Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 1014 - Collector's Series - Stamps
Lot: 463

Gibraltar Mail to or via Gibraltar 1848 (16 May) entire from Leamington "By Overland via Southampton" to the Post Office in Gibraltar and rated "1/-" and with arrival c.d.s. (26.5) on reverse, not called for and showing manuscript "Unclaimed", boxed "to/pay" h.s. and Gibraltar c.d.s. for 2 September, all on face, sent back to London and showing, on reverse, a very fine strike of the spectacular and short-lived Crowned "london/The Party to whom this letter/is Addressed has not Called for it" datestamp for 19 September, most exceptionally struck on an inside flap. A remarkable cover and a very rare usage of the London Returned Mail datestamp on an overseas letter. Photo Estimate £ 500-600 Note: As a result of the Act of 1847 making it compulsory for the sender to pay postage on returned unpaid letters, handstamps surmounted with a Crown and inscribed "This letter has been REFUSED" were issued in London, Edinburgh and Dublin, the name of the city being inscribed in the lower part of the Crown. Other Crowned handstamps, similar to that offered above were issued in London in three variants. These handstamps were withdrawn in 1848 provenance: "Rock", 1998

Sold for
£300