PRE STAMP & STAMPLESS
Uniform Penny Post
FREE FRANKS
Very rare Free Franking on a front addressed by Lord CARDIGAN:
last day of the Free Franking Priviledge
153857.
A very fine free front mounted on thin card for display purposes.
It was written and addressed on January 9th 1840: the last day of the Free Franking Priviledge.
It is addressed to Lady Emma Pennant, a married sister of Lord Cardigan
and was written by him: his signature is at the bottom left.
On the front is a Crowned Free date stamp for January 10th 1840.
This Free Frank is one of only about 5 examples known with this date.
A unique combination of a very famous historical sender with a very rare cancellation.
Superb Exhibition item that would make a memorable display page when fully written up.
Price: £875.00
NB: there is a great deal on the internet about Lord Cardigan
not least his future role in The Charge of the Light Brigade.
There is also information about his sister Emma on the
net.
Envelope to FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE from New York
153880
Envelope addressed to Lady Florence Nightingale from New York.
It was posted without an address or a postage stamp,and surcharged
10d (a superb complete strike) by the Foreign Branch in London.
On the reverse is a London cds for November 5th 1910 and a
hand written note ' Received under cover to the Postmaster General all from New York'.
Although unaddressed, a post office official wrote on the missing address in blue.
The National Trust coloured postcard is of Florence Nightingale at Claydon House Buckinghamshire.
This watercolour was probably painted by her sister Parthenope.
This would make a superb Display page when fully written up.
A very scarce item.
Price: £95.00 (The postcard is given away free with this item).
NB: The National Trust published a booklet 'Florence Nightingale at Claydon House'.
An excellent biopic of this famous lady's life, with black and white photographs
including the coloured postcard of her at Claydon House,
and of her at various stages and activities in her life.
Would help to expand the write up of this item: available from The National Trust.
Stampless Envelope Surcharged 2d
153822.
A very clean envelope sent from London on February 22 1900, to Poplar East.
A 2d surcharge applied, 2d above 11 R, which seems to indicate a London District Office at which it was applied.
On receipt in Polar it was struck with a superb Poplar duplex.
This type is illustrated by Parmenter and noted it is 'uncommon'.
The quality of the strike would be hard to beat.
On the reverse is a m/s ‘Refused’ and the postman's signature together with another one.
The recipient was clearly not prepared to pay the 2d surcharge.
An unusual item that would display well.
Price:
£35.00
Irish Free Frank and very scarce Too Late Scroll
153639
Free Front in fine condition, from Ireland to London.
Strike of a Free crowned date stamp and next to it a fine strike of a very scarce fancy scoll 'TOO LATE' in red.
Feldman and Kane, in Handbook of Irish Postal History, illustrate this strike, fig 132,
and note that it was in use from 1818 to 1830.
It was intended to be used in conjunction with the Free Franking system as is the case with this item
which was sent from Dublin in June 1831 and hence extends is period of usage.
There is a colour portrait on the internet of the addressee, Lady Elizabeth Smyth.
A very scarce/rare item that could make an interesting display page.
Price: £45.00
U4d Post: rare usage
153653
Entire from TURIFF to Aberdeen dated December 20th 1839.
A rare usage during the Uniform 4d Post Period from Turiff that had a population of around only 1,000.
One asks the question how few of these inhabitants could write?
The only example we can recall seeing of mail from Turiff during the short lived U4d Post.
Price: £38.00
Printed Advert for The Globe and Traveller April 1840
153659
A printed advertisement/letter from 'The Globe and Traveller' newspaper and indicating E Eve as the publisher.
Sent from London to Ironbridge with a very fine Paid 28th April 1840 of London.
There is a considerable amount of historical information about this London Newspaper on the internet
which would be useful in writing up this item to make a fine Display page.
The scan is producing a shadow of the folding.
A rare /very rare survivor.
Price: £55.00
NB: the advert is printed on white paper:
it has been scanned with a contrast setting to make it easier to read in a scan.
An entire May 7th 1840
153644
An entire posted locally in London on May 7th 1844: the day after the 1d black was issued.
Some overall toning but a well struck date and the same date in m/s both of which display well.
Price: £55.00
York to Dublin with a very scarce Penny Post
153641
A very neat, small and clean envelope sent from York to Dublin.
A York date stamp for October 21st 1844 and a Dublin Paid for the following day are both on the front.
On the reverse is a Stillington Penny Post neatly struck horizontally on the flap.
This is County Cat. YK2839 in use from 1839 to 1843 so the example here,
used in 1844, extends the usage of this very scarce strike by at least 10 months.
It is possible that this is an isolated strike and is a rare usage on mail to Ireland
An item that would make a fine display page.
Price: £50.00
NB: Stillington is a very small
village in North Yorkshire.
Its population in 2011 census was only 781
Trio of letters to Lady Mary Gordon from her brother in India
153637.
Three full letters from INDIA to Lady Mary Gordon on the Isles of Wight from her brother in 1845/46.
Each letter has a complete coloured wafer seal: red, siver and gold,
each with the same entwined initials under a tree: possibly a family crest?
The lengthy letters could well repay reading in detail, with some transcription and more research,
as part of an interesting display eg there is some mention of Military matters.
The address' North Court, Isle of White is interesting:
the architect John Nash spent much time at Northcourt, the home of his cousin, Lady Mary Gordon.
A rare trio of letters which could make a very interesting display.
Price: £125.00
A fascinating group of letters: mention of the Queen and Prince Albert
152754.
1d pink Stationery Envelope, poorly cancelled at ARLESFORD, October 8th 1844, to L.S.BIDWELL at Thetford
(he was the Mayor), from LORD ASHBURTON at the Grange.
Offered with another letter from the LORD CHANCELLOR to Lord Ashburton……
’respecting the living at WITHCALL?....was dsiposed of at the request of the QUEEN and PRINCE ALBERT
to the nephew of the DUCHESS OF INVERNESS……all I can therefore do is add Mr Bidwell’s name to the list’.
Would make a fascinating display page with more research.
Price: £48.00
NB: the portrait of Baron Lyndhurst PC FRS is from the internet:
he was a Conservative Lord Chancellor, under Peel, between 1841 and 1846.
A rare Dublin Crowned Paid in BLACK
153548.
A scarce Dublin Crowned Paid for August 17th 1857
on a mounted front with a short biopic of the sender above:
George Frederick Howard, 7th Earl of Carlisle.
Clearly signed 'Howard' bottom left.
There is a photo of him and a biopic on the internet.
Addressed to a Reverend at a Vicarage in Elland, Yorkshire.
McKay illustrates this Paid cancellation , Fig 915, and notes
it was, as expected for a 'paid' marking struck, recorded in red.
The example offered here is in Black and we have not been able to trace another strike in black.
A rare item.
Price: £58.00
NB: on the reverse is another signature, a pasted cut out, for a Sir E W Wathin, 1880.
A rare turned Free Frank: a m/s Sunday date
153549.
A Free Frank turned wrapper.
One part is dated January 3rd 1840 from Woodstock
and addressed to a Lady Petre, signed bottom left.
There are no postal markings on this: was it ever sent?
The wrapper was then turned and addressed, again from Woodstock,
dated January 5th 1840 - the last Sunday of the Uniform 4d Post -
sent to London and cancelled by a Free Frank, London Cat. L801, for January 6th 1840.
On the reverse is a wax seal with a crown and a partial Woodstock date stamp.
Clearly written and signed in the same hand; one side flap is missing.
A very unusual Free Frank item the like of which we have not previously seen.
A rare item just four days before the introduction of the Uniform Penny Post.
Would make an interesting display item
Price: £55.00 SOLD
Free front: first day of the Uniform 4d Post
153545.
Free front, sent from RUGELEY to Bristol with a m/s date for December 5th 1839:
the First Day of the Uniform 4d Post.
This is the first such example we have been able to offer.
Signed clearly 'Bagot' and a brief biopic of Baron Bagot is provided with the item.
There is a light horizontal brease below the date.
An attractive and very scarce item that displays well.
Price: £55.00
Wrapper from Brazil to London via Liverpool 1847
153546.
A clean wrapper from Brazil to Huth and Co. London,
with a partial pencil address on the reverse.
On the front in m/s is 'pSwordfish' and '8' and on the reverse a superb
Liverpool Ship, County Cat. LL634, for May 1st 1847
overstruck by a light London date stamp for May 3rd 1847.
An attractive and scarce display item that would warrant further research..
Price: £40.00
NB: there appears to be an unclear transit mark on the front.
Uniform 4d Post: December 1839
153544.
Wrapper, side flaps removed for display purposes, with a m/s '4'
sent to Dundee from London in the Uniform 4d Post Period.
On the top flap are circular date stamps for December 27th 1839 and December 29th 1839:
the latter is a SUNDAY date, the 4th Sunday of this experimental 4d postal charge period.
A fine display iitem.
Price: £40.00
Trio of Coleraine Penny Paid: different types and colour
153518.
A trio of items showing different types and colours of Coleraine Paid cancellations.
On the reverse are Coleraine Date stamps in the same
colour of ink as the Paid cancellations on the front.
All are addressed to the same person at the Belfast Bank branch in Ballymony.
The green strike is on a wrapper and the other two items on entires.
The green P.D/C.Raine is dated April 17th 1848; the similar blue strike is dated October 3rd 1846.
The boxed Paid/at Coleraine in green has a date on reverse of May 9th 1845.
The Green P.D/C.Raine is recorded used between 1845 and 1848
the example offered here at April 17th 1848 is hence the last year of its recorded usage.
The last such example we have noted was offered by Gibbons in 2002 at £70, and dated February 9th 1846.
An attractive trio which would make a fine display page.
Price: £110.00
London Ship Letter March 1797
153363.
Wrapper with a very fine/fine LONDON SHIP - LETTER, Cat. L1202, in black.
The item of mail is addressed to North Wales, and a m/s charge of 1/5?
on the front being the mail charge from the Port receiving the mail to its destination within the UK.
On the reverse is a strike of Cat. L7 and a date on an inside flap of March 20th 1797.
Scarce destination for mail at that time.
Price: £85.00
Early letter from Mexico to Birmingham
153451.
A rare early stampless entire from Mexico to Birmingham.
The first pages are a copy of a letter dated June 2nd 1842 and inside is an invoice a
and
letter dated Mexico September 29th 1842 with a written message at the top
'Per West India Steamer'and the Birmingham address.
The letter refers to serious damage of glass Chandeliers in transit due to poor packaging.
It was received in Birmingham on November 19th 1842.
On the front is a m/s 2/3 being the postal charge.
We have seen only a few early letters from Mexico to the UK
and this is the first to Birmingham.
A rare and interesting item.
Price: £35.00
Uniform 4d Post: entire close to end of this period
153447.
An entire from ESHER to London.
On the front an initial charge of '2' has been crossed through and another of '4' added.
On the reverse is an Esher date stamp for January 8th 1840,
two days before the end of the Uniform 4d Post period
with a London receiver for the penultimate day.
Price: £55.00.
NB: This item and the next Item 153446 with an '8' charge, are both used on January 8th 1840,
would make an excellent Display page.
Offered at a discounted figure for the pair of £130.00
Entire: January 8th 1840 8d rate and close to end of U4d Post
153446.
Entire from TAUNTON to Bridport: on reverse top flap which displays for display,
a Taunton date stamp for January 8th 1840.
Close to the end of the Uniform 4d Post which ended on January 10th 1840
M/s '8' on the front indicating an '8d' charge to the recipient.
This rate is seldom seen in this short-lived period.
There is some browning on the front but not as obvious as in the scan.
A rare item with this rate and so close to the end of the U4d Post.
Price: £85.00
NB: Have seen few examples of a rate change in this short-lived postal reform.
Offered with 153447 at a discounted price of £130.00
Free Frank Front: one day before the last day of the Free Franking Priviledge
153254.
Free Frank front with a m/s date of January 7th 1840: sent to Stone Palace, Perth.
On the front is a Free Franking double ring date stamp for January 8th 1840:
the day before the last day of the Free Franking Priviledge which ended on January 9th 1840.
London Cat. Type L800.
A scarce late usage of a Free Frank.
Price: £55.00
NB: This item with153446 and 153447, would make a very interesting trio,
all used on the same date, January 8th 1840 and showing two different types of Post Office 'charging'
which were in a few days to end with the introduction of the Uniform Penny Post.
The details of the following UPP examples are from the publication:
'Uniform Penny Post Handstruck Paid Postage Stamps of
England and Wales 1840-1853 '
by Steve Walker
Salisbury UPP?
153291.
Salisbury UPP on an entire to London.
Salisbury date stamp on the front for April 15th 1841 and a London Paid for the following day.
All the cancellations are on the front of the letter.
Appears to be an unrecorded type of UPP cancellation for Salisbury?
Price: £25.00
EKD for Type b of the Salisbury UPP
153292.
Salisbury UPU Type b: recorded 1846-48, on an envelope to Kings Lynn.
Salisbury date stamp for January 17th 1846 and this is one of the earliest,
or indeed the earliest, recorded usage of this Salisbury cancellation.
London Paid for January 19th 1846: January 18th was a Sunday.
Displays well.
Price: £35.00
NB: There is a part of a rear flap missing
but the condition of the envelope is finer than in the scan.
Darlingon UPP Type c
153298
Darlington UPP Type c on a wrapper to Knaresbrough, August 17th 1844
with a partial receiver on the reverse top flap for the following day.
A very scarce Darlington UPP.
Price: £45.00
Darlington UPP Type c with a partial second strike
153293.
Darlington UPP Type c: on a wrapper to London.
Darlington date stamp for November 20th 1850 and a London Paid for the following day.
A very scarce type of UPP and unusually there is the foot of a second strike at the top.
Have not seen this this before with a UPP cancellation.
On the reverse is a full wax seal and what appears to be a m/s '1'.
This UPP type for Darlington used close to its last year of recorded use.
A very fine item.
Price: £55.00
Southampton UPP
153294.
Southampton, Standard Type 1 UPP on a clean letter dated January 20th 1843 to Andover.
This type recorded in use from 1843-49 and this at January 20 1843,
is believed to be the Earliest Recorded example.
Price: £30.00
Southampton Type 4 UPP
153295.
Southampton Standard Type 4 UPP on a wrapper to London,
January 16th 1841. London Paid for January 18th 1841: January 17th was a Sunday.
This type 4 was recorded in use during 1840 and 41.
Price: £30.00
Chester UPP Types a and c
153296
Two examples of different Chester UPP Types:
1. The first, Type(a), is on piece April 20th 1840 used locally in Chester.
2. The scond, Type(c), is on a creased wrapper to London, June 2nd 1848.
This type is often found with what appears to be sulpurisation of the ink
creating this dark appearance: we have seen it on 1d black covers too.
Price the pair: £50.00
Ipswich UPP Type e
153297
Ipswich UPP Type e on an entire to Norwich, February 5th 1843.
A very distinctive Type and well struck for this.
Price: £35.00
Ramsgate UPP: the only Type used
153299
Ramsgate UPP UPP Standard Type 7 on a wrapper to London, February21st 1844.
The only type of Ramsgate UPP: recorded is use 1843-45.
Price: £28.00
Ledbury UPP: the only Type used
153300
Ledbury UPP Standard Type 2, on a wrapper to Tewkesbury, June 22nd 1841.
The only Type used by Ledbury.
This is the ONLY UPP recorded from any Herefordshire location.
Price: £35.00
NB Where reference is made to 'RL' it refers to the book
'Herewith my Frank', 2nd Edition by J W Lovegrove
Irish Free Franking and redirection within Ireland
153244.
A free front, neatly mounted on card for display, sent from BANFF to MOATE in Ireland
with an m/s Banff December 11th 1839.
Addressed to Lord Crofton with a Irish free date stamp, Lovegrove JL109,
in use between 1835 to 1840, and dated December 14th1839.
There appears to be a ‘star’ below the year figures which indicates it was posted at noon. I
n m/s at the top is ‘Redirected at Moate’ and at the bottom in m/s ‘Try Roscommon’.
Bottom left are initials: possibly of the sender or the postie who tried to deliver it at Roscommon.
A very attractive and scarce Irish item sent during the short-lived Uniform 4d Post Period.
It would write up well in a display page.
Price: £52.00
NB: It was redirected to Roscommon as that is where the Croftons had their enormous estate.
The internet has
a lot of information about the family.
Free Frank with message on the back for a Sunday
153242.
Free front with a family letter on the reverse written on a Sunday (December 15th 1839)
but sent to a Lady Mary Cole on December 16th 1839 with a Free Frank for December 16th 1839;
JL 40 with a letter ‘E’ under the date a type recorded in use between June 6th 1838 and January 9th 1840.
Unusual to have the original letter on the other side.
Scarce usage during the Uniform Post 4d Period and redirected to Dorchester.
Price: £38.00
NB: there is info on the internet
re Lady Mary Cole.
M/S date for SUNDAY December 15th 1839
153243.
Wrapper from BAWTRY to London, m/s date of December 15th 1839:
the second of only five Sundays in the Uniform 4d Post Period.
On the reverse top flap is a Bawtry date stamp for Decenber 16th 1839.
On the front is a Free Frank, dated December 17th 1839:
this JL33 with small year figures, for Morning Duty.
Scarce to find a complete wrapper used during the Uniform 4d Post Period
with a Free Frank cancellation.
Price: £45.00
The above two items would make a useful pairing showing the large and smaller year figures.
London Sunday date, C for Charing Cross with a Free Franking
153245.
A wrapper from London to Wakefield: dated in m/s at the top London May 5 1839.
On the front is a very fine strike of the London Sunday date stamp for May 5th 1839, London Cat. L30, ‘SUN’ with serifs.
On a Sunday letters were accepted at the Chief Office, Lombard Street (L), Vere Street ,(V)
and Charing Cross, (C) on a SUNDAY but were not sorted until Monday.
As Free letters had to be endorsed with the date of posting, the Sunday L30 or L31 (‘SUN’ without serifs
were struck on them to confirm Sunday posting.
C, L or V in a circle were used on the reverse of some of these covers to show the branch office at which they were posted.
Those without a stamp on the reverse were posted at the Chief Office.
On the reverse of the item offered here is a large ‘C’ in circle, London cat. 32a,
non-italic letters in red indicating posted at Charing Cross. Lovegrove illustrates the ‘C’ of the Charing Cross Office.
On the front is a superb strike of a Free frank for May 6th 1839 (a Monday).
This is a type of London Cat L800 struck in red up to
1839.
A very fine and very scarce/rare item with superb markings.
Price:
£60.00
NB: the first
such combination of strikes we have been able to offer.
See Lovegrove
page 88-91.
The day before the introduction of the Uniform Penny Post
153246.
Wrapper from MANCHESTER to London with a m/s date of December three 1839.
On the front is a very fine Free Frank for December 4th 1839, Lovegrove JL33, small year figure and Morning Duty.
December 4th 1839 was the day before the introduction of the Uniform Penny Post
and therefore the day before the beginning of the end of the Free Franking Privilege.
Booth prices mail sent on December 4th 1839 at £650.
This is the only example we have been able to offer, or indeed can recall seeing,
of a Free Franking date for December 4th 1839.
A rare item.
Price: £85.00
An Irish SUNDAY Free Franking to Lady Eleanor Grosvenor
153218.
Free front from Rathcoole, Ireland to Cheshire.
A m/s date at the top show December 22 1839 and there is an Irish Free frank,
Lovegrove L112, for the same date December 22nd 1839:
the third SUNDAY of only five Sundays during the Uniform 4d Period.
The addressee is The Lady Eleanor Grosvenor.
Lady Eleanor, once she found out that the Free Franking Privilege was to end on January 9th 1840,
set about trying to get the autograph on a letter of every member of the House of Lords.
She enlisted family and friends and the letters from the Peers were addressed to her at
either Eaton Hall in Chester or Montcombe House in Shaftesbury.
The example here was sent to Eaton Hall from Ireland.
A superb and rare item sent on a Sunday in the last few weeks of the Uniform 4d Post.
Price: £55.00
NB: the internet has more info re Lady Eleanor and her portrait
Uniform 4d Post Period: rare Free Front SUNDAY Usage
151792.
Very fine front, mounted on card, from Haddington, SUNDAY December 15th 1839,
to Lady (Elizabeth) Grosvenor, Eaton Hall, Chester: signed TWEEDDALE, George Hay, 8th Marquess of Tweeddale.
On the front is a Haddington P.P.Pay One Penny, Auckland EL 78a, for December 15th 1839, struck in Blue.
Auckland only records this cancellation struck in black and red.
As it was not struck in red to denote 'paid' one wonders if the recipient was surcharged.
December 15th 1839 was the SECOND SUNDAY of the Uniform 4d Post Period which began on December 5th 1839.
There were only FIVE Sundays in the short lived Uniform 4d Post period, which ended on January 9th 1840.
The painting, image available on the internet, is of Lady Elizabeth just before she married, in 1819,
Richard Grosvenor, 2nd Marquess of Westminster: he became Earl Grosvenor in 1831 and they had 10 children.
A very rare and fine item.
Price: £110.00
NB: Lady Grosvenor was a Collector of Free Franks and tried to get an example of the signature of
every Peer of the Realm who was entitledt o the Free Franking Priveledge before it was withdrawn.
Leeds Uniform Penny Post
153185.
Commercial letter from LEEDS to Kirkaldy.
Leeds date stamp on reverse top flap for March 16th 1840.On the front,
Neatly spaced with no overlapping is the Paid at Leeds and 1d of the Uniform Penny Post
and a Glasgow Paid date stamp for March 18th 1840 all struck in red denoting postage paid.
An attractive item that shows the transit marks to advantage.
Price: £28.00
From the 5th Duke of Richmond when he was PMG 1830-34
153206.
A front, used within London with a fine/very fine strike of the
‘To be delivered Free’, London Cat . L715 .
This is one of three handstamps applied in the London Penny and Twopenny Posts
to secure free delivery of official letters of the Post Office
and of the private letters of a few postal officials.
The latter usage is illustrated by this item.
In the bottom left corner is the signature ‘Richmond’.
This was written by the 5th Duke of Richmond who was Post Master General from 1830-34.
This particular ‘To be delivered Free’, frank was in use up to 1837.
A superb and rare display item from the PMG.
Price: £55.00 SOLD
1792 Entire from WHITBY to Cognac
153204.
A clean commercial clearly written entire re a Brandy order, to Cognac, France.
Although the letter is dated January 9th 1792, the sender says
‘I write it from Whitby when I come to meet Captain Buck with the Ship Choice’.
On the front is a fine WHITBY Type 4, County Cat 3163 recorded in use 1792-93 and in view of the letter date,
this must be one of the, if not the, earliest known usage of this scarce strike.
Also on the front is a fair strike of London Paid strike,London Cat. L95, recorded 1791-94
and a m/s ‘1/6’in red and a ‘30’ also in red.
An attractive and very scarce item from Whitby:
in our experience such items from this location are seldom found.
Price: £48.00 SOLD
Stampless from Belfast to Edinburgh: Official Usage
153314.
A fine stampless envelope from Belfast to a London Hotel.
In the bottom left corner is a printed signature which may explain why no stamp was needed.
A Belfast duplex ‘62’ for May 12th 93 is in the place where a stamp might have been affixed.
On the reverse is London receiver in red for May 13th 93 overstriking a very faint cds.
The Top flap has an impressed Royal Coat of Arms and surrounding it 'General Post Office Dublin'.
Price: £38.00
NB: A fine item
with none of the browning which is a trick of the scanner.
Surcharge of 8d during the Uniform 4d Post and a rough sea journey Liverpool to Glasgow
153161.
Wrapper from London to Aberdeen dated December 27th 1839.
The item has been surcharged 8d for letters weighing ½-1oz.
On the reverse is a London boxed red Late Fee, LCC 40b.
What makes the item even more interesting is the well written letter.
The first paragraph describes in graphic detail how difficult and uncomfortable
was the sea journey from Liverpool to Glasgow eg the Captain said it was
the worst weather he had experienced for a length of time.
Everything lashed to the deck and two men at the helm.
It carried 60 passengers and only three were not ill.
A few peripheral faults but a fine item that would make an interesting display page.
Price: £175.00
Entire from Spanish Town Jamaica 1764
153150. SOLD
Fine entire from SPANISH TOWN JAMAICA to Christ Church Oxford, dated 25th January 1764.
The letter refers to various estates owned by the addressee and his possible visit to the Island.
Would appear to have been carried on a private ship and posted in London.
In London it received a Bishop Mark for April 18th and a Receivers Mark
with the initial IG of John Griffin whose address between 1759 and 1768 was New Round Court (Strand).
A fine and scarce early letter which displays well.
Price: £125.00
NB: the browning is either not present or very faint: a trick of the scanner.
Letter written on the First Day of the Uniform Penny Post
153113.
Entire to a firm of solicitors from HORNCASTLE to Hull and dated JANUARY 10th 1840:
the first day of the Uniform Penny Post.
On the top flap is an udc of Horncastle, County Cat LI544, and on the front is a m/s ‘2’ surcharge of 2d.
One of the inner sides slightly trimmed.
Although there are no dated postmarks, as it is a letter sent to a solicitor,
it is likely to have been posted on January 10th or 11th.
The date of the letter has been corrected from 1839 to 1840
either by the sender or the solicitor on receipt but more likely the former.
This is one of the earliest surcharged letters we have seen in the Uniform Penny Post period.
Price: £95.00
NB: the letter’s journey would have been to Lincoln, then the main road to Barton
and from there across the estuary to Hull.
Booth prices a cover or letter with a 1d paid postmark for January 10th 1840 at £850.
MANSFIELD MAY 6th 1840 'P 2' Letter
153053.
A clean entire from MANSFIELD to Oxford, dated inside MAY 6th 1840.
On the reverse is a Mansfield date stamp, which although not well struck, is also for May 6th 1840.
On the front is a m/s ‘P2’ in red.
We cannot recall seeing another stampless example of a May 6th 1840 usage with other than a red m/s '1'.
Booth in ‘Collect GB First Day Covers’, prices a stampless letter or envelope at £800 with a m/s ‘P 1’.
A fine stampless letter used on this historic date and rarer still with a m/s ‘P 2’ for paid 2d.
A very rare item which displays well.
Price: £385.00
NB: Jackson in 'May Dates' does NOT list a May 6th 1840 1d black on cover from Mansfield.
Gibbons prices a May 6th 1840 1d black on cover
at £75,000.
Second Day of the Uniform Penny Post
153016.
An entire from WINDSOR, dated inside January 11th 1840, to London.
On the reverse top flap is a Windsor date stamp for January 11th 1840
and on the front is a m/s ‘1’ in red.
This is a usage on the Second Day of the Uniform Penny Post and rare as such.
Booth prices a First Day at £850.
Price: £110.00
Envelope from Canada with Hoster machine dater as a backstamp
152984.
A thin paper envelope from Canada to London and readdressed within London E C with a superb handstruck ‘5d’.
At the top left is ‘per SS Nubia’.
On the reverse is a LIVERPOOL BR PACKET date stamp for December 3rd 1893
and two London E C receiver date stamps for December 4th 1893.
On the front are two Foreign Branch date stamps for this same date.
On the reverse is a fine Hoster dater in red for December 4th 1893, Code 7.
We have not previously seen both London EC date stamps and the Hoster E C dater backstamp used together.
McKay noted that the last date for the Hoster dater used as a backstamp was October 1893.
The example offered here extends the latest usage.
A rare item that would be an excellent display page.
Price: £95.00
NB: the browning on the envelope isa trick of the scanner.
McKay notes the last Hoster machine cancellations were
in September 1893.
Drawings by Sir George Cathcart when a very young man
152968.
A wrapper from London to
Pencaitland, Tranent, North Britain.
On the front is a very fine double framed Adam St W, General Post Receiving House
and a Crowned Free date stamp for April 21st 1820.
There are no postal markings on the reverse but there is a full black wax seal with a Coat of Arms.
The wrapper is addressed to Lord Belhaven.
Information about him, and the family name, is on the internet.
On the front the right side of the wrapper is written in a contemporary hand: ‘George Cathcart’s little Drawings’.
On the inside of the wrapper are two small coloured drawings: one dated August 29th 1814 the other September 2nd 1814.
Sir George Cathcart , son of William Cathcart, the 1st Earl Cathcart, had a distinguished Military career.
He was commissioned into the Life Guards in 1810 at the age of 16/17.
George Cathcart was present at the battles between the Russian and the French army in 1813 and
he followed the Russian army through Europe, entering Paris in March 1814.
When Napoleon returned in 1815, Cathcart served as aide-de-camp to the Duke of Wellington
and was present at the battles of Quatre Bras and Waterloo.
The development of his career is described in detail on the internet and there is a portrait of him when a General.
He was shot and killed at the Battle of
Inkerman when leading the 1st Brigade in 1854.
The hand drawn and coloured ‘George Cathcart’s little Drawings’, are dated late August and early September 1814.
He would probably have been back in Great Britain from Paris by then
and perhaps created them when he was back home or at a holiday location.
The writing at the front right may be by Lord Belhaven: a note reminding him of the drawings inside the wrapper.
The wrapper would have been addressed by Sir George
Cathcart.
An intriguing item that would make a very interesting display page(s).
A truly remarkable and unique survivor from more than 200 years ago.
A rarity the like of which we have not previously seen.
Price: £145.00
Paid at Tavistock scroll
152967.
A wrapper, some damage to the reverse, from TAVISTOCK to Liskeard.
On a reverse top flap is a written date for April 1st 1830.
On the front bottom left is a handwritten ‘Paid dbl’.
At the top left is a very fine and complete strike
in blue of the ‘PAID at TAVISTOCK’, County Cat. DN 1335.
Priced many years ago at up to £80.
A rare cancellation so finely struck.
Exhibition quality.
Price: £95.00
Superb Bristol Penny Post
152977.
Wrapper to London from BRISTOL.
On the front is a boxed No. 2, one of the Receiving Houses for Bristol mail.
On the reverse top flap is a superb strike of a type of the
Bristol Penny Post, County.Cat BS 140, recorded in use from 1822-26.
On a reverse inside flap is a contemporary handwritten note that the
item was dated September 6th 1821 and answered on September 8th.
Hence this is earlier than the recorded EKD of 1822.
There is a faint London date stamp on the reverse top flap for September 7th.
Priced many years ago at up to £60.
Exhibition quality of strike.
Price:
£60.00
A superb Monk Wearmouth Penny Post
152969.
Wrapper to London with neatly placed at the top right a superb,
almost proof quality, strike of the Monk Wearmouth Penny Post, County Cat. DU310.
This location came under Sunderland and on the reverse top flap is
a Sunderland date stamp for April 14th 1838
and a London receiver for April 16th 1838: April 15th 1838 was a Sunday.
Recorded in use from 1838-44, this example for April 1838 is possibly the earliest known date:
we cannot trace an earlier usage.
It was priced up to £60 many years ago.
An Exhibition quality item.
Price: £85.00
NB:
The quality and its position may reflect that it was
a very new cancellation for the sub postmaster/mistress to use.
Hard to see
how a better quality strike of this cancellation could exist.
Accrington to Ireland: Missent to Falmouth
152941.
Envelope, damage at the bottom and left corner.
It is a white envelope and t
From ACCRINGTON to Charlestown County Mayo, West Ireland.
On the front is a m/s '1' in red and an Accrington date stamp for May 13th 1840.
The address was seen as Charlestown in Cornwall.
In Falmouth it was sent to Ireland with a MISSENT to FALMOUTH in red, Cty Cat. CO80.
It arrived in Dublin and a Paid mark struck on May 19th 1840.
On the reverse is a small blue-green circular seal with entwined initials ‘TC’?
There is no damage to the reverse.
There are no postal markings on the reverse: all the action is on the front with no overlapping.
The Falmouth missent is a very scarce mark and was priced up to £80 a few decades ago.
Despite the faults this is an otherwise fine and very scarce item.
Price: £58.00
Liverpool UPP on a letter with description of a transatlantic crossing
152879.
A very personal three-page clean entire from LIVERPOOL to Bardsea, Ulverston, dated inside May 20th 1840:
no postal markings on the reverse.
On the front is a Liverpool date stamp in orange for MAY 20th 1840 and a strike of the Liverpool Uniform Penny Post type b (35mm).
Both are struck in the orange ink listed by Gibbons on 1d black covers.
The letter is very legible as seen in the scan and refers to a sea journey it would from the USA.
From the letter he arrived in Liverpool on May 19th 1840.
He also comments that
‘We towed the Victoria the whole way to Liverpool and if she had been clear of us and had all her sails set, she could have beat us’.
He mentions passing Peel (Isle of Man) when a rough sea was running.
The ship 'Victoria' would have been the SS British Queen, named in honour of Queen Victoria, and was often referred to as ‘Victoria’.
She was the largest passenger ship in the world between 1839 and 1840 and the second steamship completed for the transatlantic crossing.
A delay in completing her engine, caused by the company building it going in to liquidation, stopped her being the first.
A wonderful glimpse of a transatlantic crossing and made just before the Cunard Line came in to operation.
A superb and rare item that would make a very interesting display page when fully written up.
Price: £80.00
NB: there is a wealth of information about ‘The British Queen’ on the internet
including images
and details of how fast on occasion she could do the transatlantic crossing.
Liverpool UPP: reference to several cargo vessels
152922.
A commercial entire, dated inside May 9th 1840, sent from LIVERPOOL to Glasgow.
On the front is a Liverpool date stamp for MAY 9th 1840 and on the reverse top flap
is a boxed Glasgow receiver for May 11th 1840:
May 10th 1840 was the first Sunday after the 1d black was issued.
Also on the front is a Liverpool Uniform Penny Post type 1b.
The letter mentions a ship called the ‘Sheffield’ and the Wexford Steamer.
Reference is also made to two others: the ‘Mary Muir’ and ‘Cour de Leon’.
All of these are in connection with carrying cargo.
A fine item that could make an interesting display page.
Price: £50.00
NB: see the
next item 152923 as they are linked.
Liverpool UPP and letter mentioning several ships
152923.
A commercial entire, to Glasgow from LIVERPOOL dated May 16th 1840.
On the front, neatly struck in the place where a 1d black could have been used but was not,
is a Liverpool date stamp for MAY 16th 1840
and a Liverpool Uniform Penny Post type b both struck in the same shade of ink.
May 17th 1840 was the second Sunday after the 1d black was issued.
In the letter references are made to ships:
‘Cour de Leon’; the ‘Skipton’ and the ‘Mary Muir’ with details of when the latter two will sail.
These are all in connection with the carrying of cargo.
A scarce and fine item which would make an interesting display page.
Price: £50.00
NB: see the previous item 152922 which are linked.
The May 16th 1840 letter is in response to a reply the company had received
following their letter of May 9th
1840.
Items 152922/3
would make an interesting and unusual pairing.
Early usage Liverpool UPP
152924.
Wrapper from LIVERPOOL to London.
Liverpool date stamp for February 3rd 1840 and a handstruck Liverpool Uniform Penny Post, type a.
Recorded in use from 1840 so this example is within the first month of usage.
Also there is a London Paid Tombstone for February 4th 1840 on the front.
There are no postal markings on the reverse.
An attractive and scarce item.
Price: £46.00
Trio of UPP's from different locations on February 29th 1840
152925.
A remarkable trio all posted on February 29th 1840
from different locations and with Uniform Penny Post
strikes.
The first is from NEWCASTLE on TYNE, an entire to a Reverend Wells
referring to church matters including collections.
The UPP is type b
recorded only in 1840.
The second is from WOLVERHAMPTON, a wrapper to London with the UPP type b.
This is
recorded in use from 1840 to 1845 and so this an early usage.
The third is a commercial letter from LONDON to Winchester
with a London UPP type b recorded used only in 1840.
No postal
markings on the reverse.
March 1st 1840 was a Sunday, hence none of the trio has a March 1st receiving date stamp:
the first and second have a March 2nd
1840 date stamp and the third has none.
A superb and rare group which would make an excellent and interesting display.
Price:
£135.00
Entire from Regenspurgh: reference to the newly married Princess of Wales in 1795:
Princess Caroline of Brunswick
152911.
A social three page letter, in English, from REGENSPURG to London, dated inside April 28th 1795.
On the reverse top flap, which display superbly when raised, is a superb strike
of the Foreign Office Bishopmark for March 20th, London Cat. L1002,
and an equally superb strike of the rare/very rare Foreign Office PP 1795, London Cat. L1025.
This is the first type of this cancellation introduced in this same year of 1795 and is a very early example.
Each year up to 1801 the year plug was changed to that year.
In the letter the writer comments at the start: ‘how long letters were taking to arrive and complaints
should be made about the roundabout way the mails are obliged to take’.
The letter here took about three weeks to get to London.
Also at the start he comments: ‘we have however splendid accounts already of our New Princess of Wales
communicated to us by our Bishop here and Lady Mary Blair’.
A superb rarity that would make a memorable display item enhanced by biopic details of the Princess of Wales.
Price: £335.00
SOLD
NB: George, Prince of Wales and Princess Caroline of Brunswick were married on April 8th 1795:
just three weeks before the letter offered here was written with the comments in it.
George and Caroline were first cousins but had not really met before they were married.
Neither wanted the match but agreed to it: George was already illegally married to Maria Fitzherbert.
In 1796, George and Caroline separated after the birth of their daughter Charlotte.
This was not a happy marriage, as detailed on the internet,
and where there is also a portrait, painted in 1820, of Princess Caroline.
She was very popular with the general public.
The internet also has information about Lady Mary Blair
and the family antecedent links to George Orwell.
Letter from Demerara British Guiana with a Liverpool Experimental Date Stamp
152897.
A clean commercial entire from DEMERARA, BRITISH GUIANA to Liverpool.
On the reverse is a Demerara date stamp for October 10th 1857 and a London date stamp for October 31st 1857.
On the front is a superb Experimental Liverpool dotted circle date stamp for October 31st 1857.
This is one of the two types of these experimental cancellations that were introduced,
within a few weeks of each other, in 1856, and were used concurrently for about two years.
McKay, ‘Postmarks of England and Wales’, illustrates the two types, Fig’s 908 and 909.
We have seen very few examples of these cancellations and in all cases they were on stampless entires
and used as a receiving date stamp applied on the front of the item of mail.
All the items originated from North or South America.
Mail from other locations were cancelled by the usual Liverpool date stamp as a receiver: see item 152898.
A superb and rare item which displays well.
Price: £270.00
NB: The m/s 1/- in black denotes the postage
charge.
Entire from Demerara British Guiana with a Blue Liverpool Experimental Date Stamp
152896.
A fine commercial letter that makes reference to the crop (sugar?), weather conditions affecting it and a problem getting workers.
On the reverse is a DEMERARA date stamp for January 9th 1858 and a London date stamp for February 5th 1858.
On the front is a superb Experimental Liverpool dotted date stamp in BLUE for February 6th 1858.
This is one of the two types of these experimental cancellations that were introduced,
within a few weeks of each other, in 1856, and were used concurrently for about two years.
McKay, ‘Postmarks of England and Wales’, illustrates the two types, Fig’s 908 and 909.
We have seen very few examples of these cancellations and in all cases they were on stampless entires
and used as a receiving date stamp applied on the front of the item of mail.
This is the only example struck in blue that we have seen or can trace.
All the items of mail originated from North or South America.
Mail from other locations were cancelled by the usual Liverpool date stamp as a receiver: see item 152898.
A superb and rare item that would display well.
Price: £295.00
The m/s ‘6’
in black indicates the postage charge.
Commercial entire to Vienna: an ordinary Liverpool date stamp
152898.
A clean commercial entire from Liverpool to Vienna, Liverpool date stamp for January 19th 1857
applied where a stamp could have been added to pay the postage fee.
On the reverse top flap are some attractive transit markings.
The Liverpool date stamp is the ‘ordinary’ type in use at the same time as the Experimental Dotted type:
see items 152896 and 152897.
An attractive item that would display well when fully written up.
Price: £27.00
Items 152896, 152897 and 152898 would make a superb and rare Exhibition trio.
Offered at
a discounted group price of £565.00.
An Unrecorded Missent to Newcastle on Tyne.
152895.
A front and part back stuck to a thin card for display purposes from
Suisse to Liverpool but misdirected to Newcastle on Tyne.
The item has the original 3-page letter written in French.
There appears to be a stamp missing.
On the front is a very fine boxed MISSENT to NEWCASTLE TYNE.
This is an UNRECORDED strike in the County Catalogue and by McKay.
An attractive and rare item which displays well.
Price:
£57.00
First type of Liverpool Uniform Penny Post: very rare/unique in BLACK
152887.
Medical Report for the Scottish Amicable Life Assurance Company,
side flaps missing, from Liverpool to Glasgow.
On the front is a Liverpool date stamp for MAY 15th 1840 and a
boxed Glasgow receiver on the back flap for the following day.
Also on the front is a fine strike of the Liverpool Uniform Penny Post, the first Type (a),
the largest of the three varieties, 39mm in length.
This is a rarity as it has been struck in BLACK.
Walker illustrates more than 230 types of UPP cancellations and all bar seven are in red.
Of these four are in black and the others in blue.
We have been unable to trace another UPP for Liverpool struck in black.
A very rare/unique item worthy of being Exhibited.
Price: £125.00
Remarkable and unique duo of Cancellations
152874.
Clean wrapper from York to Hull, stamp removed.
On the reverse is a YORK date stamp for DECEMBER 25th 1842
and a HULL temporary/skeleton date stamp in blue for December 26th 1842.
December 25th 1842 was a SUNDAY and there were only NINE Christmas Days that fell on a Sunday
in the entire 64 years of Queen Victoria’s reign, 1842 was the first.
The Hull date stamp is also very rare.
This is County Catalogue YK1588 and recorded only in use in December 1842
and given an ‘F’ rating which in our experience is a conservative grading.
A remarkable item and almost certainly a unique combination of date stamps.
A superb Yorkshire rarity worthy of being exhibited.
Price: £95.00
NB: The date is when a normal York MX was being used not the distinctive one
so this is not the reason the stamp was removed.
The scan does not do justice to the blue colour of the temporary Hull date stamp.
YORK Uniform Penny Post, scarce type, on a Printed Advert.
152886.
YORK UPP Type e: fine strike on a printed advertising entire
from The Crown Life-Assurance Company, London to Doncaster, July 18th 1846.
This is a different advert to that for this Company printed in the Mulready, SG Spec MA114.
This is the only example of a Uniform Penny Post cancellation, from any location,
used on a printed advert we have been able to offer.
Price: £75.00
NB: this type of York UPP is one of the few locations that had its name in the design.
1589: letter from Norwich to London
151544.
A fine 1589 letter, in French, from Louis Cantin, a Dutch refugee in NORWICH to Barto. CORSINI.
Cantin, a cloth merchant and one of Corsini's Agents, had financial problems:
see below a copy of another letter detailing the situation.
Cantin was arrested in IPSWICH in 1591.
Corsini tried to sue him but he evaded the magistrates and in 1592 he offered Corsini £8.
At that time Cantin was estimated to have a personal worth of £30.
A rare internal English letter and in better condition than the scans.
NB: the 1591 letter below is a copy only and not provided with the Cantin item.
The contents could however be incorporated in the writing up for a display page.
A rare internal English letter and in better condition than the scans.
A rare item that would make a fine display page.
Price: £320.00
FIRST DAY of Uniform 4d Post
151676.
1839 Fine entire from
Used on the FIRST DAY of the UNIFORM 4d POST, m/s 4 in black.
Displays the
Letter dated inside December 4th and so probably held back until the
following day for the cheaper postage rate.
A very fine example of this important date in the development of our postal system.
An item that displays well.
Price: £550.00
NB: Booth prices this date at £800.
May 7th 1840
152816.
A fine entire from London, dated inside May 7th 1840, to Ludlow.
There are no postal markings on the reverse.
This is the first of these types and had serifed letters.
A rare date stamp being the second day after the issue of the 1d black.
Price: £110.00 SOLD
NB: the browning at the top of the letter is a trick of the scanner.
There is a very small peripheral fault at the centre top.
Gibbons prices a 1d black used on a May 7th letter or cover from £20,000
Exceptional Broxburn Pennypost
152711.
Entire to Edinburgh from BROXBURN, West Lothian.
The letter is dated inside April 13th 1839 and there is an Edinburgh receiver for this same date.
On the reverse is arguably the finest strike extant of the BROXBURN/ PENNYPOST, Auckland LW46.
Recorded in use from March 3rd 1839, this is a very early usage.
Broxburn only had two postal marks used at its Post Office,
opened in January 1839, the one offered here and a date stamp.
In 1841 the population was only 1400 and being a rural farming community,
one wonders how many people could write and how little mail went through its Post Office?
A superb and rare item of Exhibition quality.
Price: £95.00
Edinburgh Paid 1d Extra
152793.
A clean legal entire from Edinburgh to Falkirk, dated June 17th 1840.
On the front is a Paid at Edinburgh date stamp for this same date and a fine Paid 1d Extra
in a position where a 1d black could have been applied.
There is also a m/s '1' in red: none of these overlap.
On the reverse top flap is a boxed Falkirk date stamp in orange also for June 17th 1840.
Letters posted between 6 and 7pm ie after the Edinburgh Post Office had closed,
could be accepted for a late posting fee of 1d and cancelled Paid 1d Extra.
A fine early example: recorded in use from February 1840.
Price: £55.00 SOLD
Edinburgh Paid 1d Extra
152794.
A neat legal entire from Edinburgh to Falkirk, dated March 3rd 1846.
On the front is a Paid at Edinburgh March 5th 1846; a m/s '1' in red and a very fine Paid 1d Extra.
This latter strike indicates a fee paid for posting the letter after the Edinburgh Post Office had closed at 6pm.
This 1d fee was applicable to letters posted bewteen 6 and 7pm.
On the reverse top flap is a Falkirk double arc date stamp in dull red for March 5th 1846.
An attractive item and very hard to find with such a fine strike of this late fee charge.
Price: £68.00 SOLD
Edinburgh Paid 6d Extra
152795.
A wrapper, with inside the end of a letter, from Edinburgh to Glasgow.
On the front is a Paid at Edinburgh January 13th 1846; a m/s '1' in red and
a neatly applied EXCEPTIONAL strike of Paid 6d Extra.
After the Edinburgh Post Office closed at 6pm, letters could still be posted up to 7:20pm.
Between 6 and 7pm a late postage charge of 1d could be paid.
However, between 7 and 7:20pm, letters could be posted but were charged an extra 6d.
Very few letters were posted in this time period because of the high charge and
hence this strike is much rarer than the Paid 1d Extra.
Despite the wrapper having a vertical filing crease, the example offered here is not only
the finest strike we have been able to offer, but the finest example we can recall seeing.
Price: £110.00 SOLD
FIRST DAY of the Uniform 1d Post
Dr Thomas Gaisford
151288.
Fine small entire from Oxford to London, dated inside JANUARY 10th 1840,
with the scarce PAID at OXFORD, County Cat.Ox189.
It is in finer condition than the scan.
On the reverse is a fine strike of the OXFORD date stamp for JANUARY 10th 1840:
the FIRST DAY of the UNIFORM PENNY POST.
Letter sent from Dr Thomas Gaisford, Dean of Christ Church Oxford and
Regius Professor of Greek; a post he held for more than 40 years.
Soon after his death in 1855 the Greek 'Gaisford Prize' was established which is still offered today.
The addressee is also a well known figure in the history of the British Museum being a Trustee and
a Fellow of the Royal Society: biopics of both Gaisford and Cureton are provided with the item.
A superb example of this FIRST DAY of the UPPost:
a most important date in the development of our Postal System.
An item of Exhibition quality and importance:
especially so with the date inside and the 'Paid at Oxford' strike.
Price: £690.00
NB: Booth prices this date at £850.
We cannot recall seeing another example
of this historic date with a provincial 'Paid at ....' strike.
There is further information on the internet about him.
Handstruck '2' surcharge on a January 10th 1840 Letter
152182.
Very clean legal letter to Melrose from EDINBURGH, dated January 10th 1840:
Edinburgh date stamp on the reverse top flap for January 11th 1840.
January 10th 1840 was the First Day of the intrduction of the Uniform Penny Post.
On the front is a fine strike of the Edinburgh '2' in black indicating a surchage of 2d to pay.
it is quite possible that as it was a legal letter it was posted on January 10th but postage unpaid,
and was held back by the Post Office to the next day, surcharged, and sent on its way to Melrose
We have not seen an earlier example of a handstruck unpaid surcharge in the Uniform Penny Post Period.
A superb and rare item that displays well.
Price: £485.00
Very early surcharge in the Uniform Penny Post period
152764.
A clean printed invoice from West Smithfield, London to Norfolk.
The invoice is dated January 13th 1840 and on the reverse top flap
is a date stamp for this same date applied in London.
On the front is a m/s ‘2’ in black indicating a surcharge of 2d to pay.
The Uniform Penny Post (UPP) was introduced on January 10th 1840
and this example, sent only a few days after this important change, was posted unpaid and hence the surcharge.
This is one of the earliest examples of a surcharge we have seen in the UPP period.
The invoice is a bill for 46 sheep at a cost of £66 - 14shillings.
At the bottom in pencil is the cost for driving each sheep ie one shilling and threehalfpence
which is the same price for selling each one.
A fascinating and rare item and one that gives a glimpse into farming costs at that time.
It would make a very interesting display page.
Price: £145.00
Early usage within the UPP period
152766.
A clean legal entire from Lambeth, London to Bewdley, Worcestshire dated inside January 13th 1840.
All the transit marks are on the front.
Bridge Street (Lambeth), 1pyPPaid in blue, L506b and a London Paid tombstone for January 13th 1840.
The Uniform Penny Post (UPP) was introduced on January 10th 1840 and this example
was sent only a few days after this important change.
Interestingly there is no m/s or handstruck ‘1’ in red: perhaps in some London Post Offices
the postal officials were still getting used to the new system.
A very attractive early example of the new UPP which displays well.
Price:
£65.00
The following are examples from a large UPP Collection we have acquired.
More will be added regularly and they are mainly presented alphabetically.
Your Wants List is welcome for UPP locations.
Kircaldy: Uniform Penny Post
152799.
Entire from Kircaldy, (spelt inside with a ‘K’) and dated July 1st 1840, to Wemys Castle, Wemyss.
The well written letter refers to various costings for road works and other projects and
a detailed listing of various costs already incurred or proposed: the contents would benefit from more research.
No postal markings on the reverse but on the front, in the position where a 1d black could have paid the postage,
is a very fine/superb strike of the Kircaldy date stamp in red, Auckland FI 422, for July 1st 1840.
Alongside it is a superb strike of the handstruck Kircaldy ‘1’, of the UPP Period, in the same colour, Auckland FI 438d.
This cancellation is recorded in use from January 22nd 1840 to August 1st 1840 and rated very scarce.
A superb and rare item which could make an excellent display page.
Price: £115.00
NB: Gibbons recently were offering an example of these same strikes
on a letter but not as fine as the examples offered here.
They noted it was
from the Chadwick Collection and priced at £150.
A very rare/unique combination of UPP's and a Penny Post
152740.
A legal letter to London dated October 30th 1841demanding payment of a debt to a local gunmaker
who himself is in serious financial difficulties.
On the front is a partial strike in purple of the very rare IXWORTH UPP Type b in use between 1840 and 1842.
The unframed Type was used between 1842 and 49.
Also on the front is a strike of the Ixworth Penny Post, County Cat. SK44, recorded in use to 1841:
so this is its last year of usage..
On the front is a strike of the Bury St Edmunds UPP Type b in use from 1840 to 51.
The letter was redirected in London to Islington and has a London Paid tombstone for November 1st 1841
and another London mark on reverse for this same date.
Also on the reverse are two Bury St Edmunds date stamps: October 30th and 31st 1841.
These are the two different catalogued size types, SK93 and SK91 respectively.
The larger type, SK93, is recorded from 1841 so this is its first year of usage
October 31st 1841 was a SUNDAY so was the Bury UPP applied on the Saturday or the Sunday?
The handstrikes on the front display well as they do not overlap.
This is the only example we have seen with two different UPP cancellations in combination with
a Penny Post from one of the same UPP locations.
A remarkable and very rare Exhibition item with a unique combination of features.
It would make a superb and memorable display page.
Price: £225.00
Bradford Yorks UPP First Type: Reversed N in ONE variety
152741.
A wrapper to Leicester, name and street address deleted, from Bradford Yorks
with a Bradford date stamp on the top flap for February 14th 1840: St. Valentine’s Day.
This displaye well when the top flap is raised.
On the front is a fine strike of the First Type of the BRADFORD UPP
with the unique ‘REVERSED N’ in ONE.
This Type was in use between1840-42.
The example offered here is an early usage and
in the 4 month period before the 1d black was introduced.
Price: £55.00
Bradford Yorks UPP Second Type
152738.
An entire relating to an invoice for wool purchases, from Bradford to London, October 18th 1841.
Date stamp on the reverse top flap for this date.
On the front is a fine strike of the BRADFORD second Type of UPP cancellation with
the double lined boxed ‘Paid 1d’ and a London Paid date stamp for October 19th 1841.
This Type was in use 1840-47.
A scarce variety.
Price: £47.00
Bradford Yorks UPP final Type
152739.
Wrapper from Bradford to York, March 7th 1850.
On the front is a good strike of the third, and final Type, of BRADFORD UPP
with a single line boxed ‘Paid 1d’: recorded in use 1845-51.
A vertical filing crease crosses the cancellation.
Superb York date stamp on the reverse.
Price: £32.00
The rare BARNET UPP on dated piece
152657.
Barnet UPP: a rare and very fine/superb strike on an attractive dated piece with
a very fine, neatly placed, Barnet date stamp for May 21st 1843.
Also a London Paid tombstone for the next day.
The first example we have been able to offer.
Price: £50.00
BURNLEY UPP on a front: a rare type
152760.
Burnley: fine strike on a front to Malton.
A rare/very rare type with a Burnley date for DE 2 1850: a late usage.
The first example we have been able to offer.
Price: £58.50 SOLD
NB: the strike and its colour is significantly better than the scan suggests.
BISHOP STORTFORD UPP
152759.
Bishop Stortford UPP: an entire with an almost complete strike of
this very scarce type for July 19th 1843
and not overlapping with the London Paid cds.
Price: £60.00
Brighton Pd2 of the Universal Penny Post Period
152774.
Wrapper from BRIGHTON addressed to the East India Company, London.
The reverse top flap has a Brighton date stamp for March 2nd 1844.
On the front is a fine, lightly applied, UPP Pd 2 of Brighton, type a
and recorded in the County Catalogue, SX 228H.
The Pd 2 is clear of the writing on the front.
Recorded in red, this strike is in an orange ink.
A rare item.
Price: £85.00
NB: the vertical creases are not as pronounced as the scan suggests.
CHERTSEY UPP: an early usage
152761.
Chertsey: a fine/very fine strike on an entire, April 15th 1840.
On the reverse a fine Chertsey date stamp for this same date.
Therefore a pre-stamp, and early, usage.
A very scarce type.
Price: £68.00
Chelmsford Uniform Penny Post
152743.
A wrapper from CHELMSFORD to London with an unusual address and on the reverse top flap,
a Chelmsford date stamp for March 15th 1844.
On the front is an upright strike of the very scarce Chelmsford Paid 1d of the UPP period.
Placed neatly next to it is a London tombstone Paid for March 16th 1844.
This distinctive UPP was first used in 1843.
An attractive item that displays well.
Price: £60.00 SOLD
CHESTER Handstruck '2' in Red and Black
151372.
A rare Front to The High Constable, Barnston with Chester date stamp for July 27th 1840, C. Cat. CH152 (1840-41)
and alongside a superb handstruck '2' of Chester in red, UPP Period, County Cat. 181(1840-41).
Paired with an entire to the Stamp Office, London from Chester, January 9th 1855.
M/s 'OHMS' but surcharged twopence with a superb handstrike of the
Chester '2' in black - County Cat. CH183 recorded used to 1856.
Official receiving date stamp inside for January 10th 1855.
Very attractive and likely to be a unique pairing, with two interesting addresses.
It would make a superb display item.
Price: £185.00 SOLD
Guildford UPP Paid One Penny
152776.
A clean entire from GUILDFORD to Brighton.
On the front is a fine/very good strike of the first type of the Guildford UPP, County Catalogue, SY408K .
Also on the front is a Guildford date stamp for February 19th 1842, the last year of usage.
On the reverse is a Brighton date stamp for February 21st 1842.
February 20th 1842 was a Sunday hence it took two days to be delivered.
A scarce type.
Price: £52.50
Hastings Uniform 1d Post in combination with a 1d red
151781. A fine stampless wrapper from Hastings to London, March 11th 1846, with
a fine central HASTINGS 'PAID 1d' strike of the Uniform Penny Post, County Cat. SX630.
On receipt in London the wrapper was turned around, a 1d red added, 4-margined, with a pre-affixed crease,
and addressed to Maidstone with a poor strike of a Maidstone dated receiver for March 13th 1846.
Walker in 'Uniform Penny Post', published in 2013, prices the Hasting U1d Post strike at £60-£80.
A rare combination of a Uniform Penny Post cancellation and 1d red usage on the same wrapper.
Price: SOLD
Ipswich Type 'd' Paid 1d UPP
152742.
A very clean and un-creased wrapper from IPSWICH to Wickham Market in Suffolk.
On the reverse top flap is an Ipswich date stamp for February 13th 1842.
On the front is a fine strike of the Ipswich Type 'd', Paid 1d, in the UPP period,
and a Woodbridge date stamp for St Valentine’s Day, February 14th 1842.
February 13th 1842 was a SUNDAY.
This is the first Sunday usage of a UPP we have been able to offer
or indeed have seen.
A very attractive and rare item.
Price: £95.00
IPSWICH Type e UPP
152801.
Stampless entire from IPSWICH to Fakenham.
Ipswich date stamp on the reverse for November 25th 1842.
In the place where a 1d stamp could have been affixed, is a very fine/superb strike
of the Ipswich Uniform 1d Post Type e, recorded used from 1842.
The example here is the first year of usage.
Price: £65.00
Maidstone Uniform 1d Post: first week of usage
152002. A fine entire personal legal letter from MAIDSTONE to FURNIVALS INN London.
Fine/very fine strike of the Maidstone handstruck Uniform 1d Post, illustrated in 'Uniform Penny Post', page 12, by Walker, 2013.
Letter dated January 16th 1840 and on the front a fine Maidstone date stamp for this same date:
only 6 days after the introduction of the Uniform 1d Post and the earliest we have seen for the Maidstone 'P.1'.
A fine and very scarce early usage and an interesting address.
Price: £68.00 SOLD
NB: details and images of Furnivals Inn are available on the internet.
Northampton Uniform 1d Post: rare First Type
152282.
Wrapper from NORTHAMPTON to Leicester, February 6th 1840.
The earliest example we have seen of this first,
and rarest of all, Northampton types of the Uniform Penny Post cancellations.
The wrapper is finer than the scan suggests: there is far less 'browning' and what there is is much fainter.
Listed in the County Catalogue as NN148 and given an 'F' rarity grade.
This UPP only recorded in 1840.
A fine and very scarce/rare item.
Price: £85.00 SOLD
Northampton Uniform Penny Post: Third Type
152283.
Clean legal entire from NORTHAMPTON to Daventry, May 14th 1844.
This very fine third type of the Northampton Uniform Penny Post has been struck neatly
in the place where a 1d stamp could have been affixed.
Price: £55.00
London ‘4’: rare used in the Uniform Penny Post period.
151218.
March 9th 1840: very fine letter to the Chelsea Hospital asking for a place.
Reference is made to his age and military service including a time spent in the Royal Navy.
On the front is written ‘On H Majesty’s Service’ and a TP LR Greenwich (London Two Penny Post)
struck in red, acknowledging this so no postage to be paid.
However, the London handstruck ‘4’, LC 504, in black indicates a 4d charge to pay!
This ‘4’ mark is rare used in the Uniform Penny Post period.
Unusually the letter has a Paid and an Unpaid surcharge.
The first such letter to the Chelsea Hospital we have seen.
A rare combination of features.
A superb Exhibition item
Price: £250.00
NB: One wonders if he was given a place?
Superb London Handstruck '2'
152422.
A clean legal entire from London to Coventry, London Paid tombstone June 26th 1844:
London County Cat. L108c, in use from 1844 so this its first year of usage.
In the place where a stamp could have been affixed is a superb handstruck '2'
also in the same shade of ink, London County Cat L609.
This strike was used only in 1844-5 so this example is its first year of recorded use.
No postal makings on the reverse and each of the two strikes is in their First Year of usage.
A very attractive item which displays well.
Price: £65.00
West Bromwich UPP: final type
152744.
WEST BROMWICH UPP, very fine strike of the third and final type
on a clean legal entire to Wednesbury, September 17th 1849.
This type recorded in use 1847-51.
A horizontal filing crease does not affect the fine quality of the strike.
Price: £60.00
Letter with envelope and Palmerston signature
Evelyn Ashley
152704.
A stampless envelope, with original letter, sent from London to Edinburgh.
On the front is an Official Paid London cds in red for July 9th 1860.
On the reverse is an Edinburgh TPO, Wilson Figure 682 with code ‘Z’, for July 10th 1860.
On the reverse is a missing seal: clearly collected separately for obvious reasons.
The letter is from 10 DOWNING STREET, dated July 9th 1860.
The letter was written, on the instructions of LORD PALMERSTON the Prime Minister,
by Evelyn Ashley his Private Secretary.
On the bottom left corner of the envelope is the signature of Palmerston.
Comparing this signature with others on the internet it is his signature.
However, as in the scan of the letter, his Private Secretary has written ‘Palmerston’ in a manner very similar
to that on the envelope and very similar to the several examples on the internet .
One wonders if on occasion his PPS, to save the PM’s time, signed on his behalf.
A rare item, especially with both the envelope and the letter: it would make a fine display page
and could be enhanced by the wealth of information about Evelyn Ashley available on the internet.
Price: £110.00
NB:
The image of Evelyn Ashley, from the internet, was taken after his tour of America in 1858-9: more details on the internet.
He later wrote a biography of Palmerston.
We have not been able to trace
examples of
any other letters written by Ashley.
152707.
A fine printed Return for the ancient Parish of Cavilli cum Patrington
asking for a ‘True List of all Lunatics and dangerous Idiots within the Parish and its Precincts’;
the Return, sent to Beverley, shows ‘NONE’.
On the front is a superb strike of ‘PAID at HOWDEN’ in red, County Cat. YK 1437.
This is a very scarce/rare strike.
On the reverse top flap is a very fine Howden date stamp for September 1st 1840
which displays well when raised.
A rare item very fine condition.
Price: £85.00
GLASGOW Handstruck 4: Uniform 4d Post Period
152614.
Wrapper from GLASGOW to Pennycuick.
On the front is a very fine strike of the Glasgow handstruck '4' used during the Uniform 4d Post period.
On the reverse are fine/very fine date stamps of Glasgow, for December 18th 1839,
and an Edinbugh date stamp for the following day.
A fine example of the Glasgow Uniform 4d Post period.
Price: £145.00 SOLD
Late use of the EDINBURGH Handstruck 4: Uniform 4d Post Period
152613.
A clean entire from EDINBURGH to Montrose suggesting advertising for sale,
the effects of an individual in the local paper and also in Arbroath.
On the front is a fine strike of the Edinburgh handstruck '4' used during the Uniform 4d Post period.
On the reverse top flap is an Edinburgh date stamp for January 7th 1840:
just a few days before the introduction of the Uniform Penny Post.
There is NOT an example of the Edinburgh handstruck '4', used on January 7th 1840,
in the British Library's FLETCHER Collection.
An attractive and very scarce item with this late date.
Price: £175.00 SOLD
EDINBURGH Handstruck 4: Second Day of usage in the Uniform 4d Post Period
S1.
Entire
with very fine/fine handstruck
'4' of
SECOND DAY of the Uniform Fourpenny Post.
Very scarce.
Price: £265.00
NB: perhaps the letter was held back to December 6th
to make sure of the reduced postage rate to 4d?
EDINBURGH Handstruck 4:
early usage in the Uniform 4d Post Period
152627.
A rather tired letter from 12, Charlotte Street, Edinburgh to writers in Melrose.
On the front is a fine strike of the Edinburgh handstruck '4'
and a very early usage during the short-lived Uniform 4d Post.
The letter, which could be displayed well, is dated December 7th 1839
and refers to financial matters including tenants of the DUKE of BUCCLEUCH.
No postal markings but with the top flap raised, as in the scan,
the date of December 7th 1839 displays well.
Price: £85.00
NB: the Duke of Buccleuch became famous when in 1946,
a mint block of 48 2d blues Plate 2, ie the bottom four rows of the sheet,
was discovered at his home: the press articles are on the internet.
The 2d blues would have been bought only a few months after this letter.
152597.
A letter from HORNCASTLE to Newark, December 11th 1842, Newark date stamp on reverse for the following day.
It is in response to a letter from his brother accusing him of using an old stamp ie one that had already been used.
A very legible letter that would make a very interesting display.
A superb and rare item the like of which we have not previously seen.
Price: £75.00 SOLD
NB: the sender clearly decided not to put a 1d stamp on his reply!
152566.
An eight-page letter written, by a husband to his wife, on board the Cunarder SS PARTHIA
during a transatlantic crossing from New York to Queenstown.
The envelope does not have the peripheral browning suggested in the scan.
SS Parthia left New York on September 16th 1871 and the letter is a daily record of the voyage
from September 21st to arriving at Queenstown on September 28th 1871.
It has descriptons of life aboard including the rough seas, weather, meals and wine, passengers, the Captain etc.
A remarkable glimpse of the journey to Queenstown.
On the day of arrival in Queenstown the letter was posted to Charmouth, Dorset on September 28th but without a stamp.
Hence it was surcharged '2' which appears to have been applied in Queenstown.
On the front is a Queenstown cds for the same day as the ship's arrival and a Charmouth receiver for September 30th 1871.
The 'Parthia' was in service from December 1870 until 1883 and made 119 transatlantic crossings.
The sailing on which this rare letter was written was only its 7th crossing to Queenstown.
A rare item which would make a superb display page(s) with the description enhanced by information from the internet.
Price: £110.00 SOLD
NB: SS Parthia quickly became the best vessel in Cunard's fleet and one of the top ocean liners on the Atlantic.
The photo of SS Parthia is from the internet where there is a wealth of information and other photos of the ship
before and after 1883 when it was sold.
Under a number of different owners it sailed with the name SS Victoria and served up to 1952:
more than 80 years service!!
The envelope does NOT have the peripheral browning suggested in the scan.
The Income Tax Riots: London March 1848
Tax Riots Trafalgar Square: March 1848
151983.
The first two pages of a letter from 8 Barbican, London wtitten on March 9th 1848.
In the letter is a description of the riots caused by the proposal to introduce Income Tax.
There is a lot of information on the internet about these riots including detailed accounts.
The letter offered here, dated March 9th (Thursday) 1848, is an exremely rare survivor
written during the time of the Income Tax riots and the only one we have seen or indeed can trace.
When we obtained it there was a note saying that the letter was from
a H Bliss to his uncle W Bliss of Chipping Norton but the two pages of the letter are all that remains.
The descriptions in the letter very much reflect those in the articles on the internet
but are in parts more detailed.
An interesting comment by the writer: 'They are also commencing to follow our example in GLASGOW and GERMANY'.
The drawing of the rioting crowd is taken from the internet and may well have appeared at the time
in the 'The London Illustrated News'.
At the end of the second page is a question: 'What do you think of the French Republic?'.
The Paris riots were underway at that time and were part of the 2019 ITV Series 'Victoria'.
A very rare/unique historic item which could make a truly memorable and interesting Display
easily enhanced by further information from the internet.
Price: £285.00
NB: Supplied with the item is a detailed account of the riots taken from sources on the internet.
Dublin to Falmouth: a very rare back stamp
152568.
Wrapper from DUBLIN to Falmouth February 26th 1841.
On the reverse is a strike of the very rare Dublin: 'FROM 8 to 8.30 P.M' in diamond.
McKay, 'Irish Postmarks Since 1840', notes these very rare types, Fig 1071, are thought to indicate posting
after the normal hours of despatch, (the earlier time stated), but before the despatch of the mails, (the second time stated).
On payment of a late fee the letter could be sent forward that evening.
On the front is a boxed paid date stamp in red for February 26th 1841 and a red m/s '1' in red.
The latter was the late fee payment relating to the timed back stamp.
A rare item.
Price: £85.00
152567.
Very clean entire sent within CARLISLE, Carlisle date stamp for August 4th 1846 on the reverse top flap.
Excellent strike of the scarce Carlisle surcharge handstruck '2' in black.
t appears that a stamp was affixed top right corner and lost in transit resulting in the surcharge being applied.
The letter is a report by a Wm. Hetherington on a trip he had made by train to examine a property
for possible purchase for the addressee, a well known local solicitor.
The propery was Wheelbarrow Hall and the adjacent Cottage Inn.
An attractive item which would display well when enhanced
with updated information from the internet.
Price: £48.50 SOLD
Free Front addressed to Sir Thomas Hardy of Trafalgar Fame
152813
Free Front, September 20th 1836 from FALMOUTH and addressed to Rear Admiral Sir Thomas HARDY
at the Royal Hospital Greenwich: pictures and more details of the hospital are on the internet.
In 1836, he was the Governor of this Greenwich Hospital which closed in 1869.
There is a Memorial to him in the Chapel at Greenwich's Old Royal Naval College.
Remarkable to realise that although not a complete letter,
Sir Thomas Hardy would have held this item.
Below is a small part of his biopic taken from the internet.
Superb, very rare and addressed to this historically famous figure.
An Exhibition item.
Price: £120.00 SOLD
NB: the boxed T.P Rate 2, is the London County Catalogue L690.
This handstamp was applied to letters transferred from the General to the Twopenny Post.
L690 is recorded in use from 1830 to 1836 so this example is a very late usage.
Although the letter originally received a Free Franking strike
probably because of the famous addressee, it was still charged 2d on delivery!!
Signed Letter from Harry Furniss: 'Comedy in Charcoal' Performance
151211. Very fine signed four page letter from HARRY FURNISS
to a W H Robinson arranging an engagement for the
following season and discussing terms, London May 12th 1902.
It relates to him presenting his new show ‘COMEDY in CHARCOAL’ in Walsall
for which Furniss was asking 35 guineas: a part transcription above.
The letter itself is relatively easy to read.
A rare letter from this famous illustrator and cartoonist
who lampooned the July 2nd 1890 Official Penny Post Jubilee Envelope.
Superb display item.
Price: £175.00
NB: a very rare used example of his caricature of the Penny Post Jubilee Envelope
can be found in the '1890 Penny Post Jubilee' Section.
Derry(Co.Derry) to New Jersey in the Retaliatory Period
152489. A stampless envelope from DERRY(Co.Derry) to New Jersey, USA.
On the front is a m/s 1/- in red; a boxed Derry in red and a red Paid date stamp for October 27th 1848.
The latter was struck in Dublin, McKay figure 919, 'Irish Postmarks Since 1840' and recorded from 1849:
this example is for October 27th 1848 and therefore pre-dates.
On the reverse ia a Derry date stamp in blue for October 26th 1848 and a Liverpool date stamp,
of the type used on maritime mail, for October 28th.
This envelope would have been carried to America on the Cunarder 'America' leaving
Liverpool on October 28th 1848 and arriving in New York on November 28th 1848.
In New York, it was struck with a '29' (cents) this being the REPRISAL rate to be charged to the addressee on delivery
for up to 300 miles radius of New York during the period of postal conflict between GB and the USA.
Despite the peripheral faults and wear and tear to the envelope, this is a very rare example of mail
sent to the USA from IRELAND during this time of postal 'war' between these two countries.
This is the only such example we have seen.
A very rare item and one worthy of display.
Price: £175.00
1847 Envelope and contents to the USA
152491.
Envelope and an evangelical letter, dated London October 12th 1847,
sent to George Peck D.D.: a famous Pastor in the USA at that time.
There is a Liverpool maritime receiver on the front for October 14th.
This letter would have been carried on the next available ship which was the Cunarder 'Caledonia'
which left Liverpool on October 19th 1847 arriving in Boston on November 5th 1847.
There a m/s '1/-' in red and a handstruck '7': the 1/- paid for the transatlantic crossing;
2 cents for the ship and 5 cents US postage.
The item is supplied with a biopic of Dr Peck taken from the internet.
A scarce item especially with the lengthy contents.
Price: £43.00
NB: this is an early usage of an envelope.
May 5th 1840
152547. Large part entire addressed to Brighton cancelled by a Brewer Street 1 py P.Paid in red:
this is unlisted by Willcocks and Jay and a London tombstone for MAY 5th 1840.
On a rear flap is in m/s May 5th 1840.
The contents of the part entire are unusual and may be worth
some research to enhance the write up of this item.
A very scarce date which displays well.
Price: £70.00
Booth in the recent Catalogue of First Day Covers prices
the Last Day Of the Uniform Penny Post, May 5th 1840, at £500.
NB: see below the May 7th 1840 letter.
May 5th 1840
152493. Very clean entire from HYTHE re an abstract of a publication, and dated May 5th 1840.
Sent within London and two London Paid date stamps also for May 5th 1840:
the day before the issue of the 1d black.
An attractive item with a very scarce date which displays well.
Price: £138.00 SOLD
Booth in the recent Catalogue of First Day Covers prices
the Last Day Of the Uniform Penny Post, May 5th 1840, at £500.
NB: see below the May 7th 1840 letter.
May 7th 1840
152494.
Clean entire, reference to the appoinment of a gentleman, from Kendal to Ulverston, and dated MAY 7th 1840.
On the front is a superb Kendal date stamp in blue also for MAY 7th 1840.
The 1d black was issued the day before and if Kendal had received the newly issued stamps,
by then one could have been affixed exactly where the date stamp was struck.
M/s '1' in red at the left and no postal markings on the reverse.
A rare date stamp for the second day after the issue of the 1d black.
Superb item and Exhibition quality.
Price: £118.00 SOLD
NB: Gibbons prices a 1d black used on a May 7th letter or cover from £20,000
This item and the May 5th 1840 letter above would make a fine display page with usages
on the day before and the day after the 1d black was issued.
May 7th 1840
152816.
A fine entire from London, dated inside May 7th 1840, to Ludlow.
There are no postal markings on the reverse.
This is the first of these types and had serifed letters.
A rare date stamp being the second day after the issue of the 1d black.
Price: £98.00 SOLD
NB: the browning at the top of the letter is a trick of the scanner.
There is a very small peripheral fault at the centre top.
Gibbons prices a 1d black used on a May 7th letter or cover from £20,000
RARE MAY 1840 SUNDAY DATE
151554. A fine entire, Manchester to Annan, Scotland: family letter from a daughter.
Red m/s '1' and a superb manchester date stamp for MAY 17th 1840:
the SECOND SUNDAY after the issue of the 1d black and a rare stampless example from this date.
A 1d black on cover used on this same date priced by Gibbons at £15,000.
Superb item.
Price: £225.00
SUNDAY MAY 17th 1840
U
151813. An interesting family entire from Cupar Angus to Morpeth with a boxed date stamp of Cupar Angus
for MAY 17th 1840 - the second SUNDAY after the 1d black was issued.
Red m/s '1' and an Edinburgh PAID date stamp for the following day; there are no postal markings on the reverse.
The letter refers to home entertainment and in part to a Book of Scottish Tunes 'Whistle Binkie':
Whistle Binkie was a Scottish poetry and song anthology first appearing in 1832; there are more details on the internet.
A very scarce/rare May 1840 Sunday date especially so in Scotland.
Price: £220.00
NB: a 1d black on a May 17th 1840 cover is priced by Gibbons at £15,000.
SUNDAY MAY 24th 1840
151812. Entire from ASHBOURNE to London with on the reverse top flap
an Ashbourne date stamp for SUNDAY MAY 24th 1840.
This the third Sunday in May 1840 after the 1d black was issued.
Red 'P1' in red and a London Paid Tombstone for May 25th 1840.
The letter was roughly opened but the fault is not as pronounced as in the scanned image.
A scarce Sunday May 1840 date.
Price: £85.00 SOLD
NB: a 1d black used on May 24th 1840 is priced by Gibbons at £14,000.
Dickinson 2d Letter Sheet with RPS Cert
151397. John Dickinson, a papermaker, submitted proposals for prepaid Letter Sheets
and produced the first essay, with security silk threads running through the paper,
for 1d and 2d sheets inscribed V Crown R London District Post.
The 1d buff for letters up to 1oz and the rarer 2d in green for up to 2 oz.
The adoption of this scheme was recommemded by the Commissioners of Post Office inquiry in 1837.
In the latest Edition of Gibbons QV Volume 1, the 2d essay is priced at £1,000.
The top flap has been folded over and a stamp hinge on each side used to strenthen the corner fold.
However this is in very fine/fine condition and has a RPS Certificate
which comments rather harshly in our opinion that there is soiling on the top of the reverse flap.
The green is deeper than the scan suggests.
A very scarce item especially in such overall fine condition.
Price: £575.00
Rare stampless entire with a Spoon Cancel to America
15194.
Stampless entire to New York carried on Cunarder ‘Europa’ leaving Liverpool on March 14th 1857.
Letter, in a clear hand, refers to the cotton market and exports etc:
‘ lower qualities are rather easier to buy caused partly by the feeling that the WAR with CHINA in
which we are presently engaged will induce much larger shipments of East India cotton to this country’,
a useful document for further research.
Very fine handstruck charges of ‘38 cents’ and ‘48’ and with a Liverpool spoon, March 13th 1857, Type B6:
the first such usage on a stampless item we have seen.
In the 2015 update of Arundel’s ‘English and Welsh Spoon Cancellations’,
NO 1857 example has been recorded with only 13 examples noted during its period of usage.
A scarce spoon and this example with an unrecorded sideways '5’ time code.
A rare/unique item.
Price: £175.00
FIRST VOYAGE of the Cunarder 'AFRICA'
15164.
1850 clean wrapper from London to New York: Lombard Street date stamp, October 25th 1850
with unpaid black ‘24’ and 19 cents with ‘P Africa’ in m/s on the front.
‘Africa’ was a Cunard ship which left Liverpool on October 26th 1850:
this was its FIRST VOYAGE to America.
On the reverse is a note indicating the correspondence was answered on the 19th November.
‘Africa’ returned to Liverpool on November 20th from New York so it is possible
that the reply letter was carried on its First Return Voyage.
A very rare item.
Price: £380.00
LIMERICK to INDIA
in 1834
15109: 1834,
Entire
from LIMERICK addressed to a Captain in Calcutta, April 12th 1834.
Inside is a long letter to the parents and a further letter, on the end page, to an Aunt and other relatives
ending ‘God Bless you all here and there’.
On the front a fine boxed ‘Paid at Limerick’ and a London Ship letter in red and on the reverse,
a Limerick cds for April 12th 1834, and Indian GPO and postal rate markings.
A fine and scarce Display item.
Price: £110.00
Unfranked and Unsurcharged shipping letter to Malta
152430.
Entire from Westcott and Housden London, 'Regular Line of Steam Shipping to the Levant and Baltic Sea Ports'.
Sent to MALTA, August 25th 1868 unfranked, but not surcharged the 1/- ie 6d plus 6d fine;
Malta cds for SUNDAY August 30th 1868.
In the letter reference is made to a number of ships, including
the 'Harriet Agnes' which was lost on May 2nd 1868: images and more information on the internet.
An unusual item which would make an interesting display page with further information included from the webt.
Price: £75.00
Superb surcharge 2d
152451. Very fine unfranked clean envelope used within London, April 18th 1876
and a London SW cds on the reverse for the same date.
The superb handstruck '2d' is a general English type , McKay 797, and not specific to London.
An attractive and superb item which displays well.
Price: £48.00 SOLD
Plymouth 2d Surcharge: a unique type
252. 1877 unusual stampless envelope: to Tavistock, peripheral faults and part flap missing,
but with a fancy hand written address, a part Plymouth duplex for June 24 1877
and a superb handstruck twopenny ‘d2’ in black.
This type is unique to
Johnson in his booklet ‘Unpaid and Underpaid Mail 1840 to 1921’
illustrates this cancellation, fig B46, and notes its importance to collectors.
The cancellations do not overlap and are placed to avoid covering the address.
Would we get the same consideration today?
Very unusual and a fine Display item.
Price: £50.00
152404. A stampless clean front, light horizontal filing crease, from London to Manchester.
Where a stamp should have been affixed, is a superb strike of the rare first type of hooded/scroll London E C date stamp.
The superb handstruck '2' in black was applied in Manchester: Mckay figure 340 in 'Surcharge Mail of the British Isles'.
Scroll cancellations were introduced in 1882 and the example offered here is not only the earliest of any type we have seen
but is believed to be the Earliest Known Date for this rare London type: July 22nd 1882.
The clarity of the strike is as good as a 'Proof''.
A superb and very rare item of Exhibition quality.
Price: £145.00 SOLD
NB: the significance of the letters and numerals in the centre is not understood
and neither is the usage of this cancellation.
152403. 1d UPU postcard, very fine, to Germany with a 1d lilac Die 2,
cancelled by the rare London E C scroll for February 11th 1889.
A very difficult cancellation to find on a postcard or cover
and especially so with a multiple strike.
The first example we have been able to offer for some considerable time.
Price: £78.00 SOLD
Stamps lost in transit and surcharged
152279. Neat envelope, finer condition than in the scan, sent to London, March 14th 1871.
On the front is a fine strike of the scarce INSUFFICIENTLY PREPAID handstruck London mark.
The symbol in the centre varies and indicates the worker who used it: next to it in m/s is a hand written '6d'.
The surcharge was applied because the envelope was unfranked or at least it was by the time it reached London.
The scan shows that two stamps were originally affixed at the top right corner but had come off in transit to the Capital.
On the reverse is a boxed London E.C for March 14th 1871 which was used to indicate a LATE FEE:
this which may explain two stamps being originally affixed.
It overstrikes an illegible cds which is for this same date and it appears likely
that this envelope was sent locally to London.
A fascinating and scarce item which could make an interesting display page.
Price: £55.00 SOLD
NB: this is the first time we have been able to offer this surcharge mark on cover.
MISSENT TO KIRKALDY in BLUE
152429. Free front to Keith, Banffshire, with crowned 'FREE' date stamp for July 6th 1836.
Sent by mistake to KIRKALDY and cancelled by a superb boxed MISSENT TO KIRKALDY in BLUE.
Recorded by Auckland, FI425a: noted used in 1836 and 1837 and given a 'G' rarity grade.
This is the only Free Front we have seen with a handstruck Missent from any location in Britain.
This rare item is made even more unusual by being mounted on dated portions of TWO other Free Fronts
with different types of Crowned FREE date stamps for January 21st 1839 and 11th April 1839 to BUCKIE.
This is the only such usage of Free Fronts we have seen in 40 years of specialising in Scottish Postal History.
We cannot be certain, but this mounting was probably contemporarily created perhaps around 1839/40's.
A superb Exhibition item that would, we feel sure, create interest and comment.
Price: £85.00 SOLD
St John's College, Cambridge: an undergaduate's bill for his first term
sent on the last Sunday of the Uniform 4d Post
.
152337.
Fine entire from St John's College Cambridge to Nottingham, dated January 4th1840
with a Cambridge JANUARY 5th 1840 date stamp on the reverse.
This was the LAST SUNDAY of the short-lived Uniform 4d Post period and as such is very rare:
we can recall seeing only two other examples used on this date.
The entire contains a bill from the Bursar of the College for an undergraduate's first term up to Christmas.
There is also a letter from the Bursar pointing out the very high charges that
the student has incurred and hoping that in the future these will be moderated.
The Account's detailed costings give an interesting glimpse of a student's life at that time.
To highlight but a few of the larger amounts: the upholsterer; tailor and private tuition.
He appears to have had an enjoyable time and despite that,
with the help of a great deal of private tuition, he did well in the exams!
The charge for the glazier poses a few questions as to why this was necessary!
A window into student life at that times and the detailed headings for charges
could be developed in many ways to form a fascinating and memorable Exhibition item.
The contents combined with the date of use make this
an extremely rare/unique Exhibition item.
Price: £380.00
NB: the total bill was £172.07. It has been estimated that £1 in 1864
was worth the equivalent of more than £90 in today's money!!
The Cambridge date stamp is clearer than in the scan.
Pair of items from the USA 1845-47 with interesting transit marks
152335.
The first item is wrapper from RICHMOND, Vitginia, to London:
Richmond date stampin red on the front for December 26th (1845).
In m/s at the top is 'pr Steamer from Boston to Liverpool' and a handstruck '10' in RED and a PAID also in red;
on the reverse is a London cds for January 16th 1846.
This item would have been carried on the Cunarder 'Acadia'
which sailed from Boston on January 1st 1846 arriving in LIverpool on January 15th 1846.
The second item is a letter, written in Fench, from NEW ORLEANS, to Bordeau, dated November 18th 1847.
In m/s at the top is 'per Royal Mail Steamer'; on the front is a New Orleans date stamp in black for November 18th;
a Paid in black, a boxed COLONIES/ &c ART.13 in red; a handstruck '10' in black;
a French transit date stamp in red for December 19th 1847;
on the reverse a London date stamp for December 17th and a Bordeau arrival date stamp for December 21st 1847.
This would, like the first item, have been carried on the Cunarder 'Acadia' but this sailing
left Boston on December 1st 1847 and arrived in Liverpool on December 16th 1847.
The COLONIAL/&c ART 13 is illustrated by McKay in 'Surcharge Mail of the British Isles',
figure 2202, used from January 1st 1846 and struck in London.
McKay reported that research has shown the numbers in these cancellations corresponded
to the columns in the letter bills that accompanied
overseas correspondence and the dates of their strikes on letters varied as a consequence.
The type of Handstruck '10' is NOT ilustrated or listed in 'United States Cancellations' 1845-1869 by Skinner and Eno.
A superb and very scarce/rare pairing that would form an interesting and attractive Display page.
Price: £120.00
152336.
No postal markings and dated inside August 14th 1840.
It would prove to be a very interesting display page when fully written up
and should stimulate conversation!
We have never seen such an item in more than 40 years as specialist dealers in Scottish postal history.
Probably a very rare/unique survivor.
Price: £85.00 SOLD
NB: I feel the originator of this type of printed response was ahead of his time
by wanting to reduce the effort spent on letter writing.
Rare usage of a Birmingham skeleton.
152338. very fine/superb clean and uncreased entire from BIRMINGHAM, dated April 29th 1844.
On the front is a very fine/superb strike of the temporary, skeleton, date stamp of BIRMINGHAM for APRIL 29th 1844.
In the County Catalogue, this cancellation is only recorded from 27th October 1840 to November 31st 1840;
then over TWO days on April 28th/29th 1844 and an isolated strike on 27th February 1846, C. Catalogue BM141.
The last day of usage of the Maltese cross cancellation in England outside of London was April 30th 1844.
The numeral cancellers, replacing MX's, were introduced on May 1st 1844 and the '75' of Birmingham is known used on May 1st 1844.
It is possible that on April 28th/29th 1844 and perhaps on April 30th too, as Birmingham was preparing
for the change to the numeral canceller in a few days time, that the MX's were not fully available.
This letter has a very fine Tewkesbury date stamp for April 30th 1844 on reverse.
A rare example of the two days of recorded usage in April 1844.
An item of Exhibition quality.
£145.00 SOLD
152299. Free front from BICESTER to Chester signed bottom left 'Jersey'.
George Augustus Frederick Charles - Villiers was the 6th Earl of Jersey: more information is on the internet.
On the front is a Free Frank date stamp for DECEMBER 5th 1839 - the day that the Uniform 4d Post was introduced.
A very scarce item and the only Free Frank example used on this important date
we have been able to offer for some considerable time.
Price: £52.00 SOLD
NB: See items 151792 and 151793 below with an image and biopic details of the addressee Lady Eleanor Grosvenor.
152298. Free front from DUNSHAUGHLIN to Windsor dated January 2nd 1840.
Signed at bottom left Dunsany: Lord Dunsany succeeded his father in 1839 to the title.
An Irish Free Frank date stamp for January 3rd 1840 and an English Free Frank for January 4th 1840 with the scarce Code N.
When the new Railway Sorting carriages were built some of the process of sorting could be diverted to them
and carried out on route: more details in 'Herewith My Frank' by Lovegrove p 44.
The 'N' code appears to have been used almost exclusively on letters bound into London from the provinces and Ireland.
A very scarce example with English and Irish Free Franks during the Uniform 4d Post period.
One of only a few we have seen and the one of only two such combinations with the scarce English Code N variety:
the other example is the next item!
Price: £55.00 SOLD
Two Irish Free Franks and an English Variety with Code N
152300. Free front with two Irish, Dublin Free Franks, with a time Code M indicating Morning: July 20th and 21st 1839.
The redirection to London resulted in a second strike of the Dublin variety
and a London variety with the scarce Code N for July 22nd 1839.
When the new Railway Sorting carriages were built some of the process of sorting could be diverted to them
and carried out on route: more details in 'Herewith My Frank' by Lovegrove p 44.
The 'N' code appears to have been used almost exclusively on letters bound into London from the provinces and Ireland.
Very scarce indeed with three Free Franks and with Irish and London varieties.
Price: £65.00 SOLD
Uniform 4d Post Period: rare Free Front Sunday Usage
151793. A very fine Free Front addressed to Lady E(lizabeth) Grosvenor, Eaton (Hall), Chester,
signed bottom left 'De L'Isle': Baron De L'Isle and Dudley.
On the front is a scalloped cds, London Catalogue L34a, for SUNDAY December 22nd 1839.
On the front also is a fair Free Frank date stamp for December 23rd 1839.
December 22nd 1839 was the THIRD SUNDAY of the Uniform 4d Post Period which began on December 5th 1839.
There were only FIVE Sundays in the short lived Uniform 4d Post period, which ended on January 9th 1840.
The painting, image available on the internet, is of Lady Elizabeth just before she married, in 1819,
Richard Grosvenor, 2nd Marquess of Westminster: he became Earl Grosvenor in 1831 and they had 10 children.
Very fine and rare item.
Price: £70.00 SOLD
NB: see item 151792.
152288a. Clean and neat entire re Ship Insurance sent from London to Whitby.
Superb Lombard Street Paid date stamp for December 31st 1839.
A letter sent during the short-lived Uniform 4d Post Period: December 5th 1839 to January 9th 1840.
We have seen very few examples used on New Years Eve 1839 and this is the only one with a RED m/s '4',
prepaid letters being significantly rarer than those unpaid ie m/s '4' in black.
An attractive item which displays well.
Price: £56.50 SOLD
NB: no postal markings on reverse.
Observance of the Lord's Day and the rare Edinburgh UPP 2d
152288.
This item is from a Display and the description was as follows:
The small selection of scanned pages give a flavour of the questions asked and the written replies to
Questions 1-12 from a total of 35.
The black marks are caused by the scanner and are not on the pages.
The description could be expanded to include: steamers, ferries, public houses, funerals etc etc.
A truly remarkable document that gives a deep insight to the demands and influence of the Church in Scotland in 1840.
This rare document is made rarer, possibly unique, by it being sent postage unpaid and receiving a fine strike of
the rare Edinburgh, Uniform Penny Post, Auckland ED262, for April 2nd 1840: this variety was in use for only a few months.
This would make a memorable display item which could be expanded in its description in so many ways.
Price: £385.00
NB: the brown marks on the front of the document are NOT present: a trick of the scanner.
More details of George Burns, Minister of Tweedsmuir, are available on the internet.
As is more information about, and photos of, CROOK INN: which claims to be the oldest inn in Scotland.
Welsh Social History 1844: Office of Stamps and Taxes
152284.
Superb window into passenger vehicle hire in 1844.
Price: £75.00
Envelope from Lord Napier to his wife ex St Petersburg
152199.
This item is from a Display and its description was as follows:
There are no postal markings on the reverse: all the displayable action is on the front.
Envelope is in very fine condition and the brown mark coming, from the
nearly complete wax seal, is not as pronounced as in the scan.
The brown marks at the left are NOT present.
Very attractive and scarce item that obviously displays well.
Price: £80.00
NB: Perhaps Lord Napier signing his name on the front of the envelope hoped it would go post free
when posted in London but it was surcharged 2d.
The Free Franking Priviledge had ended some 12 years earlier!
Rare Envelope from 6th Earl of CARDIGAN
He was an early member of the MCC and played in their team.
152155.
A clean envelope from London to Macclesfield May 26th 1836 with a Free frank for the following day.
Bottom left is the signature: CARDIGAN and on the reverse a complete wax seal with an impressed 'Crown above B'.
This is the seal of ROBERT BRUDENELL, 6th Earl of Cardigan, (25 April 1760 – 14 August 1837).
He had two sons and eight daughters: the elder son became the 7th Earl of Cardigan on his death and is famous for his role in
'The Charge of the Light Brigade' during the Crimean War.
A rare link to his son and a rarity in itself.
An Exhibition item.
Price: £145.00 SOLD
NB: there is a lot of information about the 6th Earl, and the family, on the internet.
He was a keen cricketer and an early member of the MCC who played in their team.
Christmas Day 1839: Uniform 4d Period
152183. Printed legal letter, dated December 25th 1839 and also on the inside flap, sent to Daventry from LONDON.
M/s '4' on the front and on reverse top flap is a London December 25th 1839 date stamp.
The only example we have seen used on Christmas Day in the short-lived Uniform 4d Post period.
Rare item.
Price: £138.00 SOLD
Uniform 4d Post: letter sent abroad
152060. Long family letter to a mother from London to Bonn dated January 6th 1840.
Very fine London Paid in red for this same date and a Foreign Branch same date cancellation on the reverse:
this displays well when the rear flap is raised and there are red m/s 8 and 1/8 on the front.
Very scarce letter sent overseas during the short lived Uniform 4d Post period and
the LATEST we have seen sent abroad before the introduction of the Uniform 1d Post on January 10th 1840.
Exhibition quality item.
Price: £150.00
Uniform 4d Post: unusual rate
152061. Entire family letter from London to York dated inside December 12th 1839 with
on the reverse a London Lombard Street date stamp for this same date.
One expected to see a m/s 4 but there is no such marking on the letter.
Instead there is a handwritten 5 1/2d postage charge in black on the front!
Rowland Hill wanted the reduced postage rates to encourage people across the country
to write more frequently as well as encourage more people to read and write.
Of further interest therefore is the note at the end of the letter:
'as the postage is now only 4d I hope I shall hear more of you'.
A rare and superb item which would display well.
Price: £145.00 SOLD
Uniform 4d Post: overseas letter
152062. Lengthy letter from London to OPORTO, December 21st 1839.
M/s 2/6in red on the front as well as GP/Paid, London Catalogue L688 and a faint strike of Bishopgate Within in red.
On the reverse is a fine strike of L483 again in red.
A scarce example of an overseas letter sent during the short lived Uniform 4d Post period.
Price: £110.00
Uniform 4d Post: letter received from Mexico
152063. Lengthy commercial letter from VERA CRUZ and received in London on December 24th 1839.
Very scarce letter received from a Mexican place of origin during the short lived Uniform 4d Post period.
Price: £85.00
Uniform 4d Post: a rare FIRST SUNDAY usage
152041.
Uniform Penny Post Period: a Scottish Widows Fund and Life Assurance Office printed request for
a statement of health on the Revd James Porteous, Parish Minister of RICCARTON, Ayrshire.
Also printed inside are details of the 18th Annual AGM, 1832, listing of the Court of Directors and the value of insurance policies.
The letter is hand dated inside December 4th 1839, AYR - the day before the introduction of the Uniform 4d Post.
However the letter was posted to Edinburgh on DECEMBER 8th 1839:
the FIRST SUNDAY of this short lived uniform 4d post period, a m/s '4' in black on the front.
There are only five Sunday date usages possible in this perod which ended on January 9th 1840.
On the top flap is a fair but legible boxed date of AYR, December 8th 1839, and an Edinburgh cds for the next day.
The letter was possibly held back until after the 5th December to take advantage of the reduced postage charge.
This the first example we have been able to offer of this rare first Sunday usage and can not recall seeing another one.
A Scottish item with an extremely rare combination of dates:
the day before the U 4d Post period was introduced and a First Sunday usage in its period.
A first Sunday usage is considerably rarer than a first day December 5th 1839 usage.
An Exhibition item.
Price: £490.00
Uniform 4d Post: very rare First Sunday 8d rate usage on a letter re sheep stealing
152042.
Uniform 4d Post Period: a detailed and long letter to the Procurator Fiscal in Inverary from DUMBARTON re SHEEP STEALING.
The letter is dated inside December 8th 1839 and on the reverse top flap is
a fine boxed date stamp of Dumbarton also for DECEMBER 8th 1839:
the FIRST SUNDAY in the short lived Uniform 4d Post Period.
There are only five Sunday date usages possible in this perod which ended on January 9th 1840.
This already rare item is made extremely rare as on the front is a m/s '8' indicating a double rate charge.
The sender had written OHMS and as the letter is under 1/2oz but charged 8d,
the OHMS was not accepted as going post free and it was charged a double rate.
This is the ONLY example of this rate used on the first Sunday of the uniform 4d post we have seen
and may well be unique especially as a surcharge on a single rate letter on this date.
We have not seen a letter surcharged in this way in the Uniform 4d Post period.
A first Sunday usage is considerably rarer than a first day December 5th 1839 usage.
A remarkable item of Exhibition quality and importance.
Price: £585.00
NB: this item and Item 152041 would make a remarkarkable and unique pairing and with both used withiin Scotland.
Hanover Street Scots Local: rare usage on stampless overseas letter
1520044.
HANOVER STREET: Scots Local cancellation Type V11, a fine strike on an October 6th 1856 stampless commercial entire from Edinburgh to CALCUTTA.
Within the bill is a postal and stamp charge of 1/1d and on the reverse a boxed Calcutta Steam Letter strike.
The single rate to India was 6d for 1/2oz via Southampton in 1856.
In the Robson Lowe Meredith Sale of 'Scots Local Cancellations', there was NO example of any Scots Local cancellation used on a stampless letter or cover.
A rare usage and to a scarce destination with such a cancellation.
Price: £115.00 SOLD
Duke Street Leith Scots Local: two stampless entires to same addressee in France
152043.
Duke Street Leith: Scots Local cancellation Type V11, very fine strikes on two fine stampless commercial entires to the same addressee in France.
The first sent on April 19th 1858, the last year of usage recorded by Alcock, and the second on June 21st 1859 with an Edinburgh duplex next to it.
The first has a handstamped '8' and the second a m/s '8' ,both in black, as they were sent unpaid and charged the double rate.
In the Robson Lowe Meredith Sale of 'Scots Local Cancellations', there was NO example of any Scots Local cancellation used on a stampless letter or cover.
A rare and attractive pair of Exhibition quality.
Price: £155.00
152016. Clean wrapper from Guernsey to London, December 20th 1781:
partial handstruck Southampton Ship Letter, County Cat. 1705, 'Southampton/Ship LRE'.
This is the first type of this ship letter strike and is recorded in use from 1771-1789.
In 'Ship Letters' by Robertson, he notes that few of this first type have survived.
On the reverse is a London Bishop mark for January 11th and a complete PAPER SEAL.
On the inside flap are details of the Guernsey sender and date as per the scan.
Very scarce/rare early item of mail from the Channel Islands.
Price: £120.00 SOLD
152019. Very fine entire, written in French, from London to Connerre in France.
Charing Cross and London Foreign Office date stamps for December 13th 1839:
a letter sent during the short lived Uniform 4d Post period and rare as such.
On the front is a Calais date stamp for SUNDAY December 15th 1839:
the second Sunday of the Uniform 4d Period.
Very attractive markings with little overlap and which display well.
A rare and Exhibition quality item.
Price: £140.00 SOLD
152006. Envelope, top flap stuck down for display purposes, sent from Llangefni on the Isle of Anglesey, to Wurtemberg, Germany.
Rarely found on both the front and the rear top flap, are very fine/superb strikes of the very scarce Llangefni Penny Post, C Cat. W1417.
There is a Bangor date stamp for September 6th 1845 and a London tombstone in red for September 8th 1845.
Various other transit markings including handstruck ones in Germany.
The letter appears to have been redirected in Wurtemberg.
A fair description would be to say the item is 'full of character' and one which could be very fine display page.
A very scarce early item from Anglesey with a rare double strike of a Penny Post.
Price: £110.00 SOLD
NB: the population of Llangefni in 1845 was approx 1,700: one wonders how many of these could write at that time?
The central black area is from the hawid on which it is resting and the gap from the removed seal.
Letter to HMS 'TALAVERA in MALTA 1839
151985.
A stampless and very long family letter from Hatfield written on two separate days, 27th and 28th March 1839, to a sailor,
possibly a gunner, on board the Royal Navy’s ‘TALAVERA’, and sent to Malta where the ship was berthed.
On circa 26 Apr 1839 she departed for Corfu with HMS's Rodney, Bellerophon and Castor to exercise their crews, following which the Talavera was to cruise in the Archipelago.
M/s 2/6 and a London tombstone paid mark for March 30 1839 with a Foreign Office cds for this same date on the reverse top flap together with an indistinct Hatfield cds.
Within the letter on the second page is the following interesting social comment:
‘We are glad that you were to see Queen Adelaide'. Throughout the reign of William IV she maintained
a Queen like and feminine propriety and uprightness,
a dignified conduct which have won her the deepest respect and Royal attachment for all persons of right principle’.
A lengthy letter which seems to indicate that the writer had only recently moved to Hatfield.
The writer mentions Hatfield House and its history including the fact that Queen Elizabeth was confirmed there and a reference to Bloody Mary.
They describe where they are living as follows:
‘Hatfield is a small town of about some 1200 people, the county population much scattered, agricultural about 2300 making in all about 3500’.
On the last page is the following:
‘This place is about 19 miles from London, on one of the great northern roads, due north of London.
A coach starts every afternoon from......at ½ p. 3 for this (London) and returns every morning, and York coaches pass through at all hours.
So you will have little difficulty in making your way hither from the great metropolis.
If you come via Portsmouth and London you may observe
Godalming and its neighbourhood.......it is very pretty’.
In September 27th 1840 she was destroyed by fire when in DEVONPORT dockyard:
there is a painting of the
fire
A very rare, and fascinating, letter to the ‘TALAVERA’ and only a little over a year before she was destroyed.
A superb item that would make a very fine Exhibition page.
Price:
£290.00
‘HMS Talavera was a 74-gun third rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched on 15 October 1818 at Woolwich Dockyard.
She was named for the British/Spanish victory at the 'Battle of Talavera.‘
The internet has a lot of information about this ship, its locations etc. which would further enhance the description making it a memorable display item.
INMAN LINE: New York to London 1858
151986.
Commercial stampless letter from New York, to Manchester, England dated inside June 16th 1858.
It was carried on the ‘Kangaroo’ of the INMAN LINE; she left New York on June 17th 1858 and arrived in Liverpool on July 1st.
This was her 11th voyage and she stayed on this route until December 1864.
On the reverse top flap is a superb boxed Liverpool Ship date stamp for July 1st 1858,
displays well when the rear flap is raised, and a Manchester receiver for this same date.
On the front is a superb example of the scarce and distinctive London handstruck ‘6d’ in black – McKay figure 861.
The photograph of the ship is taken from the internet.
Superb item which displays well and enhanced with the details of the 'Kangaroo'
Price: £95.00
A history of the
‘Kangaroo’ is as follows:
The 'Kangaroo' was built by Laurence, Hill & Co., Port Glasgow in 1853 for the newly formed Australasian Pacific Mail Steam Packet Co.
This was an unsuccessful joint venture made by directors of the Royal Mail
S.P.Co and Pacific Steam Nav.Co.
Launched on 20th August 1853, she never sailed on the Australia service, but was chartered to the Admiralty for transport work.
She was an 1,874 gross ton ship, length 257.4ft x beam 36.2ft, clipper stem, one funnel, three masts (rigged for sail), iron construction, single screw and a speed of 10 knots.
In 1854 she was purchased by the Inman Line and in that year chartered by the British Govt and fitted out as a HOSPITAL SHIP for the CRIMEAN WAR.
She commenced sailings between Liverpool and Philadelphia on 30/7/1856.
Her first Liverpool - New York sailing started on 25/2/1857 and her last
Liverpool - Queenstown - New York voyage was on 7/12/1864.
Entire, wax seal intact, Second SUNDAY of U4d Post
151984. Entire dated inside, December 15th 1839, sent from Lees to Hexham.
On the front is a m/s '4' and on the reverse a very fine boxed COLDSTREAM date stamp for
December 15th 1839 - a SECOND SUNDAY usage during the short lived Uniform 4d Post period:
there were only five Sundays during its period of use.
Remarkably, the wax seal is still attached and sealing the letter which the recipient has opened
very unusually by tearing it at the right without damaging or disturbing the seal.
A rare and interesting item in fine condition.
Price: £200.00
The LAST SUNDAY of the Uniform 4d Post
151722.
Clean wrapper from Hastings to London:
sent from Hastings on SUNDAY January 5th 1840, cds on the top flap which displays well when raised.
The addresser marked it 'Post Paid' on the front but the Postmaster/Mistress or
an Inspector in London struck this out, marked it 'Too late to be Paid', initailed it and the item charged 4d.
His comment was probably made because the item was posted on a Sunday.
January 5th 1840 was the LAST SUNDAY of the five week period of the Uniform 4d Post and itself is a rare usage.
With the other unusual features, this is very likely a unique usage during this period of postal reform.
Superb item of display quality.
Price: £325.00
NB: there were only FIVE Sundays during the short lived Uniform 4d Post.
SUNDAY MAY 17th 1840
U
151813. An interesting family entire from Cupar Angus to Morpeth with a boxed date stamp of Cupar Angus
for MAY 17th 1840 - the second SUNDAY after the 1d black was issued.
Red m/s '1' and an Edinburgh PAID date stamp for the following day; there are no postal markings on the reverse.
The letter refers to home entertainment and in part to a Book of Scottish Tunes 'Whistle Binkie':
Whistle Binkie was a Scottish poetry and song anthology first appearing in 1832; there are more details on the internet.
A very scarce/rare May 1840 Sunday date especially so in Scotland.
Price: £200.00
NB: a 1d black on a May 17th 1840 cover is priced by Gibbons at £15,000.
RARE MAY 1840 SUNDAY DATE
151554. A fine entire, Manchester to Annan, Scotland: family letter from a daughter.
Red m/s '1' and a superb manchester date stamp for MAY 17th 1840:
the SECOND SUNDAY after the issue of the 1d black and a rare stampless example from this date.
A 1d black on cover used on this same date priced by Gibbons at £15,000.
Superb item.
Price: £225.00
SUNDAY MAY 24th 1840
151812. Entire from ASHBOURNE to London with on the reverse top flap
an Ashbourne date stamp for SUNDAY MAY 24th 1840.
This the third Sunday in May 1840 after the 1d black was issued.
Red 'P1' in red and a London Paid Tombstone for May 25th 1840.
The letter was roughly opened but the fault is not as pronounced as in the scanned image.
A very scarce Sunday May 1840 date.
Price: £68.50 SOLD
NB: a 1d black used on May 24th 1840 is priced by Gibbons at £14,000.
151740. Neat wrapper from STOKESLEY, North Yorkshire to Marlborough: dated on an inside flap:
'Janry 10/40' and with a Stokesley date stamp on the top flap for January 11th 1840
which displays well when the flap is raised.
The London transit cds is for January 13th 1840 - January 12th 1840 was a Sunday.
On the front is a very large m/s '2d' in black.
January 10th 1840 was the First Day of the Uniform Penny Post.
This letter was posted in Stokesley without the 1d payment and hence the '2d' surcharge.
As the wrapper is dated inside January 10th 1840, it is quite possible that as the postage was unpaid,
it was held back to the next day, then surcharged and sent on its way to Marlborough.
We have not seen an earlier example of an unpaid, surcharged item in the Uniform Penny Post Period.
A superb and rare item that displays well..
Price: £520.00 SOLD
NB: the browning around the '2d' is fainter than in the scan as are the brown marks on the reverse.
The Population of Stokesley in1840 was around 2,500 and it was described as
a small but neat and well-built market town with many of the inhabitants being linen weavers, but
also with a large flax mill and expecting the extension of the Darlington to Stockton & Middlesbrough railway.
Rare entire letter sent within Guernsey in 1848 re the Penal System
151741.
A rare glimpse of the penal system in the Channel Islands in 1848.
Would make a very interesting display item.
Price: £145.00
NB: this item is from an award-winning display.
Doncaster handstruck 2: late usage
151626.
Clean envelope from Doncaster to Knaresbro', September 2nd 1863
with Knaresboro cds on reverse for the following day.
Horizontal crease towards the top but sent unpaid and
with a superb Doncaster handstruck '2' in black.
Unrecorded in the Yorkshire Section on the County Catalogue and also
unrecorded by Mackay in 'Surcharged Mail of the British Isles'.
We know of only one other example of this rare strike.
Price: £190.00
used locally with a very fine/superb strike of the
rare Edinburgh unpaid 2d strike, March 19th 1840, Aukland ED262.
Especially rare in such fine condition and one of the only two we have been able to offer for many years.
Please see the other example Item 151219 earlier in this same Section.
Price: £320.00 SOLD
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