The Circular Delivery Company Limited was the last of the Brydone Companies and was formed and registered on 22 February, 1868. New stamps were prepared for the seven cities which had previosly had stamps, and two new cities. The stamps were printed in sheets of 81 (9X9) having nine rows of stamps, each row being for a different city. There were four values only, farthing, green, halfpenny, blue, three farthings, brown, and one penny, pale scarlet. A vertical column from each sheet of values would thus produce a complete set of the four values from all nine cities. The Cities, in their oder in the sheet, were Dundee, Manchester, Glasgow, Liverpool, Aberdeen, Birmingham, London, Metropolitan and Edinburgh & Leith. Only one printing was made of these stamps, though they were later extensively forged, indeed the first forgery was noted by Dr Magnus in "Le Timbrophile" in October, 1868.
Following prosecution against them, the Circular Delivery Company Limited went out of business on 2 June, 1869
The original stamps had the letters T N D and C inserted into the four corners of the design. Rgere is no evidence available to show that these stamps ever saw actual usage, and it is more likely that they were produced for sale to collectors, which is exactly what happened. They are not uncommon, although they are far outnumbered by supplies of some of the forgery types. Copies with a blue pencil line across them are from the Lincoln stock, he being under the impression that it was illegal to sell them unused.
The first forgery appeared in 1868 and is dangerous, as it also has the letters in the corners. It is only known in imperforate condition.
Genuine. |
