|
|
| GENERAL POST MAIL, 1661-68 |
|
2033 |
|
LAST MONTH BEFORE BISHOP MARKS - SUSPENDED FREE MAIL PERIOD; 9th/16th March 1661 pair of EL's from "Drury lane" [=London] to "Yoxall", both from the Earl of "Clare" during the brief 29th Dec. 1660 to May 1661period when franking was not available (it was reinstituted for the "Pensionary Parliament" from May 1661 continually until 12th July 1679) and both endorsed "Leave this at the Post House in Litchfield ". Oddly the first was "pt. pd 3d " whereas the second was "pt pd 2d ". Lichfield is some 119 actual miles from London, but at this date the P.O. used "computed" miles, rather than actual miles! The result was that the "80" miles limit for the 3d rate was nearer to 110 actual miles, hence - whereas 3d was the correct rate - two P.O. officials might have assessed the rate differently! Rare pair sent barely a month before the introduction of the Bishop Mark. (2 covers). PHOTO - see plate no. 8 |
£500 |
|
2034 |
|
THE P.O. ADVERTISEMENT REF. THE INTRODUCTION OF THE BISHOP MARK ; Fine complete issue (No.26; 27th June to 4th July 1661) of the small "Mercurius Publicus" newspaper (6x8 ins.), bound with blank pages in part leather boards, having the Important P.O. advert regarding the London Receivers, warning against spurious letter-carriers, and announcing that; "to prevent any neglect of the Letter carriers in the speedy delivery of Letters.....the dayes of the receipt of every letter at the [Post] Office is printed [i.e. marked with the Bishop Mark] upon the letter ". This notice marks the Birth of Postmarks. Rare; few examples of this paper have survived. PHOTO - see plate no. 15 |
£500 |
|
2035 |
|
THE FIRST MONTH USAGE OF THE 1661 BISHOP MARK ; Very attractive 15th May 1661 EL from "Yarmouth" (Norfolk), charged "3d" and addressed to T. Pengelly "at the pestell and morter in fen church street, London ", having a very fine strike of the First Type "MA/17" Bishop Mark (just clear of a light fold and small closed tear; nicely placed on the top flap so that it displays the right way up and next to the clear "An [swered]. ye 23 May 1661 " dating of the addressee). For many years this was the earliest known Bishop Mark (illustrated on p.246 of the 1939 R.L. "Handstruck Postage Stamps of the Empire", and see R.L.'s 1937 leaflet "THE BISHOP MARK" that illustrates this whole cover and notes that it was ex the famous J.H. Daniels Collection). Subsequently earlier examples were found in the P.R.O. (inc. 2 First Day - 19th April 1661 - strikes), but this remains the second earliest example in private hands as far as we know; it is 3 days earlier than the "Traudl" cover, 10 days earlier than the Grace Dove cover, and 6 weeks earlier than the "Pepys" cover. Highly attractive and important Exhibition item. PHOTO - see plate no. 9 |
£1500 |
|
2036 |
|
IRELAND - SECOND YEAR BISHOP MARK COVER; 11th June 1662 EL from "Dublin" to London (ref. works undertaken at "Camolin") with a Dublin m/s "6"(d) charge on the front and a very fine "IV/6" London arrival Bishop Mark on the left flap. Rare thus; 1662 Bishop Marks are almost as rare as 1661 examples. PHOTO - see plate no. 9 |
£500 |
|
2037 |
|
Similar 8th May 1662 EL (some wear - mostly internal - and reinforced folds) from "Dublin" to John Morris "neare the Stockes, London" charged "6"(d) with a very fine London "MA/17" arrival Bishop Mark nicely placed on the top flap. The matching example to the 1661 cover above, being the exact same day but one year later , but varying slightly and so showing that there was more than one mark for each day, or that they were cut afresh each year, right from the start. Early Irish cover. PHOTO - see plate no. 8 |
£400 |
|
2038 |
|
PREPAID 1662 LETTER FROM LONDON WITHOUT BISHOP MARK ; 17th April 1662 EL (minor wear) from "Zach. Babingston" in "London", addressed to "Hampstall-Ridware neare Lichfeild" and endorsed "pt. pd. 3d" but without the slightest sign of a Bishop Mark on either flap (and see similar letters under the "Free Mail" section later in this catalogue). It seems that the Bishop Mark was only used in 1661/2 on letters addressed TO London (see separate discussion elsewhere in this catalogue), so this letter did not need one. Rare and interesting. PHOTO - see plate no. 8 |
£200 |
|
2039 |
|
1664 BISHOP MARK COVER FROM NORWICH; 16th May 1664 EL (closed worm-holes slightly affect address but barely detract) from "Norwch." addressed to "the Flying Horse in Cornehill, London" charged "3"(d), having a superb "MA/18" London arrival Bishop Mark nicely placed on the left flap. Attractive. PHOTO - see plate no. 8 |
£180 |
|
2040 |
|
1664 BISHOP MARK COVER TO STAFFS.; 7th March 1664 EL (some edge wear) from the Earl of "Clare" at "Clare House" (presumably London), addressed to Yoxall, endorsed "Leave this at the post house in Litchfield..." and endorsed "pd 3d", having a fine "MR/8" London despatch Bishop Mark (rare so early) on the right flap. See separate discussion of the late introduction of Bishop Marks on outgoing London mail such as this. PHOTO - see plate no. 8 |
£150 |
|
2041 |
|
THE GRAPHIC EYE-WITNESS GREAT PLAGUE LETTER , 1665; 7th Aug. 1665 EL (minor creasing and some internal faults affecting some of the contents; full typed transcript included) from "Chelsey" addressed to "Hunstanton in Norfolke to be delivd att the Bell in Lynn to be sent as directed ", having a manuscript "3"(d) charge on the front and a fine London "AV/8" despatch Bishop Mark on the left hand flap. This letter was written at the height of the Great Plague in London and gives a graphic account of life there at the time (the Bill of Mortality for London for 15th-22nd Aug. 1665 gives the number who died in London of the "Plague" that week as "3880", an increase of "1289" on the previous week). The lengthy and detailed contents include:- "...the Taylor and his wife [that] you ordered to keepe your house have ben visited with the sicknese and 3 children are already dead, and the mother is past recovery, and he himselfe lies very ill. His maids & his apprentice have had the disease, but there is hopes of their recovery....your maid holds out very well as yett and the dores are nailed up between them & she is in the little house. I saw her today, and I desired her that if she should sicken that she should goe into ye house amongst them.....several houses in our town [i.e. Chelsea] are visited..... P.S. Since I wrote this letter, I went this morning to yr house and yr woman she lies dead & ye taylour they say cannot live till night ....." A unique and horrifying eye-witness account of one of Britain's worst ever Plagues. It is impressive that the P.O. was still operational at all, and of course no disinfection of any kind seems to have been practised. Few 1665 Bishop Mark covers survive (for obvious reasons); an important Exhibition item. PHOTO - ABOVE. |
£750 |
|
2042 |
|
THE GREAT PLAGUE - INGOING BISHOP MARK LETTER FROM DEVON ; Fine 24th June 1665 EL from "Exon" [= Exeter; mentions "ye schoole at Totnes"] to "Middle Temple, London", charged "3"(d) with a very fine "IV/28" London arrival Bishop Mark on the top flap. Only (see previous lot) "470" people died in London of "Plague" during the week 27th June to 4th July 1665, but this was already the true Great Plague epidemic. The P.O. worked on, but 1665 Bishop Marks are still understandably very rare. PHOTO - see plate no. 9 |
£500 |
|
2043 |
|
THE GREAT PLAGUE - 1665 BISHOP MARK COVER PREPAID TO LICHFIELD; 8th April 1665 EL (some creasing) from the Earl of Clare [in London], with a very fine "AP/8" Bishop Mark on the left flap, endorsed "post pd 3d" and addressed to Yoxall; "Leave this at the post house in Litchfeild..." Attractive and rare 1665 Bishop Mark cover from the month before the Great Plague reached truly epidemic proportions in the capital. The Plague had started at Christmas the year before, but severe frosts had kept it in check until April when it broke out in earnest; 398 people died of Plague in London during the second week of April 1666, when this letter was written. [Barrie actively pursued Plague Year Bishop Marks; the appearance of three examples in this one auction should not be interpreted as meaning that they are anything but very rare!] PHOTO - see plate no. 9 |
£400 |
|
2044 |
|
THE GREAT FIRE OF LONDON - IRISH LETTER WITH POSTAL CHARGE BUT NO BISHOP MARK, BECAUSE THE HANDSTAMPS HAD BEEN BURNED THE WEEK BEFORE ; Exceptionally rare 11th Sept. 1666 fine EL (minor faults inc. closed spike-hole beside address) from "Dublin" (contents inc. reference to English soldiers stealing "prize cattle") addressed to "Yorke house, London" [in the Strand and so just clear of the Fire], with the usual manuscript "6" charge, but no trace of any Bishop Mark. The Fire raged from 3rd to 4th September, during which time the General Post Office was burned to the ground and the Bishop Marks and ink stocks destroyed; the City continued to burn and this letter would have arrived (c.13th September) as buildings were still smouldering . It is clear that the Bishop Mark was not reintroduced for some weeks (we have not traced one before November), and only one other cover (from London) of the Great Fire period has been recorded and IT ALSO HAS NO BISHOP MARK . Much rarer than covers with 1666 Bishop Marks, although they are also extremely hard to find- indeed Barrie Jay did not have one. This is therefore as close as one can get to a letter from the Great Fire of London. PHOTO - ABOVE. |
£1000 |
|
2045 |
|
1667 BISHOP MARK; 11th/14th Oct. 1667 EL (origin not known) to "London" charged "3" with a fine "OC/14" Bishop Mark on the top flap. Attractive. |
£75 |
|
2046 |
|
OVERSIZE 1668 BISHOP MARK ON COVER EX HULL; 27th/29th March 1668 EL from "Hull" to London charged "3" with a surprisingly large "MR/29" arrival Bishop (14-16mm diameter; almost oval) on the lower flap. PHOTO - see plate no. 15 |
£100 |
|
2047 |
|
DERBYSHIRE - 1668 BISHOP MARK; 6th May 1668 attractive small EL (internal edge a little ragged just affecting town of origin) from "Dranefeld" (= Dronfield near Chesterfield) to London charged "3"(d) on the front (upside down !) with a very fine "MA/8" arrival Bishop on the flap. PHOTO - see plate no. 15 |
£100 |
| LATER 17th CENTURY GENERAL POST MAIL – 1670-99 |
|
2048 |
|
EARLY CHRISTMAS DAY BISHOP MARK; 22nd Dec. 1671 EL (minor wear) from "Walton" (probably near Chesterfield, Derbys.) to London charged "3" with a very fine "DE/25" arrival Bishop Mark (barely affected by creasing) on the flap. Rare and attractive. PHOTO - see plate no. 15 |
£150 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
2049 |
|
THE UNIQUE () REVERSED "S" BISHOP MARK ; Fine 5th/11th Sept. 1672 EL (origin unknown; "...I live out of all post wayes & farr from any great Towne...") to "the Old Jury, London", charged "3"(d), having a mostly very fine strike of the "SE/11" arrival Bishop Mark nicely placed on the lower flap and showing the REVERSED "S" ERROR (Jay L1b; the only example recorded for any year and the first that we have seen). One of the few 17th Century British Postmark Errors to have been found. Exhibition quality. PHOTO - see plate no. 9 |
£500 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
2050 |
|
IRELAND - EXTREMELY EARLY DUBLIN BISHOP MARK ; 18th/27th Jan. 1672/3 EL (dated "1672" but thought to be 1673 because that was the first year of use of this sanserif London Bishop Mark) from "Dublin" to London and charged "6"(d), having a mostly fine sanserif "IA/27" London arrival Bishop Mark on the right hand flap, but also having a superb strike of the rather differently styled "IA/18" DUBLIN BISHOP MARK alongside. Dublin's first recorded Bishop Mark is 13th Aug. 1670 (on an internal Irish letter), but strikes are of great rarity prior to 1690 and exceptionally rare (only a handful known) for the 1670's. This cover is illustrated on p.251 of R.L.'s 1939 "Handstruck Postage Stamps of the Empire", and in full in R.L.'s 1937 leaflet "The BISHOP MARK" where it is described as the "earliest known Irish Bishop Mark". We only know of the one earlier example after almost 65 years of further studies! This cover is exceptional because Dublin Bishop Marks were only used on internal Irish mail at this date. Of the dozens of 17th century Dublin letters addressed to London that we have seen, this is THE ONLY ONE WITH A DUBLIN BISHOP MARK. Important and famous Irish Exhibition item showing one of the earliest known Irish postmarks. PHOTO - ABOVE. |
£1500 |
|
2051 |
|
DORSET - 1674 LETTER FROM POOLE REF. BROWNSEA ISLAND, ETC.; 4th/6th July 1674 EL from "Pooll" to London with lengthy contents with several mentions of "Brownsa" (= Brownsea island in Poole harbour); charged "3" with a fine "IY/6" Bishop Mark on the flap, and with four cross-hatched flourishes in the writer’s hand below the address (to fill up the space!). Very early letter from this part of the world. |
£100 |
|
2052 |
|
NOTTS. - REVERSED "N" BISHOP MARK ERROR; 31st Oct. 1674 EL (minor creasing) from "Nott." [= Nottingham] to London endorsed "per Poft" with a m/s "3d" charge, having a very fine "NO/2" arrival Bishop Mark on the top flap showing the Reversed "N" Error. Rare and attractive. PHOTO - see plate no. 8 |
£150 |
|
2053 |
|
DERBYSHIRE - EARLY LETTERS WITH FLOURISHES; 1678/9 trio of EL's to London from Dronfield (2; one damp-affected) & Wigwell (nr. Worksworth) all with simple writers' flourishes above their addresses and charged "3"(d) each. All with fair to fine arrival Bishop Marks on the reverse. (3 covers). |
£120 |
|
2054 |
|
SOMERSET - COFFEE HOUSE COVER; 23rd Sept. 1681 EL from "Blagdon" to an address "next doore to the Rolls [Coffee House] in Chancery Lane, London" with a mostly fine "SE/26" Bishop Mark (closed tear) on the flap. An early letter from this part of the world. |
£75 |
|
2055 |
|
WILTSHIRE; 19th Nov. 1683 EL from "Marlbro." addressed to "Tower Street over against the Dolphin Tavern, In London" with a m/s "2" charge on the front and a very fine "NO/21" arrival Bishop Mark (slight creasing) on the right hand flap. Scarce. |
£75 |
|
2056 |
|
RARE EARLY LEAP YEAR "FE/29" BISHOP MARK; 27th Feb. 1687/8 EL (origin unknown) to "Mincing Lane in London" with an almost very fine strike of the most elusive of all Bishop Mark dates - "FE/29" - on the left hand flap. Very attractive and rare. PHOTO - see plate no. 15 |
£150 |
|
2057 |
|
STAFFS. - LOCAL "MESSENGER" LETTER; 17th Jan. 1689 EL from "Haughton" (presumably the village near Stafford) addressed to Yoxall, without postal marks but with filing note "brought by T. Thorneton ye messenger". It is rare to have a private messenger's name identified. |
£50 |
|
2058 |
|
GLOUCS. - PRISONER LETTERS; 1690/1 pair of EL's from a prisoner in "Glow[ceste]r Castle", addressed to a house "neare the Rolls [Coffee House], London" with extremely fine "FE/16" & "AP/1" Bishop Marks. Rare prisoner mail (c.f. Cavendish's April 2000 auction, lot 193) and attractive. (2 covers). |
£100 |
|
2059 |
|
SCOTLAND - EARLY EDINBURGH OVAL BISHOP MARK COVER ADDRESSED TO A PUB; 3rd Feb. 1698 EL from "Edr." addressed to London to "the Shipe in King's Street neir Guild Hall", charged "2d" (to Berwick) and then "5"(with initials; the full rate to London), having a partly fine black oval Edinburgh "FE/5" Bishop Mark (only introduced late in 1693 and rare pre-1700) as well as a very fine "FE/11" London Bishop Mark on the reverse. Seldom seen. |
£100 |
| 18th CENTURY GENERAL POST MAIL, 1704-85 |
|
2060 |
|
SCOTTISH POSTAL RATES; 1704 EL from London to Edinr. with m/s "3" (to Berwick) on the front and m/s "5d" (full rate) on the flap; plus 1736 EL from London to Edinr. with m/s "6" charge (the new 1711 rate); both have very fine London Bishop marks. Scarce pair. (2 covers). |
£65 |
|
2061 |
|
SUSSEX - VERY EARLY "HURSTGREEN" STRAIGHT LINE MARK; 8th June 1706 fine EL (very slightly reduced at top of address) to London ("att the Signe of the Golden Ball in Watling Street att the corner of freyday Street") with fine "IV/10" Bishop, m/s 22" charge and a very fine rare "HURSTGREEN" mark (SX710; recorded for 1706 only, with no further Hurst green mark known until1789!) all nicely positioned for display. Very attractive. PHOTO - see plate no. 8 |
£150 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
2062 |
|
WALES - THE VERY RARE "PEM-/BROOK X" CROSS-POST MARK ; 3rd May 1713 EL (minor creasing) to London charged "4" (the new 1711 "over 80 miles" rate) with a "MA/11" Bishop Mark on the left hand flap beside a 95% very fine "PEM-/BROOK X" mark (W1878; only recorded for 1713-4). Very few of these "X" Cross Post marks are known from any of the 6 towns recorded as having used them; Wrexham is the only other Welsh one recorded. Much rarer than the Chester "C" marks in our opinion. Attractive and Important Welsh Postal History gem. PHOTO - see plate no. 9 |
£750 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
2063 |
|
HANTS. - EARLY "ALTON" WITH BISHOP MARK ERROR; 24th/25th July 1720 EL to London with v. fine small "ALTON" (HA40; 1720-2) and a mostly very fine rare MONTH ABOVE DAY London "IY/25" arrival Bishop mark (Jay L3c; only recorded 1719-21 and few examples known) which normally indicated Foreign Branch usage. Rare and attractive. PHOTO - see plate no. 10 |
£150 |
|
2064 |
|
"MONTH ABOVE DAY" BISHOP MARK ERROR; 1st Aug. 1719 EL from London to Edinburgh with a very fine rare "AV/1" Bishop Mark error (L3c; should have been day above month on inland letters from 1713) on the left hand flap beside a near fine "L" in circle R.H. mark. Attractive and rare. PHOTO - see plate no. 15 |
£100 |
|
2065 |
|
LANCS. - EARLY "MAN/CHESTER" COVER WITH REVERSED "N" BISHOP MARK ERROR; 10th/13th Nov. 1721 E from "Mr. Chadwick, Whitworth" to London (charge errors; "8" then "1/-" then "8"!)with a very fine small "MAN/CHESTER" (M7; 1720-6) beside an equally very fine "13/NO" London arrival Bishop with Reversed "N" error (L3e; the only day recorded for this error between 1685 & 1758 - much rarer than the 17th century reversed N type) on the lower flap. Rare thus; displays well. PHOTO - see plate no. 15 |
£150 |
|
2066 |
|
HEREFORDSHIRE - THE VERY RARE REVERSED "4" BISHOP MARK ; 1759 EL (weak fold along one side) to London with a mostly fine small "HERE/FORD" on the flap beside a very fine strike of the "4/IV" mark with reversed "4" (Jay L3f; recorded for this ONE DAY ONLY during the entire 126-year life of the Bishop Mark!). Very rare; the only example in existence PHOTO - see plate no. 15 |
£300 |
|
2067 |
|
18th CENTURY POSTAL RATES, ETC. - PRINTED ACTS OF PARLIAMENT; Fine set of separate original printed Acts, dated 1765, 1784, 1794 (new London 1d Post), 1801, 1806, 1815 (Ship Letters from Ireland), 1820 (2; Port Patrick/Donaghadee + Post Horse Duties), 1825 (Threatening Letters) & August 1840. Good lot full of important information ref. rates, etc., etc. (10 Acts). |
£120 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
2068 |
|
LONDON - THE VERY RARE RED BISHOP MARK ERROR ; 27th Aug. 1781 EL from London prepaid to Margate with a very fine red encircled "POST/PAID" on the front, matching the similar RED "27/AU" London Bishop Mark (L3b) on the left hand flap. Surprisingly rare; only a handful of pre-1787 London Bishops in anything other than black have been recorded. Attractive and of Exhibition quality. PHOTO - see plate no. 9 |
£500 |
|
|
|
|
|
| LATER GENERAL POST MAIL, 1787-1839 |
|
2069 |
|
POST OFFICE ACTS OF PARLIAMENT, 1837-40: inc. ''... for the Management of the P.O.'', ''...for the Regulation of the Duties of Postage'', ''... for Regulating the sending and receiving Letters...free from the Duty of Postage'', ''... to provide for the Conveyance of Mails by Railways'', ''...for the further Regulation of the Duties on Postage until... [5th Oct.1840]'' and ''...for the Regulation of the Duties of Postage'' [10 August 1840]. Fine condition - one loose page. (6 Acts). |
£100 |
| SUNDAY AND LATE FEE MAIL, 1797-1867 |
|
2070 |
|
THE "S"-OUTSIDE 1st-TYPE LONDON SUNDAY DATESTAMP ; 25th Feb. 1798 EL from "Ugborough" to London with a mostly fine horseshoe "PLYMOUTH" on the front and a very fine "S"-outside London c.d.s. (Jay L25; rare) nicely placed on the top flap. Very little mail was handled in London on a Sunday, and the special "S"-code c.d.s.'s were only introduced in 1798, so this is a very early example. PHOTO - see plate no. 15 |
£200 |
|
2071 |
|
THE LATER SUNDAY "S"-CODE LONDON DATESTAMPS; 1803/1816/1827/1838 covers from (2), via or to London, with mostly very fine strikes of the scarce "S"-code L27 (rare; with m/s "Mifsent to Royston), and L28 (3; one franked, one ex Ireland & one ex Cuba with near fine red boxed London "PACKET LETTER"). Useful lot. (4 covers). |
£100 |
|
2072 |
|
SUNDAY FREE's; 1830-7 franked covers (5), all with fine scalloped London "SUN" c.d.s.'s (L30) and four also showing the matching Branch Office encircled Inspectors' marks "C" (2 types; Charing Cross), "L" (Lombard St.) and "V" (Vere St.). Plus 1848 E with 1d Red (faults) showing the same scalloped "SUN" mark and "C" in circle marks used after 1840. Scarce and attractive group. (6 covers). |
£100 |
|
2073 |
|
THE TINY BLUE SCALLOPED SUNDAY C.D.S.; 27th Oct. 1867 local London mourning env. with 1d Red (pl.100) tied by oval numeral, having a very fine strike of the rare L31 "SIN" c.d.s. nicely placed on the side flap. Seldom seen. PHOTO - see plate no. 15 |
£75 |
|
2074 |
|
BRITAIN's FIRST LATE FEE PAID MARKING; Fine 9th Aug. 1797 E to Hull with a very fine strike of the short-lived BOXED London "AUG/9/97" datestamp (Jay L36) barely a month after its introduction. This letter was prepaid 6d extra to catch the mail coach north at the last moment. Few examples known; the "Pepys" cover (over a year later than this example) sold for £460 in Nov. 1996. PHOTO - see plate no. 15 |
£400 |
|
2075 |
|
CHANNEL ISLES - THE 2nd-TYPE LATE FEE PAID MARK ON COVER TO GUERNSEY ; 15th Feb. 1799 E from London to Guernsey with a mostly very fine strike of the very rare BLACK "FEB/15·99" c.d.s. (Jay L37; recorded for Jan./Feb. 1799 only in this colour) on the top flap. Very rare on mail to the Channel Isles. PHOTO - see plate no. 15 |
£300 |
|
2076 |
|
THE PURPLE 2nd-TYPE LATE FEE PAID C.D.S.; 28th March 1799 E to Norwich with a very fine purple "MAR/28·99" c.d.s. (Jay L37a) nicely placed on the top flap. Rare and very attractive. PHOTO - see plate no. 15 |
£240 |
|
2077 |
|
LATER PRESTAMP LATE FEE PAID MAIL; 1804/5 pair of E's with fine scarce purple London codeless Late Fee Paid c.d.s.'s (Jay L38b), plus the next boxed type marks in black (unrecorded) & purple (Jay L39; to Guernsey), and the final boxed type in scarce purple (L40), black (L40a) and red (L40b). All mostly fine to very fine. Scarce lot. (7 covers). |
£150 |
|
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