![]() John Bradshaw (1602-59) who presided at the trial of Charles I and passed sentence. Fortunately, this letter had written on it: "For the service of the State/ To the Right Hono(ra)ble/ the Lord President/of the Counsell/ of State/ those/present/ Whitehall", i.e. 1647, utilising the 1635 rates and, in 1653 the Post office was reorganised and the 'New' Post was established. Both Royalists and Parliamentarians employed special couriers for Official Mail, otherwise letters were carried (and, occasionally charged or postally endorsed) privately. During the Civil War the postal service for the general public was severely restricted, if not completely non-existent. This was a very important letter to a very important person, and would have to be if it was to get there so quickly. An incredible speed to achieve considering the limited resources of the time. This letter travelled from Dover to London in the space of 21 hours. It went: "From Dover past six at night/ Receiv(e)d att Canterbury past 10 att night/ Received at Settingborn past 2 in the morning/ Rochester past 5 in the morning /Dar(t)ford past 9 in the morning /arrived at Southwerk past 2 in the afternoon". Written on the letter are the six endorsements where the courier changed horses, and their times of arrival. One can imagine that compared to the speed of an email today, this must have taken an awfully long time. ![]() ![]() Writing 'Haste Post Haste' on a letter in the 17 th century would get the letter to its intended destination as quickly as it is possible to do by horse. Not just a letter, an entire 'Haste Post Haste' letter. SPINK LONDON | Spink is excited to announce that within The Philatelic Collector's Series Sale in London on the 20 th - 22 nd May, a letter to the Right Honourable John Bradshaw from 1652 is to be offered. ![]()
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