Auction 309-320 - Great Britain 1840–1841 Europe & Overseas - Day 5

1839, Mercantile Committee, "SPECIMEN OF POSTAL CHARGES IN 1839 / To be Preserved among the Curiosities of any Museum", giant letter-sheet to M.P. Strangeways in London, struck with FREE Crown Circle (5 July, 1839), with contents highlighting anomalies in postage rates of the period, some reinforced folds and prior repairs, as expected with such an item, offered with its companion small envelope, 71mm x 30mm, printed "DOUBLE LETTER / SEVEN GRAINS IN WEIGHT", to D.W. Harvey, M.P., with contents beginning "The delays of the threepenny post are notorious...", an exceptional and rare group illustrating the arguments for postal reform, and demonstrating the lobbying efforts of the business community to bring about change.