Great Britain 1840 1d Mulready Letterhead Forme 2, Stereo A27, ME1.
A very fine used example sent within London to Ratcliff Highway, Wapping. Neatly cancelled by an oily red Maltese Cross with a blue "T.P./Charles St West" receiving office handstamp at lower left.
Backstamped with a London dispatch datestamp for 'MY.6.1840', (First day of issue).
A very fine example of the Mulready on the first day of postal usage, with such covers being notorious for having damage and condition flaws. There are a few minor peripheral faults and some light soiling, but remains much above average and a very rare "first day of issue" Mulready.
Provenance: Ex. Hassan Shaida, Hadley and Bill Gross. The cover is also illustrated in the book "May Dates" by Mike Jackson on page 226.
Stanley Gibbons catalogue value: from £18,000.
A major rarity of British postal history at a significant discount to catalogue value.
It is one of the most important pieces of early postal history you could own with a beautifully illustrated Victorian design depicting an important time in history.
It is a 6th May, 1840 first day cover used on the very first day of prepaid postage. Many of the first day covers are heavily soiled. This one is a fine quality example.
Available at over 30% discount to catalogue value.
