Page 141 - Jarvis & Wright: Jamaica Display to RPSL

Jamaica: The De La Rue Officials

The replacement of the Officials by the Vendryes Free mark.
The Official stamps failed to prevent the abuse of free official postage for private post.
In 1897 it was decided to withdraw them with effect from 31 December 1897.

Last date of use
Lucea, 31 December 1897.

The Official adhesive stamps were replaced by a new system. Departments and official bodies
entitled to send official post were issued with identifying handstamps.
According to Taylor, who corresponded with Vendryes about the Official overprint, this handstamp
was manufactured by Vendryes:
"Vendryes was ordered to engrave an oval plate on copper, which is now used for franking all
official letters. The name of the department is printed in the outer border, the word "Free" in
the centre of the oval, and this is initialled by the head of the Department."
There are no details as to how this copper master was used to produce individual Departmental
ovals, which were probably steel. But Vendryes had the skills for electroplating, indeed electroplating
was his advertised business in the 20th century, long after he gave up printing. The design of the
oval, shown on the cover below in its first year of use, shows what appear to be the heads of bolts or
plugs on each side. They do not look like ornamental asterisks. They may have been used to secure
a plug with the Departmental name into each steel die.

Free mark on OHMS cover from Spanish Town to Ramble, May 1898.
ON H M SERVICE FREE REGISTRAR GENERAL.
No initialling by the head of Department, even in these first few months of the new rules.

Spanish Town: 20 May 1898.
Montpelier: 21 May 1898.
Ramble: 21 May 1898.