£600
MADRAS - RARE EARLY INGOING FREE MAIL WITH LONDON BOXED CROWNED "FREE" DATE STAMP; Fine 27 Feb. 1834 front franked from London to "Madras" and franked by "[Sir] H[erbert]. Taylor" (1775-1839; Private Secretary to King William IV from 1830 to 1837 and so with the rare franking privilege to India) and addressed to "Sir John Gore" (1772-1836, the Commander in Chief of the East Indies from 1831 to 1834). There is a mainly very fine London crowned "FREE" transit d.s. and a fine to very fine matching strike of the rare chamfered-box framed London Ship Letter Office "FREE" d.s. (Jay L846; recorded 1832-38 only). Curiously, Sir Herbert subsequently turned and re-used this letter on 29 Aug. 1835 from London to Scotland - it has the new address, his same signature and the London inland "FREE" mark etc on the reverse. Cross Reference: FREE MAIL, LONDON POSTAL HISTORY, FREES
Fees apply to the hammer price:
Free Registration
24% inc VAT*
