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Auction: 16010 - The Philatelic Collector's Series Sale
Lot: 1049

Great Britain
Postal History
The Inventor of the Postage Stamp. The Great Debate Between the Sons of Rowland Hill and James Chalmers
1879 (Nov. 29) a five page letter on paper with "10 Rosehill Road Wandsworth S.W" from Patrick Chalmers (Son of James Chalmers) to Edwin Hill (Son of Rowland Hill), Chalmers was apparently unaware that Edwin had died in 1876. The letter appears to be friendly and wanting to know whether Edwin had any knowledge of the adhesive Postage Stamp as he was aware that Rowland Hill had originally favoured stamped covers. As the public were contributing (as indeed he says he was as well) to Rowland Hill's Memorial Fund, he felt ".... that some enlightenment on this point was due, not alone to them but further in mere justice to whoever may have sent this valuable suggestion in 1840". He also advocated that any statement be sent to the press for publication. It would appear that even at this early stage, Chalmers was obviously plotting that his father should be credited with the authorship of the Postage Stamp, rather than Sir Rowland Hill.
The letter with some minor perimeter tears and pages 4 and 5 attached by archival tape. Photo

literature:
Illustrated on page 23 of "Chalmers versus Hill" by Anthony Wicks

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Sold for
£2,300