SHOW MENU

The First Step - Uniform 4d Post

Introduction

DOWNLOADS

Exhibit provided by
Nick Amor
Within weeks of the passing of the Penny Postage Act, in early November 1339 Rowland Hill wrote to the Chancellor of the Exchequer proposing, as a first step, an experimental and transitional uniform 4d post which would, prior to the introduction of the penny post and the issue of adhesives, serve several purposes. It should 'satisfy public expectation [ .. . ] not bring about any very considerable increase of letters [but] be such as to indicate with tolerable accuracy the probable increase hereafter [and] test the practicability of prepayment'. Postage rates were assessed by reference to weight. Within a month of the letter being sent the experiment began on 5 December 1839 and lasted just 36 days until 9 January 1840 . It was regarded as a success, at least by postal reformers. The total number of letters sent increased by more than 26%, from just less than 1.6 million to just over 2 million per comparable week, without overwhelming the service. Postal revenue fell by about 32% and would fall again during the succeeding uniform 1 d post period, but would recover as the volume of correspondence continued to grow thereafter. In any event, for Hill and his colleagues, the economic and social benefits of cheap postage were well worth the cost.

Purpose

My exhibit illustrates the wide variety of rates and charge marks (both manuscript and handstruck)
generated by the uniform 4d post, early examples of pre‑paid post, the continuation of local postal
rates and the charging of overseas mail.

Plan

1 Introduction
2‑7 First days
8 Other special dates
9‑10 Other rates
11‑12 Incoming overseas mail
13 Different coloured charge marks
14 Inspector's mark
15‑16 English handstamps

Highlights

Many of the items exhibited are first days, most are in fine condition, and, as explained in the
exhibit sheets themselves, all are scarce or even unique. By way of example, they include:
  • One of eight examples of the first day of the 4d pre‑paid rate.
  • One of no more than ten examples of the first day of the Glasgow handstruck 4d.
  • One of six examples of the first day of the 8d unpaid rate.
  • One of six examples of the first day to overseas destinations.
  • One of four examples of the 2s pre‑paid rate.
  • One of eight examples of an inspector's star.
  • One of two examples of the Kington handstruck 4d.
  • One of two examples of a handstruck 4d used during both the uniform 4d post period and the subsequent 6 January to 5 May 1840 uniform 1 d post period.

Bibliography

Chadwick, P.J., Charge marks of the 4d post 1839‑1840 (Oldham, 1990) . Hereafter 'PC1' .
Chadwick, P.J., Some oddities in British postal history before 1840 (Hamilton, 2019). Hereafter 'PC2'.
Grimwood Taylor, J.L., International postal reforms. Volume 2: The birth of the postage stamp and its international effects 1840 to 1898 (London, 2020). Hereafter 'JGT'.
Zietlow, E., Die "4" – handstempel der experimental fourpenny rate 5 Oezember 1839 bis 9 Januar 1840 (Brunswick, 2003). Hereafter 'EZ'.

(link)

Frame 1

  1. Introduction
  2. First days
  3. First days
  4. First days
  5. First days
  6. First days
  7. First days
  8. Other special dates
  9. Other rates
  10. Other rates
  11. Incoming overseas mail – Packet letter
  12. Incoming overseas mail – Ship letter
  13. Different colour charge marks
  14. Inspector's mark
  15. English handstamps
  16. English handstamps