1839 Campaign for Postal Reform by James Chalmers. A superb example of this rare circular entitled "A Comparative Statement of the Expense of Stamped Envelopes with Stamped slips" printed on very thin white paper outlining the benefits of pre-paid stamps to be affixed to an envelope or wrapper with four examples of the proposed labels at foot in denominations of 1d (Half ounce weight), 2d (One ounce), 4d (Two ounce) & 6d (Three ounce). A magnificent example of this very rare essay of which only five or six examples are believed to exist in private hands. 2010 BPA Cert. Ex. "Mayflower". Cat £15,000. (Image)

1838 John W. Parker Lettersheet. Superb example of the ‘Cambridge Bible Warehouse’ variant of this rare lettersheet that was distributed in the 1838 ‘The Post Circular’. Exceptionally fine quality. Cat. £5000 (Image)

1839 Robert W. Siever Treasury Essay. Fine example with crisp embossing and engine turning in red and blue, complete on original printed insert originally stitched in No.65 of the ‘London and Westminster review’. Some wear along folds nevertheless still a very presentable example. Cat. £5000 (Image)

1840 Charles Whiting Treasury Essays. Very fine piece showing the lower four embossed essays from the pamphlet circulated with the March 1840 ‘London and Westminster Review’, two printed in blue and two in colourless relief. Couple of minor tones at lower left. Scarce. Cat. £2000 (Image)

c.1839 Charles Whiting ‘Beaufort House’ Treasury Essay. Very fine example printed in red and black using the congreve method of interlocking plates’. Scarce. (Image)

c.1839 Charles Whiting Treasury Essays. Very fine sheetlet of three essays, The top pair printed in red & blue and blue respectively introduced the idea of check letters with ‘CW’ in the lower corners. Light horizontal fold crosses the lower essay nevertheless a very presentable piece printed on wove paper (123x158mm) and is not the reprinted version from the 1844 Art Journal. Scarce. (Image)

c.1839 Charles Whiting Essays. Group of three essays, No.10 Post Office essay in red and blue (cut close and mounted on card), small ‘Beaufort House/Post Paid’ essay in red and black, and a ‘Robt. Low & Son/Strand’ essay in red and blue (toned at lower left). Interesting group. (Image)

c.1840 Charles Whiting ‘PAID’ Embossed Essay. Very fine example showing the uncrowned Queen’s head set in an ornate oval frame, printed in bright-green on a white envelope (130x82mm). Central vertical fold to envelope well clear of essay. Scarce. 2008 RPS Cert. (Image)

c.1840 Charles Whiting 1d Embossed Essay. Very fine example in deep green on soft white paper (22x24mm) showing the adopted Wyon crowned portrait, within an ornate oval frame inscribed ‘POSTAGE 1d. HALF OZ.’. Scarce. 2010 BPA Certificate (Image)

c.1840 Charles Whiting Embossed Essay. Fine example showing the uncrowned Queen’s head set in an ornate oval frame (Without PAID), printed in black on white wove paper (42x45mm). Cat. £2000 (Image)

1837 John Dickinson 1d ‘District Post’ Lettersheet. Very fine example printed in yellow-buff on Dickinson’s patented silk thread paper. Cat. £850 (Image)

1837 2d "London District Post" lettersheet. Fine example in green printed on silk thread security paper by John Dickinson. Although the adoption of these lettersheets was recommended by the Post Office Commission of July 1837, the scheme was dropped in favour of the much maligned mulready. Scarce. (Image)

1840 Buchanan Lettersheet (Type 1). Very fine example sent from Coventry to Cambridge, cancelled by a Coventry cds for AP.18.1840 with a red manuscript ‘Pd 1’ alongside and a black ‘No 1’ handstamp at lower left. Right hand side flap removed and some very light surface abrasions, nevertheless, still a very presentable example of this rare lettersheet of which only a handful are known. Cat. £15000. 1998 BPA Certificate. (Image)