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Auction: 22023 - Stamps and Covers of Great Britain
Lot: 8

(x) Great Britain
Postal History
A Most Important "Hast Hast Post Hast Hast" Entire Letter with Relevance to the Battle of Dover
1652 (15 December) entire letter from Col. Thomas Kelsey, Governor of Dover Castle with address panel reading "For the service of the State To the Right Honorable the Lord President of the Counsell of State. those present Whitehall", endorsed "Hast Hast Post Hast Hast" and signed "Tho: Kelsey" with further six transit endorsements on reverse listing: "From Dover past six at night. Receiv(e)d att Canterbury past 10 att night. Received at Settingborn past 2 in the morning. Rochester past 5 in the morning. Dar(t)ford past 9 in the morning. Arrived at Southwerk past 2 in the afternoon". Further filing endorsement reads "Letter from Coll: Kellsey Governr of Dover Castle relating the state of the Dutch fell then in Dover Road".

Contents include "The Dutch Fleete [of] seventy sayle [anchored] in our roade [were] unhappily mett with three English Shippes coming from Barbadoes [capturing] two of them, the other escaped and came under the Castle".

A most important item of postal and historical significance in fine state of preservation and opening well for display showing calling points and mostly intact wax seal

Note: The Battle of Dover was fought in May 1652 and represents the first engagement of the First Anglo-Dutch War. This letter carried crucial reports from the Battle of Dover from the Governor of Dover to the Government State, hence its haste and importance. Thomas Kelsey (-c.1680) rose from modest origins to play a key role in the creation of Cromwell's New Model Army.

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

Sold for
£6,000

Starting price
£6000