EARLY "CORK" STRAIGHT- LINE COVER TO LIVERPOOL UNUSUALLY ROU...

Estimate

£70 - £100

EARLY "CORK" STRAIGHT- LINE COVER TO LIVERPOOL UNUSUALLY ROUTED "VIA CHESTER" & CHARGED 1s-1d: Fine 1 Sept. 1713 EL ex “CORK” (partly fine very early s. line on the front) to Liverpool when the only postal service between Ireland and England was via Dublin and Holyhead at this date. Unusually this letter was endorsed “Via Chester” by its sender to ensure it was not sent via London. The postal rate was the same by either route; this was 4d from Cork to Dublin (above 80 miles) + 6d on via Holyhead to Chester (2d Packet rate + 4d above 80 miles inland) = “10[d]”; that was changed to “1N1” (1s-1d) for the extra 3d (under 80 miles) from Chester to Liverpool. This was almost the highest possible single-sheet postal rate within Britain at this date. Cross Reference: CHESHIRE, POSTAGE DUE MARKS