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Auction: 25017 - Stamps and Covers of Great Britain
Lot: 5053

Great Britain
Postal History
1838 (17 March) envelope addressed in Queen Victoria's hand to "Her Excellency The Countess of Mulgrave, Dublin Castle", signed at lower left, "The Queen", the face struck with "free/17 mr/1838" double line crown d.s., together with autograph letter signed on embossed cypher letter paper, headed "Buckingham Palace, March 19 1838" thanking her for the flowers and asking after the health of Lord Mulgrave who was then serving as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. Signed "Victoria R". Letter written three months prior to the Coronation. A rare and possibly unique example of the Queen taking advantage of the franking privilege prior to its abolishment on 10 January 1840. Photo

literature:
J.W. Lovegrove in "Herewith My Frank" (1975) refers to the use of a Free datestamp on a cover addressed by the Queen in 1844 but it had no postal significance. He does not record a FREE cover prior to this date from Queen Victoria.

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Estimate
£3,000 to £4,000