EARLIEST RECORDED OUTGOING OVERSEAS BRITISH FREE FRANKED COV...

Hammer

£170

EARLIEST RECORDED OUTGOING OVERSEAS BRITISH FREE FRANKED COVER - TO DUTCH POSTMASTER; 15 Nov. 1719 EL (folds neatly to show internal dated heading beside address-panel; small stain just clear of address) from “London” to “Leyden, Hollande” with a fair “15/NO” London Bishop Mark on the reverse, but no British or Dutch postal charges at all, as it was addressed to the care of “M. Von Hecke, Premier Commis des Postes [i.e. Chief Postmaster] a Leyden, Hollande”, although it was clearly intended for an Englishman, “Mr. Molesworth”. This was the diplomat and "Lord of Trade", John Molesworth, who was one of the few Government officials entitled to free postage for overseas mail at this time. There absence of Dutch postal charges suggest that Mr Molesworth was also an influential friend of this Dutch Postmaster. This is the earliest recorded British overseas free frank by several decades! [Ex Dr. Frank Bottomley, 2010.]Cross Reference: NETHERLANDS, 1854-65 1d REDS