Wotton-under-Edge - Wotton-under-Edge Farthing, Wotton-under-Edge First Postal Service

Wotton-under-Edge
Cotswolds
Farthing

View Wotton-under-Edge Farthing - Token 1669 Below

One Penny Stamp W-U-E Maltese Cross
Red Penny Stamp With the Wotton-under-Edge Maltese Cross Stamp

As you can imagine stamps with such a distinctive postmark are keenly sought after by philatelists. They come on the market reasonably frequently and sell for around five hundred pounds. The one I have scanned was in a prestigious auction in March 2001 and reached 625 pounds. A very crisp and clear impression.

1793 The system for Penny Post for local letters was introduced in Bristol, and the area for that rate extended to Wotton-under-Edge which was still a terminal point.
Before the introduction of "adhesive labels" called stamps in 1840, postal towns were given hand-stamps for franking the letters handed in.
Wotton-under-Edge was a little unusual in that it needed three lines. After the introduction of the labels the offices were issued with brass hand stamps for cancelling in the form of Maltese Cross.
Letters cancelled with this stamp have become collectors pieces.

The first Posting house was formerly in Haw Street, The Pack Horse, Wotton-under-Edge

Post Offices Hours

7.00am - 8.30pm

London night mail arrived there at 6.55am

Mail was distributed by two Town and Surburban letter carriers and five rural messengers authorised to register letters.

Sir Rowland Hill
The great Postmaster-General was a frequent visitor to Wotton-under-Edge and who knows but that the 'penny post' which he originated was not thought out during one of his visits in this little town.

WOTTON-UNDER-EDGE FARTHING

Token - 1669

THIS FARTHING WILL BE OWNED
in Wotton Vuder Edge

BY MAIOR AND ALDERMEN

In 1672 the tokens, of which issue had been permitted because of the shortage of small change, were recalled in.

If you can add any information here or on other pages please contact me below!

Wotton-under-Edge-Times Past - Time Present - R. Perry
Many Thanks for Penny Red Stamp/Wotton-under-Edge Maltese Cross scan - John Burn (Australia)

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