1783 (Jan 24) Entire letter from London to Edinburgh with 24mm circular framed "FREE / E" in red applied in Edinburgh, fine and very scarce. The letter reports peace with France, St. Lucia and Tobago to be given to France, all other captured islands to be returned to Britain, Spain will get Florida and Minorca, Britain demands Trincomalee from the Dutch. Fewer than 20 Edinburgh Free handstamps recorded in total, of which at least half are on fronts only. Photo on Page 26. (Image1)

1764 (June 15) Entire to London, signed "Free Thomond", with 20mm circular framed "FREE" (large "F") in red. A very early and exceptionally fine example of this first London Free handstamp. Photo on Page 26. (Image1)

1787 (Mar 5) Entire letter from London to Bristol, written by John Armstrong but franked by Wm Pulling (a clear abuse of the franking privilege), with 24mm circular framed "FREE" struck in black, very scarce, one of just four examples recorded in black ink. Photo on Page 26. (Image1)

1788-91 Entire letter and entire, the 1788 letter from James Esdaile & Co to Cobb & Co in Margate franked by B. Hammet (a clear abuse of the franking privilege), both with circular double ring "FREE / C" used by Inspector of Franks Charles Coltson, superb strikes in black or red, uncommon so fine. (2). Photo on Page 26. (Image1)

1789 (Dec 10) Entire letter from Bristol to Kingmeston, Somerset, inscribed "M.P", redirected to London with "136 SOMER / TON" first type mileage mark, a fine circular framed "FREE / P" with laurel leaves below in black, applied in London by Inspector of Franks John Palmer, London arrival backstamp (Dec 14). Fine and scarce, fewer than 15 recorded. Photo on Page 28. (Image1)

1791 (Feb 4) Entire letter from London to Highworth, signed "Free Sarum" by the Bishop of Salisbury, with red circular framed "FREE / A" with laurel leaves below, used by Inspector of Franks William Addison, two opening tears at upper edge, otherwise fine and scarce, only about eight examples of this handstamp recorded in red.

1791 (Feb 3) Entire from Grantham to London with straight line "GRANTHAM" and red "FREE / P" framed within laurel leaves (LF5, Jay 774), an unusually good strike of this very scarce handstamp used by Inspector of Franks John Palmer, only recorded in 1791, thirteen examples recorded of which four are fronts only, light file folds. Photo on Page 28. (Image1)

1791 (Feb 19) Entire to Banff with unusually fine red circular framed "FREE / C" with laurel leaves below, used by Inspector of Franks Charles Coltson, a second very light and inverted strike at left, unusually endorsed "Came in the Elgin Bag this day by mistake 1 March 91, P.D", London and Edinburgh (Feb 22) backstamps. Scarce, about a dozen examples recorded.

1792 (Apr 14) Entire letter from James Esdaile & Co to Cobb & Co in Margate, franked by B. Hammet (a clear abuse of the franking privilege) with 27½mm circular framed "FREE", the latest recorded use of this handstamp in a fine bright blood-red ink.

1792 (Dec 3) Entire letter written and signed by Sir Joseph Banks, President of the Royal Society (who accompanied Capt. Cook on his round the world expedition in the "Endeavour"), addressed to the Earl of Fife at Duff House in Scotland, readdressed to Fife House in London. Handstamped with red triple ring Free datestamps with "P" at base (Dec. 3, used by John Palmer) or "C" at base (Dec 17, used by Charles Coltson), straight line "BANFF", backstamped at London and Edinburgh (Dec. 5 and twice on Dec. 14). A very unusual combination of Free datestamps with differing inspector initials, and a good autograph. Photo on Page 28. (Image1)

1797 Entires with triple or quadruple ring (Evening Duty) Free datestamps with a diamond at base, one wrapper addressed and signed by the Prime Minister William Pitt the Younger with both Morning and Evening Duty Free datestamps, the others with the earliest recorded dates for both datestamps, all fine. (3).

1799 (July 24) Entire letter from London to Clement Tudway MP at Sir Richard Hills house in Whitchurch, with two superb strikes of the experimental datestamp with "FREE" above a dotted circle containing a crown and the date, one unusually applied on the reverse. The first day of use of this datestamp, replacing the previous experimental type which had diamonds under the circle (and is also known used on this same day, July 24th). Exceptional quality and a unique first day use, only recorded for three months. Photo on Page 28. (Image1)

1799 (Oct 27) Long chatty letter from Elizabeth Chute at The Vyne (now a National Trust house) to Epping with curved "BASING / STOKE" and red experimental unframed crown over date and "FREE" handstamp, a superb strike of this uncommon datestamp which was only used for two months, this example from the first week of use. Photo on Page 28. (Image1)

1800-06 Entire letters or entires (8) and fronts (3) all with 'apple' type Free datestamps, various types with differing shaped crowns, Free at base type, wrapper used to send Parliamentary Proceedings, etc, all fine strikes. (11).

1808-40 Entire letters or entires (24) and fronts (41) all with single or double rim crowned circle Free datestamps, many differing types, including entires signed by Wellington (2) or William Frederick, Duke of Gloucester, 1840 (Jan. 1, 4d Post period) front signed Disraeli, free front from Brighton to a Schooner at Plymouth endorsed "sailed to Cowes I of W", fronts with handstamp of John Gray Bell, autograph dealer, on reverse (4), black datestamps, etc. (65).

O Code Forgeries. 1802-40 Fronts with forged "O" code Free datestamps (8), two with datestamps showing the day and month missing and year shown as "18", three with 4d Post Period dates, one front signed by the Postmaster General Lord Lichfield addressed to Col. Maberley at the G.P.O with 10 JA 1840 datestamp (first day of Penny Postage). Also fronts with genuine datestamps (4) including Jan 8 and Jan 10 1840 dates (latter posted Jan. 9, a little reduced in size). An interesting group, ex Frank Bottomley. (12).

1841 (Nov 23) Entire letter from the Admiralty to William Shield in Exeter informing him of this promotion to Admiral of the White, with a red crowned datestamp, clearly a Free datestamp from which the word "Free" has been excised, the year shown as "184", small stain, otherwise fine and very unusual.

1826 (July 14) Entire from Edinburgh to The Marquis of Bute in London with black octagonal framed "ABOVE / PRIVILEGE" (EP2) applied in Edinburgh and red "ABOVE / WEIGHT" (LW4) in London, charged 4/4 with two "Addl / ½" handstamps, light file folds. The only recorded example of this Edinburgh Above Privilege handstamp, an exceptional item. Photo on Page 32. (Image1)