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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 -
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. -
Free Cover (undated) with "FREE" in circle in red (type 1/2 £50) and faint Bishop Mark on reverse (type 1/4 £40). Addressed to Mr Browne, Chappell Town nr Sheffield. Repaired but still visibly a fine early piece -
1860 letter Chamonix to Horsham, Sussex then redirected to Westminster. MS Angleterre in top left, 2 very crisp "Chamonix 22 Juin 60" code C over France 40c orange (SG64 £24), PD boxed in red. Receivers mark Horsham JU 25 1860 and London BX rec mark in red dated JU. A stunning little piece of postal history, very attractive -
First Flight letters 1937, sent on the occasion of the first flight between Aberdeen and Lerwick, Shetland Islands on 23/11/37. Letters sent in each direction, both with 1½d brown KGVI definitive. Nice pair of covers -
First Day covers Channel Islands. 1d red and 2½d blue first issued 10 May 1948. 1 cover issued on Jersey, and the other on Alderney. Jersey cover has crumple in top right corner -
Entire 1850 Stirling to Falkirk with 1d red imperf blued paper letters RC 2 margins tied by 4-5-4 barred numeral 308 handstamp of Stirling. Backstamped by boxed Falkirk datestamp in blue, double arc Stirling CDS, plus Edinburgh transit stamp, all dated 6th Feb 1850. Contents is a tax notice for an amount of £1-2sh. Nice item -
Entire 1828 Sevenoaks to Margate, with manuscript postage rate "6" crossed out and "8" added. Backstamped by SEVEN OAKS town mark with mileage (type 3/20 £15) and receivers mark double rim in red dated 22 MY 1828 code G -
Outer 1874 Liverpool to Oporto (1/- stamp removed!) with EXCHANGE LIVERPOOL duplex mark dated 24 JY 1874 code A 14, with FRANCA oval in black, and red PD in circle. Cover marked "Via France". Backstamped by Porto arrival mark in black dated 1 AUG 1874. Letter from a company called John Glynn, asking for the enclosed letter to be delivered to a Captain Johnson either at Porto or Vienna, depending on where he drops off his cargo of fish from Newfoundland! -
Entire 1873 Cambridge local post with ½d bantam plate 4 letters OK tied by Cambridge 158 duplex cancel dated NO 3 73. Contents is a promotional leaflet for the Cambridge University Temperance Union, who are looking for members either as abstainers or non-abstainers! -
Entire 1871 Mourning letter Edinburgh to Ayr, with ½p Bantam pl8 tied by Edinburgh duplex mark 131 dated AP 6 71, an unusual duplex having san-serif letters for the town, but seriffed letters for the date. Backstamped by single arc AYR code A AP 7 71, and a large black wax seal. The letter is a beautifully written request for the recipient to attend the funeral of the senders uncle. Cat of the stamp alone is £120, twice that on cover. Letter has a fold in it, otherwise very fine and well preserved. -
Entire 1870 Edinburgh to Perth with 2d Blue pl13 letter SB tied by Edinburgh duplex stamp dated JU-6-1870, backstamped PERTH JU 7 70 with a quite superb and intact "Royal Bank of Scotland" wax seal with coat of arms. Contents are in relation to credits and debits due to the Perth branch of Royal Bank of Scotland, including a Bill from Union Bank of Australia dated Jun 3 1860 - if additional papers included in this letter, might explain why the extra postage was paid. SG47 used on cover cat £75.
