Bishop Mark: The earliest postmark, introduced by Henry Bishop in England circa 1661. A Bishop Mark was used to indicate the month and day that a letter was received by a post office. It encouraged prompt delivery by letter carriers.
Bishop, Henry - (b. d. ) Former British postmaster general and inventor of the Bishop Mark, the worlds first postage handstamp. Organiser of the British post office following Restoration of the British monarchy in 1660.
The first postmark (called the "Bishop Mark") was introduced by English Postmaster General Henry Bishop in 1661 and showed only the day and month of mailing in order to prevent the delay of the mail by carriers.
Great Britain used many different types of postmarks, some of which have acquired interesting and descriptive nicknames. These include Bishop marks, crowned circles, tombstones, spoons, thimbles, Maltese crosses, step types, squared circles, ...
Bishop Mark: first dated postmark of Great Britain indicating day and month; 1661, ...
 See also: Stamp, Applied, Trans, Cancel, Local
  
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