wakeybluenose
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Posts: 282
What I collect: GB to 2000 (but definitives to date) / Ireland to 2000 / General WW classics & definitives / ASFEC / SciFi & Fantasy Literature / Local History
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Post by wakeybluenose on Apr 3, 2024 15:45:02 GMT
I've just acquired my very first pre-1840 covers - here is the first - sent in 1834 from Edinburgh to Castle Douglas. If anyone wants to have a stab at deciphering the Victorian script, please be my guest:
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wakeybluenose
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Mostly harmless!
Posts: 282
What I collect: GB to 2000 (but definitives to date) / Ireland to 2000 / General WW classics & definitives / ASFEC / SciFi & Fantasy Literature / Local History
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Post by wakeybluenose on Apr 3, 2024 15:50:00 GMT
The second seems to be a medical report for an insurance claim - sent 1839 from Piccadilly to Bloomsbury. Again, feel free to attempt to decipher!:
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vikingeck
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What I collect: Samoa, Tobacco theme, Mail in Wartime, anything odd and unusual!
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Post by vikingeck on Apr 3, 2024 18:14:38 GMT
Not only is it Victorian Script ....it is Victorian Doctor's Script. Notorious, just as bad as ever was .
This is the standard form of medical report /opinion on behalf of someone who has applied to purchase a Life Assurance policy, it is not an insurance claim as such.
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vikingeck
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What I collect: Samoa, Tobacco theme, Mail in Wartime, anything odd and unusual!
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Post by vikingeck on Apr 3, 2024 20:57:01 GMT
"Hannay and Lidderdale" writers Castle Douglas a VERY famous and long historied family "Writers" in Ye Olde England, was a profession Amongst the titles writer Someone who writes, a scribe or a clerk. Bluestocking a female writer = nickname Brachygrapher = shorthand writer scrivener =Professional or public copyist or writer; notary public Forget rod222 ‘s. “Ye Olde England” … we ain’t there! Castle Douglas is in Scotland, “Writer” is quite specific in Scots Law. Edinburgh Solicitors, Advocates were “Writers to the Signet”. So in Scots law circles a Writer is a lawyer / solicitor.
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wakeybluenose
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Mostly harmless!
Posts: 282
What I collect: GB to 2000 (but definitives to date) / Ireland to 2000 / General WW classics & definitives / ASFEC / SciFi & Fantasy Literature / Local History
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Post by wakeybluenose on Apr 3, 2024 21:18:47 GMT
Would have liked to see the full red (receiving) postmark Best I can do with my phone:
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rod222
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Post by rod222 on Apr 3, 2024 21:31:31 GMT
Thanks Kevin Appreciated
Not familiar with this strike, needs research may 18th 1839
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daniel
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Post by daniel on Apr 3, 2024 22:34:29 GMT
The second seems to be a medical report for an insurance claim - sent 1839 from Piccadilly to Bloomsbury. Again, feel free to attempt to decipher!: There were 3 receiving houses on Piccadilly including one at well-known department store Fortnum & Mason. It had a General Post Office but that closed by January 1839. Another was Piccadilly W O (West Office) but the particular Piccadilly mark shown on your cover was used by the receiving house at Aveling and Bentham, Italian Warehouse. 62 Piccadilly. Henry J Bentham was the Receiver and in 1839 he was paid £50 per annum for this work. The black 2 and the red Chief Office mark indicate that the letter was prepaid for the Two Penny Post. The red mark reads "8 NT 8/MY 18/1839", that is, 8 at Night, May 18th 1839. Daniel
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rod222
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Post by rod222 on Apr 3, 2024 22:42:00 GMT
There were 3 receiving houses on Piccadilly including one at well-known department store Fortnum & Mason. It had a General Post Office but that closed by January 1839. Another was Piccadilly W O (West Office) but the particular Piccadilly mark shown on your cover was used by the receiving house at Aveling and Bentham, Italian Warehouse. 62 Piccadilly. Henry J Bentham was the Receiver and in 1839 he was paid £50 per annum for this work. The black 2 and the red Chief Office mark indicate that the letter was prepaid for the Two Penny Post. The red mark reads "8 NT 8/MY 18/1839", that is, 8 at Night, May 18th 1839. Daniel Fabulous ! Thanks Daniel Great depth of knowledge.
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rod222
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Post by rod222 on Apr 3, 2024 23:14:49 GMT
daniel I can find Fortnum and Mason (Corner of Duke street and Picadilly) 62 Picadilly? Is it Possible to estimate where the Receiving House was at all ?Found it, North eastern corner of Albermarle and Picadilly, 120 metres or so from Fortnum and Mason. The name Picadilly may be derived from the ruffs with stiffened points or "picadills" (From the Spanish "pica" a spear) which were sold in a building at the top of Haymarket dubbed "Picadilla Hall". A Ruff
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daniel
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Post by daniel on Apr 4, 2024 0:09:12 GMT
daniel I can find Fortnum and Mason (Corner of Duke street and Picadilly) 62 Picadilly? Is it Possible to estimate where the Receiving House was at all ?Found it, North eastern corner of Albermarle and Picadilly, 120 metres or so from Fortnum and Mason. The name Picadilly may be derived from the ruffs with stiffened points or "picadills" (From the Spanish "pica" a spear) which were sold in a building at the top of Haymarket dubbed "Picadilla Hall". My source for the information that I gave was "The Letter Receivers of London" by Hugh Feldman, I showed the 2 volume book here and as you can see, precise locations are shown. Daniel
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