Great Britain 1840 1d Mulready Envelope Forme 1 Stereo A136, SGME2
A very fine used example, clearly cancelled with a red-brown Maltese Cross, and endorsed "May 5.1840" in manuscript at lower left.
Addressed to Minehead, Somerset and sent from Bristol, it is backstamped with a Bristol circular date stamp (Code A) for 'MY.6.1840', confirming first day of issue usage.
Minor vertical fold and light edge wear are present, but these do not detract from overall attractive condition and its significant historical and philatelic importance.
A major rarity of British postal history as the Mulready stationery was issued at the same time as the world's first postage stamp, the penny black .
It is one of the most important pieces of early postal history you could own marking the dawn of the postal system with a beautifully illustrated Victorian design depicting an important time in history.
It is a 6th May, 1840 first day cover used on the very first day of prepaid postage. Many of the first day covers are heavily soiled. This one is a very fine quality example.
The “May 5.1840” endorsement is significant, as it reflects the date of posting/dispatch in advance of the official introduction of uniform penny postage on 6 May 1840.
Provenance: Ex collections of Hassan Shaida, Hadley & Bill Gross.
Additional Provenance: Referenced on page 235 of Mike Jackson’s book "May Dates".
SG Catalogue Value: £18,000+.
