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Auction: 26019 - Stamps and Covers of Great Britain
Lot: 1001

(x) Great Britain
Postal History
Express Mail
Earl Merchant StrangersService
1579 (21 Sept.) entire letter in Italian from Raymond di Raymondo in Paris to Filippo Corsini in London, sent by express, as denoted by the hatched cross on the address panel. Remarkable contents explain that "Rinuccini, Giachinotti and Barbigia & Co., Lyon, have sent the enclosed packet for you ... with the order that it is to be sent to you either by a man on foot or on horseback. In accordance with their order this carrier has been sent as far as Calais, directed to Sani, with that Sani is at once to send you in London an express messenger ... Please pay this messenger ... how-ever much he says; it should be about three Scudi (i.e. three English Crowns) for making good speed, besides his having not to carry other letters for anyone else who is over there ... 6 Scudi di sole (i.e. six French ecus; the equivalent of six English crowns) has been given to this messenger for going from here (Paris) to Calais".

A most important piece of philatelic history, not least for its very early mention of express mail, but for the fact that the rates are questioned and explained by the sender.


provenance:
Robson Lowe, 4 Sept. 1984, Lot 130 where the describer noted "The writer asked who would pay for the messenger and the difference in cost between foot an mounted messenger".

Notes: This entire letter would have acted as a covering letter enclosing two packets from Lyon, sent on by Express mail by Raymondo as a forwarding agent in Paris.

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

Estimate
£2,000 to £2,500

Starting price
£1600