THE EARLIEST RECORDED INCOMING MAIL FROM GB TO MONACO
CERTAINLY THE RAREST DESTINATION FOR ANY PREPHILATELIC MAIL FROM GB
THE BISHOP MARK USED ON REVERSE IS THE EARLIEST POSTAL MARKING IN THE WORLD.
VERY FINE CONDITION
Henry Bishop introduced the world's first known postmark in London in 1661.[6] The "Bishop Mark" was designed to show the date on which a letter was received by the post and to ensure that the dispatch of letters would not be delayed. These were the world's first handstruck postage stamps
Bishop announced,
A stamp is invented that is putt upon every letter shewing the day of the moneth that every letter comes to the office, so that no Letter Carryer may dare detayne a letter from post to post; which before was usual
A stamp is invented that is putt upon every letter shewing the day of the moneth that every letter comes to the office, so that no Letter Carryer may dare detayne a letter from post to post; which before was usual.[2][9]
The postmarks were usually on the back of the letter and are known initially used in the Chief Office in London[2] but were introduced later in Dublin, Edinburgh and New York City.
The original London Bishop Mark, first used 19 April 1661[11][12] consisted of a small circle of 13 mm diameter, bisected horizontally, with the month (in serifed lettering) abbreviated to two letters, in the upper half and the day of the month in the lower half.[5] Similar marks were used later in Scotland and Ireland, as well as the North American colonies.
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