Time in code letter form : part 1

Abstract

Code letters have appeared on many hand-stamps obliterating mail in Malta. Many Postmark collectors have questioned their significance but very little work has been done on them. However, much evidence has been assembled to indicate that "letters" were used to code times for specific box closings until "time in the clear" had been adopted. W.G. Stitt Dibden in his exhaustive study of 'The Squared Circle Postmarks' noted that from the early 1800's the Post Office in Great Britain, used a day code in stamps, that is, "A" was given to the first day of the month, and advanced each day, thus the 25th of the month, say, was indicated by the letter "T". In 1896, the Too Late Code "Z" was used for Too Late first despatch and "ZZ" for Too Late last despatch. [excerpt]