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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Handwriting Deciphering & Recognition => Topic started by: alanasays on Monday 29 November 10 03:03 GMT (UK)

Title: Stamp recognition
Post by: alanasays on Monday 29 November 10 03:03 GMT (UK)
Hi there,

I've just been looking over a scan of an old postcard to my Great Grandmother. It's dated 1919, sent from a field post office and is stamped 'passed by censor' So I'm assuming 'Jack' was in the military.

What I'm curious about is the triangular ink stamp in the top right hand corner, Does it tell anything about where the postcard was sent from?

I have sent the original and a scan with a higher contrast. Unfortunately a better scan is not available, and I've only got the one side of the postcard.

I haven't got a clue when it comes to stamps, so I'm hoping someone can help me!

Thanks in advance

Alana
Title: Re: Stamp recognition
Post by: PrueM on Monday 29 November 10 03:37 GMT (UK)
Hi Alana,

I might be wrong (and frequently am!) but I think that's a pre-printed mark to indicate where a stamp should be put  :-\

If it was sent during war-time, from a field location, presumably the censor wouldn't allow any identifying information to be printed/stamped there.

Cheers
Prue
Title: Re: Stamp recognition
Post by: alanasays on Monday 29 November 10 04:05 GMT (UK)
Oh really?

That makes sense.
Never mind, worth a try!

Thanks for that Prue!
Title: Re: Stamp recognition
Post by: Charlie Bucket on Monday 29 November 10 04:19 GMT (UK)
Egypt???

Charlie
Title: Re: Stamp recognition
Post by: km1971 on Monday 29 November 10 09:06 GMT (UK)
OAS = On Army Service, and did not require a stamp.

Ken
Title: Re: Stamp recognition
Post by: Redroger on Monday 29 November 10 16:49 GMT (UK)
Suggest a google on special military postmarks WW1. I know from experience many years ago that there are many collectors of these marks, and pamphlets have been produced deducing the locations from the Field Post post marks.
Title: Re: Stamp recognition
Post by: Twdyr on Monday 29 November 10 17:00 GMT (UK)
O A S  may also mean "On Active Service"
Hopefully it will be possible to find the person's service documents and the name of his regiment, thus tracing where the regiment was in 1919. For example, the Cheshire Regiment spent some time in the middle east.
Happy hunting!
Title: Re: Stamp recognition
Post by: billramp on Monday 29 November 10 22:55 GMT (UK)
Hi Alena

I agree with twdyr  OAS probably means On Active Service

Here are a couple of links where you may get more info

http://www.forcespostalhistorysociety.org.uk/

http://www.warcovers.co.uk/shop/home.php

Bill

Title: Re: Stamp recognition
Post by: alanasays on Tuesday 30 November 10 01:38 GMT (UK)
Thanks so much twdyr and Bill, you've been a big help!