GREAT BRITAIN, 1839, 1d Chalmers Treasury Essay in Red. Type 3, Bates J, printed on thin white wove watermarked paper, on complete envelope, tied by "USED" straightline and cancelled by Dundee datestamp of "Oct. 7 39", manuscript endorsement with Treasury No. 22799/39

VERY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL AND EXTREMELY RARE TREASURY COMPETITION ESSAY. ONE OF FOUR RECORDED, THREE OF WHICH ARE IN PRIVATE HANDS. ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT FORERUNNER ESSAYS TO ROLAND HILL'S REVOLUTIONARY PENNY BLACK.

James Chalmers was a Dundee bookseller and early proponent of adhesive labels to pre-pay mail. He called these essays "slips" that could be used to seal letter sheets, as well as act as pre-payment of mail fees. Many believe Chambers was Roland Hill's equal in the development of the first postage stamp.

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