Year printed upside down.

First time I have noticed a year date to be upside down. 1976 was the year of the heatwave,it must have been affecting the Post Office staff in Rochdale that year ! How could this happen ?

It would appear Kevin that not only had they got the year botched up but also the county in which Rochdale resides, as from 1974 Rochdale was part of Greater Manchester. Fred.

Wondering if it was a statement of resentment Fred? Up here we have never liked the idea of being part of Tyne & Wear after belonging in County Durham for hundreds of years ! Today it is probably all computer controlled I suspect,back then more manual interfaced. One more idiosyncrosy for me.

Very good deduction Fred but it still does not answer the upside down date the geography part I will not dispute but there could be reasons for that?

However to get an upside down year, is another matter and well worth keeping as an oddity until it can be proved as not to be fake with the info you have given Fred. If this was computer printed I would throw in the bin. However I would want to see this object in reality before I believed anything these days.

If you think about it there is no way that could be possible? However I do not know what makes the process these cancels are made with, which is why I would want to see it first.

If real, this surely must be worth something, considerably!

You can often find a stamp with no official cancel, but how often do you find an official cancel but no stamp.

Perhaps a larger scan is needed of this particular item/cover in its entirety to determine it's authenticity.

And Julian for what other reason could there be for Rochdale to be designated as being in Lancashire other than total incompetence, especially with other towns in Greater Manchester also affected by both the post office and RM. Fred.

The year plug was inserted inverted that day. You can also find the day or the month inverted. Some towns are more often seen than others, perhaps indicating the level of attention of the staff! Certainly a collectable variety.

That goes without saying Paul, as most things are collectable from birds eggs to insects, whatever takes your fancy for one reason or another. Fred.

Another couple of examples and reason as given by Paul above albeit  is up for discussion as to whether the town impression was applied  inverted.

Geoff (GBCC) www.gbcovercollector.co.uk

Edited By Geoff CHILDS on 24/02/2021 20:34:23

Edited By Geoff CHILDS on 24/02/2021 20:35:47

Edited By Geoff CHILDS on 24/02/2021 20:37:02

Example of year die inverted

Geoff (GBCC) www.gbcovercollector.co.uk

I did not know they could do that, so on a machine they set up each part of the cancel for print, I was thinking of a hand cancel where you dial it in with cog wheels?

One way of making an oddity I suppose and in that case makes its value less than previously thought. but as you say Paul, a nice collectable. Maybe thats why there is such a decline with mail being cancelled lol, leave it beaver to Cancel with what ever comes to hand!

Nice examples Geoff. thanks