** 1d NAVY CONCESSION RATE MAIL WITH STITCH-MARKS FOR AN ATT...

Hammer

£650

** 1d NAVY CONCESSION RATE MAIL WITH STITCH-MARKS FOR AN ATTACHED 1d COIN; Highly unusual 10 Feb. 1835 EL (peripheral faults, light stains with several coin-stitching holes) to Sheerness, headed & From William Walker boy/on board H M Ship Barham and endorsed by a Lieut. below Barham Malta. Rear with circle of small needle-holes where a 1d coin had been sown (and through each layer of the paper) to pay the letter's postage on arrival in England. Fine red London "PAID" cds on the front and dotted FPO cds of the same day on rear. Rare evidence for 1d coins being sent along with Concession Rate mail with remarkable content referring to the practice .......there has been a very serious affair on board here and I have wrote 7 letters but I do not know how many you have received as the penny's have been cut off and the letters thrown away as great numbers have been picked up at sea....... Superb Exhibition item. [Plus a contemporary heavy 1d coin showing that it would have fitted in the space on the front of this letter.] (2 items). Cross Reference: MILITARY - PENNY CONCESSION RATES, INCOMING OVERSEAS MAIL, CRIME & PUNISHMENT, NAVAL