The Franking System 1652-1840
CONTENTS
Introduction
"Franked" mail refers to letters sent through the post for free, most commonly under the signature ("frank") of someone with the privilege of sending and receiving at least some of their mail without charge. It is therefore largely tangential to a rates listing, but as mail of this type was an important part of the postal system, and subject to charges in certain circumstances, a very brief outline of the major points is given here.
The franking system originated to carry official mail, without charge to the officials or to the Revenue. It was widely abused by those with the privilege, who would frank mail for friends and contacts, resulting in the rules being tightened over the years (not always effectively). The franked mail most frequently seen today is that of Members of Parliament (both Commons and Lords), as many examples were preserved as "free fronts" by contemporary autograph collectors.
However, a range of other officials and official bodies also had the franking privilege, sometimes using pre-printed stationery. The list of those entitled to frank mail varied considerably over the years, with eligibility and applicable rules set by various Acts of Parliament. The large number of extant postal Acts were collated and revised into new Acts in 1837 – so for a snapshot of the franking system at that time see the Postage Act 1837 (1 Vic c.35).
Charges Covered by the Franking Privilege
The franking privilege applied (with rare exceptions) only to inland mail, and covered only General Post charges. None of the following were payable on franked mail:
- All regular distance-based land charges
- Packet rates to Ireland
- Packet rates to offshore islands
- The Scottish Additional Halfpenny
- The Menai and Conway Bridge charges
Charges Applicable to Franked Mail
The franking privilege did not apply to local post charges. All of the following were payable on franked letters posted in or delivered from a local post:
- London Penny Post and Twopenny Post rates
- Dublin Penny Post rates
- "Standard" town Penny Post charges
- Fifth Clause Post charges
Letters exceeding the weight or number allowances were charged at the normal rates, and under many Acts attempts at fraud were supposed to be charged double or triple postage (with the sender liable to a fine), although it appears this did not often happen in practice. In principle the privilege did not apply between Great Britain and Ireland in the early days of Grattan's Parliament, as the Act setting up a separate Irish Post Office in 1784 did not include provision for it, but this was corrected by no later than 1787.
Rules for Members of Parliament
These rules (unless otherwise stated) applied to mail sent by MPs. Mail sent to them (at any of their normal places of residence, the Houses of Parliament, or their current location) was automatically granted free postage.
Date | Auth. | Period of validity | Size limit | Other conditions |
---|---|---|---|---|
1652 (Nov) |
Council of State and Ordinance 2 Sep 1654 | any | any | Letters sent by MPs, identified by their seal or endorsed for the service of the Commonwealth |
1661 (24 May) |
Mercurius Publicus | During sitting of Parliament | Single only | |
1685 (Jun) |
Calendar of State Papers | During sitting of Parliament and 40 days before/after | any? | Sent under known seal of MP |
1764 (1 May) |
4 Geo 3 c.24 | During sitting of Parliament and 40 days before/after | 2oz |
|
1784 (20 Aug) [*] |
24 Geo 3 s.2 c.37 | During sitting of Parliament and 40 days before/after | 2oz |
|
1795 (5 May) |
35 Geo 3 c.53 | During sitting of Parliament and 40 days before/after | 1oz |
|
1840 (9 Jan) |
Treasury Warrant 27 Dec 1839 | Last day of franking system |
[*]The Act stated that the new rules would apply "from and after the End of this present Session of Parliament", which turned out to be 20th August 1784. Letters may have been franked by the method from July,
Franking of Newspapers and Parliamentary Proceedings
In the early days of the posts it was common for postal officials to have a sideline in supplying subscribers with copies of newspapers and Parliamentary Proceedings, sent by post under the franking privilege – a perquisite that was officially authorised by Act of Parliament from 1764. This continued in some form right up until the abolition of the franking privilege, although local post charges still applied.
Date | Auth. | Franking of newspapers? |
Franking of Par. Pro.? |
Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
to 1764 | Anywhere within British Isles |
Anywhere within British Isles |
Allowed as unofficial perquisite |
|
1764 (1 May) |
4 Geo 3 c.24 | Anywhere within British Isles |
Anywhere within British Isles |
Allowed under Act of Parliament |
1784 (1 Aug) |
23/24 Geo 3 c.17 (Irish) | Within Great Britain or within Ireland |
Within Great Britain or within Ireland |
Not allowed between Great Britain and Ireland |
1802 (22 Jun) |
42 Geo 3 c.63 | Anywhere within British Isles |
Anywhere within British Isles |
|
1834 (1 Oct) |
4/5 Wm 4 c.44 | Not allowed | Anywhere within British Isles |
|
1840 (9 Jan) |
Treasury Warrant 27 Dec 1839 | Last day of franking system |