Post by daniel on Mar 13, 2021 6:52:40 GMT
The Parliamentary (Free) Franking System dates back to the time of the Commonwealth in 1652 (and confirmed in 1654). However, it didn't apply to Ireland until a few years after the establishment, in 1784, of a separate Irish Post Office.
Under the system members of The Houses of Parliament and office holders could post letters for free by simply using the word Free or Frank plus their signature and their seal. Later a hand-stamp was used stating the word FREE and later still with a date. Such letters became highly collectible in the early 19th century by cutting out the front panel and these are known as Free Fronts. The Free privilege continued up until 1840 with thee introduction of the penny post.
This example from Dublin does not bear a Free handstamp, likely for a good reason, local post charges were not included in the privilege.
Across the top, it reads Dublin May seven 1833. Deciphering the handwriting is key and although I can't read the name of the addressee, the address appears to be in Reading. Finally, we have the signature in the bottom left with his seal above in black with a coronet indicating a peer. After staring at the signature for some time it appeared to be the surname Hutchinson, and with members of both Houses of Parliament, it then becomes easy to find more information.
So, Hutchinson was John Hely-Hutchinson, 1787-1851, who lived at Palmerston House, Dublin. He was an MP from 1826-1830 and 1831-1832 for Tipperary then inherited the title of Viscount Hutchinson in 1832 and was also Lord Lieutenant of Tipperary until his death in 1851. See this link for more info.
The local post mark, vertical on the left, looks like CHAPEL 120/ PENNY POST but, turns out to be CHAPELIZOD/PENNY POST. Chapelizod is a village within Dublin City and is named after Iseult/Isolde from the legend of Tristan and Isolde.
The Dublin Penny Post was introduced in 1773 for letters within the Great Circular Road of Dublin City. The Free Franking privilege would have applied to the rest of the journey to Reading. See this link for more info on the Dubin Penny Post,
Scan_20210313 by Daniel, on Flickr
Under the system members of The Houses of Parliament and office holders could post letters for free by simply using the word Free or Frank plus their signature and their seal. Later a hand-stamp was used stating the word FREE and later still with a date. Such letters became highly collectible in the early 19th century by cutting out the front panel and these are known as Free Fronts. The Free privilege continued up until 1840 with thee introduction of the penny post.
This example from Dublin does not bear a Free handstamp, likely for a good reason, local post charges were not included in the privilege.
Across the top, it reads Dublin May seven 1833. Deciphering the handwriting is key and although I can't read the name of the addressee, the address appears to be in Reading. Finally, we have the signature in the bottom left with his seal above in black with a coronet indicating a peer. After staring at the signature for some time it appeared to be the surname Hutchinson, and with members of both Houses of Parliament, it then becomes easy to find more information.
So, Hutchinson was John Hely-Hutchinson, 1787-1851, who lived at Palmerston House, Dublin. He was an MP from 1826-1830 and 1831-1832 for Tipperary then inherited the title of Viscount Hutchinson in 1832 and was also Lord Lieutenant of Tipperary until his death in 1851. See this link for more info.
The local post mark, vertical on the left, looks like CHAPEL 120/ PENNY POST but, turns out to be CHAPELIZOD/PENNY POST. Chapelizod is a village within Dublin City and is named after Iseult/Isolde from the legend of Tristan and Isolde.
The Dublin Penny Post was introduced in 1773 for letters within the Great Circular Road of Dublin City. The Free Franking privilege would have applied to the rest of the journey to Reading. See this link for more info on the Dubin Penny Post,
Scan_20210313 by Daniel, on Flickr
