Great Britain and British Commonwealth POSTAL REFORMS
Sale No: 838
Lot No: 647
Symbol:
MERCANTILE COMMITTEE PROPAGANDA CIRCULAR - GIANT "SINGLE" LETTER-SHEETS; [c.1] May 1839 Mercantile Committee on Postage (M.C.P.) propaganda letter-sheets designed by Henry Cole; two different 1838 types and this 1839 "Museum" design - only 1,500 in all were produced, of which most have perished due to their thin paper and vast size. This giant letter-sheet (professionally silked and reinforced in a few places) has a partly printed address-panel:- it is headed "SPECIMEN OF POSTAGE CHARGES IN 1839./To be preserved among the curiosities of any Museum, &c." and above the address is the warning; "SINGLE LETTER,/UNDER ONE OUNCE IN WEIGHT./To be kept dry, or the Single Postage will at once be raised to Fourfold Postage./LONDON". In fact they were intended to be sent by free mail to M.P.s to sway their views about Cheap Postage. Complete with the full text inside headed; "POSTAGE CHARGES IN 1839. This Sheet, 35 inches by 23 inches, weighing One Ounce, is charged as a SINGLE letter", including two "ANOMALIES" - examples of crazy postal rates in various parts of Britain. A recent survey of these important 1839-version Giant Postal Reform propaganda letter-sheets suggests that only three unused and three postally used examples survive in private hands (all being in poor condition). Important Exhibition Centre-piece regarding the Campaign for Cheap Postage.Cross Reference: FREE MAIL, POSTAGE DUE MARKS (Image)
Opening GBP 650.00
Sold...GBP 650.00
Closed..Sep-09-2021, 08:17:00 EST
Sold For 650
Sale No: 838
Lot No: 648
Symbol:
LAST DAY OF MILEAGE-BASED POSTAL RATES - RARE PREPAID 7d-RATE COVER (EX SOUTHAMPTON); 4 Dec. 1839 EL (can fold to show the letter's date on the filing endorsement alongside the address; minor wear to folds) sent prepaid - "P7" at the 7d rate (30-50 miles) - on the very last day when postage was charged by the mileage that a letter was carried; there is a mostly fine "SOUTHAMPTON/DE 4/1839" cds on the top flap. Only three or four prepaid letters at a rate above 4d sent on this significant date have been recorded; the next day the postage would have only been 4d! This letter is from a young lawyer to another lawyer (to whom the writer had, it seems, been articled) asking for introductions to clients who might require a £10,00 or £12,000 mortgage; it seems that a wasted 3d was not something he would worry about. Very rare letter sent on this date.Cross Reference: HAMPSHIRE, UNIFORM 4d POSTAGE PERIOD (Image)
