Receipt from the King's Head, Rainham in 1800

 Below is a manuscript receipt from the King's Head, Rainham, dated overleaf on 14th March 1800.

The receipt is for 1/- for Coffee, 6d for Fire ?, 6d for Corn and £2-2-6d for 4 horses 17 miles to Rise at 2/6d.

17 miles at 2/6d per mile is £2-2-6d; 2/6d per mile for four horses is 7½d per horse per mile which is possibly a slight discount from 8d per mile per horse (or 1d per furlong).

I don't know where "Rise" is that is 17 miles from Rainham, or even if Rainham is Rainham in Essex or Rainham in Kent, or elsewhere - any input on this would be welcome.

Bristol Invoices/Receipts

 Here are a couple of receipted invoices from companies in Bristol, the first from January 1907 from J.M. Stevens & Co., Hatters, Hosiers, Shirt Tailors, &c. of Park Street, Bristol and the second  December 1945 from The Victoria Paint Co., Paint, Color and Varnish Manufacturers (note American spelling of "Color") of Valenta Mills, Sussex Place, Bristol.

Coaching receipt from Stimson's Commercial Inn, Oakham c.1825

 Here's another piece of ephemera associated with coaching - a receipt from Stimson's Commercial Inn, Oakham.  The receipt is for 18/10d and includes 9/4d for Horse's hire to Uppingham and 1/- for "Gate".

Uppingham is just over 6 miles from Oakham (on today's roads).  The charge of 9/4d for horse hire is probably for two horses, one for the traveller and one for a guide who would bring the horses back.  

The charge of 9/4d works out at 8d per mile for 7 miles for 2 horses (or 1d per furlong).

The charge of 1/-for "Gate" would probably be a toll charge.

The other charges are 3/- for a Bed, 1/6d for Breakfast, another 1/6d for Tea and Coffee, and 2/6d for Liquors.

Bristol 1796, 1798 & 1830

 Here are a trio of Bristol-related items, starting with a letter from Bristol to Hull sent in 1796, with contents advising of the safe arrival of the Santa Rosa in Guernsey and that the whole of the cargo is landed in good condition.

Next, connected to the above by also having a straight line "BRISTOL" handstamp, the entire below is addressed from Bristol to Derby and bears a stright-line "THORNBURY" handstamp.  It is dated inside as the 19th July 1798. 

Finally, a letter from Bristol to London sent in May 1830 with contents relating to the  ship Eusebio.

Minehead Krag cancels 1934, 1938 on commercial advertising envelopes

 Here are two commercial envelopes advertising J. Webber & Sons, Florists in Minehead, from 1934 and 1939.

It appears that James Webber & Sons had joined the Florists Telegraph Delivery Association between the two dates (called Interflora from 1953).  This allowed them to send telegrams to Florists in other locations to get flowers delivered.

Clifton in the Bristol Penny Post, 1823, to Highworth via "Oxford Mail"

 Here is a wrapper sent from Clifton to Highworth (7 miles north-east of Swindon) in 1823.  The wrapper is marked "Oxford Mail" to direct the postal route.

Crewkerne handstamp, 1766

After the first handstamp recorded for Crewkerne (“CROOK / HORNE”, in the 1990 edition of the British County Catalogue as “CROOK / HORN”, known in use from 1733 to 1783) are three handstamps in the BCC, all “CREWK / ERN” rarity Z, only known in archives.

• SO 379 “CREWK / ERN”, 29x12mm, used in 1740, rarity Z

• SO 382 “CREWK / ERN”, 27x13mm, used in 1740, rarity Z

• SO 385 “CREWK / ERN”, 26x12mm, used 1759-1761, rarity Z

I've recently acquired an entire dated 23^rd June 1766 which has a faint “CREWK / ERN” handstamp on the reverse. I've measured it at 27x13mm so it could match SO 382, the middle of the three above.

 

I'd really like to check the handstamp with the one identified in the British County Catalogue - when the lockdown is over I'm planning on visiting the Somerset Records Office to see if that is where the Crewkerne "found in archives" handstamps come from. 

Black Henstridge UDC, used on 1st January 1851

 A "HENSTRIDGE" undated circular handstamp (UDC) has previously only been recorded in use on 6th May 1846.  Here is a second example, used on 1st January 1851.

Taunton Mourning Letter addressed in rhyme, 1863

The mourning envelope below is rather strangely address in rhyme, sent in July 1863 from Taunton to "Tonbridge" (Tunbridge just north of Tunbridge Wells).  It has a poor Taunton 3CD cancel.

 

Black Brompton Ralph UDC, 1859

 Here is a nice example of the "BROMPTON-RALPH" undated circular handstamp (UDC) used in Black on 16th February 1859, currently the latest recorded date of use.