1838 (July 4) Large and small letters produced by the Mercan...

Hammer

£4,500

1838 (July 4) Large and small letters produced by the Mercantile Committee on Postal Reform to highlight the absurdity of the postal rates, a very large single sheet of paper with address panel of 270x190mm headed "SINGLE LETTER / UNDER ONE OUNCE IN WEIGHT" and "To be Kept Dry, or the Single Postage will be raised to Fourfold Postage" and a tiny letter of 75x32mm containing a separate enclosure, with printed address panel "DOUBLE LETTER, SEVEN GRAINS IN WEIGHT". Both contain a printed message "POSTAGE CHARGES IN 1838" explaining the 35x23 inch sheet weighing one ounce is charged as a single letter whilst the tiny letter of 4x2½ inches weighing 7 grains (under one 60th part of an ounce) is charged double postage. Both posted on the same day to A. Pringle Esq. M.P in London with red Free datestamps and a red "MANNINGTREE" undated circle on reverse, the large sheet with two vertical folds. 500 Pairs of these single and double letters were printed in 1838; this pair is the sole used pair recorded by James Grimwood-Taylor in "International Postal Reforms". A unique and important pair; similar printed single and double letters were again printed by the Mercantile Committee in 1839, highlighting their success in the campaign for postal reform. (2). Photo on Inside Front Cover.