EARLY NEWSPAPER WITH NOTICE OF THE START OF BI-MONTHLY PACKET BETWEEN LEITH AND LERWICK; 20 Apr. 1758 complete original issue of "the Edinburgh Evening Courant" (discoloured first page, but p.3 Notice fine; "...there is a packet boat established between Leith and Lerwick in Zetland, fot eh regular conveyance of all letters and packets... portage for... single letter... 6d...to be continued regularly every two months..." in the the name of the P.M.G. Good ancillary item.Cross Reference: NEWSPAPERS/MAGAZINES (Image)

LERWICK - 18th CENTURY INGOING (1772 6d RATE) & INTER-ISLANDS (1784 TO ORKNEY) COVERS; Rare early prepaid 6d-rate EL from "Edinburgh" (fair red Bishop Mark on flap) to "Lerwick, Shetland" endorsed "Pd 6" - remarkably early example of the 6d Packet rate. Plus privately carried 1784 EL from "Lerwick" to "James Stewart Esq. of Brough" (located at this time at Brough on Westray in the Orkney Islands - endorsed "P. W. Williamson". Rare pair; there was no postal communication between the Shetlands and Orkneys as early as this and pre-1800 Shetland covers are rare. (2 covers)Cross Reference: ORKNEY ISLANDS, SCOTLAND (Image)

VERY EARLY BOXED STEP-TYPE "LERWICK/SHIP LETTER" ON LERWICK COVER TO STIRLING: 23 Jan. 1815 EL from "Lerwick" to Edinburgh (ordering cloth) charged "6[d]" and then "1/2" with a partly fine "LERWICK/SHIP LETTER" (Rob.S1; earliest date recorded by Auckland/Stables) and which is unusually struck on an internal GB cover. Rare so early.Cross Reference: SHIP LETTERS (Image)