"Spoon" Cancel

The name "spoon" is a reference to the distinctive shape of this duplex cancellation.

This is the name given to a distinctive experimental duplex cancellation issued to 29larger towns and cities in England and to Wrexham in Wales. The portions of the handstamp are merged and the post office number cuts into the dated portion of the cancel to the left.

The first ‘Spoon’ was issued to Hull on December 21, 1853 and they remained in use until 1860. Five main types exist.

An example from Liverpool, September 1855, is shown above.

For more on cancellations, click here.