Foreign Registered Letters – Jubilee Stamp Period 1887-1902

Introduction

People wanted to send valuables in letters. The GBPS website tells us that from .. . "c.1792 to 1840 "Money Letters" those containing coin or jewellery, but not banknotes and the like – were registered free of charge as an internal measure to avoids losses in the post." The history of Registered letters started in 1841 but .. "there was no guaranteed compensation for losses until 1878. Additional insurance for inland letters was introduced in 1886 ... parcels could not be Registered until 1891 .... the insurance arrangements for overseas letters followed an entirely different system." GBPS. There was no Insurance until the GB joined in the UPU one on January 1 st 1899. There was a Red Insurance sticker added if this was paid. There are no Red stickers in this exhibit.

In 1898 two rates for postage was brought into force. One for Empire and the far more expensive Foreign letters. The 2d charge for Registered letters was used through this period with Postage being added. Many of the Post Office supplied covers are missing the 2d Blue Embossed stamp. This is because they are on the flap and so underneath. As a result many have yet to be cancelled. There are also various – mainly blue – pencil markings . These are mainly Postal markings. Dates are shown as per the CDS.

The Aim:– Is to show a sample of where Registered letters where sent out of England, (though one is incoming using GB stamps), the costings and the types of postal stationery used. Red lines around an item indicate that it is Scarce.

Plan of the exhibit:– The exhibit is structured in three parts.

Stamps:– This will show all the Jubilee 1887‑1901 stamps in use, (except High Values). Stamps from the Stamp Office and Stamps with Perfins are also shown. Back stamp refers to arrival CDS put on.

Postal Stationery:– This will show the various types of Postal Stationery used ranging from envelopes to Newspaper Wrapper. The Post Office introduced its own Registered envelopes in 1877 and with Compensation details on the back in 1881. Reference numbers for Post Office items come from Huggins.

Cost of Posting:– This will show the difference between the Empire preference, (1d per ½oz), rate and the Foreign rate, (2½d per ½oz). This was introduced in 1898 to get uniformity across the Empire.

References:–

Alcock A. C. and Meredith C. W. British Postage Stamp Varieties Illustrated 1949, R. C Alcock, Cheltenham
Buxton Maurice, GBPS Emails re Foreign Compensation
Cassels Paperback Dictionary Cassels London 1993
Great Britain Philatelic Society (GBPS) website on Registered letters and Postal Rates.
Huggins A. K. British Postal Stationery. 1970 GBPS
Personal study at British Library, Cambridge University Library, British Postal Museum, Websites & Catalogues

(link)

Foreign Registered Letters – Jubilee Stamp Period 1887-1902

Introduction

DOWNLOADS

Frame 1

Username:
Password:
Remember Me?