George III, Penny 1806-7 Fine

These are fantastic items, original envelopes mailed in the 1840’s & 1850’s with the early imperforate (no perforations around the edge) Penny Red stamp. Many of the early issues were actually printed using the same plates used to print the Penny Black stamps. What is also fascinating about these early covers is the almost complete lack of an address! Most of the envelopes have only a name and a town on them so these people must have been well-known at the time. They also often carry additional handstamps showing which post offices handled them on route to their destinations. Fascinating pieces of social and postal history. Limited availability.

William III and Mary II were England’s first and only joint sovereigns, with Mary sharing equal status and power. William and Mary came to the throne after the "Glorious Revolution" of 1688 when Mary’s father, James II, was deposed for trying to enforce Catholic tolerance in England. The King and Queen ruled jointly from 1689 until Mary’s death aged 32 in 1694. William and Mary were, in fact cousins, sharing King Charles I and Queen Henrietta Maria as grandparents. We have on offer the ever-popular, and getting harder to find 1694 halfpennies. They’re a one-year type and were struck in Copper at the Tower, just before they moved to the new mint on Tower Hill. This was also to be the final year of their brief joint-reign. These 330 year old halfpennies were very well circulated as they were used for everyday trades for many decades, so they are usually very worn.