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Free front sent from Meynooth to Dublin, dated Dec 31st 1839 Addressed to Miss Caroline Hamilton, 37 Dominick St, Dublin Markings Ref (Stanley Gibbons 9th Ed) - Irish Free Mark dated JA-1-1840 with "F" 1A/41, p7, value doubled as 1840 date (£100) Signed by "Leinster" Augustus Frederick FITZGERALD, 3rd Duke of Leinster (1791-1874) 1831-74 - Lord Lieutenant of Leinster 1804-74 - Duke of Leinster Augustus Fitzgerald was Grandmaster of the Grand Lodge of Ireland (Freemasons) from 1813 to 1874, and was also Lord High Constable of Ireland for the coronations of William IV and Queen Victoria Maynooth is the location of the Duke of Leinster's ancestral home
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A fascinating Free front sent from Wincanton to London, dated Aug 24th 1784 Addressed to Carbonell & Son, King Street, London (Carbonell & Son are wine merchants) Markings (Ref JT Whitney 7th Ed) – Noted “Not properly dated – put into Wincanton office”, surcharge “4” applied twice (Ref 2/34 p30? cat £35 each) The cover was originally signed “Westmorland”, but as it was not completed correctly to get free postage, it was turned in to Wincanton. It was subsequently crossed out due to above, then dated properly and signed “Greville” to enable delivery. A fascinating group of markings I have not seen before Westmorland – John Fane, 10th Earl of Westmorland (1759-1841) 1774-1841 – House of Lords, Earl of Westmorland 1798-1806, 1807-27 – Lord Privy Seal Greville – Charles Francis Greville (1749-1809). 1774-90 – MP for Warwick As a young man, Charles Greville courted Emma Hart, who would later become Lady Hamilton and Lord Nelson’s lover.
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Free front sent from Moreton-in-Marsh to London, dated Mar 17th 1839 Addressed to Mr Horace Rodd, No. 1 Great Newport St, Long Acre, London Markings Ref (JT Whitney 7th Ed) – “To Pay 1d Only” framed 1A/20 p14 (cat £75), plus “Moreton-in-Marsh Penny Post” unframed in black 3/26 (CC), p45 (cat £50) Signed by “Northwick” John Rushout, 2nd Baron Northwick (1770-1859). 1800-59 – House of Lords, Baron Northwick
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Free front sent from Guildford to London, dated Nov 25th 1822 Addressed to Reverend Hughes, Residentiary House, Amen Corner, St James, London Markings Ref (JT Whitney 7th Ed) – “TO PAY 1D ONLY” framed 1A/19 p14 (cat £30), plus GUILDFORD PENNY POST unframed in black 3/23 (Z), p41 (cat £30) Signed by “G Holme Sumner” George Holme Sumner (1760-1838). MP for Ilchester, Guildford and Surrey
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Free front sent from Esher to London, dated Nov 21st 1805 Addressed to Mrs Macklin, 39 Fleet Street, London Markings Ref (JT Whitney 7th Ed) – Large Single Circle Free stamp in red dated NOV 22 1805 1A/9 p10 (cat £50), plus single line town mark with mileage in box 3/20 p32 (cat £30) Signed by “Fletcher” Sir Henry Fletcher, 1st Baronet of Clea Hall (1727-1807). 1768-1806 – MP for Cumberland The addressee, Mrs Hannah Macklin, was married to Thomas Macklin, author of the Poet’s Gallery, and the Folio Bible project
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Free front sent from Ravenglass to London, dated Jul 27th 1834 Addressed to Sir W’m Cole & Co, Bankers, Old Bond St, London Markings Ref (JT Whitney 7th Ed) – “Ravenglass Penny Post” Boxed 2 line in red, 3/25, p32, (cat £50) “TO PAY 1D ONLY” framed 1A/19 p14 (cat £30) Signed by “E Stanley” Edward Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby (1799-1869). Longest serving Tory leader, Prime Minister on 3 separate occasions – 1852, 1858-59, 1866-68 1822-26 – MP for Stockbridge 1830 – Chief Secretary for Ireland 1833 & 1841 – Secretary for the Colonies 1844-69 – Member of the House of Lords
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Free front sent from Northwich to Chorlton, dated Jan 20th 1833 Addressed to Thomas Tarleton Esq, Chorlton Lodge, near Malpas Markings Ref (JT Whitney 7th Ed) – “Chester Penny Post” Boxed 2 line in black, 3/25 (BB), p32 (cat £30) Signed by “Delamere” Hugh Cholmondeley, 2nd Baron Delamere (1811-1887) Additional titles 1840-41 – MP for Denbighshire 1841-47 – MP for Montgomery 1855-87 – Member of the House of Lords
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Free front sent from Warwick to London, dated Jul 4th 1815 Addressed to Miss Carter, Mercers near Arundel St, Strand, London Markings Ref (JT Whitney 7th Ed) – “WARWICK Penny Post” 2 line in black, 3/23, p32 (cat £30) Signed by “Dartmouth” William LEGGE, 4th Earl of Dartmouth (1784-1853) Additional titles 1810 – MP for Milborne Port 1810 – Member of the House of Lords He had 16 children, 15 with his 2nd wife, Frances Barrington
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The Greek Post Office (ELTA) decided to copy what Australia did, and issue an "Instant" digital print stamp for every Olympic medal winner. In fact the design is VERY similar to the Australian issues. Like Australia, at a later date, offset copies were also printed of medal winner stamps. This idea proved a great success in Greece, and the general public were the ones out there buying these issues for patriotic reasons etc. Only a small % of those will ever re-enter the stamp market. The controversial stamp was issued to honor Leonidas Sampanis, the Bronze Medal winner in weightlifting in the 62 kilo weight class. Sampanis won his medal on Monday 16 August and the stamps were on sparing sale in limited offices starting Tuesday August 17. Sampanis later failed his drug test (twice) and on Sunday 22 August the IOC stripped him of his medal. Consequently, on Sunday August 22, ELTA ordered that all remaining stamps be taken off sale nationally and immediately returned to their central office and NONE were to be sold. I bought one of these sheets in 2004 from a local dealer, and paid $500 for it - that seems more than a little above the odds when you look at what they are fetching on sites like Ebay. Comes with copies of the articles in Stamp News from the time for reference
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For Valour - PNC cover Centenary of Victoria Cross winners, with limited edition $1 coin. The single highest value PNC produced for the Australian market, as the $1 coin was only available in this cover, and was taken out by coin collectors to fill their collection. Highly sought after and very valuable