EARLY "FREE" PAIR OF COVERS TO BRADFORD (YORKS.) POSTMASTER - ONE CHARGED POSTAGE & ONE NOT; Curious and fine 6 Nov. 1756 & 22 Feb. 1757 pair of covers from the same lawyer in London addressed to "Mr. Richard Wainman, Post Master, Bradford, Yorkshire" both endorsed "Free" on the front and each with fine Bishop Mark, the latter showing scarce late usage serif lettering (Jay L3g; not recorded after 1723). The first was charged "4[d]" postage, but the second has no postal charge... Were Postmasters usually allowed to receive their mail free at this date? (2 covers)Cross Reference: YORKSHIRE, POSTAGE DUE MARKS, LONDON POSTAL HISTORY (Image)
Opening GBP 48.00
Sold...GBP 95.00
Closed..Jun-23-2022, 03:00:00 EST
Sold For 95
Sale No: 844
Lot No: 1490
Symbol:
Cat No: Collection
FRONTS RANGE 1780s-1840: A box containing an accumulation of mainly Free fronts (a few ELs & Es) classified according to years of issue of the various handstamps inc. Ireland, Sunday collection (4), "TO PAY 1d ONLY" (6), "TO PAY/2d/ONLY" (4) & "T.P./Rate/2" (3) marks, and signatures of MPs, bishops, civil servants, peers, etc. many stuck to paper/card backing and variable quality of strikes but a wealth of material. (160) (Image)
Opening GBP 110.00
Sold...GBP 400.00
Closed..Jun-23-2022, 03:00:00 EST
Sold For 400
Sale No: 844
Lot No: 1491
Symbol:
Cat No: Collection
COLLECTION OF "FRANCIS FREELING" SIGNED FREE FRONTS (INC. "MONEY LETTER") + MAIL SENT FREE TO HIM; 1795-1834 group inc. 1795 front + flap (filing note ref. "Ship Letters") to Freeling in London endorsed "Free" with fair "PORT/GLASGOW", 1805 EL to Freeling (written & signed by the actor "H[enry]. Siddons" ref. some embarrassing letters rescued by the P.O. in transit and returned to his wife...) with red oval "Two Penny/POST/Bread St By" and h.s. "2" cancelled in manuscript; c.1825 E to the Theatre Royal signed by Freeling with a superb example of his red wax PO Secretary's seal, and 8 free fronts signed "F. Freeling" to all different towns + one (with flap and the same wax seal) sent locally with v. fine red circular crowned "To be/delivered/FREE" mark but exceptionally also endorsed "Money Letter" by Freeling. (2 covers + 9 fronts)Cross Reference: LONDON POSTAL HISTORY, REGISTERED MAIL, SCOTLAND (Image)
Opening GBP 80.00
Sold...GBP 85.00
Closed..Jun-23-2022, 03:00:00 EST
Sold For 85
Sale No: 844
Lot No: 1492
Symbol:
UNIQUE(?) BLACK STRIKE OF THE LOCAL LONDON CROWNED OCTAGON "To be/delivered/Free" MARK; 24 Feb. 1810 E (light dusting) sent locally in London to "J. Bowden Esq., Gen[era]l. Post Office Receiver General" (Bowden was actually the R.G.'s chief clerk) with a partial black oval "Two Py. Post/Unpaid/Lombard St." at top right matching the very fine black crowned hexagon-boxed "To be/delivered/Free" mark (Jay L716; only 1816-40) at top left. The letter is is endorsed "Official/A.P." at top right by Anthony Parkin, the Solicitor to the Post Office. This is the only recorded example of this mark in black - it is scarce in red but never before found in any other colour - presumably the Lombard Street clerk used his oval namestamp's black ink by mistake on this occasion. An important addition to the record of London markings and of Exhibition Quality.Cross Reference: OFFICIAL MAIL, LONDON POSTAL HISTORY (Image)
Opening GBP 260.00
Sold...GBP 1,000.00
Closed..Jun-23-2022, 03:00:00 EST
Sold For 1000
Sale No: 844
Lot No: 1493
Symbol:
Cat No: Collection
FREE FRANKS OF POSTMASTER GENERALS, LETTERS TO FREELING REF. P.O. MATTERS, ETC.; 1801 E (amusing contents; full transcript) ex Lord "Gower" (PMG 1799-1801) with 'Apple' FREE d.s., similar 1805 E ex Lord "Auckland" (PMG 1798-11804), fine 1833 env. (early usage) from "Richmond" (PMG 1830-34) with mainly fine crowned octagon "To be/delivered/Free", similar front with very fine octagon, 1833 autograph letter signed by "Richmond" (to Duke of Norfolk), c.1830-39 free fronts (4) ex "[Lord] Lichfield" (PMG 1835-41) inc. 3 with fine to v. fine octagon (2) or rare oval "To be/delivered/FREE" marks, 4d-Post Period front to Col. Maberly, and six 1810-35 letters to Freeling on PO matters (ref. delayed mail ex Isleworth to Scotland, 1810/6 trio ex Lord Lyttleton ref. Stourbridge P.O. - overseas mail to/from an M.P., postal charges, and moving the Halesowen P.O. back to its old location! - ex Lord Lucan ref. the new Penny Post scheme in Staines/Laleham, etc. Scarce collection. (3 covers, 6 fronts & 8 letters)Cross Reference: WORCESTERSHIRE, AUTOGRAPHS (Image)
Opening GBP 130.00
Sold...GBP 320.00
Closed..Jun-23-2022, 03:00:00 EST
Sold For 320
Sale No: 844
Lot No: 1494
Symbol:
L.T.R. (LAND TAX REDEMPTION) - RARE "W. L. Maberly" MARK WITH CROWNED OVAL "To be/delivered/FREE" MARK; 20 Sept. 1838 EL (minor toning) to Plumstead with "O.H.M.S./L.T.R." imprint ("HIS" changed to "Her" in manuscript) unusually authorised for free mail by a very fine rare Handstruck "W. L. Maberly" mark (Maberly was P.O. Secretary and Rowland Hill's 'bete noire'!). Also having a fine red crowned General Post London "FREE" c.d.s. (applied unnecessarily as the address, though in Kent, was within the Local Post area) beside a mainly very fine rare oval-framed crowned "To be/delivered/FREE" mark used only on the few local letters that still qualified for entirely free postage. The Handstruck Maberly and Freeling marks are extremely difficult to find; we have only recorded three other covers with this Maberly mark (and one front). [Ex Dr Frank Bottomley and illustrated in his 1988 book, p.93. Ex Cavendish Nov. 2009, lot 791; realised £240+BP.]Cross Reference: LONDON POSTAL HISTORY, OFFICIAL MAIL (Image)
Opening GBP 160.00
Sold...GBP 190.00
Closed..Jun-23-2022, 03:00:00 EST
Sold For 190
Sale No: 844
Lot No: 1495
Symbol:
COVER TO CHELSEA HOSPITAL WITH RARE OVAL-FRAMED CROWNED "To be/delivered/FREE" MARK, ETC.; 12 Mar. 1839 E from "KNARESBOROUGH" (fine cds on flap) to Chelsea Hospital's Secretary with mainly fine rare oval-framed crowned "To be/delivered/FREE" mark (Jay L717; only known 1837-40) that was used only on the few local letters that still qualified for entirely free postage - as well as a "TP/Rate 2D" mark overstruck (deliberately?) by a fine crowned "FREE" d.s. Plus "O.H.M.S./Genl. Post-Office" imprint front to "Vote Office, Ho. of Commons" (redirected locally) with mainly very fine red circular crowned "To be/delivered/FREE" mark (Jay L715). (2 items)Cross Reference: YORKSHIRE, LONDON POSTAL HISTORY (Image)
Opening GBP 95.00
Sold...GBP 240.00
Closed..Jun-23-2022, 03:00:00 EST
Sold For 240
Sale No: 844
Lot No: 1496
Symbol:
FREE MAIL TO FRANCE - EARLY "OHMS/Francis Freeling" IMPRINT COVER REF. TRANSIT SHIP LETTER's 1s-10d CHARGE DUE; 3 Feb. 1815 EL to Bordeaux from the London G.P.O. advising that a "[Ship] Letter" to the addressees was being held there pending the receipt of the British 1s-10d Postage Due; without British markings but having the black "ANGLETERRE" mark and a French "19" decimes charge. A rare early example of this Postage Due form sent while Napoleon was in exile on Elba. [Ex Alan Robertson.] Cross Reference: FRANCE, POSTAGE DUE MARKS, SHIP LETTERS, LONDON POSTAL HISTORY (Image)
Opening GBP 180.00
Sold...GBP 240.00
Closed..Jun-23-2022, 03:00:00 EST
Sold For 240
Sale No: 844
Lot No: 1497
Symbol:
FREE MAIL TO FRANCE - OFFICIAL COVERS EX PRIME MINISTER GREY OR CONTROLLER OF ARMY ACCOUNTS; 28 Jan. 1831 EL (minor faults) from "Downing Street" to Tours franked by the sitting Prime Minister (1830-34) "[Earl] Grey" (1764-1845) on official business with London crowned "FREE" d.s. on the front with faint red "ANGLETERRE" charged "24" and then "28" (Decimes); plus fine 11 Sept. 1832 Abuse of Privilege EL from London to Lyons with similar marks but charged "16" in France, however the letter was written by the addressee's sister and not by the "J. Drinkwater" (a Comptroller of Army Accounts) who franked it. Rare pair; very few officials had franking rights for mail to places overseas. (2 covers) Cross Reference: FRANCE, POSTAGE DUE MARKS, LONDON POSTAL HISTORY, PARLIAMENTARY MAIL (Image)
Opening GBP 100.00
Sold...GBP 240.00
Closed..Jun-23-2022, 03:00:00 EST
Sold For 240
Sale No: 844
Lot No: 1498
Symbol:
FREE MAIL TO FRANCE - OFFICIAL COVER/FRONT EX ADMIRALTY OR ORDNANCE, ETC.; Fine 3 May 1835 EL to Marseilles "O.H.M.S." franked by "Chas. Wood" First Secretary of the "Admiralty" on official business with London crowned "FREE" d.s. on the front with faint red 2-ring "ANGLETERRE PAR CALAIS" charged "30" (Decimes); plus 1827 free front from "Fitzroy Somerset" (later famous for the Charge of the Light Brigade as Lord Raglan) to Douai charged "25" with fine 2-line "ANGLETERRE/PAR CALAIS" and fair London crowned "FREE" d.s., and 'busy' 1837 free front ex "[Lord] Maryborough" (Master of the Mint and future PMG) in Kingston on Thames to Saffron Walden but redirected to Paris and back with fine red London FB boxed "RETURNED FROM" and a "5/-" Postage Due charge. Rare trio; very few officials had franking rights for mail to places overseas. (1 cover + 2 fronts)Cross Reference: FRANCE, LONDON POSTAL HISTORY, OVERSEAS DESTINATIONS, POSTAGE DUE MARKS (Image)
Opening GBP 85.00
Sold...GBP 140.00
Closed..Jun-23-2022, 03:00:00 EST
Sold For 140
Sale No: 844
Lot No: 1499
Symbol:
FREE MAIL TO GERMAN STATES (FRANKFURT) VIA HOLLAND - "OHMS/Francis Freeling" COVER REF. TRANSIT SHIP LETTER; 31 Dec. 1833 EL to Frankfurt from the London G.P.O. advising that a "[Ship] Letter" to the addressees was being held there pending the receipt of the British 3s-4d Postage Due; with faint red crowned London "FREE" d.s. on the front with arrival charge, but also having fine red "Engeland/over Rotterdam" mark on the top flap. Rare destination for British Free mail or for one of these P.O. Postage Claim letters. Cross Reference: GERMAN STATES, OFFICIAL MAIL, NETHERLANDS (Image)
Opening GBP 100.00
Sold...GBP 190.00
Closed..Jun-23-2022, 03:00:00 EST
Sold For 190
Sale No: 844
Lot No: 1500
Symbol:
FREE MAIL TO GIBRALTAR - "Pursuant to Act of Parliament... Greenwich Hospital" IMPRINT COVER; 2 Feb. 1809 E (overall light toning) franked to "Gibraltar" with an official's signature at the top beneath the printed "Pursuant to Act of Parliament Forty-fifth George the Third" with matching "Greenwich Hospital" imprint below the address; with fine red London crowned "FREE" d.s. on the front (endorsed on reverse as having been received in Gibraltar on 7 Mar. 1809 by "J.R.O., D[eputy]. Reg[istra]r."). Very few Free covers addressed to Gibraltar have been recorded and this is a rare type of imprint.Cross Reference: GIBRALTAR, OFFICIAL MAIL (Image)
Opening GBP 100.00
Sold...GBP 460.00
Closed..Jun-23-2022, 03:00:00 EST
Sold For 460
Sale No: 844
Lot No: 1501
Symbol:
FREE MAIL FROM IONIAN ISLANDS (CORFU) - FAILED FREE TO ADMIRALTY CHARGED "10/-" POSTAGE; Unusual 20 Apr. 1839 E from "Corfu" (filing note) to "Sir Charles Adam... Admiralty [London]" endorsed "[By] Packet" with v. fine London Foreign Branch cds on the flap but having a very fine red London crowned "FREE" d.s. on the front crossed out in manuscript and replaced by the "10/-" (quadruple 2s-6d) Packet rate. Although Adam was an official in the Admiralty he did not qualify tom received letters from overseas for free. Rare thus.Cross Reference: IONIAN ISLANDS, LONDON POSTAL HISTORY, POSTAGE DUE MARKS, POSTAL REFORMS (Image)
Opening GBP 110.00
Sold...GBP 280.00
Closed..Jun-23-2022, 03:00:00 EST
Sold For 280
Sale No: 844
Lot No: 1503
Symbol:
FREE MAIL TO ITALIAN STATES (LIVORNO/SICILY) - ADJUTANT-GENERAL OR P.O. (REF. SHIP LETTER CHARGE); 31 Jan. 1811 E with OHMS heading and scarce "Adjutant-General's Office" imprint from London to "Officer Commanding [81st Regt., Sicily"; the addressee (?) has used both sides of the sheet to write pages 7-8 of a long letter about his tour of Sicily incl. an ascent of the volcano Mt. Etna); plus very fine 18 Oct. 1839 EL to "Leghorn, Italy" via Calais (faint cds) from the London G.P.O. advising that a "[Ship] Letter" to the addressees was being held there pending the receipt of the British 2s-11d Postage Due; with very fine scarce 'crown-on-top' London "FREE" d.s. with "E" code and mainly fine "VIA DI/PT. BEAUVOISIN" on the front with Livorno m/s crossed lines across the address (to indicate no payment required on delivery), having London FB and arrival d.s. (27 Oct.) on the top flap. (2 covers) Cross Reference: ITALIAN STATES, POSTAGE DUE MARKS, SHIP LETTERS (Image)
Opening GBP 190.00
Sold...GBP 340.00
Closed..Jun-23-2022, 03:00:00 EST
Sold For 340
Sale No: 844
Lot No: 1504
Symbol:
FREE MAIL TO THE MADEIRA - "OHMS/W.L. Maberly" COVER REF. TRANSIT SHIP LETTER POSTAGE; 28 Apr. 1837 EL to Madeira from the London G.P.O. advising that a "[Ship?] Letter" to the addressees was being held there pending the receipt of the British 3s-1d Postage Due; with fine 2-ring London crowned "FREE" d.s., having London FB cds on the top flap and filing note of its arrival in Madeira on 15 May.Cross Reference: MADEIRA, POSTAGE DUE MARKS (Image)
Opening GBP 80.00
Sold...GBP 85.00
Closed..Jun-23-2022, 03:00:00 EST
Sold For 85
Sale No: 844
Lot No: 1505
Symbol:
Cat No: Collection
OFFICIAL FREE MAIL - HEADINGS OF CHARITIES, FRIENDLY SOCIETIES & POOR LAW COMMISSIONERS; 1822-38 covers (mostly with the scarce printed Official Free status headings - the forerunners of Postal Stationery) all posted ex London inc. 27 Feb. 1837 EL with rare "Office of the Commissioners of Charities" heading (with prepaid 1822 EL before their free frank was granted), 1836 pair of rare "BARRISTER appointed to Certify RULES OF FRIENDLY SOCIETIES" headings (different sizes/settings), and 1836/8 pair of "POOR LAW COMMISSIONERS" Es. Plus attractive 1831 pair of part printed "Overseers of the Poor" documents with fancy wafer seals beside signatures ref. returning poor people to their parishes. Scarce group. (6 covers + 2 documents)Cross Reference: OFFICIAL MAIL (Image)
Opening GBP 100.00
Sold...GBP 220.00
Closed..Jun-23-2022, 03:00:00 EST
Sold For 220
Sale No: 844
Lot No: 1506
Symbol:
OFFICIAL FREE MAIL - MANUSCRIPT HEADINGS OF COMMISSIONERS FOR BUILDING CHURCHES; 1820 front franked ex London to Calne with m/s "Society for promoting the enlargement & building of Churches & Chapels" heading, plus 1829-35 quartet of Es sent from Newtown (2 with UDCs; Wales), Bradford or Halifax to the Commissioners in London with similar long-winded manuscript headings, three of which were charged with postage but then with the charges cancelled with hollow 'Star' London Inspectors' marks (two of those additionally being annotated as "On the business as directed" by "George Jelf", the Secretary to the Church Commissioners at the time). The cover from Halifax has two crowned London "FREE" d.s. of very different dates (9 Feb. - cancelled and 25 Mar.). One of the rarest of Official Free headings. (4 covers + 1 front)Cross Reference: YORKSHIRE, WILTSHIRE, WELSH POSTAL HISTORY, LONDON POSTAL HISTORY (Image)
Opening GBP 100.00
Sold...GBP 280.00
Closed..Jun-23-2022, 03:00:00 EST
Sold For 280
Sale No: 844
Lot No: 1507
Symbol:
OFFICIAL FREE MAIL - RARE HEADING OF "Council Office" (BOARD OF HEALTH) REF. CHOLERA OUTBREAK; Very fine 23 Mar. 1832 EL with printed "O.H.M.S. Council Office" (the first of its kind that we can recall having seen) sent from "Central Board of Health, Council Office, Whitehall" to a vicar in "Highworth" (Wilts.) in reply to his query about how local Health Boards could be set up under the recent "Cholera Prevention Act"; it has an authorising signature at top right and a fine red 20-ring London crowned "FREE" d.s. With addressee's separate manuscript copy of a subsequent (18 Aug.) circular from the Council Office about setting up such Boards. Clear echoes of recent Covid 19 problems... 32,000 people died of cholera in Britain in 1831/2. Cross Reference: DISINFECTED MAIL, MEDICAL, WILTSHIRE (Image)
Opening GBP 80.00
Sold...GBP 180.00
Closed..Jun-23-2022, 03:00:00 EST
Sold For 180
Sale No: 844
Lot No: 1508
Symbol:
Cat No: Collection
OFFICIAL FREE MAIL - MILITARY - PAIR OF RARE DIFFERENT HEADINGS OF THE "WATERLOO SUBSCRIPTION"; 27 June 1825 & 29 Oct. 1830 free fronts from London to Stockport or to Newcastle on Tyne both signed by "F. Freeing" at lower left, but each with a different printed heading "On the business of the WATERLOO SUBSCRIPTION" and each with a red London crowned "FREE" d.s. It appears that these fronts are the only recorded examples of special waterloo Subscription printed headings to have been recorded and they are much rarer than the handstruck "WATERLOO SUBSCRIPTION" markings of 1816-22. [Both ex Dr. Frank Bottomley; Cavendish Jan. 2010, lot 806; the pair realised £700+BP.]Cross Reference: MILITARY - NAPOLEONIC WAR, OFFICIAL MAIL (Image)
Opening GBP 340.00
Sold...GBP 360.00
Closed..Jun-23-2022, 03:00:00 EST
Sold For 360
Sale No: 844
Lot No: 1509
Symbol:
OFFICIAL FREE MAIL - MILITARY - GREENWICH & CHELSEA HOSPITAL/PENSIONERS HEADINGS ETC.; 1806-39 study of mail to and from these Military 'Hospitals' inc. 1806/35 pair of free fronts with "Act of Parliament..." headings and imprints of "Greenwich/Hospital" or "[G]reenwich Pension Office, Tower Hill London" (1806 with scarce fine 2-ring 'Apple' FREE d.s.), two 1824/34 Es with the similar "Pursuant to Act..." heading but "Royal Hospital, Chelsea" or "Chelsea Hospital" imprints returned as "Not Known/Found" in Guildford/Glasgow (latter with "GLASGOW/PENNY POST" crossed out and replaced by scarce matching fine "To Pay/ONE PENNY"), similar 1833 local London usage of plain OHMS/Secretary's Office, Royal Hospital, Chelsea" imprint returned "Not known...", and 7 covers to the Chelsea Hospital almost all with postal charges cancelled (3 from Scotland - inc. Isle of Mull - and 2 ex Shrewsbury). Plus 4 c.1910 PPC of Chelsea Hospital interiors. (10 covers, 2 fronts & 4 PPCs)Cross Reference: SCOTLAND, OFFICIAL MAIL, SHROPSHIRE (Image)
Opening GBP 130.00
Sold...GBP 200.00
Closed..Jun-23-2022, 03:00:00 EST
Sold For 200
Sale No: 844
Lot No: 1510
Symbol:
Cat No: Collection
OFFICIAL FREE MAIL - MILITARY - COLLECTION OF PRINTED HEADED COVERS - WAR OFFICE, C-IN-C, ETC.; 1796-1838 group (ex London unless noted) incl. 11 "O.H.M.S." headed 1804-30 free E/ELs with varied "War-Office" imprints and authorising signatures (the 1804 & 1830 covers with partly printed addresses - latter with unusual PS on flap for P.O. ref. return if undelivered - and 1827 redirected and so charged "1 Oz 3/4"), scarce 1823 "ARMY PAY-OFFICE,/Pursuant to Act of Parliament" imprint (unusual format) E to Aberdeen, 1832/4 "Commander in/Chief's Office" pair of Es (different sizes; plus 2 1826/36 fronts), scarce 1827 "Office of Ordnance" imprint EL (plus 1834 front with red m/s "Mifsent to" beside "GOSPORT" cds); plus 1814/38 set of manuscript endorsed War Office/Adjutant General/C-in-C/Ordnance E/ELs, and 1799/1829 ELs/E trio (one with scarce 1799 'dotted' FREE cds) addressed to C-in-C/Paymaster/War Office, etc. Good lot. (23 covers + 8 fronts)Cross Reference: OFFICIAL MAIL, LONDON POSTAL HISTORY, MILITARY (Image)
Opening GBP 160.00
Sold...GBP 170.00
Closed..Jun-23-2022, 03:00:00 EST
Sold For 170
Sale No: 844
Lot No: 1511
Symbol:
Cat No: Collection
OFFICIAL FREE MAIL - NAVAL - GROUP OF PRINTED HEADED COVERS - ADMIRALTY/NAVY PAY-OFFICE; 1802-36 covers inc. 1802/10/18 EL/Es trio with "Pursuant to Act...Navy Pay-Office" headings/imprints (1802 with m/s "Mifsent to Crediton", 1810 readdressed before posting, and 1818 a demand for £1-18s-0d fee before Prize Money would be paid - ref. HMS Cydnus a British ship successfully deployed against American forces in the War of 1812 - latter with separate letter criticising the charge!), 1818 "OHMS/NAVY-OFFICE/Post Paid" imprint EL with unused reply letter-sheet having printed "Secretary of the Navy...LONDON" address still attached, 1831/6 E/EL pair with OHMS/Admiralty imprints of George Elliot or Charles Wood, 1817/35 pair of free fronts with similar named Admiralty imprints and 1816/25 E (with fine "PITTEN/WEEM") plus 2 fronts all addressed to the Admiralty. Much scarcer than the Military types. (11 covers + 4 fronts)Cross Reference: NAVAL MAIL, SCOTLAND, DEVON, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (Image)
Opening GBP 100.00
Sold...GBP 110.00
Closed..Jun-23-2022, 03:00:00 EST
Sold For 110
Sale No: 844
Lot No: 1512
Symbol:
Cat No: Collection
OFFICIAL FREE MAIL - PARLIAMENT - HOUSE OF COMMONS PRINTED & MANUSCRIPT "PAR. PRO." HEADINGS, ETC.; 1776 EL franked from "Ho. of Commons" (abuse of privilege; written by someone else) to Alnwick with fine red London "FREE" in circle on the front ref. sending a printed bill in two covers, 1833/36 free fronts ex London to Ipswich/Manchester with red crowned FREE d.s. but each most unusually endorsed "Par. Pro." or "Par[liamentary]. Proc[eedings].", a rare 9 Mar. 1842 wrapper front to Inverness with red m/s "1" and fine printed "Par. Pro./To be Posted at the House of Commons only/POST PAID" heading , and 1818/38 quartet of fronts unusually addressed to "The Vote Office, House of Commons" (one with rare Bagshot "One Penny To Pay" and red boxed London "TO PAY 1D ONLY"). Scarce group. (1 cover + 7 fronts) Cross Reference: PARLIAMENTARY MAIL, SURREY, LONDON POSTAL HISTORY (Image)
Opening GBP 100.00
Sold...GBP 110.00
Closed..Jun-23-2022, 03:00:00 EST
Sold For 110
Sale No: 844
Lot No: 1513
Symbol:
OFFICIAL FREE MAIL - PARLIAMENT - WRAPPER WITH RARE "Reform Act, 2 Will. IV, Cap. 45." PRINTED HEADING; 19 June 1834 complete open-ended wrapper (for printed matter; horiz. filing crease clear of mark and printing) with this rare Reform Act heading and with partly printed "To the Overseers of the Poor/for the Parish or Township of [Basing, Basingstoke" with v. fine red crowned London "FREE" d.s. The hugely important Reform Act of 1832 not only ushered in permanent parliamentary reform but also set out the way in which voters lists would be kept up to date - by Overseers of the Poor in every parish in the land to be sent back to the Secretary of State's Office by "the 20th day of July in the present and in every succeeding year...". This wrapper clearly contained the necessary forms for that. There is no authorising signature on name because it was used for sending printed matter alone. Rare thus and very attractive. The only example we have recorded. [Ex Drs. Harper; Cavendish Mar. 2009, lot 2378; realised £360.]Cross Reference: PARLIAMENTARY MAIL, PRINTED MATTER (Image)
Opening GBP 160.00
Sold...GBP 170.00
Closed..Jun-23-2022, 03:00:00 EST
Sold For 170
Sale No: 844
Lot No: 1514
Symbol:
OFFICIAL FREE MAIL - PARLIAMENT - ABOLITION OF THE SLAVE TRADE - RARE "Public General Act" WRAPPER; 22 July 1824 complete open-ended wrapper (with red 2-ring London "FREE" d.s.) with fully printed heading and address; "No.416 Public General Act, Cap. [113] 1 Copy./To the Chief Magistrate or Head Officer, Corfe Castle". Only the cap. number has been completed in manuscript and Cap. 24 of 1824 was the Slave Trade Act of that year (passed on 24 June) which continued the campaign against slavery by including all former anti-Slavery legislation into this one Act. Such wrappers used for mailing printed acts of Parliament are rarely seen, and this is the first that conveyed a Slave Trade Act that we have seen.Cross Reference: PARLIAMENTARY MAIL, PRINTED MATTER, SLAVES AND SLAVERY, DORSET (Image)
Opening GBP 100.00
Sold...GBP 110.00
Closed..Jun-23-2022, 03:00:00 EST
Sold For 110
Sale No: 844
Lot No: 1515
Symbol:
OFFICIAL FREE MAIL - PARLIAMENT - UNUSED PRINTED-ADDRESS "POOR RETURNS/F. FREELING" FORM; Very fine 21 June 1819 printed EL with contents headed "HOUSE OF COMMONS" being a form to declare the Poor Law rates levied in Aylsham (Norfolk) in 1816-19 that has been completed and signed, but the printed return-address side headed "POOR RETURNS" with "F. FREELING" imprint at the foot and fully printed address "To The Clerk of The House of Commons, London" which has not been posted or sealed; possibly delivered in person by the local M.P.? Rare unused prestamp Official House of Commons stationery.Cross Reference: PARLIAMENTARY MAIL (Image)
Opening GBP 65.00
Sold...GBP 70.00
Closed..Jun-23-2022, 03:00:00 EST
Sold For 70
Sale No: 844
Lot No: 1516
Symbol:
Cat No: Collection
OFFICIAL FREE MAIL - GENERAL POST OFFICE - PRINTED HEADING MAIL ETC. TO POSTMASTERS ET AL; 1800-40 covers inc. 1800 EL with m/s "O.H.M.S" at top and "G.P.O." at lower left to Aylesbury from the P.O. Solicitor "A. Parkin" with v. fine London 'Apple' "FREE" d.s. and "W. Stokes" authorising signature at top right, fine 1805 printed circular "To all Postmasters" EL (ref. tax rules for home-office allowances & employing assistants!) with printed O.H.M.S. heading and part printed address to "Postmaster [Church] of [Sawbridgeworth]" with v. fine London 'Apple' "FREE" d.s. but having m/s "Mifsent to Tunbridge Wells" at top, 1819 local London EL endorsed "Off[icia]l. H[ugh]. P[arkin]." and G.P.O. with fine red crowned "To be/delivered/Free", fine 1812 EL with "OHMS/Genl. Post Office" imprint (ref. safe receipt of £140 bank Bill; signed by "G. Freeling", Francis F's son and official assistant) to Huddersfield Postmaster with crowned FREE d.s., similar 1830 P.O. imprint EL to Highworth ref. need for sight of covers of some letters said to have been overcharged, 4d-Post front+flap with fine scarce "POYNTZFIELD" sent free to Edinr. P.O. Secretary, and Mar. 1840 EL endorsed O.H.M.S. G.P.O." red. a lost letter. Good group. (6 covers + 1 front)Cross Reference: OFFICIAL MAIL, LONDON POSTAL HISTORY (Image)
Opening GBP 100.00
Sold...GBP 110.00
Closed..Jun-23-2022, 03:00:00 EST
Sold For 110
Sale No: 844
Lot No: 1517
Symbol:
OFFICIAL FREE MAIL - BALANCE - RARE MERCHANT SEAMEN, SEAMEN'S WILLS, & REGISTRAR GENERAL TYPES, ETC.; 1822-39 covers with 1836b E (dusting) with rare "O.H.M.S./Pursuant to Act... REGISTER OFFICE/OR MERCHANT SEAMEN" heading/imprint (faint boxed "MISSENT/TO ??NORWICH" on flap), 1822 E ex Maidstone (mileage) to "Inspector of Seamen's Wills... London" (crowned FREE d.s.; rare address for free mail - ex Frank Bottomley), July 1839 E with v. fine crown-on-top London "FREE/E" d.s. having rare "Registrar General of Births, Deaths and Marriages" heading, and unusual 1833 EL from "CAMBRIDGE" cds to Chelsea Hospital charged "8" and then with boxed "TP/Rate 2" both cancelled and so with red crowned London Local Post "To be/delivered/Free" but that also cancelled and replaced by another boxed "TP/Rate 2"! Plus 1825 prepaid EL endorsed "OHMS/Hackney Coach Office" on the front (ref. two £5 fines - licence infringements?). Intriguing and rare lot. (5 covers)Cross Reference: OFFICIAL MAIL, NAVAL MAIL, LONDON POSTAL HISTORY, POSTAGE DUE MARKS (Image)
