[MULREADY (William, 1786-1863, Artist, R.A., Designer of Mulready Wrappers)]

Mulready Wrapper addressed to Mr G. H. Worthington in Oldham decorated with the famous engraved design showing Britannia dispatching winged messengers to the corners of the globe, vignette scenes of distant countries and of letters being read to an elderly woman and to her children by a mother, bank-note type lettering 'POSTAGE', full details of postage rates and purchase of stamps in the margins, postmarks in blank margin, 'Maltese Cross' stamp over the bottom of Britannia's skirt, 7¾" x 9½" unfolded, 25th September

Mulready's design was used on pre-paid 1d and 2d envelopes, and on wrappers such as the present that could be folded square round a letter and sealed. They were first issued on 6th May 1840 along with the adhesive stamps, which proved far more popular, to the surprise of the authorities. Skittish variants soon appeared and on 26th January 1841 the Post Office issued instead the envelopes incorporating the Queen's head. 'Mulready' envelopes were valid indefinitely and have been found used as late as 1850.

Item Date:  1840

Stock No:  41363      £475

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