage 1889 -1895

GPO Obliterator
Type 9 An oval of a number unbroken rays with GPO with no stops in the centre.

Type 9a An oval of 24 unbroken rays with GPO without stops in the centre and letters 6 mm high and is rated Common. Recorded usage 1890 -190-?
Type 9b An oval of 30 unbroken rays with GPO without stops in the centre and letters 5 mm high and is rated Common. Recorded usage 1895 - 190-?
Type 9c An oval of 29 unbroken rays with GPO without stops in the centre and letters 5.5 mm high and is rated R. Recorded usage 1895 - 190-?
Type 9a An oval of 24 unbroken rays with GPO with no stops in the centre and letters 6 mm high. FORGERY. Not rated. Based on Type 9. 1 but the rays and numerals are much thinner
Type 9b An oval of 30 unbroken rays with GPO with no stops in the centre and letters 5 mm high. FORGERY. Not rated. Based on Type 9. 2 but the numerals are much thinner and the rays are shaped differently