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Auction: 24019 - Stamps and Covers of Great Britain
Lot: 1008

(x) Great Britain
Merchant Mail
Inland
From Plymouth
1594 (19 August) entire letter from James Bagg to Philippo Corsini in London, carried by Merchant Strangers Courier and paying the rate "port xiid" (12d.); contents concern the price of fish noting that "fish will be short this year and dearer than ever, with further reference to a "flyboat and of Newfoundland fish, Bagg also encloses a separate "personal byll of de Pasteur" (present), a touch worn at folds though rare with enclosure and a highly singnificant letter, along with two other letters they constituted the earliest letters known to Robson Lowe at the time of offering showing a pre-paid letter rate in England, before this no examples had been known prior to 1645.

provenance:
Christie's Robson Lowe, 4 September, 1984, Lot 30

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

Sold for
£1,400

Starting price
£320