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EARLY FREE MAIL, 1678-1763 - EARLY 18th CENTURY FREE MAIL INC. LADIES' MAIL, PENNY POST 'DOCKWRA', ETC.; 1700-14 covers inc. 1700 EL endorsed "Frank Edw. Norreys" from Oxford to London with "2" charge cancelled with 'Squiggle', similar 1703/6 pair of ELs from ladies but franked by MPs with cancelled "2"/"3" rates, 1704 Hockwold (Norf.) EL (typed transcript) to London with cancelled "2", 1707 local London EL to an MP but with mainly fine early "PAYD/PENY/POST/T/SA" triangle on back (no local London franking allowed), and 1714 EL franked correctly from an MP in London to Newcastle on Tyne. (7 covers) Cross Reference: LONDON POSTAL HISTORY, NORFOLK, OXFORDSHIRE, FALSE £160
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EARLY FREE MAIL, 1678-1763 - PRINTED MATTER - NEWSPAPERS SENT FRANKED BY MAIL - EVENING POST + LONDON GAZETTE; 10 Aug. 1714 EL being a complete printed "The Evening Poft" newspaper (with red ½d Tax stamp - folds for display beside address - news of accession of George I) from London to Reading endorsed "Frank Rich Libb"; plus unusual 1734 EL from London to Morpeth "Free R. Ord" enclosing a complete printed "The London Gazette" newspaper. Rare pair being very early examples of Printed Matter sent by post. (2 covers) Cross Reference: PRINTED MATTER, NEWSPAPER MAIL £150
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EARLY FREE MAIL, 1678-1763 - EARLY 18th CENTURY FREE MAIL EX LONDON INC. "ST. ALBANS BAGG", "LANDOVRY BAGG" & "STONE BAG" NOTES; 1718-56 covers all franked from London to various English/Welsh addresses inc. 1723 to MP in Tadcaster with "4" rate changed to "Free", 1734 to Market St. by "St. Albans Bagg", 1749/50 pair to Wales "by Landovry Bagg", and 1756 to Leek "By Stone Bag" with faint "PENY/PAYD/POST" Dockwra, etc. Good lot. (11 covers) Cross Reference: STAFFORDSHIRE, YORKSHIRE, LONDON POSTAL HISTORY, HERTFORDSHIRE £150
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EARLY FREE MAIL, 1678-1763 - THE FIRST LONDON "FREE" MARKS - IN CIRCLES IN BLACK OR RED WITH RARE LARGE "F" TYPE; 1765-88 lot incl. 1765 "FREE" ELs pair, Mar. 1766 very large EL with mainly fine rare large "F" "FREE" in circle, 1769 EL with "FREE" cancelled, c.1776 front + 1777 EL each with rare black "FREE" in circle (v. fine or mainly v. fine), 1786/8 large part Es with "PORTS/MOUTH" or distinctive "BERWICK/---337---" both with Free marks cancelling rates, and 1786 EL with "80 HIGH/WORTH" 1st-Type Mileage and "FREE" cancelling two rates. Good lot. (11 covers + 1 front) Cross Reference: SCOTLAND, WILTSHIRE £200
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EARLY FREE MAIL, 1678-1763 - THE RARE BLACK 2-RING 'DIAMOND' MARKS INC. RARE COVER WITH BOTH "C" & "S" MARKS; Remarkable Dec. 1787 E sent "OHMS" from "PLYMOUTH" (on reverse) to London but redirected to Windsor having both a mainly fine 2-ring Diamonds "FREE/C" & "FREE/S" mark (of Inspectors Charles Coltson & James Stafford") on the front (both just shaved by folds clear of lettering) as it passed through London twice; plus 1788/9 EL/E pair from London/"Isleworth" (later posted London?) with fair or mainly fine (for these) 2-ring 'Diamond' "FREE/S" James Stafford marks on the front. (3 covers) Cross Reference: DEVON £200
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EARLY FREE MAIL, 1678-1763 - THE FANCY 'LAUREL' "FREE" MARKS INC. ENCIRCLED & FRAMED ARC TYPES; 1790 ELs trio from London with mainly fine to v. fine (for these) black/brown rare encircled "FREE//[Laurel leaves]" types codes "C", "A" or "P/C" (JL6; latter unclear), 1790/1 pair of fronts with fair/fine strikes of the same encircled "FREE/A" mark in red/purple (former with "67 WOOD/STOCK" 1st-Type mileage), and 1791 EL to Scotland with mainly fine rare bright red fancy "FREE/P/[Laurel leaves]" (JL9; only recorded for one day in this colour) type. All these Laurel Leaves types are usually poor or faint strikes. (4 covers + 2 fronts) Cross Reference: OXFORDSHIRE £200
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EARLY FREE MAIL, 1678-1763 - THE 3-RING "FREE" C.D.S.'s INC. 2-RING & UNCODED TYPES - ONE ON MUCH-TRAVELLED COVER; 1791-99 covers all with fair to mainly v. fine red 3-ring London "FREE" cds's inc. narrow diameter 1791 "P"-code, similar larger 1792 "P"-code, 1793/95 "C"-code trio (one remarkably readdressed with v. fine curved "LEEDS" faintly endorsed "gone from" in red and two "HALIFAX" marks all on the front), and 1798/99 trio with uncoded 2-ring (2; one cancelled and charged "5") or 1-ring types. (9 covers) Cross Reference: YORKSHIRE, REDIRECTED AND TURNED MAIL, RETURNED MAIL, FALSE £150
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EARLY FREE MAIL, 1678-1763 - THE FANCY DOTTED & 'APPLE' FREE DATESTAMPS - INC. COVER SIGNED BY P.M. "W. PITT" THE YOUNGER; 1799-1805 covers inc. E/EL/front with the scarce dotted-circle "FREE"-on-top cds (JL15) - the E signed as frank by "W. Pitt" (the Prime Minister at the time) - and with the addressee name in his hand though addressed (and redirected) by others, Nov. 1799 EL with large part unframed "crown/dots-at-sides" cds (JL16) and fine concave 2-line "BASING/STOKE", and a good range of "Apple" style cds's with 1800 E/EL pair with fair/fine short-lived "FREE" at foot type (JL18). (10 covers + 1 front) Cross Reference: AUTOGRAPHS £200
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EARLY FREE MAIL, 1678-1763 - THE RARER CROWNED "FREE" D.S. - LARGE "N", LARGE "E" PRE-"0"-CODE, LAST DAY, 5th CLAUSES, ETC.; 1831-40 covers/fronts inc. 1831 E with "WELLINGTON" mileage-removed UDC endorsed "Not/Salop" in red, 1832/8 fronts + 1837 EL with "5" Clause Post" marks of Bristol or Newcastle S (red; 2 types) respectively, 1837 front with flap endorsed "If delivered...by ½ after 7 o.clock...will receive 1/6 for his trouble", 30 Nov./29 Aug. fronts with very fine very rare "LARGE N" or "LARGE E" coded Free cds's (JL37b - not known on cover - or JL37), 10/16 Oct. 1839 fronts withe rare pre-"0"-code 2-ring crown-on-top types (JL42) and 9 Jan., 1840 front with Last Day "FREE" 2-ring d.s. Good lot. (2 covers + 8 fronts) Cross Reference: UNIFORM 4d POSTAGE PERIOD, STAFFORDSHIRE, BRISTOL, SHROPSHIRE £200
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EARLY FREE MAIL, 1678-1763 - THE CROWNED C.D.S. COLLECTION INC. RARE 1st-TYPE CROWN-ON-TOP MARK(3), "WALTER SCOTT" ALS, ETC.; 1807-38 covers incl. no less than three July/Dec. 1807 fine E/ELs with mainly very fine rare 1st-Type Crown-on-top types (JL22; only known July to Dec. 1807 - very elusive on complete covers like these - the E from Edinburgh written and signed by the famous novelist "Walter Scott" - and a wide range of the other types (incl. 1838 E with the scarce crown-on-top "+"-coded JL38, 1815 EL with fine scarce convex 2-line "COLSTER/WORTH", etc). Plus 5 fronts. (19 covers + 5 fronts) Cross Reference: AUTOGRAPHS, SCOTLAND £200
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EARLY FREE MAIL, 1678-1763 - CROWNED "To be/delivered/Free" MARKS ON LOCAL LONDON MAIL - ONE WRITTEN BY FREELING HIMSELF; 1821 EL from "SALISBURY" (mileage cds on reverse) prepaid to Deptford with v. fine red crowned "To be/delivered/Free" on the front but overstruck by a v. fine red 'spring' Inspector's mark; plus 1832 EL (slightly reduced at right) sent locally in London written & signed by "F. Freeling" himself (Secretary of the PO; an invitation to dinner and so an abuse of privilege by the man at the top!) with a mainly fine strike of the same mark. Fine and rare pair. (2 covers) Cross Reference: LONDON POSTAL HISTORY, WILTSHIRE £200
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EARLY FREE MAIL, 1678-1763 - CROWN/To be/delivered/FREE TYPES (ONE ON PRINTED GPO COVER), "1d ONLY"/"2d ONLY" TYPES, ETC.; 1809-39 covers inc. 1839 EL from Lpool to Chelsea Hospital with rare red crowned oval "To be/delivered/FREE" crossed out and replaced by "TP/Rate/2d", long 1828 "OHMS/General Post-Office" imprint local London E (signed by PO solicitor "Thos Lawrence" on the front) with mainly v. fine red crowned circular "To be/delivered/Free", 1809/11 Es pair with scarce octagon-boxed "TO PAY/ONLY/D/2", 1819/29 EL/E pair with different octagon-boxed "TO PAY/2d/ONLY", and 1829 E with v. fine boxed black "TO PAY 1D ONLY" (2 strikes). Plus 'better' free fronts inc. 1832/35 trio with rare octagon-framed red crowned "To be/delivered/Free", similar circular types, 1839 "To Pay 1D only" (with badly forged "FREE" cds!), and "To Pay 1D only" (2). Good variety. (7 covers + 8 fronts) Cross Reference: LONDON POSTAL HISTORY, POSTAGE DUE MARKS £240
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EARLY FREE MAIL, 1678-1763 - 17th & 18th CENTURY COVERS FRANKED/TO/FROM SCOTLAND INC. RARE "FREE/E" IN CIRCLE; c.1690-1798 covers incl. c.1690 E + 1734 EL from London to Earls in Edinburgh but charged "5d" or "6", 1717 E from Edinr. to London with mainly fine red oval Edinburgh Bishop Mark on the flap and manuscript "Free" on the front, July 1764 EL from London with faint rare large "F" "FREE" mark, 1765 EL from London to "Ardchattan pr. Inverary" with fine red "FREE" in circle but also unusually endorsed "to be sent from Inverary pr Express" (v. early Express Mail), 1775 printed local Edinr. EL charged "1[d]", and fine 21 Aug. 1789 EL franked from "ABERFELDY" (fine s. line on reverse) to Edinburgh with red Bishop Mark and matching very rare red Edinburgh "FREE/E" in circle (JL83; the "E" below just discernible, c.21mm diameter - Auckland/Stables only records the two types for 1771-78 or 1794, so it is unclear which type this is) on the front. Good nucleus for further expansion. (11 covers) Cross Reference: SCOTLAND £240
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EARLY FREE MAIL, 1678-1763 - 19th CENTURY SCOTTISH FREES - 1d POSTS (SOME "TO PAY/ONE PENNY"), FAILED "Addl/½" CHARGES, ETC.; 1809-39 covers incl. 1809 EL from Greenock to Edinburgh but sent under cover and posted locally (rare for a free cover) by "Wm. Kerr" the Secretary of the Scottish P.O. (encouraging the addressee to take advantage of this franking abuse system by "my friend Wm. Kerr Esquire, the Secretary of the G.P.O."!), 1827/35 trio with all-different "TO PAY/One Penny" types (two Edinr. + one Glasgow - latter also with cancelled erroneous "Addl/½"), , 1823/32 trio with Addl/½marks (two being failed franks and one crossed out as struck in error), v. fine "Penny Post" marks of "GLASGOW" (1832 in blue) and "HADDINGTON" (1838 in red with matching red h.s. "1" and fine London "To Pay/1d only", etc. Plus 5 fronts. (17 covers + 5 fronts) Cross Reference: SCOTLAND £240
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EARLY FREE MAIL, 1678-1763 - EARLY & UNUSUAL MAIL INC. "DUBLIN", EARLY BLACK "FREE" MARKS, FAILED FREE's, ETC.; 1725-1836 covers inc. fine 1725 EL from Dublin to London with mainly fine "DUBLIN" and matching Bishop Mark on reverse charged "6" but cancelled with 'Squiggle' free marking, 1737/49 ELs pair to Dublin with rare albino "TUAM" (on reverse) or "ELPHIN(?)" (on front) and fine black Dublin "FREE" marks (2 sizes), 1795 EL with claret small Dublin "FREE" in circle (JL93; late use), 5 1815-22 covers with Mermaid-removed Dublin "FREE" d.s.'s (2 with Irish mileages), 1822 EL to Edinr. endorsed "1 oz" and so with Dublin "FREE" d.s. crossed through, v. fine 1823 "FARBANE/57" mileage, and grubby 1836 Maynooth EL to Woolwich at the Soldier/s 1d Concession Rate with fair London octagon-framed "To be/delivered/Free", etc. Plus 1822/34 fronts pair with red Dublin "LATE MAIL" with rare red oval-framed "FREE [in crown]/SUNDAY" d.s. or boxed "TOO LATE". scarce group. (13 covers + 2 fronts) Cross Reference: IRELAND PRE-1922 - POSTAL HISTORY £240
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EARLY FREE MAIL, 1678-1763 - RARE DUBLIN OVAL "ABOVE/NUMBER/PRIVILEGED" + BLACK "TOO LATE" FREE COVER; 1807 E from Dublin to London with smudged 2-ring black "FREE/DUB" cds and matching v. fine "TOO.LATE" on the front; plus 18 Feb. 1827 front from "Nenagh" to Brighton but endorsed "Above 1oz" and so with a mainly very fine very rare red oval-framed Dublin "ABOVE/NUMBER/PRIVILEGED" (JL116; GC DN3 - only 6 known on cover). Rare pair. (1 cover + 1 front) Cross Reference: IRELAND PRE-1922 - POSTAL HISTORY, LATE FEE/TOO LATE MAIL £150
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EARLY FREE MAIL, 1678-1763 - DUBLIN - THE "MERMAID" "FREE" DATESTAMPS ON COVERS INC. "TOO LATE" & MILEAGES; 1808-15 group of E/ELs all with fair to fine (as usual for these) fancy red Dublin "FREE" d.s.'s with Mermaid/harp frames incl. red 1810 "HILLSBORO", v fine red 1811 "STRABANE/100", 23/24 Apr. 1813 E from Waterford to Dublin redirected to Devon with partly fine strikes of BOTH red Dublin Mermaid and Mermaid-removed "FREE" d.s.'s of consecutive dates (Unique thus?), 1812 black Dublin "TOO.LATE", etc. Rare group. (8 covers) Cross Reference: IRELAND PRE-1922 - POSTAL HISTORY £200
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EARLY FREE MAIL, 1678-1763 - RARE DUBLIN BLACK CROWNED OVAL "TO.BE/DELIVER'D/FREE" MARK ON LOCAL 1d-POST COVER; 25 June 1816 E signed on the front by "Hy. O'Neill" (Joint Irish PMG) on the front to York St. with a mainly very fine fancy twin-garter framed Dublin "P.P OFFICE/3 O'CLOCK EN" d.s. (closed tear) slightly across the join on the reverse with a very fine matching black (hints of red ink?) crowned oval-framed Dublin "TO.BE/DELIVER'D/FREE" (JL C9; recorded 1829/30 only!) nicely placed on the front. Seldom seen. [With pencil notes of the late Martin Willcocks on the flap.] Exhibition Quality. Cross Reference: IRELAND PRE-1922 - POSTAL HISTORY £240
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EARLY FREE MAIL, 1678-1763 - THE RARE RED DUBLIN "Above the privileged number" MARK ON FRONT CHARGED POSTAGE; Fine 30 Nov. 1827 front franked to Wiltshire but charged "1/4" with a lovely strike of this rare distinctive red Dublin Handstruck mark (JL117; GC DN4 - only 4 or 5 known on cover) nicely placed at right. Exhibition Quality. [Ex Cavendish 1990.] Cross Reference: IRELAND PRE-1922 - POSTAL HISTORY, POSTAGE DUE MARKS £150
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EARLY FREE MAIL, 1678-1763 - RARE DUBLIN OCTAGON-BOXED "TO.PAY/ONE.PENNY/ONLY" MARKS IN RED (2) OR BLACK; 1830/32 trio of fronts (latter with hole clear of marks) from Dublin (2) or Drymen (latter to Dublin) all with the rare octagon-framed Dublin "TO.PAY/ONE.PENNY/ONLY" mark in red (2; v. fine and superb) or star Inspector's mark), "BOOTERSTOWN/PENNY POST" (with Dublin h.s. "d1") or Dublin h.s. "1" mark. Remarkable and rare group. (3 fronts) Cross Reference: IRELAND PRE-1922 - POSTAL HISTORY, POSTAGE DUE MARKS £150
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EARLY FREE MAIL, 1678-1763 - RARE "AT SEA" FRANKED MAIL TO G.B. EX H.M.S. NORTHUMBERLAND (1804) & H.M.S. WARRIOR (1813); 5 June 1804 front + lower flap franked by Admiral "A. Cochrane" from "H.M.S. Northumberland at Sea" to London with Plymouth Dock mileage on flap and crowned 'Apple' FREE cds of 19 June on the front (probably from the West Indies); plus fine 7 Nov. 1813 E (originally enclosing a bill to be paid?) franked by Admiral "Torrington" and headed from "HMS Warrior at Sea" (the North Sea Fleet) with "DEAL" mileage cds (9 Nov.) and crowned "FREE" cds. Rare pair; very few free franks headed from ships at sea have been recorded. [Another such Lord Torrington cover of Aug. 1813 has a Deal Ship Letter and is endorsed as a disallowed free frank! [Copy of latter included; in Cavendish Jan. 2010, lot 845.] (2 covers) Cross Reference: SHIP LETTERS, KENT, DEVON, FALSE £150
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EARLY FREE MAIL, 1678-1763 - BARBADOS(?) & DOMINICA(?) - REDIRECTED SHIP LETTERS WITH LONDON OR DUBLIN "FREE" MARKS; c.1782 EL (no contents - presumably enclosed another sheet) to London charged "7" with v. fine "PORTSMOUTH/SHIP LRE" on the front, but redirected to Lowther with red London encircled "FREE" mark (probably ex Barbados as the was seal is "WS" that is likely that of the addressee's agent on his Barbados estate); plus similar 1828 E "p. Brig Catharine" to Belfast charged "5/9" and redirected to Dublin with fine red Dublin mermaid-removed "FREE" d.s. (probably ex Dominica where the addressee had estates). The incoming Ship Letter postage was paid before franked redirection in each case. Rare pair. (2 covers) Cross Reference: DOMINICA, BARBADOS, SHIP LETTERS, IRELAND PRE-1922 - POSTAL HISTORY £150
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EARLY FREE MAIL, 1678-1763 - FROM BELGIUM, TO CANADA & TO EGYPT - SMUGGLED MAIL & HOME SECRETARY/CIVIL SERVANT FRANKS; 1836 EL from "Brussels" to Norwich sent under cover to the Under Secretary of State at the Foreign Office who addressed and franked the letter by inland mail from London 3 days later; plus 1833/39 fronts (latter with corner repair) franked from London to Alexandria (apparently a personal letter to an Egyptologist; sent c/o an Agent in Marseilles) illegally franked by "Melbourne" (the future Prime Minister!), the then Home Secretary, or to Canada franked by a senior civil servant. Rare franked overseas mail; the front to Egypt is extremely rare. (1 cover + 2 fronts) Cross Reference: BELGIUM, CANADA, EGYPT, OVERSEAS DESTINATIONS £160
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EARLY FREE MAIL, 1678-1763 - FRANCE - FREE COVERS TO OR FROM FRANCE INC. RED "ESTAF[FETTE]" , SHIP LETTER, ETC.; 1814 EL from "Camp near Baionne" with "P.64 P/BAYONNE" mark and charged "1/2" and then "1/6" to Bagshot but all charges cancelled with crowned London "FREE" cds as the addressee "Sir A. Hope" was a senior Military man, much redirected 1819 EL from "Boulogne" to Towcester with boxed "DOVER/SHIP LETTER" on the front but also with red London crowned "FREE" cds for redirections, and 1832/34 pair of ELs to/from Orleans/Paris with crowned "FREE" marks being franked by the Controller of Army Accounts or sent to a Commissioner of the Board of Control. Good group of rare overseas free franks. (4 covers) Cross Reference: FRANCE, OVERSEAS DESTINATIONS, EXPRESS MAIL, MILITARY - NAPOLEONIC WAR £240
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EARLY FREE MAIL, 1678-1763 - GERMAN STATES - PRUSSIA - EARLY P.M.G. FRANK FRONT TO BERLIN + SHIP LETTER "FREE" COVER EX AACHEN; Rare Aug. 1798 front franked by "Auckland" (joint Postmaster General) from London (fair red 3-ring "FREE" + "FOREIGN OFFICE" cds's) to "Berlin"; plus rare 1829 EL (minor edge wear & flap faults; closed tear just clear of FREE mark) from "AACHEN" (v. fine cds; closed tear) to "Ordnance Office, London" and so with v. fine rare chamfered-corners red London crowned boxed "FREE" d.s. on the front - franked mail from the German States is even rarer than that from France. Remarkable pair. (1 cover + 1 front) Cross Reference: GERMAN STATES, SHIP LETTERS £200
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EARLY FREE MAIL, 1678-1763 - GREECE/IRELAND/MALTA - M.P.'s MAIL FROM/TO GREECE/MALTA CHARGED POSTAGE INC. "WELSH ½d"; Sept. 1839 EL (disinfection slits) from "H.M.S. Asia, Visika Bay" [Vassiliki, Greece) to an M.P. in Wexford posted from "MALTA" (fine 1 Oct. cds on front and fair 3-ring Lazaretto mark on flap) charged "2/6½" (the regular 2s-6d Packet rate plus the Welsh Additional ½d for the Milford route to southern Ireland; redirected to Dublin ("Kingstown") with no extra charge - rare example of the extra Welsh ½d on overseas mail. Plus prepaid 2s-6d rate 1838 E from the same correspondence but from the MP in Dublin to the ship in Malta (MPs did not have overseas free mail.) (2 covers) Cross Reference: IRELAND PRE-1922 - POSTAL HISTORY, MALTA, GREECE, WELSH POSTAL HISTORY £200
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EARLY FREE MAIL, 1678-1763 - INDIA - RARE INGOING FREE COVER FROM G.B. WITH "Inld. Ptg./Ship Do." & LONDON "SHIP LETTER" FREE D.S.; Fine 28 May 1827 EL from London (written by the addressee's sister but illegally franked by Charles Grant, Vice-President of the Board of Trade!) franked "C. Grant" and headed from London to "Delhi" with v. fine rare London chamfered corners boxed crowned red "FREE" Ship Letter Office d.s., but endorsed "B[earin]g" on the front in India with red "CALCUTTA" transit cds and black "Inld. Ptg [12]/Ship Do. [4]/[=2Rs]" postage due mark on the flap. Free mail to India is very rare and this is an early example. Exhibition Quality. Cross Reference: INDIA, OVERSEAS DESTINATIONS, SHIP LETTERS, LONDON POSTAL HISTORY £300
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EARLY FREE MAIL, 1678-1763 - INDIA - INCOMING "INDIA LETTER" COVERS (BRIGHTON, MARGATE & LONDON) SENT TOTALLY "FREE", ETC.; 1827 EL (minor toning) from "Bombay" to an MP in London with faint boxed "INDIA LETTER/LONDON" on flap charged "2/2" but redirected to Scotland with London FAC on the flap and a London "FREE" cds on the front; plus very rare 1836/49 E/EL from Calcutta to London but both sent entirely Free - the first (ink-etching affects FREE cds on the front) "Pr [Ship] John McLellan" with fine boxed "INDIA LETTER/BRIGHTON" on reverse, and the other (one flap reduced) "Per [Ship] Lysander" from the Governor of Bombay to "The President of the India Board" with part red boxed "INDIA LETTER/MARGATE" on reverse. Free mail from India is rare. (3 covers) Cross Reference: INDIA, SHIP LETTERS, SUSSEX, KENT £300
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EARLY FREE MAIL, 1678-1763 - IONIAN ISLANDS/MALTA - INGOING FREE COVER TO CORFU + OUTGOING FREE FRONT EX MALTA(?); 20 Jan. 1838 EL (minor toning) from London (franked by Sir FW Mulcaster, Inspector-General of Fortifications, but an abuse of privilege - written by General Hassard) to Corfu with mainly fine crown-on-top London "FREE" cds and v. fine fancy oval-framed "CORFU" arrival d.s. (13 Feb.) both nicely placed on the front. Plus fine 1821/22 front (laid down on thick card) to Downing Street franked by "T. Maitland" (Governor of Malta and the Ionian Is. at this time) probably from Malta with overlapped inland post and Ship Letter Office (chamfered corners boxed) "FREE" d.s. Rare pair. (2 items) Cross Reference: IONIAN ISLANDS, MALTA, OVERSEAS DESTINATIONS, SHIP LETTERS £200
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EARLY FREE MAIL, 1678-1763 - ITALIAN STATES - RARE FRANKED COVER FROM G.B. VIA FRANCE EX COMPTROLLER OF ARMY ACCOUNTS; 12 Feb. 1833 EL (toning; disinfection?) franked (by "J. Drinkwater", Comptroller of Army Accounts, one of the few officials that had the franking privilege to Europe) from London to Naples with fair red London crowned "FREE" cds on the front with v. fine "PONT/BEAUVOISIN" and fancy Genoa mark; a personal letter to his brother and so an abuse of the free mail privilege that was only granted for official correspondence. The writer also notes that he usually sends mail via the Foreign Office bag to Italy when available! [See also next lot.] Rare. Cross Reference: ITALIAN STATES, OVERSEAS DESTINATIONS, FRANCE, FALSE £150
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EARLY FREE MAIL, 1678-1763 - ITALIAN STATES - RARE FRANKED COVERS FROM G.B. VIA FRANCE TO NAPLES OR ROME; 2 Jan. 1833 EL (staining & chisel-slits due to disinfection) franked (by "J. Drinkwater", Comptroller of Army Accounts, one of the few officials that had the franking privilege to Europe) from London to Naples with fine red London crowned "FREE" cds on the front with part "PONT/BEAUVOISIN" and fancy Genoa mark; an abuse of the free mail privilege (see previous lot). Plus unusual 9/12 Feb. 1838 EL from a school-child in "CHELMSFORD" (fair red cds on flap) to a Lord in Rome, initially marked with a very fine red London crowned "FREE" cds, but this then crossed out and the letter "Return's/for Postage" (mainly fine red boxed mark on flap) and so posted again prepaid "P 2/-" in cash and sent via "PONT/BEAUVOISIN" and Genoa. Good pair. (2 covers) Cross Reference: ITALIAN STATES, DISINFECTED MAIL, POSTAGE DUE MARKS, ESSEX £200
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EARLY FREE MAIL, 1678-1763 - JAMAICA - FREELING FREE FRONT TO JAMAICA + SMUGGLED & CHARGED COVERS EX JAMAICA; 1816 EL from "H.M.S. Rifleman, Jamaica" smuggled to London and posted there with "FREE" crowned cds to an MP in Edinburgh, 1828 free front from London to "H.M.S. Barham, Jamaica" franked by "F. Freeling" himself with large part crowned "FREE" cds, and regularly charged 1838 EL with "KINGSTON/JAMAICA" cds to an MP in Aberdeen (forwarded from London). West Indies Free mail is rare. (3 items) Cross Reference: JAMAICA £120
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EARLY FREE MAIL, 1678-1763 - MALTA/TURKEY - THE VERY RARE "MALTA/+" C.D.S. ON V.C.-WINNER COVER TO HIS FATHER, SIR ROBERT PEEL; 25 Aug. - 1 Sept. 1839 EL (chisel-slits from disinfection and long cross-written chatty contents) to Sir Robert Peel (Prime Minister 1834-35 & 1841-46) from his son 15-year-old William Peel (the future Sir William who went on to win a VC during the Crimean War!) on HMS Princess Charlotte at "Constantinople" but concluded from "Basika Bay" Band sent "Per HMS Charlotte" to Malta where posted with a mainly very fine strike of the very rare distinctive "MALTA/SP 5/1839/+" narrow double-arcs cds (MLC-2; few examples known - a cover sold for £880 + BP in the 2010 Victory auction) on the front; charged "2/6" on arrival in London but redirected to "Fazeley" with a v. fine red crowned London "FREE" cds applied for the second journey (the 2s-6d having been paid when redirected; even an important MP did not have free mail privileges from Malta). Fascinating letter with rare postal marks! Exhibition Item. Cross Reference: MALTA, TURKEY, MEDALS, FALSE £500
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EARLY FREE MAIL, 1678-1763 - NETHERLANDS - VERY RARE "FREE/F. FREELING" RETURNED LETTER OFFICE WRAPPER SENT FREE; 18 Oct. 1815 EL with "O.H.M.S./Free./F. Freeling./Returned Letter O[ffice]" address-panel imprint (final word affected by ink-etched hole) from the London PO to "Elberfeld, Holland" with a very fine crowned red London "FREE" cds on the front, but charged "17" and then "40" on delivery; the printed contents concern "The inclosed Letter...returned to you for the reason assigned thereon", listing countries to which all mail must be prepaid:- "Continent of Europe, America, Madeira, Brazils, Malta" (plus the Med. but with CGH and East Indies crossed off from the list). A rare Freeling printed free frank to overseas and a rare returned letter text inside that we cannot recall having seen before. Exhibition Item. Cross Reference: RETURNED MAIL, OFFICIAL MAIL, NETHERLANDS, POSTAGE DUE MARKS £200
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EARLY FREE MAIL, 1678-1763 - RUSSIA/MEMEL - FREE FRONT FROM BRITISH AMBASSADOR IN ST. PETERSBURG TO THE FOREIGN OFFICE; Remarkable (unique?) June c.1828 front (some creasing) signed "Heytesbury" (British Ambassador to Russia 1828-29) to the "Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, London" routed "via Hamburgh" with a faint "ST PETERSBURG" cds at top right beside a very fine "P. MEMEL/10 JUNI" marok and matching "FRANCO"; there is no British postal charge at all as the addressee was entitled to free mail from almost anywhere. The first free item to or from Russia that we can ever recall having seen. Cross Reference: RUSSIA, MEMEL £100
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EARLY FREE MAIL, 1678-1763 - EARLY GOVERNMENT DEPT. OFFICIAL FREE FRANKS (SOME WITH IMPRINTS) - MILITARY, TAX, ETC.; 1809-13 covers all sent officially free with authorising signatures from London; 1809/10 pair with hand-written headings for "Comr. in Chief's Office" or "Secy. of State's Office" to IOW/Stroud, and imprinted OHMS types for "Commissioners of Assessed Taxes" (with "Post paid" imprint as well but signed "F. Freeling"), or Act of Parliament headed types for "Greenwich Chest Office" (rare and with no Free mark but with red "Greenwich/2 py P Paid") to "Rothsay" (Isle of Bute) or "the CORN ACT" (to Thetford). Good lot; pre-1815 OHMS imprint Free covers ar seldom seen. (5 covers) Cross Reference: MILITARY - NAPOLEONIC WAR, OFFICIAL MAIL, INNER HEBRIDES, ARRAN, BUTE, ETC., FALSE £150
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EARLY FREE MAIL, 1678-1763 - WATERLOO SUBSCRIPTION - VERY RARE PRINTED CIRCULAR SENT LESS THAN A MONTH AFTER THE BATTLE; 6 July 1815 EL with partly printed "To the Principal Magistrate of [Durham]" with "WATERLOO COMMITTEE" imprint at lower left and signed "F. Freeling"; much earlier (and rarer!) than the few similar 1816-22 recorded covers with the "WATERLOO/SUBSCRIPTION" mark, and sent less than a month after the famous 18th June 1815 Battle. The fully printed contents headed "Waterloo Subscription" announce the establishment of the fund for "the Families of the Slain and of the numerous severely Wounded of the British Army", seeking donations to be sent "under Cover, directed FRANCIS FREELING Esq., &c. &c, Post Office, London"; signed by "J.P. Welsford, Secy.". The earliest Waterloo Subscription item that we have recorded. Important Exhibition Item. Cross Reference: MILITARY - NAPOLEONIC WAR, OFFICIAL MAIL, DURHAM, FALSE £300
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EARLY FREE MAIL, 1678-1763 - MILITARY, POST OFFICE, TREASURY, WIDOWS, TAX, HOSPITAL IMPRINT COVERS, ETC.; 1817-26 covers with authorising signatures and sent from London officially free, with varied OHMS imprints incl. "Tax Office" (1817; signed "F. Freeling"), "War-Office" (1819), rare Widows "Pursuant to Act of Parliament 49th Geo. III./To Mrs...." (1822), "L[and]. T[ax]. R[egistry]." (1822/24 pair), manuscript Chelsea Hospital letter ex Devon (signed as free on delivery to the Hospital by "Paymaster General"), "General Post Office" (1826; from the PO Solicitor) or "ARMY PAY-OFFICE" (1826). Plus 1821/22 free fronts with manuscript "Exchequer Loan Office" or simply signed (not dated or headed) by the Assistant Secretary of the the Treasury. Scarce lot. (8 covers + 2 fronts) Cross Reference: OFFICIAL MAIL, MILITARY £150
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EARLY FREE MAIL, 1678-1763 - BUILDING...CHURCHES (2 TYPES), MILITARY, ADMIRALTY, TAX, TREASURY, & HOSPITAL IMPRINT COVERS; 1826-31 covers with authorising signatures and sent from London officially free, with varied OHMS imprints incl. rare "Commissioners appointed under the Act for the building, and promoting the building of additional churches" (1828/32), "War Office" (1826 imprint + manuscript 1826 type ref. Deccan Prize Money), "Corn Department, Board of Trade" (1827), "L.T.R." (1829), "Assessed Taxes" (1829), Chelsea Hospital (1829), "Admiralty Office" (1831; redirected), and "Treasury" (1831). Good variety. (10 covers) Cross Reference: OFFICIAL MAIL £200
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EARLY FREE MAIL, 1678-1763 - BUILDING...CHURCHES, MILITARY, TITHES, TAX, TREASURY, & REGISTRAR IMPRINT COVERS; 1832-39 covers with authorising signatures and sent from London officially free, with varied OHMS imprints incl. rare "Commissioners appointed under the Act for the building, and promoting the building of additional churches" (1836), "War Office" (1838), "Tax Office" (1832), "Treasury" (1832), Poor Laws (1836), Sec. State's Office (1836/39 pair), "Tithe Commissioners" (1838) and "Registrar...Births, Deaths & Marriages". Plus 2 fronts; printed "Exchequer Bill Loan Office" and manuscript autograph to Privy Council Office. (10 covers + 2 fronts) Cross Reference: OFFICIAL MAIL £200
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EARLY FREE MAIL, 1678-1763 - THE RARE "W.L. Maberly" HANDSTAMP ON O.H.M.S. LAND TAX REGISTRY COVER; 21 Mar. 1839 EL (printed contents) with printed "OH HIS MAJESTY'S SERVICE/L.T.R." heading above the address, sent to Barnstaple with a mainly fine small black handstruck "W.L. Maberly" authorising mark at lower left, as well as the usual red London crown-on-top London "FREE" d.s. on the front. Maberly was the Secretary of th P.O. from 1836 to 1840 and was one of Rowland Hill's bitterest opponents! Rare; very few examples of this Maberly mark have been recorded. [We have recorded only three other covers and one front with this Maberly mark.] Rare usage of a Prestamp handstruck signature on Free mail. Cross Reference: OFFICIAL MAIL, DEVON, POSTAL REFORMS, FALSE £150
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EARLY FREE MAIL, 1678-1763 - PRESTAMP "PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDINGS" MAIL INC. ACTS OF PARLIAMENT IN OPEN-ENDED WRAPPER; 1831 wrapper (part lost affecting cds but leaving imprints clear) with rare "Par: Pro:/Free" imprint and printed address to Marlborough with Free cds (part lost at top), complete large 1826 open-ended wrapper that originally contained acts to Shaftesbury endorsed "Cap.76 to 79 4 Copies" with fine FREE cds to Aylesbury, and 1831/36 pair of free fronts endorsed "Par. Pro." or "Parliamentary Papers". Rare group; these wrappers have seldom survived. (2 covers & 2 fronts) Cross Reference: PRINTED MATTER, PARLIAMENTARY MAIL £200
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EARLY FREE MAIL, 1678-1763 - NON-PARLIAMENTARY PRINTED (INCL. PICTORIAL) MATTER SENT FREE - ABUSE OF PRIVILEGE ETC.; Rare 1835 EL being a printed prospectus for a Riding Academy in London with a fine engraving of the indoor facilities franked to Norwich, 1815 EL to MP with long printed Corn Prices list, large 1819 Insurance Policy posted twice - firstly prepaid & then franked - 1833 "John O'Connell" free E with v. fine London octagon "TO PAY/2d/ONLY" with printed "HOUSE OF COMMONS" request to attend a debate, 1833 "Rates of [tax] Duties" EL to an MP, and unusual 1838 vellum EL from "BEVERLEY" (cds) to an Earl in Stamford enclosing a printed Probate receipt with fine embossed blue 10/- Tax Stamp. Rare lot. (6 covers) Cross Reference: REVENUES, PICTORIALS, PRINTED, PRINTED MATTER, REVENUES £200
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EARLY FREE MAIL, 1678-1763 - HOUSE OF COMMONS 1d ENVELOPE FRONT SENT TO A SCHOOLBOY (AN EARLY COLLECTOR!?) + P.O. ACT; 4 Mar. 1840 usage of the "To be posted at the House of Commons only./Post Paid.__ONE PENNY.__ Weight not to exceed ½ oz." envelope (slight toning) from an MP to his 15-year-old son at a school in Brighton with the usual Official "PAID" crowned cds. It is unusual to see a Parliamentary envelope that was addressed to a child. Plus a fine & complete 12-page 12 July 1837 mail "Post free from the Duty of Postage" Act, listing all Official Free mail departments etc. (2 items) Cross Reference: POSTAL STATIONERY, Q.V., POSTAL REFORMS, SUSSEX, POST OFFICE ACTS/NOTICES £120
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EARLY FREE MAIL, 1678-1763 - THE RARE EARLY RED OR BLACK "Above Privilege" MARKS ON COVER/FRONT - ONE STRUCK IN ERROR; 24 Dec. 1795 E from "RUMSEY" (fair concave on the front) franked by "T. Pelham" (future PMG) to London with very early rare red "Above Privilege" (GC LP2a?; originally mostly very fine but crossed through) endorsed "1oz¼", but then the sender was recognised as the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieut. of Ireland who had unlimited franking so it (and the "1/4" rate) was deleted and a fair red 3-ring "FREE" cds applied. One of the earliest known London failed free marks. Plus 14 Nov. 1802 front (reduced at right) from "Hamilton" to London endorsed "Above 1 oz" with a partly fine oxidised red London "Above Privilege" mark (rare GC LP5 - previously noted as purple). Good pair. (2 items) Cross Reference: POSTAGE DUE MARKS, LONDON POSTAL HISTORY, HAMPSHIRE, SCOTLAND £150
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EARLY FREE MAIL, 1678-1763 - THE VERY RARE SMALL "a" "above Privilege" IN RED ON DATED COVER CHARGED "2n8" TO ALNWICK; 10 June 1797 E franked from London to Alnwick but with mainly fine rare red "above Privilege" mark (GC LP4; only one other cover & 1 front recorded) on the front with "2N8" initialled (one ounce; 4x8d) rate being above the weight allowed for a franked letter. One of the rarest of all the Failed Free marks, and exceptional on a full dated cover. Cross Reference: POSTAGE DUE MARKS £200
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EARLY FREE MAIL, 1678-1763 - RARE COVER WITH FRAMED "Above Privileged/Number" MARK STRUCK IN ERROR & CANCELLED; 19 Aug. 1798 EL from "ABINGDON" (partly fine concave on front) to Andover oddly with a partly fine rare red boxed "Above Privileged/Number" mark (GC LN2) on the front but crossed out along with a "6" charge; there are two different faint 3-ring or 4-ring "FREE" cds's, and it seems that the morning duty staff marked it free but then changed their minds and the evening duty (4-ring FREE cds) then changed their minds, cancelled the Postage Due marks and allowed it "FREE" again. One of the earliest of the dozen or so covers recorded with this mark. Cross Reference: POSTAGE DUE MARKS, OXFORDSHIRE £150
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EARLY FREE MAIL, 1678-1763 - TWO DIFFERENT TYPES OF BLACK "Above Privilege" MARKS ON FRONTS FROM LONDON; 1803/07 fronts to Aberdeen/Durham both endorsed "Above 1oz" with mainly very fine (rare thus) black "Above Privilege" marks (GC LP7 & variant - very different clear fancy loops to the "P", but both c.60mm long) charged "3/8" in each case. Good to see a new sub-type for a mark otherwise recorded (albeit infrequently) for almost 10 years; it is no surprise that this fancy lettering mark had to be replaced quite regularly, it is just that strikes are seldom clear enough to distinguish them. (2 fronts) Cross Reference: POSTAGE DUE MARKS £150
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EARLY FREE MAIL, 1678-1763 - UNFRAMED "Above Privilege/Number" ON COVER FROM LONDON CHARGED "8[d]" TO NORFOLK; Fine 2 Feb. 1808 EL (abuse of privilege; letter written by someone else!) from London to Wymondham with fine red crowned "FREE" d.s. cancelled with a mainly very fine large unframed fancy black "Above Privilege/Number" (GC LN3) on the front. Less than 10 covers with this elusive mark have been recorded. Cross Reference: POSTAGE DUE MARKS £160
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EARLY FREE MAIL, 1678-1763 - BLACK "Above Privilege" ON 2/4-RATE COVER FROM LONDON TO PETERBOROUGH; 14 Mar. 1811 E from London to Peterborough endorsed "Above 10z" beneath one of two fair to mainly very fine strikes of the black "Above Privilege" mark (GC LP7) on the front with "2/4" charge. Rare on cover. Cross Reference: POSTAGE DUE MARKS £150
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