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Auction: 26019 - Stamps and Covers of Great Britain
Lot: 1004

(x) Great Britain
Postal History
Express Mail
The Earliest Known 'By Express' Endorsement
1695 (12 Feb.) entire letter from William Bridheman, with integral address panel reading To George St. Lo Esq Commissioner this Majesties Navy... Plymouth", also endorsed "For his Majesties Service", "Admiralty 12 Febry 95", signed "Burchett" (Joint Secretary of the Admiralty) and marked "By Express". The reverse panel, now folded out and well flattened, bears a further endorsement in a separate hand reading "Rcvd att Basingstoke past ten and sent away presently by John Astbury" in a similar manner to that of a Hast Post Hast letter.

Letter reads, in a very shaky and rushed hand: "The state of the garrisons [?] has been laid before my Lords of the Admiralty, and this comes to you be Express with an Order inclosed for your getting aboard the King's Ships at Plymouth to see how they are mann'd".

Letter paper with some foxing and separation along folds though not detracting from text or the importance of this letter, which is believed to be the earliest 'Express' endorsement under the 1653 'New Post'.

provenance:
Vivienne Sussex

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

Estimate
£2,000 to £4,000

Starting price
£1600