The things you first notice about this publication are the sheer size of the four volumes, the stunning amount of detailed information, the enormous number of illustrations and the massive amount of research that has gone into this project. This is, without doubt, the complete postal history of Bristol ranging as it does from the very earliest marks right up to the current Postcode areas and the BS 6-FAD branch codes currently in use.
Each A4 volume is plastic ring bound with semi stiff covers, the print is in a very readable font and all illustrations are in black and white. The fact that every mark is illustrated accounts for the bulk of the over 900 pages split across the four volumes.
Volume 1 'Introduction & Narrative' is a very comprehensive explanation of the Bristol Posts based on extensive research at Post Office Records and private collections. The narrative covers the history and development of each topic making the book a history of the posts but with all the references to Bristol. The volume covers 25 separate topices with the Bristol Penny Post being the largest at 62 pages (over 20% of the volume) covering 70 Receiving Houses spread over 200 square miles from Thornbury in the North to Oakhill in the South.
Volume 2 'The main marks of Bristol' is a 223 page catalogue of 22 chapters covering every Bristol mark, all illustrated with dates of use and with early marks, and some later notable marks, rated for rarity. The largest chapter at 29 pages is on Railway cancellations and 21st century marks are included in all relevant chapters.
Volume 3 ' The Slogan & Event marks of Bristol & The sub Office marks of Bristol by type' is as to be expected from such a title, in two parts. The slogan cancellations are covered in 85 pages and range from 1917 to 2017. The sub Office marks fill the remainder of the 140 page volume. The UDC's are illustrated alphabetically and followed by a chronological table by issue date. The volume concludes with the areas covered by the BS postcodes and the list of BS 6-FAD codes currently in use.
Volume 4 'The Offices under Bristol' is an Alphabetical list of the 354 sub offices, both town and country from Abbots Leigh to Zetland Road and covers all the marks from 1792 walk number handstamps to the latest SID's. There is some duplication of marks included in Volumes 3 and 4.
Overall the publication contains an amazing amount of information on the Postal History of Bristol and its sub offices from the earliest marks right up to 2017. The authors are to be congratulated on both the detailed research they have undertaken and in finally publishing what has been a twenty year project.
Chris Jackson
President
Midland (GB) Postal History Society
Retail Price £75 plus £13 postage & packing (overseas extra).
Cheques payable to: Bristol Postal History Group
Orders to: Roger Martin, 1 Church Road, Easton-in-Gordano, Bristol, BS20 0PQ.