Gravesend (GB) India Letters

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Type numbers are those used by Robertson and continued by Colin Taebert.
These handstamps were used as the incoming rate from, initially India was less than for a ship letter. Other origins gradually made it into the India Letter system.

IN1

The first INDIA LETTER of Gravesend measured 48mm x 14mm with 3mm high letters. Recorded 1820-1836 in black and 1836-38 in red.

Early use, written from Bengal 6 May 1820. It landed in Gravesend and got to London 11 December 1820. It was "Mifsent to Kensington, Middx" and then correctly sent on to Bath. The extensive text discusses shooting elephants and tigers.

IN2a

The second type of INDIA LETTER of Gravesend is recorded in 1820.

File:Gravesend (GB) India Letters IN2a 1.jpg From

IN2

The third type of INDIA LETTER is perhaps the most common, recorded in black, red and rarely in blue. 1823 to 1851

IN2 in black on entire from Bombay to London, landed 17 October 1827. It was forwarded by Inglis & Forbes to Brighton. This is the only recorded year for this forwarding agent.

IN2 in red "per John Stamp" to Edinburgh, posted 4 September 1834. It was landed in Gravesend and went through London on 4 February 1835. Rated 10d, increased to 1s6d plus the additional ½d.

An example from Colombo to London "per Severn" was received in London 23 May 1851. It shows the type 2 India Letter in blue. It is clear from the contents that this was a consignee's letter and should have been entitled to pay only the inland rate. This is very late and may be the latest recorded India Letter.

IN3

A script type INDIA LETTER is first recorded 1834 and continues through to 1849, only in black.

An example to Rothschild 5 November 1836, rated 10d. It was written 16 August 1836 but the place of origin cannot be determined.

This entire, "per Lady of the Lake" left Rio de Janeiro on 21 June 1839, en route from Port Phillip, NSW. Incorrectly handstamped with the IN3 India Letter. This was deleted and the Ship Letter S9 added. Mail from Brazil was not allowed the concessionary rate. Rate 8d ship and 6d inland = 1s2d.

IN4

The final INDIA LETTER of Gravesend was unframed, measuring 39mm x 12mm and is recorded in black and red from 1839-40.

Strike in red on an entire from the Rothschild correspondence, dated 1 September 1839. Possibly from Rio, the 10d comprises 4d India letter and 6d inland postage.

A black example from August 1849 on an entire to Huths from Madras, carried on the "Harrison". 8d charged in total.

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