First Day of Uniform Penny Postage. 1840 (Jan 10) Entire letter from London to Tadcaster, written on January 9th but posted the following day, the first day of Uniform Penny Postage, therefore saving 3d postage, prepaid 1d. Handstamped with faint 1d Paid local post handstamp, red JA 10 1840 tombstone datestamp and a red handstruck "1". The first day of the 1d postage rate and therefore the first day of use of the "1" handstamp, very fine and scarce, ex Hugh Feldman collection. Photo on Page 246. (Image1)

First Day of Uniform Postage - Liverpool. 1840 (Jan 10) Entire letter from Liverpool to Collooney, Ireland, with superb red Liverpool datestamp and a handstruck "1", Dublin arrival datestamp (Jan 11) also on the front. This letter would have cost 4d to send on the previous day and 1/1 just six week earlier. Liverpool was one of the very few towns to have a "1" handstamp prepared ahead of Uniform Penny Postage. A superb and rare first day use of this "1" handstamp and first day of Uniform Penny Postage. Photo on Page 246. (Image1)

London. 1845 Entire from London to Shrewsbury with a tiny handstruck "1" (15mm long) with serifs, unlisted by Jay or Walker and apparently previously unrecorded. Also an 1840 entire with the usual 44mm red "1" handstamp of London. (2). Photo on Page 246. (Image1)

London. 1840-48 Entire letters, the first to Penistone near Barnsley with handstruck "1" and a 2d private charge levied by the Postmaster of Barnsley for delivery to Penistone, a very unusual combination. Also letters over ½oz with differing red "2" handstamps, one showing a partial "1" handstamp below the "2", the clerk evidently starting to apply this handstamp before realising his error. (3).

Greater London - Barnet. 1847 Entire letter from Barnet to London with red boxed "1d PAID" (HE 61), one of the very few 1d paid marks used by suburban offices in Greater London. A little soiling and pressed folds, but a scarce mark, this type unique to Barnet.

Berkshire - Windsor. 1842-44 Cover and entire letter both to London with large red "1" (BR 526) or "PAID / 1" (BR 527), both very fine, the first type only used 1841-42. (2).

Buckinghamshire - High Wycombe. 1840-45 Entires handstamped red "H. Wycombe / Paid One Penny" or "PAID / ONE / PENNY", the second with a little light soiling, the first (only recorded in 1840) very fine and scarce. (2). Photo on Page 246. (Image1)

Channel Islands. 1843-50 Entire letter from Guernsey to Somerset and an entire from Jersey to London, both with red handstruck "1" (CH 11, 48b), fine and scarce. These handstamps rarely used, most prepaid mail from the islands in the 1840s having the 1d rate shown in manuscript. (2).

Cheshire - Chester. 1841-43 Entires with differing red "1d" handstamps, the first British County Catalogue type CH 178, the second with the "1" as type CH 179 (shown without a "d") but this handstamp clearly with an inverted "d" before the numeral, an interesting and rare variant that was recorded by Robson Lowe, perhaps based on this cover. (2). Photo on Page 246. (Image1)

Cheshire - Chester. 1840 (May 15) Front to Knutsford with a red handstruck "4" and Chester datestamp, one of the very few "4" handstamps made for mail over 1oz. Only two examples of this "4" are recorded, both on fronts posted on the very same day (the other front from the same sender, but to Warrington). Photo on Page 246. (Image1)

Cheshire - Namptwich. 1843-44 Entire letters with red "1" or "1d" handstamps (CH 564/5) and Namptwich datestamps, both very fine. (2). Photo on Page 248. (Image1)

Cornwall. 1844 Cover to Liverpool with red handstruck "1" of Falmouth (CO 85), the reverse with initials of an incredible 30 postmen on 15 different delivery rounds who attempted to delivery this cover, finally endorsed "cannot be found" and returned; and 1850 cover from Hayle to Surrey with red handstruck "1" (CO 116, seven years later than recorded), both fine. (2). Photo on Page 248. (Image1)

Essex - Romford. 1841 Entires handstamped "P.1d" (EX 405), one in black, the other in red. An unusual pair, black incorrectly used on some occasions in 1840-41. (2).

Hampshire - Basingstoke. 1843-51 Entire letters handstamped red "Pd / 1" (HA 186), "Pd / 2" (HA 192) or "Pd / 4" (2 differing types, one HA 195, the other unlisted in the British County Catalogue). A remarkable group, Basingstoke exceptional in having two different "4" handstamps for use on mail over 1oz. (4). Photo on Page 248. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image1)

Hertfordshire - Hertford. 1844 (Dec 14) Entire to London with red circular framed "PAID / HERTFORD / 1d" (HE 238), a further message added by the addressee and the letter turned and reposted from London to Sheffield franked by a 1d red. Folded to show both address panels, an interesting item illustrating prepayment by both cash and stamps.

Hertfordshire - Waltham Cross. 1841-43 Entire letter to London with red "Paid 1" (HE 562) and an entire to Royston with similar type "Paid 4" in red (HE 566), used on letters over 1oz. This Paid 4 handstamp only recorded in 1843 and very scarce. (2). Photo on Page 248. (Image1)

Hertfordshire / Bedfordshire. 1840 Entire letters with red handstruck "1" of Woburn (not recorded in the British County Catalogue), "Pd 1" of Hertford (HE 236) or "P1" of Buntingford (HE 144), three uncommon 1840 handstamps. (3).

Isle of Man. 1840 (Mar 3) Entire letter to Birmingham with red "P1" (IM 65), backstamped at Dublin. A good example of this very scarce P1 handstamp, only recorded in 1840. Photo on Page 250. (Image1)

Isle of Man. 1840 (Dec 7) Entire letter (ironmongers bill, with printed heading) to Castletown with red "P1" (IM 66), backstamped at Douglas, left flap removed, the P1 handstamp just touching left edge, otherwise fine and a very scarce handstamp, only recorded 1840-41. Photo on Page 250. (Image1)

Kent - Goudhurst / Lamberhurst. 1841-45 Entire to Tenterden and an entire letter to Daventry, the first with "Goudhurst / Penny Post", Lamberhurst c.d.s and red "PAID 1" (KT 637) probably applied at Lamberhurst; the second with a faint Goudhurst undated circle, Cranbrook c.d.s and red "PD 1" applied at Goudhurst or Cranbrook, two fine and uncommon handstamps. (2).

Kent - Sevenoaks. 1849 (July 9) Small cover (88x50mm) to Maidstone, a small wafer seal on reverse, with red circular framed "PAID / 1d" (KT 1052), backstamped at Sevenoaks, Tonbridge and Maidstone. An attractive cover, the Paid handstamp recorded 1849-50.

Lancashire - Besses o' the Barn. 1849 (Aug 18) Entire to Radcliff with circular framed "PAID / 1" (LA 38) and "BESSES-O-THE-BARN" undated circle both in a matching blue-green, Bury c.d.s in blue. A rare use of a handstruck 1d paid mark from such a small office (a sub-office of Bury 1845-55), one of three examples recorded between 1847 and 1849. A couple of pressed creases with a little light staining, otherwise fine and attractive. Photo on Page 252. (Image1)

Lancashire - Bolton. 1849 (Jan 19) Mourning cover to Manchester with red handstruck "BOLTON / PAID 1" (LT 168, Paid 1 within a circle, with Bolton in an arc above), a fine strike of this scarce, highly distinctive and very attractive handstamp. Photo on Page 252. (Image1)

Lancashire - Blackburn. 1847 (Apr 27) Large cover (201x143mm) to Hull, the cover weighing over 2oz with the 6d postage paid in cash, handstamped with red "6" and a Blackburn c.d.s, tear at upper left corner, horizontal fold above and clear of the handstamps and a few minor edge soils, but a remarkable and unique item. Two other towns (Grantham and Norwich) had "6" handstamps to denote payment of registration fees but this is the only recorded "6" handstamp used for prepayment of a heavy letter over 2ozs. An important and unique item of G.B postal history, with R.P.S Certificate (2012). Photo on Inside Back Cover. (Image1)

Lancashire - Todmorden. 1840 (May 5) Entire letter to Halifax with red "Todmorden / Penny Post" and large fancy "P2" (unrecorded in the British County Catalogue, this very example illustrated in "Uniform Penny Post Handstruck Paid Stamps" by Walker). Also an 1840 front with the Todmorden Penny Post and "P1" handstamp (LA 1095) clearly made by the same person as the "P2" handstamp. An exceptional 2d handstamp, probably unique. (2). Photo on Page 250. (Image1)