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 backstamp

VERY 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."

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