All Souls College This is an Oford college which issued its own undenominated stamp for payment of postage on the inter college messenger service and for local deliveries. The stamp was printed in blue and showed the college coat of arms.Letters from the fellows of the college to members of other Oxford colleges or local tradesmen were collected by the porter from the college lodge and delivered the same day.The stamp was lithographed by Spiers and Sons and was printed in sheets of 40. The stamps were sold to fellows of the college for ½d each.The service only operated for two years and in 1886 was supressed at the request of the Postmaster General. Stocks of unused stamps later came onto the philatelic market. Allen, Ralph Ralph Allen was an outstanding British Postal reformer. He was the son of a country innkeeper and became a wealthy philanthropist. He was born in St Blazey, Cornwall in 1694 and at the age of 11 was sent to help his grandmother who was the Postmistress at St Columb, 10 miles away.Even at this young age, his attention to detail gained him promotion. In 1710, at the age of 16, he joined the Bath Post Office and two years later he became the Postmaster there. This put him in charge of the busy cross road from Exeter toChester.In 1712 few roads linked the major cities. London at the time was the centre point for all the main routes that existed, and as such the ostal system was cumbersome. At the time Allen became Postmaster at Bath, letters that were sent from Bath to Worcester were sent via London for payment. This made the distance three time what was necessary. The few cross roads that were used lost the goverment of the time thousands of pounds as payment could not be checked in London. Another problem was encountered when sending mail by road. As the letter passed from one county Postmaster to another, each Postmaster took their share of the payment, and often neglected to keep records. Letters were also frequently lost.Allen supervised the Exeter to Chester cross road so efficiently that in 1720 he was put in charge of the whole network of cross roads and by-roads posts. He insisted that all leters must be recorded and set up a successful checking system to make this possible. With this control, he developed a cross roads system for England and Wales which he operated under goverment contract from 1720 to 1764. His income from the cross roads post alone amounted to £12,000 a year.In 1741 he started to expand Post Office services. He set up a daily post from London to Bristol and Bath and another from London to Cambridge, Norwich and Yarmouth.At hisown expense, he undertook road building project to create an elaborate network of cross roads and to double the number of roads out of London to serve the new manufacturing regions.By 1764, when Allen died, England had a daily post system running along several main roads.His own estimate was that his cross roads system amounted to £1,500,000 in Post Office revenue. Allenstien This was a district in East Prussia until 1945 when it became part of Poland. At this time it was renamed Olsztyn.German stamps overprinted ALLENSTEIN were used in 1920 throughout the area. On the 3 April 1920 German stamps ranging from the 5 pfennigs to the 3 mark values were issued with a three line overprint reading PLEBISCITE / OLSZTYN / ALLENSTEIN. Two colours were used for the 15 pfenning value. The slate-violet shade is fairly common, but the purple-brown is a lot harder to find. The 3 mark value is also known with the overprint doubled.In May 1920 the same series was re-issued with a diffrent overprint. This consisted of a double lined oval with the wording COMMISSION D'ADMINISTRATION ET DE PLEBISCITE OLSZYTN ALLENSTEIN and TRAITE DE VERSAILLES ART. 94 ET 95 in the centre. The 1 and 3 mark values are both known with the overprint inverted. Allen's City Dispatch This was a ocal service started in Chicago by Edwin Allen. It was set up to deliver local letters and circulars. An undenominated stamp was issued in 1882 and is known in four diffrent colours. Alpenvorland See Adria Alpha and Beta flaws These are terms used to descibe flaws in lithographed stamps.An Alpha flaw is one which builds up on the litho stone during the early process of stamp production. A Beta flaw occours later due to wear on the stone.The term is also used in relation to other methods of stamp production and is useful when describing flaws when part of the stamp has been printed seperatly, especially when this is done in a seperate colour. Alsace-Lorraine This is a French territory on the German boarder which has changed nationality several times.In 1849 French stamps were used. In 1870 - 1871 a special German stamp was issued and again in 1940 - 1942 German stamps were overprinted for use. With the exception of these two issues, German and French stamps have alternated with nationality changes. Altdobern This is a town north of Dresden in East Germany. In 1945 - 1946 it produced its own provisional stamps.The first series consisted of handstamps applied to white or greyish paper. The town name appeared in the centre diagonaly in gothic lettering with the value aboe and below. Two values were produced, the 6 pfennig in violet and the 12 pfennig in red. Both were released on the 27 December 1945.In January 1946 a second series was released. This can be distinguished by the larger figure used for the value. This time three values were released, 6, 10 and 12 pfennigs. Also in January a stock of gummed labels used by the Post Office were converted into stamps. Each label contained the impressions of four stamps and was produced as before by handstamping.These local issues were superseaded in April 1946 by stamps of the Anglo-American zone of occupation. Alternburg This is a German town in the Leipzig district famous for its castle.In 1893 a local postal service was established as a branch of the Leipzig courier. All stamps for use in Altenburg were overprinted OSCAR NEUMANN which was the name of the courier's manager. In the same year a definitive series was started with the issue of two stamps. These were in 2 and 3 pfennig values. They depicted a seated woman. In 1897 a 5 pfennig value was added to the series. Altona This is a riverside town in Schleswig-Holstein near Hamburg. Several local messenger services operated in this area until 1900 when the German Post Office started a general Postal service in this district.In 1865 the Hesse & Meerwein's Altonaer Institut, (which was an early German private delivery company), issued two ½ schilling stamps. These two stamps were both printed in black. The first was on blue paper and the other on yellow. Altentreptow This is a German town which issued its own stamps in July 1945.Small gummed labels were surcharged 10 or 20 pfennigs in manuscript.In our opinion these very crude stamps should only be obtained on cover (or part cover) which bears the Alentreptow postmark July 1945. Other a likly to be forgeries. Aluminium foil paper On the 5 October 1955, Hungary issued a special 5 forint airmail stamp to celebrate the Light Metals Industries' International Congress which was held that year in Budapest.This special stamp was printed on aluminium surfaced paper to honour the congress.On the 17 October 1961, Russia issued a 1 rouble stamp, printed on the same type of paper, to commeratethe cosmic flight of that year. Six days later the stamp was re-issued with an overprint to mark the 22nd Communist Party Congress. Alt-Golm This is a German town which produced its own provisional stamps in July 1945. Two values were issued in 10 and 25 pfennig values. These were official official postage labels of a double circle headed 'Postampt'. The values and the name were added by typewritter. Alvin Adams See Adams city express
Letters from the fellows of the college to members of other Oxford colleges or local tradesmen were collected by the porter from the college lodge and delivered the same day.
The stamp was lithographed by Spiers and Sons and was printed in sheets of 40. The stamps were sold to fellows of the college for ½d each.
The service only operated for two years and in 1886 was supressed at the request of the Postmaster General. Stocks of unused stamps later came onto the philatelic market.
Even at this young age, his attention to detail gained him promotion. In 1710, at the age of 16, he joined the Bath Post Office and two years later he became the Postmaster there. This put him in charge of the busy cross road from Exeter toChester.
In 1712 few roads linked the major cities. London at the time was the centre point for all the main routes that existed, and as such the ostal system was cumbersome. At the time Allen became Postmaster at Bath, letters that were sent from Bath to Worcester were sent via London for payment. This made the distance three time what was necessary. The few cross roads that were used lost the goverment of the time thousands of pounds as payment could not be checked in London. Another problem was encountered when sending mail by road. As the letter passed from one county Postmaster to another, each Postmaster took their share of the payment, and often neglected to keep records. Letters were also frequently lost.
Allen supervised the Exeter to Chester cross road so efficiently that in 1720 he was put in charge of the whole network of cross roads and by-roads posts. He insisted that all leters must be recorded and set up a successful checking system to make this possible. With this control, he developed a cross roads system for England and Wales which he operated under goverment contract from 1720 to 1764. His income from the cross roads post alone amounted to £12,000 a year.
In 1741 he started to expand Post Office services. He set up a daily post from London to Bristol and Bath and another from London to Cambridge, Norwich and Yarmouth.
At hisown expense, he undertook road building project to create an elaborate network of cross roads and to double the number of roads out of London to serve the new manufacturing regions.
By 1764, when Allen died, England had a daily post system running along several main roads.
His own estimate was that his cross roads system amounted to £1,500,000 in Post Office revenue.
German stamps overprinted ALLENSTEIN were used in 1920 throughout the area. On the 3 April 1920 German stamps ranging from the 5 pfennigs to the 3 mark values were issued with a three line overprint reading PLEBISCITE / OLSZTYN / ALLENSTEIN. Two colours were used for the 15 pfenning value. The slate-violet shade is fairly common, but the purple-brown is a lot harder to find. The 3 mark value is also known with the overprint doubled.
In May 1920 the same series was re-issued with a diffrent overprint. This consisted of a double lined oval with the wording COMMISSION D'ADMINISTRATION ET DE PLEBISCITE OLSZYTN ALLENSTEIN and TRAITE DE VERSAILLES ART. 94 ET 95 in the centre. The 1 and 3 mark values are both known with the overprint inverted.
An Alpha flaw is one which builds up on the litho stone during the early process of stamp production. A Beta flaw occours later due to wear on the stone.
The term is also used in relation to other methods of stamp production and is useful when describing flaws when part of the stamp has been printed seperatly, especially when this is done in a seperate colour.
In 1849 French stamps were used. In 1870 - 1871 a special German stamp was issued and again in 1940 - 1942 German stamps were overprinted for use. With the exception of these two issues, German and French stamps have alternated with nationality changes.
The first series consisted of handstamps applied to white or greyish paper. The town name appeared in the centre diagonaly in gothic lettering with the value aboe and below. Two values were produced, the 6 pfennig in violet and the 12 pfennig in red. Both were released on the 27 December 1945.
In January 1946 a second series was released. This can be distinguished by the larger figure used for the value. This time three values were released, 6, 10 and 12 pfennigs. Also in January a stock of gummed labels used by the Post Office were converted into stamps. Each label contained the impressions of four stamps and was produced as before by handstamping.
These local issues were superseaded in April 1946 by stamps of the Anglo-American zone of occupation.
In 1893 a local postal service was established as a branch of the Leipzig courier. All stamps for use in Altenburg were overprinted OSCAR NEUMANN which was the name of the courier's manager. In the same year a definitive series was started with the issue of two stamps. These were in 2 and 3 pfennig values. They depicted a seated woman. In 1897 a 5 pfennig value was added to the series.
In 1865 the Hesse & Meerwein's Altonaer Institut, (which was an early German private delivery company), issued two ½ schilling stamps. These two stamps were both printed in black. The first was on blue paper and the other on yellow.
In our opinion these very crude stamps should only be obtained on cover (or part cover) which bears the Alentreptow postmark July 1945. Other a likly to be forgeries.
This special stamp was printed on aluminium surfaced paper to honour the congress.
On the 17 October 1961, Russia issued a 1 rouble stamp, printed on the same type of paper, to commeratethe cosmic flight of that year. Six days later the stamp was re-issued with an overprint to mark the 22nd Communist Party Congress.
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