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Auction: 18038 - Autographs, Historical Documents, Ephemera and Postal History
Lot: 3163

Autographs
Sweden
Feather Letter
1837 (12 Mar.) entire letter to Akle Harad (near Gothernburg) bearing red wax seal (split on opening) in which is stuck white and black (with white spots) feathers. These indicate express mail to be carried day and night; some minor age marks. An attractive pre-stamp letter. Photo

'Feather letters' appeared in in Sweden from the mid 1700's until the introduction of stamps in 1855 and were used to indicate different methods or urgency of delivery. For example, a white feather used in the morning meant that the letter must be delivered that day. White and black feathers together indicated that a long distance letter should travel by day and night to reach its destination as soon as possible.

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Estimate
£300 to £350