This cover well illustrates the delivery of private correspondence before the Government service was available for the public. It was written by a monk and delivered by a monk serving as a courier.

According to Tower's caption, "Captain Matthew Parker was the Muster Master of the Cinque Ports who wrote about their Trained Bands."

This letter was carried by the State Post which was only for convenience of Royalty and Business of State. According to Tower's caption, "Captain Matthew Parker was the Muster Master of the Cinque Ports who wrote about their Trained Bands."

This is an exceedingly rare example of a letter carried by Thomas Withering's "Running Post." The first State Postal Service for private letters was established in 1635 by King Charles the First who appointed Thomas Witherings to organize and direct it. Under him there was a regular weekly service-twice a week to Scotland-over the five main Post Roads going out from London, with a fixed Scale of Rates according to distance.

These two letters, 1636 and 1640, were sent from Holland to Cheshire, England, and their marking would indicate that they were transported as far as London by means of the Merchant's Post.

A request for two barrels of gunpowder and matches proportionate, possibly to use as a fumigant against the Plague, or possibly as a step in Preparedness, as a hostile Dutch Fleet was then threatening.

This letter, without "Post Paid" mark, is of the period between the suppression of the "Dockwra Penny Post" and its being taken over and operated by the Post Office authorities, as the "London Penny Post" (see folder 19 description).

The red silk thread encircled the cover to assure that it was not tampered with.

(addressed to "Juan Ayluardo" on the cover)

A rare example of the Dockwra Type of Stamp, triangular in form, two years from the start of the London Penny Post.

In 1680 William Dockwra, a London merchant, established a local penny post within the city. He devised a triangular Stamp or Mark to show that the postage had been paid. On the ground that it was an infringement of the State Monopoly, Dockwra's Post was suppressed and, after a short time, taken over by the State as the London Penny Post which used the Dockwra Type of Stamp until 1794 The 1696 letter shows the extremely rare variety with both of the spellings "PAID" and "PENY" on the same Stamp in place of the Variations "PAYD" and "PENY" or "PENNY." A 1791 letter (see folder 39) is a minor type variety with sharply indented corners of the triangle.

This envelope shows a less common marking for an "unpaid" letter with its "Penny Post Not Paid" within a circle with a large "S" in the center. The reverse shows a superb Receiver stamp, "E.H." The letter was to a surgeon at Putney and deals with a deceased lunatic.

A late Government "Penny Post Paid" Dockwra Type

An example of the Dublin Bishop Mark, which is always black and with the month above the line.

An example of the Dockwra Type of Stamp — a minor type variety with sharply indented corners of the triangle (see description for folder 19).

Example of a front with a clear strike of the "Penny Post," and a circular date stamp. The cover is dated 1796 both in manuscript and with the dating handstamp.

This is a Cover of 1799 with one of the new marks giving the date in full together with the time of day.

He wrote: "While we were at Gibraltar our Boats had a Dust with some French and Spanish gun Boats, which annoy our Trade very much in the Straits..." (details follow). The envelope cover features an example of the Edinburgh Type Bishop Mark of the late 1700's.

Example of "Penny Post Not Paid" stamp.

The writer tells his wife of his poor health since his arrival in England from New York. He writes: "But Times are no beter but worse and many do not get enuf to soport Natur. Wages are very Lowe and Provitions very high, so it foarses many to resort to the Highway for a living. Roberies are so comon that it is dangerous to be out after Dark... the[y] frequantly Break into Houses and steel Provitions and Abuse the Inhabitance. In short the situation of England is worse than I can rite."

The letter shows a "Glasgow Penny Post" stamp on its cover and reads, in part: "Such is the glorious uncertainty of every thing connected to the law. If you are anxious to hear the case you should be here on Wednesday forenoon."

Example of an envelope properly marked "Money letter" by the sender. Letters so marked were entitled to receive special care in handling.

Inquiry about the lowest rent price on the "mansion house of Bovey" and "if any good trout fishing is attached to it."

First page titled "Liverpool Corn Exchange."