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1/- Rate to India 1852 ?

Posted: Fri Mar 15, 2024 12:08 pm
by leamphil
Hambrook 1852 India.jpg
The envelope is from Hambrook, Bristol and has a manuscript note "Via Southampton".

Can anyone please cast some light on the 1/- paid to India in October 1852 ?

Re: 1/- Rate to India 1852 ?

Posted: Fri Mar 15, 2024 6:23 pm
by admin
Checking Tabeart and Moubray, 1s was set as the standard basic rate from the UK to any British dominion or colony from 10 January 1840 (on the 1-2-4-6... rates scale for ½oz-1oz-2oz-3oz...). This was the Treasury Warrant:

https://www.gbps.org.uk/information/sources/treasury-warrants/warrants/TW-1840-01-10.pdf

According to Moubray that was via Falmouth until September 1843, then via Southampton. The basic rate was reduced to 6d on 1 February 1856.

Re: 1/- Rate to India 1852 ?

Posted: Fri Mar 15, 2024 6:28 pm
by Winston W
Nick, The 1/- rate was the standard rate up to 1856 that covered letters for up to ½ ounce by the British mail that had gone via Southampton since 1843, rather than the more expensive rate overland via Marseille. [Edit: Drafted before I saw that Maurice had already replied.]

Re: 1/- Rate to India 1852 ?

Posted: Tue Mar 19, 2024 8:55 am
by leamphil
Thanks - Does the line in Tabeart dated 1.1.1845 not apply ?
"TW. UK to Bombay, Madras, Calcutta and forwarded thence by pkt or PS , to any place to the East thereof (but not Ceylon), 4d 1/2oz ...."

From that I would expect a postage rate of 4d ??

Re: 1/- Rate to India 1852 ?

Posted: Tue Mar 19, 2024 10:15 am
by Winston W
Nick, Have a look at the TW on our site. Isn't the 4d additional to the usual rate?

Re: 1/- Rate to India 1852 ?

Posted: Tue Mar 19, 2024 2:43 pm
by leamphil
1845 TW: "... there shall be charged and taken (in addition to all other rates of postage payable by law on such letters) on uniform rate of postage of four pence"

So what is the "other rate of postage payable by law" that must be 8d ? Is that the standard Ship Letter rate as in the Uniform Postage Act of 1840 ?

I see the 1840 Act also says 1/- as a colonies rate if not via France, so not quite sure what the 1845 TW is aimed at ?

Re: 1/- Rate to India 1852 ?

Posted: Tue Mar 19, 2024 3:20 pm
by Winston W
leamphil wrote: Tue Mar 19, 2024 2:43 pmSo what is the "other rate of postage payable by law" that must be 8d ?
No, that is the standard rate, which as previously given was 1/-. So the 4d is the extra to places to the east of India, like Hong Kong (see Moubray 1st edition p 390, note a.)

Re: 1/- Rate to India 1852 ?

Posted: Tue Mar 19, 2024 4:53 pm
by leamphil
Thanks, got it !