Mail from Thorncombe via Chard to Milan, 1831

The entire below was sent from Sadborow Hall, Thorncombe to Milan in May 1831, taking 12 days to arrive.  It first went in the Chard Penny Post (Thorncombe had the "No.1" receiving house handstamp), then in the General Post to London and then via France to Italy.

It was prepaid 2/8d postage which takes a little deciphering.  First there is a charge of 1d for the Chard Penny Post, then a charge of 10d for the around 142 miles from Chard to London.  The charge to Italy via France was 1/1d with a reduction of 2d on the charge from Chard to London, making a total of 2/8d, which is what is marked on the entire (1d + 10d -2d + 1/11d = 2/8d).

To explain the 2d reduction, in January 1817 there was a GPO Notice to All Postmasters "Postmasters are to add to the rates on Foreign Letters made up in London a sum of 2d less than the inland rate from their offices.  On letters sent to Falmouth ... a sum of 1d less than the inland charge".