“Tasmanian Postal History - The Post Office and their Datestamps" Handbook by John Hardinge
“Tasmanian Postal History - The Post Office and their Datestamps"
A superb, and YEARS overdue new opus work - 282 hardbound pages. THIRTY years of combined research in here, from the Tassie experts.
I bought and pre-paid for several cartons up front months back. I am a huge believer in philatelic publishing, and heavily financially support those who do so.
"Knowledge Is Power".
They are each calligraphy hand numbered, author signed, hard case-bound with dust jacket, and will NOT be reprinted, I was assured by all concerned. John tells me he is VERY happy with the end result. 8)
Such a small run will cover
about HALF the global demand when word spreads. The Hugh Freeman NSW Cancels book had the same tiny print number problem when issued - prices soared to $500 a copy very fast.
"Supply Meets Demand." 8) 8)
Most of the 250 copies printed were pre-sold to active TPS members etc, very many months ago, at a pre-publication price. Almost no copies above that number pre-paid were printed.
Those extras then totally sold out fast on the TPS site at $160 plus post, as you can see on this link -
https://tasstampbooks.com - and as always,
vast numbers of Tasmania collectors globally had no idea these books were being produced, and now need to source it from the trade.
I am the ONLY dealer source of this book. The TPS as you can see, is totally sold out. When I sell out, you are toast. The First Freeman NSW handbook soared to about $500 a book for the same reason. Totally under produced, and when the real global demand occurred - "supply meets demand".
My price is
now $A395, far higher than those paid who ordered off me 6 weeks back. My stock is now low. My price is subject to change with no notice,
and the large font red price below is my current asking price.
When my review of this appears in the next
"Stamp News" and
"Philatelic Exporter" in the UK, just before Xmas, my copies will vanish fast, history tells us.
There are probably some 50 dealers and Auction houses in UK and Europe and USA alone, who need this superb work, and as yet, do not even know it is printed! Cost is no real matter to them - they all simply buy one when they hear it is published, as all things Tasmania are HOT!
Finding just ONE better postmark in an old album, or junk lot, just once in your lifetime might pay for this book MANY times over. Find the one shown below, on a very 10c common stamp, and you'll repay it TWENTY times over!
Glen
= = = =
The Tasmanian Philatelic Society recently published a major new book about Tasmanian Postmarks and Post Offices.
This is the most comprehensive book on Tasmanian Postmarks
ever published.
This 282 page book lists every known hand-held datestamp from 1823 to 2000, with rarity ratings, early/late dates, datestamp type, every post office opening and closing plus extensive related information.
This means all "postmarks" excepting those made by machine, seen in Tasmania from earliest times, to end of the 20th century. It also includes Postmaster's manuscript endorsements
Details
282 pages, each book numbered and signed by the Author
Over 150 pages of postmark listings showing rarity ratings, early/late dates, notes . Every known Tasmanian/VDL hand datestamp is listed.
High-quality stitched binding and hard cover
Datestamps which MAY exist but not yet seen
Post Offices (incl Free Bags) open but no datestamp issued
All Datestamp types from 1861 illustrated with real examples
Illustrated with images of Tasmanian Post Offices from the 19th and 20th Century and many postmarks.
Extensive notes including number of examples recorded for very rare postmarks
Illustrated in full colour.
30+ years of research
John Hardinge has been researching information from many sources for at least the last 30 years. These include the Tasmanian Post Office archives, the early postal historians such as Purves, Campbell and Avery, his own very extensive collection and many collectors and contemporary specialists.
The author has distilled all known information on his subject into one volume and as such this book must be considered the last word on the history of Tasmania’s hand held datestamps.
Much of the material in the book has never been placed on the public record before.
“Tasmanian Postal History - The Post Office and their Datestamps" by John Hardinge
Rarity Ratings for all Postmarks
A key feature of the book is over 150 pages of tables listing every known handheld datestamp for every post office in Tasmania. Each datestamp is recorded with its early and late dates, type and rarity rating as well as extensive notes. All types of post offices and services ranging from Free Bag services, Receiving Houses, Telegraph Offices to full-service Post Offices are listed with their opening and closing dates.
The rarity ratings have been verified by a group of experienced collectors over the last few years. Illustrated with historic images and postmark examples
While the rarity ratings will be the main interest for some collectors, chapters explaining the history of datestamp issues, datestamp types (extensively illustrated ) and information on the development of the Post Office in Tasmania will appeal to those interested in the wider picture.
Published in Hard cover with stitched binding, individually calligraphy hand numbered, and each personally signed by the Author.
Tasmania TEEPOOKANA cancel sells for $A3,620.
Many circular postmarks on the common Tasmania 1899 "Pictorial" series are worth several $100s each - indeed some are WAY into the 4 figure region.
The “TEEPOOKANA” shown nearby sold for $3,620 at auction - most readers of this would not have given it a second glance it if were on a circuit book page marked at $1 - the underlying stamp is retail 10¢. Indeed there were THREE different cds of “TEEPOOKANA” - each type is rated “RRRRR”! The first cancels had 3 words – TEE POO KANA.
And not just tiny remote PO’s have rare cancels. There are masses of HOBART and LAUNCESTON cancels in here rated “RRRRR” - if you do not have this book you would simply dismiss them as common strikes from big city General Post Offices. Wrong - lots of great data in here.
All books are mailed carefully wrapped in bubble wrap to protect them, and each is hand numbered on outer bubble wrap, by the same hand as the inner calligraphy. A nice touch! A very professional effort by all involved at the Tasmania Philatelic Society - top marks.
If you add the BRAND NEW - Hugh Freeman
“Numeral Cancellations Of Victoria” massive ~500 page hard cover dust cover handbook, in full COLOUR to the order (Stock 274BN - $A190) you’ll save a LOT on postage! Full details on that brand new opus work here -
https://stampboards.com/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=84178
$A395 plus Global Post
Call it - "Tas Cancels : Stock 893YW" - please order via new HTTPS encrypted SECURE site - https://tinyurl.com/GlenOrder
And please do that NOW. Too many think
“I’ll do that later” and then quickly
“forget”. I then often lose the stamps in the rubble here, and waste an annoying hour finding them again.

All payment details etc are on: https://tinyurl.com/GlenPay - NICE franking is used when I mail : see member pix of that franking here - https://tinyurl.com/GlenCTO - and COMBINED POSTAGE is fine - save big money when buying more than 1 lot at once!
For overseas members, to find out the approx cost in YOUR currency, click here - https://www.xe.com - the $A has CRASHED lately, and for USA buyers etc, my prices are REALLY cheap in your money!
MONEY BACK GUARANTEE - don't like it - mail it back within 48 hours of receiving it. No-one ever has yet. 
Remember, adding another lot of mine (posted by either Admin, GlenStephens or Global Administrator or ozstamps) here (or on my website https://glenstephens.com/rarity.html ) for sale in general adds ZERO to your shipping cost, so have a good look at what is on offer here, in case something else appeals:
And "lay-by/layaway" is always possible - email me with any queries to glen [at] glenstephens.com - OR "trade-ins" always possible! If you have a pile of surplus stuff, I may well be happy to offset that against this item, see: https://tinyurl.com/GlenBuy
As most know - I do NO fairs or shows, have NO shop, and do NOT bother with ebay or any other auctions. I buy endless bulk lots from Estates, and distress sales etc, in this massive city of 6 million, with no other real stamp buyers, and offer it here at *NETT* prices for fast turnover. NO "20%-25% Buyer Fees" and “3% credit card fees” to add to my *NETT* prices, as in auction!
Many similar mouth-watering NETT price offers are being loaded weekly onto - https://tinyurl.com/GlenRare and https://tinyurl.com/GlenSpec
Unless noted by me, all stampboards lots priced $A100 and under are generally mailed Unregistered and untracked at *YOUR* total risk, unless YOU specifically note otherwise on order form. I can often send them tracked mail - no compo cover on those. 1,000s of my transactions here for 10 years have been safe by normal post.
Orders over $100 are normally sent Registered (PO cover is to $A100 only sadly) - cost is extra $A4 local, and minimum $A16 (~$US12) extra foreign, depending on weight. Only YOU know if your street or Apartment address is secure - a large packet covered in pretty stamps left outside, just might tempt passers-by? Only YOU know that, I do not. Mail contractors these days are often lazy, and leave packets on top of mailboxes etc in view of public, and/or out in wet weather etc. PO Boxes are FAR safer.
"All Risk" Insurance is always possible if required as well, and is cheap at $A2 per $100 covered - and all are strongly advised to use this, and I will, unless asked not to. Full detail on all of this - https://tinyurl.com/Glen2-15 It is like Travel Insurance - decline that when booking your ticket, and THEN tell Qantas you really meant to take it 3 weeks back, and you now need to cancel your ticket with no nasty penalty please, and see how you go with THAT one!

As per stampboard convention - this lot is offered exclusively first to board members - and on no other sales venue.
For members who make a BANK TRANSFER or Money Order etc, you WILL generally get your goods faster, as it saves me some hassle - but you MUST email me the confirmation number etc - many "forget"!
.