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Auction: 26019 - Stamps and Covers of Great Britain
Lot: 1026

(x) Great Britain
Postal History
"Hast Hast Post Hast" - The Battle of Scheveningen - First Anglo Dutch War
1653 (3/4 Aug.) entire letter from Henry Hatsell at Hope Reach, River Thames with integral address panel reading "These for the Right Honorble the Commissioners ffor Ordering and Managing the Affaires of the Admiraltie and Navie att Whitehall", marked "hast hast post hast ffor the Speciall Service of the State. Gravesend ye 3rd August 1653, five A clock in ye afternoone. [Singed] Henr[y] Hatsell". The reverse flaps, now opened out and well flattened bears the messenger's endorsement: "From the poft house at Gravesend past 6 att nite / reced. at Dartford Past 8 at night / Recd at Southworck past 6 in the morng".

Contents provide updates to the repairs required to several ships and provisions required following the Battle of Scheveningen just three days prior in which Monck defeated the Dutch and thereby ended the First Anglo Dutch War.

Some overall foxing as might be expected though with majority letter paper in tact and two very well preserved wax seals. A most important letter.

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

Estimate
£8,000 to £10,000

Starting price
£6500