GB PRE-STAMP POSTAL HISTORY

GB.PRE – STAMP 1586 – 1840 PREMIUM STAMPLESS COVERS COLLECTION expertly presented and displayed in a single album includes (amongst much else) an 1586 EL to Corsini in London endorsed “PTTO” (Post Paid); 1674 EL elaborately addressed ‘To the Right Revered Father in God William Lt Bishop of Lincoln at his Lodging in Hatton Garden’ (William Fuller, an interesting short history accompanies) bearing a fine strike of a “Reversed N” Bishop Mark of November 2nd, also other examples of ELs bearing Bishop Marks from 1678 (excellent contents relating to the punishment of deserters), 1742 (beautifully addressed to the Master of Christ’s College, Cambridge) and 1791;  1777 EL bearing the Dockwra triangular ‘Penny / Post / Paid / W / TU’ (Westminster, Tuesday) with ‘5 / O’CLOCK / T’ (Temple) time stamp alongside, also a page from Homer’s Odyssey autographed by Dockwra and dated 1698 by him; an excellent explanatory collection of the pre-stamp system with a number of covers used to illustrate different aspects of the post and its markings incl examples of Scotland ‘wheel tax’ charges, mileage marks, Penny Post marks, free-franking such as an 1838 ‘Free Front’ signed by William Gladstone; an interesting range of 1839-1840 Postal Reform items includes an 1840 (10 Jan) first day of the Penny Post EL sent from Hull to Scotland; many other items often with educational notes also included. Fascinating & attractive (39 items)