Seapost -> Greenock & Ardrishaig Packets

Greenock & Ardrishaig Packets

By Mike Dovey.

The Greenock & Ardrishaig Floating Post Offices operated from 1879 until 1917, the vessels being owned by David Macbrayne, the very well known Scottish shipping company. Each vessel during this time employed a variety of cancellations, shown below, using the Index A or B depending on whether the posting was either towards or away from Greenock.

PPC of the Columbia GK&ARDRISHAIG PACKET cancel type 7
Superb PPC of the Columbia, index B, with a P7 cancellation, dated August 27th 1904.

Examples of Greenock & Ardrishaig packet cancel types
Greenock & Ardrishaig packet type 1 Greenock & Ardrishaig packet type 2 Greenock & Ardrishaig packet type 3
GA P1 Code A 1879        
        Code B 1879       
GA P2 Code A 1880 - 1895
         Code B 1879 - 1900
GA P3 Code A 1879 - 1883
        Code B 1879 - 1884
Greenock & Ardrishaig packet type 4 Greenock & Ardrishaig packet type 5 Greenock & Ardrishaig packet type 6
GA P4 Code A 1880 - 1899
         Code B 1879 - 1900
GA P5 Code A 1885 - 1900
         Code B 1884 - 1900
GA P6 Code A 1895 - 1901
         Code B 1895 - 1900
Greenock & Ardrishaig packet type 7 Greenock & Ardrishaig packet type 8 Greenock & Ardrishaig packet type 9
GA P7
Columbia Code:
(A) 1901 - 08
(B) 1901 - 08
Chevalier Code:
(A) 1907      
(B) 1902 - 03
Grenadier Code:
(A) 1901 - 06
(B) 1901 - 07
Iona Code:
(A) 1901 - 06
(B) 1901 - 07
GA P8
Columbia Code:
(A) 1904      
(B) 1901 - 04
Grenadier Code:
(A) not known
(B) 1903 - 09 
Iona Code:
(A) 1903 - 08
(B) 1903 - 17
GA P9
Columbia Code:
(A) 1910 - 13
(B) 1909 - 14
Chevalier Code:
(A) not known
(B) 1913        
Grenadier Code:
(A) 1912      
(B) 1910 - 15
Iona Code:
(A) 1910 - 11
(B) 1909 - 15
No Name Code:
(A) 1916          
(B) 1916 - 1917
Greenock & Ardrishaig packet type 10 Greenock & Ardrishaig packet type 13
GA P10 1902 only GA P13 1917 only ??

GA P11 & GA P12 are omitted from the above listing as, although they were proofed in 1888 and 1894, they have not been reported to date (June 2007).

There were four vessels used on this route. The most popular and easiest vessel from which to obtain covers is the Columbia, closely followed by the Iona. Covers from the Grenadier are much sought after while anything from the Chevalier will be purchased at a premium.

For a full and comprehensive look at this area of collecting then James Mackay's excellent book is a must. Although the book is long out of print it could still be available in libraries etc.

It is hoped that maybe in the future the TPO & Seapost Society will endeavor to publish a new book on this subject.

Picture postcard of  'RMS Columbia' GREENOCK & ARDRISHAIG PKT cancel type 8
Another PPC from the Columbia, index B, with a P8 cancel, dated July 23rd 1903.

 

Bibliography:

The Floating Post Offices of the Clyde by James Mackay. Published in 1979
Robertson Revisited by Colin Tabeart. Published in 1997


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