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Rowland Hill’s postal reforms of 1839-40 simplified postage
rates throughout Great Britain. Also part of the
simplification was the merger of the three separate posts,
the London Penny Post (then called the London District
Post), the General Post, and the Foreign Branch (which
handled letters to and from overseas locations). Receiving
houses continued in operation until 1857 when they were
replaced by mailboxes and post office branches.
This piece of a printed page was mailed at Gray’s Inn
on Gray’s Inn Lane. The inn was a receiving house for the
London District Post. The handstamp was struck in blue, and
the bottom line shows that one penny postage was paid.
Also visible is the red datestamp applied
at the chief office of the District Post. The top line shows
“PD” indicating that postage was paid, and the next two
lines show the date of April 2, 1852. On the sides are the
marking “1 AN” which means one o’clock in the afternoon. The
“B” at the bottom identifies the particular handstamp.
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