THE STREET LETTER BOXES OF JAMAICA

MONTEGO BAY, St. James

SAVANNAH LA MAR, Westmoreland

SPANISH TOWN, St. Catherine

by Bob Swarbrick

Kingston

SLB1 Foster

SLB1 Swarbrick

SLB2 & 2A Foster

SLB2 & 2A Swarbrick

SLB3 Foster

SLB3 Swarbrick

SLB4 Foster

SLB4 Swarbrick

SLB5 Foster

SLB5 Swarbrick

SLB6 Foster

SLB6 Swarbrick

SLB7 Foster

SLB7 Swarbrick

SLB8 Foster

SLB8 Swarbrick

SLB9 Foster

SLB9 Swarbrick

SLB10 Foster

SLB10 Swarbrick

SLB11Foster

SLB11 Swarbrick

SLB12Foster

SLB12 Swarbrick

Foster

Foster

Some thirty years ago, Tom Foster produced a monograph entitled "The Street Letter Boxes Of Jamaica". This was an attempt to bring order from chaos, and bearing in mind the photocopying was not available to the majority of us, Tom relied heavily on the artistic skills of fellow collectors.

With this in mind, it would, perhaps be useful, to consider an up-date , and to correct some mistakes which have crept in over the years. Using the illustrations and numbering to facilitate identification, may I invite comments from fellow Jamaican collectors in the hope that we can up-date this facet of Postal History. My thanks to Bill Atmore for contributing to this initial listing.

The first mark was a metal "TRD", which had a single-lined diamond frame with 23mm sides enclosing the legend "STREET LETTER BOX / JAMAICA" in three lines of slightly seriffed capital letters 21mm high. Undated, struck in black ink and, in its last year of use, battered .and misshapen, it was intended to be struck only on the envelope or wrapper, leaving the adhesives to be cancelled by one of the Kingston date stamps. In practice this rarely occurred. Although uncommon on cover, contemporary stamps can very often be found bearing parts of this postmark and it is not so rare as is often stated.

In black:

EKD:
8 May 1889

LKD:
2 April 1892

I have little to add to Tom's comments. I have both the EKD & LKD in my collection.

In black:

EKD:
8 May 1889 {Swarbrick}

LKD:
2 April 1892 {Swarbrick}

SLB2

Type SLB2 is a postmark of the Double Circle classification, which has the normal double-circle format with a diameter of 26½mm and about 1½mm between the circles. The date is in two unit plugs reading "month-day" and "year" in two lines with an index figure and letter above it, all in sans-serif type 2 mm high. The legend at the top reads STREET LETTER BOX and at the bottom KINGSTON JAMAICA in sans-serif caps 2¾ mm high, with small dots separating the two legends. This type consisted of a set of four identical date stamps distinguished by the fixed index figures 1 - 4 The index letter varied from A -, Z and indicated the collection time. The EKD and LKD of each dater are given, together with the index letters known, and, unless otherwise stated, they are always struck in black ink.

Index
1
2
3
4

EKD:
1 July 1892
9 Sept 1892
26 Dec 1896
23 Feb 1893

LKD:
13 August 1902
6 November 1896
1 May 1897
14 November 1897

In black:
1C, 1F 1K 1L
2E 2M
3A 3C 3M
4E 4K 4H 4M

In blue :
1K
4K

SLB2A

The series of Type SLB2a consists probably of six identical date stamps, closely resembling the previous type but without the separating small dots at either side. The lettering and figures of legends, index and date are 3 mm high, and the distance between the circles.is 1 mm; the diameter is 26 mm. These were in concurrent use with SLB2 and were probably issued at the same time. Examples of these stamps are said to exist struck in blue ink, but none has so far been seen by the author.

Index
1
2
3
4
5
6

EKD:
20 July 1892
1 Sept 1892
16 March 1893
15 April 1892
15 Feb 1895
Existence
doubtful,

LKD:
28 Sept 1896
21 Sept 1896
25 Dec 1897
8 October 1895
23 June 1896
not
recorded.

In black:
1C 1E 1H 1I 1K 1L 1M
2C 2E 21 2K 2M 20 2Y
3C 3E 3F 3I 3J 3K 3M 3Q 3T
4C 4E 4H 4I 4K 4M 40 4U
5C 5I 5M

SLB 2. Here I must disagree with the details in the article. In spite of 50 years diligent searching I have never seen a copy of this mark! To suggest that four identical handstamps exist, and that their use was concurrent with the six similar handstamps listed as SLB 2a, making 10 virtually identical date stamps is, to say the least, somewhat implausible. I would like to suggest that, in the absence of clear evidence to the contrary, we delete this, and rearrange the listing accordingly. Having said that, there is some evidence that a second date stamp could exist, in that I have several examples which show a short radial line after the word "Box". This has been noted on several stamps with varying dates which would, I suggest, precludes a speck of dirt or the like. It is evident on examples dated July 1892, to May 1897. The use of the various slugs used to denote time of posting would seem to follow the accepted practice, and the number allocated to the clerk.

My EKD is 11th. July 1892, and my LKD 1st. May 1897. Bill Atmore reports blue strikes in Nov 93

Index
1
2
3
4
5

EKD:
2 JUL 1892 {Atmore}
9 AUG 1892 {Atmore}
16 March 1893 {Foster}
15 April 1892{Foster}
15 Feb 1895{Foster}

LKD:
28 Sept 1896 {Foster}
6 November 1896
25 Dec 1897 {Foster}
14 November 1897 {Foster}
27 June 1896 {Swarbrick}

In black:

--{Foster}
C E H I K L M
C E I K M O Y
C E F I J K M Q T
C E H I K M O U
C I M

--{Swarbrick}
F
A

--{Atmore}
A C E F H I K M
E F H I K M Q
C E I K M Q
C E F H K M
C I M

In blue
K {Foster}
4K {Foster}
H K {Atmore}

Type SLB3 closely resembles Type SLB2a in the size of the various units and in overall diameter, but it has dots at the sides and 1½ mm between the circles, as in Type SLB2. The index combination above the date is replaced by a single central index letter ranging from A-Z; it is only known struck in black. The author considers that only a single dater of this type existed, and it would appear to have been issued at a later-date than the previous two types. Examples without the side dots have been reported but never substantiated,

Datestamp

EKD:
28 October 1897

LKD:
13 August 1902

In black:
A C E F I K L M N 0

Little to add, except that, in usage, the side "dots" get very weak and examples of late usage could easily be thought to have no dots. My listing of known index letters is A C E F I K L M O Q & T. My EKD is Oct.28th. 1897 & my LKD Aug.13th. 1902.

Datestamp

EKD:
28 October 1897 {Swarbrick}

LKD:
13 August 1902 {Swarbrick & Atmore}

In black:
A C E F I K L M O Q & T {Swarbrick}

Type SLB4 is another double-circle date stamp of 28mm diameter, with 1½ mm between the circles. It has the legend STREET LETTER BOX KINGSTON around the top and JAMAICA at the bottom in small square capitals about 2 mm high; it is without separating dots at the sides.

There is an index combination above the date in tall upright 3mm units, the figure being heavily seriffed. Six identical daters of this type were issued distinguished by the fixed figures 1 - 6, the index letters ranging from A - Z. These stamps are, found in either black or blue, and examples exist in which replacement "year" plugs have been inserted in slightly smaller figures

Index
1
2
3
4
5
6

EKD:
23 Nov 1903
No example has been recorded.
2 Sept 1902
No example recorded.
3 Nov 1901
17 Sept 1906

LKD:
2 March 1904
27 October 1909
29 Sept 1905
January 1907

In black:
1A 1M
3A 3B 3E 3F 3J 3K 3M 30
5K 5M
6A

In blue :
3A 3F 3K 3M

Another mystery! I have never seen an example of any of the date stamps 1 & 2, nor 4,5 & 6. Do they, in fact exist? All the examples of this mark I have seen are all with the prefix "3". I have examples 3A 3B 3E 3F 3J 3L & 3M. In addition, I have an example with the letter K inverted, but the figure 3 as normal. I feel I must question the existence of six hand stamps as suggested in the article, but I note two sizes of year. My EKD is Sept. 1902, and the date slugs are large. Their use seems to have continued until Jan. 1905 when it is noted that small sized slugs came into use, possibly due to the loss of the original ones, as by July 1907 the large type were back in use. My LKD is April 27th. 1907. Bill Atmore reports blue strikes from 26 Nov 03 to 19 Dec 03

Index
1
2
3
4
5
6

EKD:
18 Aug. 1902 {Atmore}

LKD:
April 27th. 1907 {Swarbrick}

In black:
A B E F J L M, K inverted {Swarbrick}
E reversed, K O {Atmore}

In blue :
A F K {Atmore}

Type SLB5 is very similar in format to SLB4, but with an overall diameter of 27½ mm and with 1 mm between the circles. The lettering is 2½ mm high, tall and slender, but the date units and index combinations are exactly as in Type SLB4. There are, however, dots at either side.

In all probability a set of these daters was issued, but only one has been recorded, struck in black. The illustration M18 in 'Nicholson' is incorrect, and should be disregarded.

Datestamp
Index 3

EKD:
26 Feb 1905

LKD:
10 Sept 1910

In black:
3B 3C 3J 30

Here, I disagree with the illustration. All my examples show dots either side of the word "Jamaica", therefore, it is the illustration which is in error, as the text states that the dots exist. My EKD is Aug.15th. 1907, and my LKD July 5th. 1910. and I have the following index letters. B, C, E, F, J, & 0.

Datestamp
Index 3

EKD:
15Aug 1907 {Swarbrick}

LKD:
10 Sept 1910 {Atmore}

In black:
B C E F J & 0 {Swarbrick}
B reversed {Atmore}

The next dater closely resembles SLB4 with the same diameter and distance between the circles. The lettering is similar to that of SLB5 but is narrower and closer together, with a period after the word "BOX" but without the dots at the sides. A single central index letter above the date ranges from A-Z,, but this and the date are in smaller squarer type 2½mm high Probably only one stamp of this type existed, and it is known, only in black

EKD:
19 Sept 1910

LKD:
5 December 1919

In black:
B C J K O

Although of somewhat similar dimensions to the previous two types, it is probable that it was of different issue. There are no stops before or after "Jamaica", but there is now a stop, or colon, after "Box". My EKD is 30th. September 1910 and my LKD Nov.29th. 1919. In this series, the PostOffice has reverted to the single index letter, and I can record the following B, E, F, I, J, & O. In addition, I have an example without any index letter.

EKD:
19. Sept 1910 {Atmore}

LKD:
4 Aug 1922{Atmore}

In black:
None B E F I J O {Swarbrick}
B reversed {Atmore}

---------------------

'Nicholson ' mentions Kingston street-letter-box postmarks as being in use until 1928 at least, but the present author regards this as extremely doubtful. The latest recorded date is given above (1919), and it is evident that the Kingston GPO ceased using special daters about 1920.

Street Letter Boxes were also erected in four other towns by 1930, but their use elsewhere does not appear probable. Where put into use after 1920, special daters were not used. Details now follow.

----------------------------

In putting together this resume of my holding of the "Street Letter Box" postmarks, I offer it to fellow members in the hope that we can extend our knowledge. It would be nice to narrow the gaps betwen the EKD & the LKD to attempt to find out when the actual date-stamp was introduced. I have not included the Montego Bay or Port Antonio hand stamps in this study, as they were adequately covered in the monograph, but should anything further come to light, I am certain I, together with fellow members who read this will be most interested to record anything useful.

Boxes were erected initially in 1914 and by August 1927 six were in operation, clearances being made twice daily before the mail despatches of 5.30 am and 5.30 pm. A further two boxes were in use by 1937, when they are first mentioned in the Post Office Guide. The reason for this may well be that the boxes were located in the tourist hotels within the town and were not accessible to the general public.

The first postmark employed by the Montego Bay-office was a rubber TRD (Type SLB7) This had a diameter of about 27 mm and closely resembled the then current steel date stamps in format, having MONTEGO BAY at the top and STREET LETTER BOX at the foot, all in serif capitals about 2 mm in height. In the centre is a fixed year plug "14", leaving the day and month to be inserted in manuscript, usually black ink. The figure 4 of the year can be found altered in m/s to read 15 to indicate that year, but on many occasions this was not done and false dates can occur.
This mark was usually in purple ink, but later it was struck in black, when it was often distorted due to decomposition of the rubber.

Datestamp
In purple
In black

EKD:
16 Nov 1914
April 1915

LKD:
10 Feb 1915
1 May 1915

In black:

In purple

Datestamp
In purple
In black

EKD:
14 Dec 1914 {Swarbrick}

LKD:

In black:

In purple

Type SLB8 is another rubber TRD resembling the last type but With legend and name transposed. It has a comma after STREET LETTER BOX and a period after MONTEGO BAY. The fixed year plug "15" leaves the day and month to be inserted in m/s, and it.is always struck in purple.

Datestamp

EKD:
21 July 1915

LKD:
1915

Datestamp

EKD:
17 June 1915 {Swarbrick}

LKD:
18 Aug 1915 {Atmore}

Type SLB9 is a steel double-circle date stamp of 27 mm diameter with widely spaced circles. The legend reads STREET LETTER BOX With MONTEGO BAY at the foot, in sans-serif capitals 2 mm in height separated on both sides by large dote, The two-line date is in slightly taller type.

This postmark is often found without the year plug, and it is possible that two daters of the same type existed.

Datestamp

EKD:
17 September 1915

LKD:
October 1954

In black:

Datestamp

EKD:
17 September 1915 {Swarbrick}

LKD:

In black:

PORT ANTONIO, Portland

The first boxes were installed in this busy little port and tourist centre during July 1911, but they were not mentioned officially until 1925, probably for the same reason as those at Montego Bay.

The first type used here (SLB10) was a rubber TRD. The single-lined oblong frame measures 32 x 22 mm and contains the legend in two lines "Street Letter Box/Port Antonio, Ja" in u/lc italic type about 2 mm high. A .line of dots across the centre terminates in a fixed year plug with period -1911.- leaving the day and month to be inserted in manuscript. In practice this was seldom done, and most letters seen have the adhesives additionally cancelled by one of the normal Port Antonio datestamps. It is always struck in purple.

Datestamp

EKD:
July 1911

LKD:
18 May 1912.

In black:

Datestamp

EKD:

LKD:
17 Sep 1912 {Amaryllis}

In black:

In purple
Undated {Atmore}

A metal stamp similar to the normal double-circle type followed. This was 27 mm in diameter with 1½ mm between the circles, and it enclosed the legend STREET LETTER BOX. PORT ANTONIO at the top and JAMAICA at the foot in thin sans serif capitals 3 mm high. The date, in normal style, is in large square type 2½ mm high. It was struck in black ink.

Datestamp

EKD:
27 August 1913

LKD:
29 July 1927

In black:

Datestamp

EKD:
21 May 1913 {Amaryllis}

LKD:

In black:

The final stamp resembled SLB11 in format, with a diameter of 28 mm and with 1 mm between circles. The legend, narrow and 3 mm high, is the same except that the period after "BOX" is replaced by a hyphen. The date style is the same, and the stamp is always struck in black,often with the year missing.

Datestamp

EKD:
14 September 1927

LKD:
13 November 1967.

In black:

Datestamp

EKD:

LKD:

In black:

A street letter box was erected here on 3rd March 1923, but no special date stamp has ever been used.

18 Aug. 1902 {Atmore}

April 27th. 1907 {Swarbrick}

A B E F J L M, K inverted {Swarbrick}
E reversed, K O {Atmore}

A F K {Atmore}

A box was sited in the old capital about 1930, and by 1939 a further two boxes were in operation. Special daters have never been used.

As a final point of interest, it is not generally known that Highway TPO 4 and Highway TPO 5, operating within the corporate area of Kingston and Lower St.Andrew between 25th March 1963 and 14th lay 1966, included amongst their duties the clearance and cancellation of mail from street letter boxes within that area. Between them they used four different Travelling Post Office TRD's for this purpose.

	In black:
EKD:	8 May 1889 {Swarbrick}
LKD:	2 April 1892 {Swarbrick}

Index	1	2	3	4
EKD:	1 July 1892	9 Sept 1892	26 Dec 1896	23 Feb 1893
LKD:	13 August 1902	6 November 1896	1 May 1897	14 November 1897
In black:	1C, 1F 1K 1L	2E 2M	3A 3C 3M	4E 4K 4H 4M
In blue :	1K			4K

Index	1	2	3	4	5	6
EKD:	20 July 1892	1 Sept 1892	16 March 1893	15 April 1892	15 Feb 1895	Existence doubtful,
LKD:	28 Sept 1896	21 Sept 1896	25 Dec 1897	8 October 1895	23 June 1896	not recorded.
In black:	1C 1E 1H 1I 1K 1L 1M	2C 2E 21 2K 2M 20 2Y	3C 3E 3F 3I 3J 3K 3M 3Q 3T	4C 4E 4H 4I 4K 4M 40 4U	5C 5I 5M

Index	1	2	3	4	5
EKD:	2 JUL 1892 {Atmore}	9 AUG 1892 {Atmore}	16 March 1893 {Foster}	15 April 1892{Foster}	15 Feb 1895{Foster}
LKD:	28 Sept 1896 {Foster}	6 November 1896	25 Dec 1897 {Foster}	14 November 1897 {Foster}	27 June 1896 {Swarbrick}
In black:
--{Foster}	C E H I K L M	C E I K M O Y	C E F I J K M Q T	C E H I K M O U	C I M
--{Swarbrick}	F		A
--{Atmore}	A C E F H I K M	E F H I K M Q	C E I K M Q	C E F H K M	C I M
In blue	K {Foster}			4K {Foster} H K {Atmore}

Datestamp
EKD:	28 October 1897
LKD:	13 August 1902
In black:	A C E F I K L M N 0

Datestamp
EKD:	28 October 1897 {Swarbrick}
LKD:	13 August 1902 {Swarbrick & Atmore}
In black:	A C E F I K L M O Q & T {Swarbrick}

Index	1	2	3	4	5	6
EKD:	23 Nov 1903	No example has been recorded.	2 Sept 1902	No example recorded.	3 Nov 1901	17 Sept 1906
LKD:	2 March 1904		27 October 1909		29 Sept 1905	January 1907
In black:	1A 1M		3A 3B 3E 3F 3J 3K 3M 30		5K 5M	6A
In blue :			3A 3F 3K 3M

Datestamp	Index 3
EKD:	26 Feb 1905
LKD:	10 Sept 1910
In black:	3B 3C 3J 30


EKD:	19. Sept 1910 {Atmore}
LKD:	4 Aug 1922{Atmore}
In black:	None B E F I J O {Swarbrick} B reversed {Atmore}

Datestamp	In purple	In black
EKD:	16 Nov 1914	April 1915
LKD:	10 Feb 1915	1 May 1915
In black:
In purple

Datestamp
EKD:	17 June 1915 {Swarbrick}
LKD:	18 Aug 1915 {Atmore}

Datestamp
EKD:	14 September 1927
LKD:	13 November 1967.
In black: