DARLINGTON - THE EXTREMELY RARE HANDSTRUCK "4" ON DEC. 1839 COVER - 16 Dec. 1839 EL datelined "Cotherston" to London with very fine, upright strike of the Uniform Fourpenny Postage mark of DARLINGTON (cds across the flap, along with London double-ringed receiver in red). Jay DU140 "H"; possibly the only known example in private hands (not recorded in the newly published Grimwood-Taylor list of UFP "4" marks). Exhibition item. Cross Reference: DURHAM (Image)

ASHBURTON HANDSTRUCK "4" USED IN COMBINATION WITH MANUSCRIPT "4" - CHRISTMAS DAY USAGE; 24th/25th Dec., 1839 EL used entirely within Devon, consisting of a printed Life Assurance Co. insurance premium notice initially posted from Exeter (fine cds on flap) to Ashburton on Christmas Eve with m/s "4" charge (small ink-etched hole alongside barely detracts), then turned and re-used with the reply written on the same sheet and posted back from Ashburton (fine cds on flap) back to Exeter on Christmas Day with a very fine Ashburton handstruck "4" (light fold through the mark scarcely detracts). Miraculously the letter folds neatly to display both manuscript and Handstruck "4" markings and both cds's, all in an upright position. Believed to be the only recorded English Handstruck "4" cover that has been turned and re-used in this way; the Ashburton Handstruck is also very rare, with prehaps only two other examples now being in private hands. Important Exhibition Item. [Ex Cavendish 25 May 2002 auction, lot 773; realised £2,400 + BP.]Cross Reference: DEVON, REDIRECTED AND TURNED MAIL (Image)