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      
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