c.1779 scarce block of 4 x (2) horse duty : mileage ticket '...

Hammer

£85

c.1779 scarce block of 4 x (2) horse duty : mileage ticket 'stamps' with part STAMP OFFICE watermark ~ From tudor times Inn keepers provided horses along the post roads for hire and as from 1779 an Act imposed a duty on top of the hire by which tickets were issued to show payment of this duty. Travellers undertaking long journeys often followed the postal routes for safety and would hire horses from stage to stage for faster travelling - the ticket had to be carried by the traveller and these are overprinted 10th Dis(trict) - the duty was originally 1d per mile