Many thanks for your replies - nice to see the theme was of interest. The explanation fits perfectly with the cover so mystery solved!

Can anyone please help identify this small inverted triangular mark on a cover of 30/11/1874 from Bushey Heath via Watford and London EC to Edgeware. I assume it’s an inspector’s mark, but hope the inscription S&H/M may mean something more to someone?

Thank you for your reply Winston

I’m not aware of any reports of misplaced surcharges on this stamp or the 6d equivalent, but here’s one with the upright of the ‘d’ running along the right frame line. A quick survey of other examples viewed online shows a normally slightly low central position within a millimetre or two tolerance. ...

Can anyone explain why this free frank of 1831 has two signatures? It is an early use of an envelope, still with its original contents, a personal letter sent by Admiral Sir Thomas Hardy from the Admiralty in London to his sister in Dorset. He is best known as captain of HMS Victory at Trafalgar, bu...

A belated thank you to you both for your interesting and comprehensive replies. Can I also add that I have recently discovered a booklet ‘Irish Postal Rates Before 1840’ published by FAI, a German society for collectors of Ireland ( bilingual German / English) which states that the Charity Letter sy...

Hello Winston and thanks for your reply. I’ve just acquired a turned cover sent between Dublin and Glasslough at a prepaid rate of 2d each way (scans attached). As far as I’m aware the Irish Charities Rate was a flat rate rather than free franking, akin to the Soldiers and Sailors 1d rate, but I’d l...

I’m aware of the existence of a concessionary postage rate for Irish charities pre 1840 but am struggling to find any details. Can anyone please help?

Hello John, Many thanks for your reply. Sadly I can’t offer much background or context to this item other than to say it came from a general dealer’s cover box at a stamp fair three or four years ago, sold as a poor normal example. I bought it because I like oddities and thought it didn’t look right...

Could anyone please comment on the status of this item? It appears to be a front from the 1890 Jubilee envelope stuck down on card but is too large overall at 144x111mm. Closer examination shows it to be in a duller grey-blue, more crudely produced and with many minor differences. Most obviously, th...