Sale 1037 — United States and Foreign Stamps and Covers
Sale Date — Monday-Friday, 10-14 December, 2012
Category — Great Britain: Postal History, Parliament Entires and Mulreadys
GREAT BRITAIN, Rowland Hill. Autograph Letter Signed, datelined Downing St. May 16, 1847", part of content reads "My object is to compare a standard with which to compare the remuneration of the Post Office Guards -- similar information has been supplied by the Secretary of the Birmingham Railway Co.", some toning, Very Fine postal-related cover from the acknowledged "Father of the Postage Stamp"
GREAT BRITAIN, Too Late For Morning Post. Large red handstamp on back of folded letter to Richmond in Surrey, matching oval "7 o'Clock JA 31 1814" oval datestamp, also with "Exmouth" straightline handstamp on front, manuscript rate, Very Fine, attractive and unusual use
GREAT BRITAIN, 1840, House of Lords, 1p Red on Buff entire (SG PE5). Printed "(Temporary.) To be posted at the House of Lords only. Post Paid.--ONE PENNY.--Weight not to exceed -1/2 oz." at top of Parliamentary envelope with clear strike of red "Paid 12 MR 12 1840" crowned circle handstamp and addressed to Edgeware, intact red wax seal on back with clear "Honi. Soit Qui Mal Y Pense" slogan (loosely translated as "Shame be to him who thinks evil of it" or "Evil on he who thinks evil") and Coat of Arms, addressed in the hand of the Duke of Wellington, faint horizontal file fold at topVERY FINE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE HOUSE OF LORDS ONE-PENNY ENVELOPE USED IN MARCH 1840. VERY FEW ARE KNOWN. THIS IS ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE, AS IT IS ADDRESSED IN THE HAND OF THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON. THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT ENVELOPES ARE NOW LISTED IN THE STANLEY GIBBONS CATALOGUE.
According to British Pictorial Envelopes of the 19th Century, "Free frank privileges for members of the Houses of Parliament ceased with the introduction of Uniform Penny Postage on the 10th of January. After consultation, Rowland Hill arranged for plain printed envelopes to be supplied, probably free, to members of both houses in their stationery racks. When posted in the official boxes in Parliament they would incur no postal charges. The covers which bore the note "Temporary" ceased to be available from the 5th of May 1840."
As official envelopes, these have now rightly been given their own catalogue listing in the 2013 Stanley Gibbons Stamp Catalogue. Unlisted in Scott. Stanley Gibbons value
GREAT BRITAIN, 1840, House of Lords, 1p Red on Buff entire (SG PE5). Printed "(Temporary.) To be posted at the House of Lords only. Post Paid.--ONE PENNY.--Weight not to exceed -1/2 oz." at top of Parliamentary envelope, clear strike of red "Paid 4 MY 4 1840" crowned circle handstamp and used in London, red receiving datestamp at left, missing top flap and slightly reduced at top, some edge tears and slight soilingVERY FINE APPEARANCE. AN EXTREMELY RARE HOUSE OF LORDS ONE-PENNY ENVELOPE USED ON MAY 4, 1840 -- THE DAY BEFORE THEY WERE NO LONGER AVAILABLE FOR USE. THIS MAY BE THE LATEST RECORDED USE. THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT ENVELOPES ARE NOW LISTED IN THE STANLEY GIBBONS CATALOGUE.
According to British Pictorial Envelopes of the 19th Century, "Free frank privileges for members of the Houses of Parliament ceased with the introduction of Uniform Penny Postage on the 10th of January. After consultation, Rowland Hill arranged for plain printed envelopes to be supplied, probably free, to members of both houses in their stationery racks. When posted in the official boxes in Parliament they would incur no postal charges. The covers which bore the note "Temporary" ceased to be available from the 5th of May 1840."
As official envelopes, these have now rightly been given their own catalogue listing in the 2013 Stanley Gibbons Stamp Catalogue. Unlisted in Scott. Stanley Gibbons value
GREAT BRITAIN, 1840, House of Commons, 1p Red on White entire (SG PE9). Printed "To be posted at the House of Commons only. Post Paid.--ONE PENNY.--Weight not to exceed -1/2 oz." at top of Parliamentary envelope, clear strike of red "Paid 5 MR 5 1840" crowned circle handstamp, receiving backstamp of Mar. 7, small cover tear at leftVERY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL AND SCARCE EXAMPLE OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS ONE-PENNY PARLIAMENTARY ENVELOPE. THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT ENVELOPES ARE NOW LISTED IN THE STANLEY GIBBONS CATALOGUE.
According to British Pictorial Envelopes of the 19th Century, "Free frank privileges for members of the Houses of Parliament ceased with the introduction of Uniform Penny Postage on the 10th of January. After consultation, Rowland Hill arranged for plain printed envelopes to be supplied, probably free, to members of both houses in their stationery racks. When posted in the official boxes in Parliament they would incur no postal charges. They ceased to be available from the 5th of May 1840."
As official envelopes, these have now rightly been given their own catalogue listing in the 2013 Stanley Gibbons Stamp Catalogue. Unlisted in Scott. Stanley Gibbons value
GREAT BRITAIN, 1840, House of Commons, Par Pro Wrapper. Intact wrapper with printed "Par Pro., To be Posted at the House of Commons only., Post Paid", clear strike of red "Paid 30 JY 30 1840" crowned circle datestamp, large manuscript "1d" marking, with original contents regarding "Linen, &c. Manufactures" and with "(Ireland)", neat Aug. 2 receiving backstampVERY FINE. AN INCREDIBLY RARE AND DESIRABLE "PAR PRO" HOUSE OF COMMONS WRAPPER, IN REMARKABLY INTACT CONDITION AND WITH ITS ORIGINAL CONTENTS. A WONDERFUL EXHIBITION ITEM.
According to http://www.parliament.uk/documents/commons-information-office/g20web.pdf , "long after the free franking system for Members of both Houses was abolished, Parliamentary Proceedings continued to be despatched by post, free of charge to those entitled to receive them. Instead of a post-paid envelope or the free postmarking, proceedings were sent out in wrappers. Because the wrapper was normally torn open in order to remove the printed matter from within it, examples of complete wrappers are very scarce and even the printed part only (front) is now very hard to acquire. Excluding any particular variety, such wrapper fronts are about as common now as the special envelopes for Members of the House of Commons February-May 1840."
GREAT BRITAIN, 1840, 1p Black, Mulready (U1). Cancelled by bold strike of red Maltese Cross, red "PD MY 13, 1840" backstamp and addressed to Highgate, additional illegible blue straightline handstamp at upper right, minor edgewear, fresh and Very Fine First Month Use
GREAT BRITAIN, 1840, 1p Black, Mulready (U1). Stereo A146, cancelled by red Maltese Cross, matching "PD JU 9, 1840" backstamp and used to Tottenham Court Road, blue Chancery Lane straightline handstamp, minor edgewear, Very Fine and attractive early use
GREAT BRITAIN, 1840, 1p Black, Mulready (U1). Stereo A138, cancelled by red Maltese Cross to London and forwarded to Grantham, red "Basingstoke JU 7, 1840" origination backstamp, forwarding and receiving backstamp of the following day, some wrinkling and edgewear, still Very Fine and scarce early forwarded use
GREAT BRITAIN, 1840, 1p Black, Mulready (U1). Cancelled by red Maltese Cross placed slightly to left, neat "JU 4, 1840" and receiving backstamp of the following day, to Temple, docketing at left mirrors date, some slight wear incl. horizontal file fold, at top, still Very Fine
GREAT BRITAIN, 1840, 2 Blue, Mulready (U2). Stereo a202, cancelled by "Banff NO 2, 1859" circular datestamp and "36" in square grid and used to Cullen, some creasing and soiling incl. scuff at lower left, otherwise Fine, very late use, SG £2,000
GREAT BRITAIN, 1840, 1p Black, Mulready Lettersheet (U3). Stereo A15, cancelled by well-struck "8" in Maltese Cross cancel and used to Dublin, inside with printed notice from Atlas Assurance Co., indistinct strike of red straightline handstamp, red "W JY-7, 1843" backstamp, trivial edgewear, Very Fine, scarce with the printed notice and also with the numeral in Maltese Cross cancel
GREAT BRITAIN, 1840, 1p Black, Mulready Letter Sheet (U3). Stereo A21, cancelled by bold strike of "9" in Maltese Cross, red "L.S. JY 11, 1843" in cross backstamp, to Berkshire, inside with printed notice and attractive illustration for Edinburgh Life Assurance Co., faint vertical file fold, at left, Very Fine, scarce with the numeral in Maltese Cross cancel, with 1984 Brandon certificate
GREAT BRITAIN, 1840, 1p Black, Mulready Letter Sheet (U3). Stereo A27, cancelled by red Maltese Cross, matching "Molo OC 19, 1840" backstamp and used to Liverpool, some edgewear and soiling, still Very Fine
GREAT BRITAIN, 1840, 1p Black, Mulready Letter Sheet (U3). Stereo A15, bold black Maltese Cross cancel, addressed to Bloomsbury, "1841 JY 17" backstamp, additional handstamp at right, small tear at top, back with some wear, otherwise Fine
GREAT BRITAIN, 1840, 1p Black, Mulready Letter Sheet (U3). Stereo A242, bold strike of black Maltese Cross cancel at right, "MY 14, 1842" backstamp and used within London, additional red backstamp, inside with printed notice for Atlas Assurance Co., minor edgewear, light vertical file fold, Very Fine, unusual with the cancel at right, these were supposed to be cancelled at center
GREAT BRITAIN, 1840, 1p Black, Mulready Lettersheet (U3). Stereo A14, cancelled by "6" in barred oval handstamp at far right, indistinct strike of red circular datestamp at left, to Market Harbor, red "L S 27 MY 27 1844" datestamp in cross backstamp, inside with printed notice from Atlas Assurance Co., trivial edgewear, Very Fine, regulations stipulated that these were supposed to be cancelled at center
GREAT BRITAIN, 1840, 1p Black, Mulready Letter Sheet (U3). Stereo A19, cancelled by "12 FE 21, 1857" duplex cancel, second strike at left, and used to Finchurch Street, minor wear, Very Fine, late use
GREAT BRITAIN, 1840, 2p Blue, Mulready Lettersheet (U4). Bright color, cancelled by "75" in barred oval, blue "Birmingham NO 26, 1850" backstamp and used to Newcastle-Staffordshire, receiving backstamp of the following day, two horizontal file folds, trivial scuff at lower left, still Very Fine, SG £2,000