1/- Rate to India 1852 ?

[leamphil]

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 ?

[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.

[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.]

[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 ??

[Winston W]

Nick, Have a look at the TW on our site. Isn't the 4d additional to the usual rate?

[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 ?

[Winston W]

So 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.)

[leamphil]

Thanks, got it !