Wednesday 8 October 2014

Minehead - 2d postal charges

Three entires from Minehead with 2d postal charges.  Firstly an entire that went from Minehead in the Minehead and then Taunton Penny Posts to Stogumber and was charged 2d.  This was a prevalent charge for a "short" letter in the South-West, where letters that did not go into the General Post were charged 2d rather than 1d.  The entire also has a manuscript "put in 19th" as a forefunner of the modern "incorrectly dated by sender" cachet.

The second entire is a similar item going from Minehead to the Washford Receiving House in the Taunton Penny Post.  In addition to the large manuscript "2", it has a smaller "4d" top right of the front.  This probably represents the total charge including a local (private) delivery charge of 2d for delivery at Old Cleeve by the Receiver at Washford.

The third entire is charged 2d because it was posted unpaid in 1843 so was charged double as postage due. The "Minehead / 185" handstamp is very poor, being at the end of its life.

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