The Famous “Lady Louis” Cover to Malta 1841 (Jan 9) 1d Mulready envelope, stereo A151, sent from Bristol to Lady Louis in Malta and uprated with five 1840 1d black pl.5 (strip of 4 and single) and three 2d blue pl.1, mostly with clear margins, tied by orange MCs, with “No.17” hs adjacent and despatch bs, two stamps repaired and the address panel slightly toned, a highly attractive and rare combination franking of the 1d black and 2d blue. Just over 50 Mulreadys sent abroad are recorded with only a dozen uprated with 1840 1d blacks or 2d blues. One of the great covers of British philately and a superb exhibition item. Provenance: Cowan, Grunin, Gross and "Severn". (Image)

1841 (Jan 5) 2d Mulready lettersheet sent from Richmond to Ripon (Yorkshire) uprated with 1840 2d blue pair (one stamp cut into on two sides), tied by slightly smudgy strikes of a red MC, reverse with despatch cds, very fine and rare uprated 2d Mulready (S.G. £30'000 for a 2d lettersheet uprated with one 1840 2d blue). (Image)

1841 (11 Jan.) Spooner envelope, rated "2" and "Pre Paid" in manuscript, from Chatham to Southsea with corresponding date stamps on reverse. A very attractive double rate example of this rare envelope, believed to be one of seven recorded examples. (Image)