Volume 2, Number 4

Irish Philatelic Newsletter

Volume 2, Number 4                                                                                                                       April, 2000

A periodic publication for the members of the Éire Philatelic Association, the Irish Airmail Society, the Irish Philatelic Circle and the Forschungs-und Arbeitsgemeinschaft Irland e.V. The newsletter will be e-mailed to all interested members.

Published and edited by Michael Connolly
 
Editors Note:  This April issue, late as it is, will contain only one article.  Stan Challis was kind enough to offer his substantial research to this newsletter.  While I believe that learned treatises belong in our society journals, where they can be shared with all members, and I expect that one of our journals will pick up this article for later publication, I thought it worthwhile to give our readers an advance look.

I will get back on track and get the May issue out in the first week of May.

Dublin Town Sub Office numbers
Stan Challis 
challis@guernsey.net

As collectors of registered mail will know, a major change in the system took place in October 1995 when the blue registration labels were replaced by the self adhesive bar coded ‘stickers’ now generally placed on the back of envelopes. That change was probably the biggest in the handling of registered mail since the introduction of registration labels in about 1906.

In the period to 1995 each individual office had its own pre-printed series of labels showing the office name. However Town Sub Offices, following the British system, received labels showing the name of the Head Office followed by the sub office number, thus College Green, Dublin, had a supply of labels inscribed ‘Dublin 1’, those for Ballsbridge were ‘Dublin 6’, etc. All this is now gone and thus we have the opportunity to try and piece the whole story together.

To my knowledge the only attempt to build up the series of numbers used by Dublin’s sub offices was in an article by the late Neil Langton in Irish Philately in December, 1982. I suspect that article may in fact have been written a number of years earlier.

Having recently acquired a large number of modern registered covers and with a lot of help from Brian Warren, I have built up an initial list (see below) which will, I hope, serve as a useful starting point for the creation of a definitive listing.

Column ‘A’ gives the number shown in the label
Column ‘B’ is the office name
Column ‘C’ shows a * if recorded by Langton
Column ‘D’ gives the years recorded by me (with information from others)
Column ‘E’ is I hope self explanatory

It will be seen that numbers up to 80 have generally been recorded.  Thereafter the list is patchy. Some numbers will undoubtedly have been allocated to large commercial users, others perhaps for special events, and some offices open in the period 1906 to 1995 have not been recorded yet.

It should also be noted that when an office is closed and replaced by a new sub office, close by but with a different name, the sub office number moves to the new office – e.g. 29.  However, in a few instances brand new offices have
been given the number of a closed, but not replaced, sub office – e.g. 9 originally Molesworth Street (closed Nov. 1954) was then used by Captain’s Road Crumlin, three miles distant, from April, 1955.

Would all recipients care to go through their own collections and see what they can add?

Best wishes

Stan Challis
Guernsey

DUBLIN TSO Numbers as appearing in Registration Labels
 
 
 
 
 
Initial article by Noel Langton Irish Philately Dec 1982
 
 
 
 
Office
Recorded by Langston
Dates reported/ seen
Comment
 
 
 
 
 
1
College Green
*
1923-51
closed 16.10.1952
1
St Andrew’s Str
*
1954-93
open 1.12.1952
2
Janes Str
*
1929-92
 
3
Phibsboro’
*
1923-93
 
4
North Wall
*
1924
closed 27.3.1975
5
Portobello Bridge
*
1947-95
 
6
Ballsbridge
*
c1952-93
Also used at Showyard (Dublin Horse Show) 1955; see also 180
7
Duke Str
*
1946
closed 8.2.1956
7
South Anne Str
*
1961-95
? When opened
8
Dame Str
*
1949
closed 29.6.1974
9
Molesworth Str
 
1911-51
closed 20.11.1954
9
Captain’s Road Crumlin
*
 
open 1.4.1955; closed 11.10.1972
9
Ravensdale Park
 
1983-93
opened 12.10.1972
10
Westmoreland Str
*
1952-74
See also 11. Closed 6.1.1975
10
Aston Quay
 
1980-92
Office moved from W. St 7.1.1975
10
Lower Baggot Str
 
1993
See also 17
11
Westmoreland Str
 
1916
See also 10 – this implies closure and reopening at some point?
11
Merrion Row
*
1925-70
 
12
Leinster Str
*
1951
open 13.12.1943; closed 7.12.1975
13
Harcourt Str
*
1955
Listed as Harcourt Rd by Langston
13
Palmerston
 
1993
 
14
Rathmines
*
1941-95
See also 103
15
Clare Str
*
1948-83
1948 – ’51’ label used with 15 inserted by hand
16
Pearse Str 23
*
1978-92
 
16
? Rutland Place Sorting Office
 
1994
Item has BAC 25 cancellation on 32p (only) franking with Rutland Place postmark on reverse. Poss POOC
17
Lower Baggot Str
*
1953-84
See also 10
18
Capel Str
*
1939
 
19
Upper Baggot Str
*
1922-84
 
20
Upper Ormond Quay
*
1942-95
 
21
Talbot Str
*
1923-81
Reported closed 30.4.1980
21
Amiens Str
 
1984
Replaced T St and did not last long
22
Harcourt Rd
*
1926-85
closed 1.2.1982
23
Aungier Str
*
1939-87
 
24
Ranelagh Road
 
1929-42
not clear if/ when office moved – see below
24
Ranelagh
*
1981-92
 
25
Parkgate Str
*
1978-81
 
26
Pearse Str 72
*
 
presumably the office moved and then went back to 99
26
Pearse Str 99
 
1976-94
 
27
 
 
 
 
28
Parnell Str
*
1978-92
 
29
Upper Clanbrassil Str
*
1942-87
also Clanbrassil Str
29
South Circular Road 107
 
1988-91
replaced C St
29
Leonard’s Corner
 
1993-94
replaced SCR (on Upper C St)
30
Lower Leeson Str
*
1985-89
 
31
Thomas Str
*
1976-87
closed early 1990’s
32
Rathgar
*
1976-86
 
33
Upper Leeson Str
*
1925-78
closed 29.2.1980
34
Lower Mount Str
*
1940-66
closed 16.7.1974
35
Granby Row
*
1940-86
believed closed c1998
36
Manor Str
*
1941-90
 
37
Camden Str
*
1976-86
 
37
Sraid Mhic Thaidgh
 
1995
Where is this?
38
Gardiner’s Row
*
 
 
39
Fairview
*
1976-92
See also 134
40
Upper Kevin Str
*
1947-95
 
41
Lower Dorset Str
*
1941-95
 
42
Inchicore
*
1972-93
 
43
North Strand
*
1941-95
 
44
Infirmary Road
*
c1980-88
 
45
Sheriff Str
*
1961
open 14.6.1942 (prev Commons Str); closed 8.4.1973
46
Benburb Str
*
1957-95
closed May 1995
47
Donnybrook Road
 
1942
details of this office required
47
Morehampton Road
*
1980-90
closed c1995
48
Drumcondra Road
*
1955-89
Postmark reads Bothar Droim Conrach (see 67 and 236)
48
10 Lower Drumcondra Rd
 
1993
Pmk reads 10 Bothar Dhroim Conrach Iochta (see 67 and 236)
49
Donnybrook
*
1955-81
See also 327
50
Whitehall Tce, Clontarf
*
1978-79
 
51
Usher’s Quay
*
1967-89
English date stamp in use as late as 1977
52
Ringsend
*
1973-94
 
53
Sandymount
*
1968-93
 
54
High Str
*
1976
closed 31.5.1980
55
North King Str
*
 
closed 11.4.1986, but suggested reopened?
56
Summerhill
 
1911
 
56
Church Rd
*
1973-92
 
57
Berkeley Rd
*
1946-78
 
58
Harold’s Cross
*
1977-92
prob 67 Harolds Cross Rd – see also 103 and 114
59
Dolphin’s Barn
*
1978-94
 
60
Islandbridge
*
1979-94
See also 377
61
Dunville Av
*
1964-84
closed 18.10.1986
62
Russell Str
*
1971
closed 1.4.1976
62
Fitzgibbon Str
 
1984-86
open 31.3.1976; closed 30.1.1990
63
Marino
*
1977-91
 
64
Kimmage Rd
*
1944-87
 
64
Sundrive Road
 
1989-92
 
65
Kilmainham
*
1976-91
 
66
Terenure
*
1968-94
 
67
Drumcondra 
 
1933
see below
67
Drumcondra Road
*
1956-84
Postmark reads Druim Chonnrach (see 48 and 236)
67
153 Lower Drumcondra Rd
 
1992
Pmk reads 153 Bothar Druim Chonnrach Iochta (see 48/ 236)
68
Cork Str
*
1977-89
 
69
St John’s Tce, Clontarf
*
1927-37
closed 18.4.1961
70
Merrion
*
1910-79
 
71
St Mobhi’s Rd
*
1979-89
 
72
Church Str
*
1975-93
closed late 1990s
73
Somerset Str
*
1982-85
believed closed
74
Milltown
*
 
is this still open?
75
Dollymount
*
c1979
 
76
Windy Arbour
*
1981-90
 
77
Artane
*
1978-95
 
78
Annamoe Rd
*
1944-48
 
78
Annamoe Terrace
 
1984-85
office moved ?when; closed and moved to P St ?when
78
Prussia Str
 
1990
 
79
 
 
 
 
80
Crumlin
*
1973-95
In 1984 ‘242’ labels used with 242 excised and 80 inserted by hand – 2 examples seen
81
 
 
 
 
82
Posted out of course/ Sorting office
*
1979
Believed used at Pearse Str Sorting Office
82A
– ditto
*
1960
Believed used at Pearse Str Sorting Office on Dublin Corporation Mail
83
 
 
 
 
84
 
 
 
 
85
 
 
 
 
86
Office of ‘An Cuntasoir’
*
 
 
87
 
 
 
 
88
 
 
 
 
89
Land Commission
*
 
 
90
 
 
 
 
91
 
 
 
 
92
 
 
 
 
93
 
 
 
 
94
 
 
 
 
95
Dept of Local Govt
*
 
 
96
Irishtown
*
1976-92
 
97
Killester
*
1946-91
 
98
 
 
 
 
99
 
 
 
 
100
Philatelic Bureau
 
1983-86
Also at Stampa – various years
101
 
 
 
 
102
 
 
 
 
103
Harold’s Cross Road
 
1970
From David Feldman at Leinster Rd – see also 114
103
(Rathmines)
 
1982-91
All items seen from MacDonnell Whyte at Leinster Rd – possibly allocated to this firm – see also 14 and 58
104
 
 
 
 
105
 
 
 
 
106
GPO
 
1949-50
Used on GPO Official Overseas Mail
107
Ballygall Rd East
*
1983-84
 
108
 
 
 
 
109
Ballinteer Road
 
1984
 
110
 
 
 
 
111
 
 
 
 
112
 
 
 
 
113
 
 
 
 
114
Harold’s Cross Rd
*
1938-74
See also 103; believed at 249 Harolds Cross Rd
114
Kenilworth
 
1978-90
open 19.8.1975
115
Roebuck
*
1979-81
 
116
 
 
 
 
117
Old County Road
 
see note
Seen for 1959 and 1992-94
117
Crumlin Road
 
1975-86
opened 1.8.1959 – believed moved back to OCRd c1990
118
 
 
 
 
119
Cabra
*
1974-90
 
120
 
 
 
 
121
Harmonstown
*
1978-89
 
122
 
 
 
 
123
 
 
 
 
124
Kilbarrack
 
1987-91
 
125
Dept of Education
*
 
 
126
 
 
 
 
127
 
 
 
 
128
 
 
 
 
129
 
 
 
 
130
Dundrum
*
1957-89
 
131
Galtymore Road
*
1970-89
Recorded by Langton as Galtymore
132
 
 
 
 
133
 
 
 
 
134
Fairview
 
1990
Internal PO use – see also 39
135
Donnycarney
*
1974-94
 
136
 
 
 
 
137
 
 
 
 
138
 
 
 
 
139
 
 
 
 
140
 
 
 
 
141
 
 
 
 
142
 
 
 
 
143
 
 
 
 
144
Lissadell Av
*
1974-78
 
145
 
 
 
 
146
 
 
 
 
147
 
 
 
 
148
Dept of Defence
*
1933-35
 
149
Dept of Social Welfare
*
 
 
150
 
 
 
 
151
 
 
 
 
152
 
 
 
 
153
 
 
 
 
154
 
 
 
 
155
 
 
 
 
156
Upper Ballyfermot
*
1978-95
FED reports Gaeltacht Park
157
 
 
 
 
158
 
 
 
 
159
 
 
 
 
160
South King Str
*
1937-41
closed 9.1.1971
161
 
 
 
 
162
 
 
 
 
163
Dublin Postal District HQ Fenian House DN2
 
163
No inserted by hand
164
 
 
 
 
165
 
 
 
 
166
 
 
 
 
167
 
 
 
 
168
 
 
 
 
169
 
 
 
 
170
 
 
 
 
171
 
 
 
 
172
Sutton
 
1981-95
 
173
 
 
 
 
174
 
 
 
 
175
Upper Rutland Str
*
 
 
175
Summerhill
 
1977-92
 
176
 
 
 
 
177
 
 
 
 
178
 
 
 
 
179
 
 
 
 
180
Ballsbridge
 
1947
See also 6; ?used by a commercial firm
181
 
 
 
 
182
 
 
 
 
183
 
 
 
 
184
Ballymun Av
*
1979
open 1.5.1959; moved 14.4.1980
184
Glasnevin Av
 
1980-92
see above
185
 
 
 
 
186
 
 
 
 
187
?Trinity College
 
1985
Used on metered mail posted St Andrew’s Str
188
Gaeltacht Park
*
 
 
188
408 Collins Av
 
1975-94
 
189
Faussagh Av
*
1969-84
 
190
 
 
 
 
191
GPO
 
c1990
Seen on PO internal mail label addressed to a mission
192
 
 
 
 
193
Northside
 
1979-94
 
194
 
 
 
 
195
 
 
 
 
196
 
 
 
 
197
 
 
 
 
198
Cappagh
*
1980-86
 
199
 
 
 
 
200
 
 
 
 
201
Botanic Rd
*
1970-95
 
202
 
 
 
 
203
Finglas East
*
1969-83
 
204
 
 
 
 
205
 
 
 
 
206
 
 
 
 
207
Drimnagh
*
1978-95
 
208
 
 
 
 
209
 
 
 
 
210
 
 
 
 
211
 
 
 
 
212
Greenlea Rd
*
1980
 
213
 
 
 
 
214
 
 
 
 
215
Finglas
 
1975-95
 
216
 
 
 
 
217
 
 
 
 
218
 
 
 
 
219
 
 
 
 
220
 
 
 
 
221
Phillipsburgh Av
*
 
 
222
Rathfarnham
 
1976
Also recorded 1986 but office of posting not readable
223
Raheny
 
1973-95
 
224
 
 
 
 
225
Shanliss Rd
*
1977-91
 
226
 
 
 
 
227
 
 
 
 
228
 
 
 
 
229
 
 
 
 
230
Orchardstown
 
1979-86
 
231
Navan Rd
*
 
 
231
Villa Park Gardens
 
1980-85
 
232
 
 
 
 
233
 
 
 
 
234
Bluebell
*
1970-91
 
235
Rialto
*
1959-94
 
236
Upper Drumcondra
*
1981-92
Pmk reads Dromchonnrach U (see 48 and 67)
237
Silveracre
 
1985
open 1.8.1957; also seen with Silveracre label
238
 
 
 
 
239
 
 
 
 
240
Santry
*
 
 
241
Ballyfermot
*
1966-93
 
242
Walkinstown
*
1980-88
 
243
 
 
 
 
244
 
 
 
 
245
 
 
 
 
246
 
 
 
 
247
 
 
 
 
248
Templeogue
 
1983
 
249
Ballyboden
 
1979
 
250
 
 
 
 
251
Carberry Rd
*
 
 
252
Churchtown
*
1978-89
 
253
Perrystown
 
1977-90
 
254
St Gabriel’s Road
 
1976-83
 
255
Nutgrove Av
 
1977-94
 
256
Shantulla Rd
*
1977-95
 
257
 
 
 
 
258
Coolock
 
1970-84
 
259
 
 
 
 
260
 
 
 
 
261
 
 
 
 
262
 
 
 
 
263
Ashtown Grove
 
1982-92
 
264
 
 
 
 
265
 
 
 
 
266
 
 
 
 
267
 
 
 
 
268
 
 
 
 
269
 
 
 
 
270
 
 
 
 
271
 
 
 
 
272
 
 
 
 
273
Drum Martin
 
1966-86
 
274
 
 
 
 
275
 
 
 
 
276
 
 
 
 
277
 
 
 
 
278
 
 
 
 
279
 
 
 
 
280
Edenmore
 
1977-92
 
281
Northside
 
1972
Postmark clearly 18 V 72, but office not reported open until 14.12.72
281
Priors Wood
 
1980
 
282
Ballymun Centre
 
1977-87
 
283
Belfield UCD
 
1973
open 17.7.1973
284
 
 
 
 
285
 
 
 
 
286
 
 
 
 
287
 
 
 
 
288
Bayside
 
1994
 
289
Donaghmede
 
1982-88
 
290
 
 
 
 
291
 
 
 
 
292
 
 
 
 
293
 
 
 
 
294
 
 
 
 
295
 
 
 
 
296
?Dept of Defence
 
c1980
 
297
 
 
 
 
298
 
 
 
 
299
 
 
 
 
300
 
 
 
 
301
 
 
 
 
302
 
 
 
 
303
 
 
 
 
304
 
 
 
 
305
 
 
 
 
306
 
 
 
 
307
 
 
 
 
308
 
 
 
 
309
 
 
 
 
310
Killinardan
 
1987
 
311
Dodsboro’
 
1987
 
312
?Neilstown Clondalkin
 
1991
 
313
Kilnamanagh
 
1989
 
314
 
 
 
 
315
 
 
 
 
316
 
 
 
 
317
Springfield
 
c1990
 
318
 
 
 
 
319
 
 
 
 
320
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
325
Baldoyle
 
1993-94
 
326
 
 
 
 
327
Donnybrook
 
1987-95
See also 49
328
Banogue
 
1994
 
 
 
 
 
 
377
Islandbridge
 
1993
See also 60
 
 
 
 
 
381
A firm of Co registrars
 
1992
On a document addressed to a dissenting shareholder
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
RLS
Returned Letter Section
 
1981-87
 
 
Mansion House
 
1957
Blank label used
 
An Dail
 
1929
Blank label used
 
 
 
 
 
 
END
 
 
 
Editorial statement:

In today’s cyber-age, its only fitting that we interact in cyberspace. I can’t see any reason why the members of our societies should not join in. More and more of our members are now accessing e-mail and the internet.

To subscribe to the Newsletter, send a request by e-mail to webmaster.  To remove yourself from receiving the Newsletter, send your request to the same e-mail address.

Viewing of the newsletter is available online. 

Past issues are archived and are also available online.  E-mail requests for back issues are also accepted.

Members are encouraged to contribute articles or bits of news to the newsletter.  I believe that learned treatises belong in our society journals, where they can be shared with all members. I don’t feel that a newsletter should ever attempt to be a replacement for our journals.

“Newsy” bits would certainly interest me personally and would seem to be ideal for a newsletter such as this.

Requests for information and help with puzzling items can be submitted and, hopefully, some reader will have an answer.

Brief articles or informational pieces would also be welcome.

If you have e-mail access, you can send articles by e-mail to webmaster.

For those in the U.S.A., libraries providing access and free e-mail sites are proliferating.  Members could access the Web even without home or office access to cyberspace.

Input from members can even come via our beloved snail-mail.

Submitters should understand that any material published in the newsletter would, automatically, become available for publication in our journals.