1703-33 Entire letters to M.Ps, the first from Brandon to "The Honble Sr Cyrill Wich a member of parlement at his house in Jermyn Street London" with "2" charge crossed out and initialled; the second to "Sr William Clayton Bart at Marden near Godstone Surrey" and inscribed "Free, A Memb. Of Parlt", both with Bishop Marks. (2).

Clerks of the Road / Newspapers. 1711 "Evening Post" newspaper posted from London to Perth signed "Frank, Dupplin"; 1820 part wrapper to Leek with printed heading "The Macclesfield Courier / Earl Stamford and Warrington"; and 1819 partly printed invoice for newspapers from Henry Desborough, Clerk of the North Road. (3).

Scotland. 1716 (June 27) Entire letter from the Duke of Atholl at Dunkeld, "I desire you will do me the favour to despatch the enclosed packet so soon as it comes to your hand being for his majestys service", addressed "To Mr James Anderson, Postmaster General, for his majestys special service, Edinburgh", a rare early official letter sent post free within Scotland. John Murray, first Duke of Atholl, sided with the government in the 1715 rebellion, collected arms from the rebels and captured Rob Roy Macgregor in 1717. Photo on Page 34. (Image1)

1741-59 Entire letters to M.Ps, both with the postal charge crossed out by an inspector, the 1741 letter from Samuel Squire (later Bishop of St. Davids) at St. Johns College, Cambridge, to Wellington with fine "CAM / BRIDGE" handstamp; the 1759 letter from Patrick Maitland on the ship "Ajax" at Blackwall (concerning new sailors, most of which are unsuitable) to his brother The Earl of Lauderdale at Hatton near Edinburgh, both with London Bishop Marks. (2).

1751-1839 Entire letters or entires (4) and fronts (7) including fronts to the Post Office Secretary Col. Maberley (3, two signed by Francis Baring or Lord Palmerston), also a scarce unused wrapper with printed frank of "F. Freeling" and "On His Majesty's Service" heading, etc. (11).

Scotland. 1757 (Sep 13) Entire letter from Keith to the Sheriff at Banff concerning a warrant to transport two women prisoners, accused of wilful fire raising, to Aberdeen for their trial. Backstamped "KEITH", the address panel inscribed "To be delivered by the Postmaster of Banff on receipt containing warrant for transporting the prisoners" and endorsed "Free". Address panel torn at upper edge, very unusual and scarce.

1764-1837 Acts relating to posts and the franking privilege including 1764 and 1796 notices within newspapers, 1764 Act for preventing frauds and abuses in sending and receiving letters free of postage, 1814 Ship Letter Act, 1823 Act allowing soldiers in the East Indies to send and receive letters at reduced rates, 1802 Franking Act, 1837 Post Office Consolidation Act, etc. (12).

1784 (Dec 15) Entire letter from Horfield to Edward Bearcroft at Droitwich, sent free with "22 BRISTOL" first type mileage mark. The letter reports the escape of the prisoner Hodges and two other felons, and asks what action is to be taken against the prison keeper, who the writer suspects is involved in the escape.

1788 (Apr 25) Entire letter from the naval yard at Woolwich ordering a piece of copper, posted within London, the address panel headed "On His Maj. Service", backstamped triangular "PAYD / PENY / POST / T / FR" and circular "1 / O.CLOCK / G", endorsed "Burgoyne".

1795-1834 Letters to Francis Freeling concerning the franking of letters to or from Government officials, including three 1834 letters on the proposal to add James Stephen to the franking list in his capacity as Secretary of State for the Colonies (also a front signed by Stephen), requests to extend franking after leaving office, granting of franking privileges, requests for refunds, etc. (11).

Scotland. 1801 Entire to Perth, signed by W. Kerr, Secretary to the Post Office in Scotland, large wax seal impressed with royal arms and "GENL POST OFFICE EDINR / SOLICITOR", unusual.

1802 Printed Pamphlet "Justification of A Memorial Presented to The Right Honorable Lord Auckland and The Right Honorable Lord Charles Spencer, His Majestys Joint Post Masters General, June 12 1802" by J. Hobart Briggs, 94 pages, manuscript "never published" on the front. An interesting pamphlet written by a Clerk of the Roads and Inspector of Franks, the final page torn, otherwise fine and rare, possibly the only surviving example.

1811-37 Letters concerning free franking by M.Ps, all sent to Francis Freeling, including requests for refunds and complaints at the charging of letters, advice of a change of constituency, notification of election and an example of an M.Ps signature, advice of change of address, complaint that the Richmond Postmaster is datestamping letters the day after posting causing them to be charged, etc. (15).

1815-38 Letters concerning franking by or to women including 1818 letter from Princess Sophia Matilda requesting franking as secretary of an institution; 1815 letter from the Duke of Kent offering to forward letters from a Mrs Ogilvie under his frank; 1815 letter from the Countess of Portsmouth to Francis Freeling advising that she will sign franks on behalf of her husband, who was mad; letter from Lady Colchester franked by her husband to Lady Shelley; 1838 free front to Queen Victoria, etc. (9).

1818-39 Franked letters concerning the collection of free franks (3), free fronts (3, one with handstamp of John Gray Bell, dealer in autographs), also an 1848 letter from the G.P.O giving a brief history of franking. (7).

1831 Letter from C. Tracey Leigh, M.P for Wallingford, to Francis Freeling requesting that his frank be altered from Thos Leigh to C. Tracey Leigh, reverse with the opinion of the Solicitors Dept that M.Ps must sign in the name in which they were elected, also an 1832 front signed "Thos Leigh". (2).

1834 (Aug 1) Envelope from London to Lowestoft with two differing franking signatures, red Free datestamp. The only item we have seen franked by two different individuals, and an early envelope, most unusual.

1839 (May 2) Entire from London to the Church Warden at Thwayte, Norfolk, franked by the Bishop of Norwich, endorsed "supposed nr Bungay", "try north Walsham", "Missent to Thwaite Suffolk" and "retd from" alongside a "STONEHAM" undated circle, handstamped with the rare "Mifsent to / Yalmouth N" (an error for Yarmouth), reverse with "THWAITE / 85". Very unusual, the Missent handstamp not recorded in the County Catalogue. Photo on Page 34. (Image1)

Bishops. 1717-1840 Entire letters, entires and some fronts (86), the fine written up collection with franked mail from or to many different Bishops in England, Scotland or Ireland, including changes in the diocese of individuals, amalgamation of diocese, associated letters to Francis Freeling concerning election as a Bishop or incorrect charges on letters with one letter from Percy Jocelyn, the Bishop of Clogher who was charged with "immorality, incompetence, sodomitical practices, habits and propensities" after being caught in flagrante with a Grenadier Guardsman in 1822 (forfeiting bail and fleeing, never again heard of until his death in 1843), 1727 entire letter from the Archbishop of Canterbury, some early town handstamps, etc., also various picture postcards mainly of cathedrals. (86+).

Bishops. 1722-25 Entire letters from Dr Edmund Gibson, Bishop of Lincoln 1716-23 and then Bishop of London until his death in 1748. Posted from London to Lincoln with Bishop Marks and circular receiver handstamps (the first endorsed "Johnes"), the first two signed "Free Edm. Lincoln", the third signed "Free Edm. London". A fine group, showing the change in franking signature resulting from a change in diocese. (3).

Bishops. 1824 Letter from the nominated Bishop of Chichester, sent to Francis Freeing prior to his consecration with a specimen of his frank, the letter signed "R. I Chichester Elect", and an 1825 entire (torn) franked "R.I Chichester", an unusual pair. (2).

Bishops. 1837-39 Front and envelope from the Bishop of Norwich, the front posted on April 30 1837 during the 27 day period between his nomination and consecration as Bishop so signed "E. Norwich Elect", the 1839 cover signed "E. Norwich". The front with the date altered prior to posting, correctly signed a second time alongside the date alteration; the cover redirected with the Free datestamp crossed out, "2" charge, "TO PAY / 2d / ONLY" and red boxed "POSTAGE NOT PAID / TO LONDON". A very unusual pair. (2).

Catholicism. 1815-38 Letters comprising 1815 letter to Lord Clifford at Ugbrook with a red Free datestamp but charged 11d, the Clifford family being Catholics so barred from sitting in the Lords (until the Catholic Reform Act of 1829) therefore not eligible for free postage; 1838 letter to Lord Clifford in Rome with Free datestamp applied in error, crossed out and returned, reposted at Chelmsford paid 2/- (Clifford now eligible for franking, but inland letters only); and 1819 letter from the new Baron Downer to Francis Freeling, his brother the former Baron and a Catholic had died, the new Baron Dormer is a Protestant so will take his seat in the Lords and therefore qualifies for the franking privilege. An interesting group. (3). Photo on Page 34. (Image1)

Sunday Datestamps. 1826-39 Entire letters or entires with London Sunday datestamps including 1820 entire letter to Ireland written by E. Roberts but franked "Dobson", 1839 4d Post Period envelope with the Dec. Eight date altered to Dec fifteen, etc. (4).

Parliamentary Proceedings. 1823 Wrapper headed "Par. Pro" and signed "Free, J.B Austin", containing a printed notice headed "House of Commons" giving the final dates for receiving or reading petitions for private bills. Also an 1821 wrapper for sending a Parliamentary Statute, with printed address "To the Chief Magistrate or Head Office, Corfe Castle" and details of the enclosed Acts of Parliament. (2).