GREAT BRITAIN, Queen Elizabeth I and the Countess of Nottingham. Pen, ink and watercolor on front and back of envelope, the artist's story behind the scene is written on back: "The story goes that the Queen had given Essex a ring to be sent to her in any extreme case. When confined in prison under the charge of treason he sent the ring to Lady Scrope - his cousin, to deliver it to the Queen. The messenger by mistake gave it to Lady Scrope's sister, the Countess of Nottingham, who, at the insistance of her husband, kept it back, thereby stopping all hope of pardon for the unfortunate Earl. Some years after, the Countess on her deathbed confessed this to the Queen and asked for her forgiveness, but she shook the dying woman on her bed and shrieked - `God may forgive you - I never will'." It is this deathbed scene depicted on the envelope. The Earl of Sussex is portrayed on back, bearing Great Britain 1p Red Lilac tied by "Camberwell AP 5, 1895" datestamp to Puckham, Very Fine, ex Giamporcaro

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