YORK DISTINCTIVE MALTESE CROSS ON 1d RED COVER ORDERING 200 LEECHES TO BE SENT BY POST!; 26 Aug. 1842 EL from York to London with very nearly 4m 1d Red tied by a very fine Distinctive York Maltese Cross with a fine blue "MICKLEGATE/YORK" alongside the stamp and a matching "YORK" cds on the reverse; the contents concern leeches to be sent by post; "...send me 200 Best Spotted Pond Leeches, Good Size & Healthy per Post; the last you sent me were not at all healthy and bled a great deal, which I did not at all like; you will oblige me [by] being particular about this lot... [P.S.] I lost a great many." Plus 17 Oct. 1842 E from York to Hartlepool with a near 4m 1d Red tied by a very fine /normal' York MX. Good pair. (2 covers)Cross Reference: 1841 1d REDS, MEDICAL, YORKSHIRE (Image)