House of Commons 1840 Penny Post

1840 House of Commons Penny Post envelope with 4^th February paid cancel. Stanley Gibbons specialised catalogue values these from £6,000. This example has two heavy scores on the left side of the envelope so we are selling well below catalogue value. A good opportunity for you to acquire this historical piece of postal history.

These envelopes came about after members of the Houses of Parliament had their free frank privileges removed with the introduction of uniform penny postage on 10^th January 1840. However, after consultation Rowland Hill arranged for printed envelopes to be supplied to members which when posted in the official Parliament boxes would incur no postal charges. The availability of these then ceased from 5^th May 1840, the day before the 1d Black & Mulready came into use.