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1410. A Very Early Parchment Letter...
Click to enlarge 1410. A very early PARCHMENT LETTER to Robert Playas at YATTON KEYNELL in Wiltshire written in Latin text and dated 14th April 1410. The letter written in the reign of King Henry 4th is an acknowledgement for a debt of 10 marks. The letter ends this 14th day of April in the 44th year of the reign of the King of England (1410). Iregularly cut and unsealed with opened out measurements of 10"x2". Dated at a later period. 1410 at front and with various wrinkles but in remarkable condition for age. The text within is perfectly clear. A very early letter and of the greatest rarity as only a handful of the English letters from this period have survived. Price - £675

Union Of The Crowns 1603.
Click to enlarge UNION OF THE CROWNS 1603. A superb entire letter with opened out measurements of 16"x12" to the Sheriff of Staffordshire concerning 'Gaole Delivery' and the holding of Quarter sessions in the country. Written in Elizabethan English. Clearly dated 21st Dec 1603. Very fine paper seal on flap:- "TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFUL WALTER BAGOT ESQU HIGH SHERIFE OF THE COUNTIE OF STAFFORD, JOHN BOWYER ESQU MY LOVING SONE IN LAWE AND TO THE REST OF THE JUSTICE OF PEACE IN THE SAYD COUNTY OF STAFF". Wonderfully clear letter within. In this year James 6th of Scotland became James 1st of England and the two countries were ruled as one for the first time. Remarkably fresh condition. With RPS certificate and full letter transcription. FINE AND RARE. Price - £525

1645 A Smuggled Royalist Letter.
Click to enlarge 1645 A SMUGGLED ROYALIST LETTER. Of very small size measuring just 30mm x 60mm when folded. Addressed merely 'FOR MR EDWARD' and signed simply 'E.W'. The content in a very clear readable hand of 17 lines having cryptic contents mentioning 'those things' that the writer fears have not reached him. "I besech you to continue your care for me, he is ever ready to performe any service unto you". Dated March 28 1645. The letter is unsealed. Mr Edward is very likely Mr Edward Heath a royalist who later fled to France and undertook an undercover correspondence from Calais to England. The letter is anonymous and folded small so as to be easily concealed. Some weakening of the paper but on edge can be seen to have been gilded. A rare royalist letter. RPS certificate accompanies. Price - £550

Coloured Silk Sealed Letter.
Click to enlarge COLOURED SILK SEALED LETTER c1617. Of exquisite small size from LADY ELIZABETH APSLEY, wife of Lieutenant of the TOWER OF LONDON. Probably from the HAGUE, addressed simply "TO JHON GREEN" (in London) and inside a beautifully clear full letter, "good Jhon delivere this thinge to my Sister....." She is homesick and apparantly trying to get her Mother to instuct her to come home. "I thanke you hartily for your....good counsell which I do intend to follow.... to have my mother earnestly desire my coming home.... and to show her that it is her desire....you know my hart....you are not to let my mother know of that bisnis you do for me with Mr Hardy I have reason to be wishful not to offend so good a mother". Beutifully sealed with gold silk threads and pristine undamaged wax seals. QUITE BEAUTIFUL AND MOST RARE. Price - £1250

1734 Part Letter Sheet.
Click to enlarge 1734 part letter sheet with an ALBINO 'WINDSOR' two lined mark. A crisp BISHOP 13 July and alongside a sharply indented and uninked Windsor 22mmx11mm. Unique to our knowledge. With RPS certificate. Price - £325

The Evening Post.
Click to enlarge 'THE EVENING POST'. For July 16th 1715 folded as an entire and postage from LONDON to READING. Sent post free under the frank of James Jennings, probably a clerk of the road. The paper has a clear 16th July chief office Bishop mark on reverse flap. RPS certificate accompanies. Price - £425

1734 Small Entire Letter.
Click to enlarge 1734 small entire letter (measuring 21/2 x 31/4 when folded). Readable content in 2 hands. With on reverse a truly outstanding WEST MINSTER OFFICE/POST/PENNY with centre inverted. Clean fresh and uncreased with a fine little red wax seal. Exceptional quality. Price - £425

1740-58 Circa Wrapper.
Click to enlarge 1740-58 circa entire wrapper to The Rev Pearce. Vicar of ST MARTINS IN THE FIELDS. Endorsed FREE with on reverse a fine BISHOP mark for 14 July and a stunning HIGH WICKHAM. Outstanding and rare in such quality. Price - £250

A Post Horse Exchange Ticket.
Click to enlarge A POST HORSE EXCHANGE TICKET of 1785. For the county of WORCESTER for 5 horses. Used instead of money, the carrying of which was an unecessary danger. Handed in by the 58 mail coach driver between stops for new horses. Rarely seen. RPS certificate accompanies. Price - £150

1791 Hand Struck 4.
Click to enlarge 1791 HAND STRUCK 4. Entire letter to EDWARD LONG Judge of the Admiralty and JAMAICA to his daughter. Also reading straight line and clear Bishop. Intersting letter within of personal matters a wedding etc. Red notation at upper right adds colour to this entire. Price - £185

Circa 1800 Wrapper.
Click to enlarge Circa 1800. Wrapper addressed simply 'MR FARDELL, LINCOLN'. Sent from Nottingham with a truly exquisite 'BINGHAM'. Flawlessly struck. Alongside a manuscript '5'. Really exceptional quality. With RPS certificate. Price - £220

Tynan Mileage Mark.
Click to enlarge 'TYNAN' mileage mark. 1832. A particularly clean wrapper addressed to "ARTHUR IRWIN ESQ. Near CASTLE BLANLEY". The mark is wonderfully struck in red and is attractively placed. Endorsed '4'. Very pretty. RPS certificate. Price - £125

'Paid One Penny' with 'N's.
Click to enlarge 'PAID ONE PENNY' with 'N's reversed on entire letter to HALIFAX. A fine strike of this rare mark which was used by BRADFORD, YORKSHIRE and appeared early in the uniform penny post period. The entire bearing a blue CDS on reverse for March 26 1840. Some general soils heavy on reverse flap. File creases but a very fine mark. Price - £60

1840 1d Mulready Wrapper.
Click to enlarge 1840 1d MULREADY WRAPPER with a PRETTY WAFER SEAL. Pristine unused beautifully fresh. On reverse flap a delightful wafer seal bearing a delicate thistle in black and white 'Wedgewood' style design. Really most attractive. RPS certificate. Price - £250

1841 1d Red Brown 1b On Lettersheet.
Click to enlarge 1841 1d red brown on lettersheet. A superb example lettered EF with generously cut margins. Tied by a light but sharp Maltese cross. Three exceptionally clear dated cancels on reverse. RPS certificate accompanies. Price - £425

1841 1d From Black Plate 1b.
Click to enlarge 1841 1d from black plate 1b. A fine example lettered ME showing partially re cut side lines tied to a clean uncreased and clearly addressed entire letter from Dartmouth to Kingsbridge. Well cut with excellent margins. Cancelled with a featherlight Maltese cross. Reverse flap shows a perfect DARTMOUTH CDS for June 9 1841. A fine item. Price - £325

Plate 37 1843 1d Red-Brown.
Click to enlarge Plate 37 1843 1d red-brown. Lettered LJ and tied to an uncreased wrapper addressed to HANOVER ST. LONDON. Beautifully cut and VFU a light crisp Maltese cross. A lovely item. Price - £110