image

Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 21045 - The Alan Holyoake Grand Prix Collection of British and International Registered Mail
Lot: 217

(x) The Americas
Canada
Mail To the United Kingdom
1851 (24 Mar.) green Money Letter wrapper sent to the postmaster at Fortrose, Scotland, for delivery to the recipient in Avock, the front bearing Hamilton despatch c.d.s., handstruck "PAID" both in red, manuscript "2/7½" and large "6", the reverse bearing Montreal (31.3), Liverpool America c.d.s. (21.4) and Fortrose arrival (23.4) in blue; the inside with further strikes of the Fortrose c.d.s. and undated Avoch circle in dark blue. A few peripheral wrinkles which do not detract from this highly important Money Letter being the only such complete transatlantic cover. A world icon of registered mail

provenance:
Martin Willcocks, June 1999
Vivien Sussex, March 2002


The 2/7½d. rate was for a letter over ½oz. The large manuscript "6" as the registration fee within the U.K.
This is the only known Transatlantic Wrapper Receipt, the direction printed on the inside explains why so few survive, "N.B. The postmaster will keep this receipt as proof of delivery of the letter"


Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Sold for
£4,200

Starting price
£3500