Bentley's Dispatch A local post which was established in New York in 1857 by H W Bentley. A year earlier he had aquired Cornell's Madison Square post office.A special special stamp was issued for the post which was printed in gold on white surfaced paper. This stamp had the inscription 'BENTLEY'S / Dispatch / NEW YORK'. At this time a double circle handstamp was also applied to mail.A second type of stamp is known showing the slightly changed inscription within a framed boarder.Bentley sold the post to Swart's city dispatch post in 1859. Benzine A colourless highly volitile liquid made from raw petroleum. It is use for detecting the watermarks in stamps, and when applied makes the paper semitransparent.Benzine should not be used on photogravure stamps as it will destroy the design. Berck catalogue A specialised catalogue of French stamps arangedin sections for classics, (19th century), thematic designs, commemoratives etc. Published by Edouard Berck of Paris, the prices and text are al in French. Berdyansk A russian seaport which later became Osipenko. It is situated on the north coast of the sea of Azov, where stamps were issued for the Zemstov post in 1870.In 1870 a 10 kopeck was released in black, green and blue. The stamps were lithographed in sheets of 100, (four panes of 25). In 1882 two additional printings of these stamps were made, one of which was on laid paper. Berford and Co's Express A postal service operated by Richard G Berford and Loring Lombard for forwarding letters, newpapers and packages. The post was in operation in the middle of the 19th century to take mail by ship to Panama and places on the west coast of north and south America. It is believed that four stamps were issued in 1851. The values were 3 cents in black, 6 cents in green, 10 cents in violet and 25 cents in red. Bergedorf A German city situated on the River Bille, 10 miles soth east of Hamburg.In 1275 the area recieved civic rights and from 1420 belonged jointly to Hamburg and Lubeck until Hamburg brought it outright in 1867.Whilst under dual control, Bergedorf issued its own stamps. The first issue was released on the 1 June 1861 and consisted of ½, 1, 1½ ,3 and 4 schilling values. All the designs for these stamps were similar, but each stamp was in a progressively larger size. The design on these stamps featured the combined arms of Hamburg, (a castle), and Lubeck, (an eagle), along with the letters L, H, P and A in each of the four corners. This stood for Lubeck Hamburgisches Post Amt. (Lubeck Hamburg Post Office). The series was lithographed in black on coloured paper by Charles Fuchs of Hamburg.In June 1861 a trial printing was made but these were not put on sale to the public. These can be seperated from the issued stamps by the colour of the paper and the fact that they are imperforate, whereas the issued stamps are rouletted.The five issued stamps were cancelled five diagonal lines. This cancellation was sometimes applied twice to form a criss-cross patten. Examples are also known cancelled with a semi-circular date stamp in which the name of the town appears in a convex curve.The ½ shilling value printed in black on pale lilac paper instead of pale blue and the 3 shilling printed in black instead of blue on rose paper were part of a trial printing that was subsequently put on sale to the public. (No used copies of these values are known).In 1867 the ½ shilling stamp changed colour from pale to deep blue.On the 6 August 1867 Hamburg purchased Bergedorf and Hamburg issues were then used.When Hamburg joined the North German Confederation on the 1 January 1868, both Hamburg and Bergedorf stamps were withdrawn and German stamps were then issued until imperial German issues were introduced in 1872. Bergedorf local post TBA Salvador set up a local post in the town of Bergedorf independent of te General Post Office, which was under the joint contol of Hamburg and Lubeck. This local post only operated from the 21 December 1887 until January 1888.On the 21 December a 2 pfennig green and red triangular stamp was issued. (It is believed that the Cape of Good Hope stamps inspired the size and shape of this issue).The stamps are normally perforated 11½ but examples are known imperforate.On the 25 December a series of five stamps were issued in rectangular format. The designs on this issue featured animals or birds. These were printed in sheets of 100 and were issued both perforated and imperforate. Bergen A Norwegian seaport and city on the Byfjord.A local post was set up here in 1865.Very little is known regarding this post which only operated for about 6 to 8 months.In 1865 an undenominated stamp was issued. This dark brown stamp was sold at 2 skillings and was produced by lithography in sheets of 20, (2 rows of 10). This stamp was printed on wove paper and was imperforate. Only unused examples of this are known and it is possible that it may be a proof.A later printing was made inlighter shades of brown and these were produced in sheets of 81, (9 by 9), on laid paper. Used examples of this issue are known cancelled by a circular mark with 'BERGENS BYPOST' around the top, the date in the centre with the year below. There are several forgeries of this issue most of which can be reconised by the ommission of the stop after BY-POST.In 1868 Messrs Norshuus and Schroeter set up a new local service and charged 2 skillings for letters and a higher rate for parcels based on weight. On the 1 July 1868 a lithographed stamp was issued. This was printed in black on lilac-rose paper in sheets of 64, (8 by 8). These stamps were perforated or rouletted size 8½ - 9.Proofs and reprints exist in various other colours as well as forgeries which are imperforate or perf 16.In May 1869 a 2 skilling red, (various shades), was issued with the large 2 enclosed within a double circle. This stamp was also lithographed and printed in sheets of 36 by H Bucher. The stamp was issued perforated 16 and imperforate.On the 24 March 1869, the organisers parted company and Schroeter ran the post alone until the end of the year. On the 19 March 1871, G A Riisberg re-opened the post and ran the service until the 1 September 1871, when John Anderson took the service over. The Bergen post stopped operating soon after Anderson's take over, and long before the Norwegian post office set up its local post at Bergen on the 1 September 1878. Bergisch Gladbach A German town which produced provisional local stamps in October 1923 during the German hyper-inflation period.Horizontal oblong labels were typographed in black on carmine tinted paper. These had the inscription 'postage paid' in both German and french and 'POSTAMT BERG. GLADBACH' below this. The figures of value were inserted either by hand or using a violet rubber handstamp. Berlstedt A German town in Thuringia.Following the collapse ofthe Nazi postal system, the postmaster at Berlstedt produced his own provisional stamps between July and September 1945. The stamps issued were in 6, 12 and 24 pfennig values and were hand inscribed 'GEBUHR BEZAHLT' meaning postage paid. Bernburg A town in Anhalt, Germany between Halle and Magdeburg.On the 13 May 1897, August Teichert set up a local post charging 2 pfennig for printed matter and 3 pfennig for letters and cards.At first the stamps of Dessau were used and these can be reconised by the circular cancellation inscribed 'BERNBURG' at the top and 'COURIER' at the base. Later the same year 2, 3, 12 and 14 pfennig stamps were issued with the design showing a castle.On the 24 December 1897 the post was taken over by Andreas Schmidt and he continued to operate it until the 31 March 1900. Bernstein A German town in the Neumark district which issued crude local stamps during the hype-inflation period of 1923.Labels with a red boarder inscribed 'GEBUHR BEZAHLT' with the figure of the value added below in handwritting. These stamps were in use in September 1923. 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A special special stamp was issued for the post which was printed in gold on white surfaced paper. This stamp had the inscription 'BENTLEY'S / Dispatch / NEW YORK'. At this time a double circle handstamp was also applied to mail.
A second type of stamp is known showing the slightly changed inscription within a framed boarder.
Bentley sold the post to Swart's city dispatch post in 1859.
Benzine should not be used on photogravure stamps as it will destroy the design.
In 1870 a 10 kopeck was released in black, green and blue. The stamps were lithographed in sheets of 100, (four panes of 25). In 1882 two additional printings of these stamps were made, one of which was on laid paper.
In 1275 the area recieved civic rights and from 1420 belonged jointly to Hamburg and Lubeck until Hamburg brought it outright in 1867.
Whilst under dual control, Bergedorf issued its own stamps. The first issue was released on the 1 June 1861 and consisted of ½, 1, 1½ ,3 and 4 schilling values. All the designs for these stamps were similar, but each stamp was in a progressively larger size. The design on these stamps featured the combined arms of Hamburg, (a castle), and Lubeck, (an eagle), along with the letters L, H, P and A in each of the four corners. This stood for Lubeck Hamburgisches Post Amt. (Lubeck Hamburg Post Office). The series was lithographed in black on coloured paper by Charles Fuchs of Hamburg.
In June 1861 a trial printing was made but these were not put on sale to the public. These can be seperated from the issued stamps by the colour of the paper and the fact that they are imperforate, whereas the issued stamps are rouletted.
The five issued stamps were cancelled five diagonal lines. This cancellation was sometimes applied twice to form a criss-cross patten. Examples are also known cancelled with a semi-circular date stamp in which the name of the town appears in a convex curve.
The ½ shilling value printed in black on pale lilac paper instead of pale blue and the 3 shilling printed in black instead of blue on rose paper were part of a trial printing that was subsequently put on sale to the public. (No used copies of these values are known).
In 1867 the ½ shilling stamp changed colour from pale to deep blue.
On the 6 August 1867 Hamburg purchased Bergedorf and Hamburg issues were then used.
When Hamburg joined the North German Confederation on the 1 January 1868, both Hamburg and Bergedorf stamps were withdrawn and German stamps were then issued until imperial German issues were introduced in 1872.
On the 21 December a 2 pfennig green and red triangular stamp was issued. (It is believed that the Cape of Good Hope stamps inspired the size and shape of this issue).
The stamps are normally perforated 11½ but examples are known imperforate.
On the 25 December a series of five stamps were issued in rectangular format. The designs on this issue featured animals or birds. These were printed in sheets of 100 and were issued both perforated and imperforate.
A local post was set up here in 1865.Very little is known regarding this post which only operated for about 6 to 8 months.
In 1865 an undenominated stamp was issued. This dark brown stamp was sold at 2 skillings and was produced by lithography in sheets of 20, (2 rows of 10). This stamp was printed on wove paper and was imperforate. Only unused examples of this are known and it is possible that it may be a proof.
A later printing was made inlighter shades of brown and these were produced in sheets of 81, (9 by 9), on laid paper. Used examples of this issue are known cancelled by a circular mark with 'BERGENS BYPOST' around the top, the date in the centre with the year below. There are several forgeries of this issue most of which can be reconised by the ommission of the stop after BY-POST.
In 1868 Messrs Norshuus and Schroeter set up a new local service and charged 2 skillings for letters and a higher rate for parcels based on weight. On the 1 July 1868 a lithographed stamp was issued. This was printed in black on lilac-rose paper in sheets of 64, (8 by 8). These stamps were perforated or rouletted size 8½ - 9.
Proofs and reprints exist in various other colours as well as forgeries which are imperforate or perf 16.
In May 1869 a 2 skilling red, (various shades), was issued with the large 2 enclosed within a double circle. This stamp was also lithographed and printed in sheets of 36 by H Bucher. The stamp was issued perforated 16 and imperforate.
On the 24 March 1869, the organisers parted company and Schroeter ran the post alone until the end of the year. On the 19 March 1871, G A Riisberg re-opened the post and ran the service until the 1 September 1871, when John Anderson took the service over. The Bergen post stopped operating soon after Anderson's take over, and long before the Norwegian post office set up its local post at Bergen on the 1 September 1878.
Horizontal oblong labels were typographed in black on carmine tinted paper. These had the inscription 'postage paid' in both German and french and 'POSTAMT BERG. GLADBACH' below this. The figures of value were inserted either by hand or using a violet rubber handstamp.
Following the collapse ofthe Nazi postal system, the postmaster at Berlstedt produced his own provisional stamps between July and September 1945. The stamps issued were in 6, 12 and 24 pfennig values and were hand inscribed 'GEBUHR BEZAHLT' meaning postage paid.
On the 13 May 1897, August Teichert set up a local post charging 2 pfennig for printed matter and 3 pfennig for letters and cards.
At first the stamps of Dessau were used and these can be reconised by the circular cancellation inscribed 'BERNBURG' at the top and 'COURIER' at the base. Later the same year 2, 3, 12 and 14 pfennig stamps were issued with the design showing a castle.
On the 24 December 1897 the post was taken over by Andreas Schmidt and he continued to operate it until the 31 March 1900.
Labels with a red boarder inscribed 'GEBUHR BEZAHLT' with the figure of the value added below in handwritting. These stamps were in use in September 1923.
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