Postal History - Gravesend (GB) Early Mail

A postal station was set up by the Romans at Springhead, just outside Gravesend (Vaginiacae). For practical purposes however post can only really seen from the late 15th into the late 16th century.

There were two items of mail from Gravesend in the Corsini correspondence. The example not illustrated here was dated 24 July 1585 and is inscribed "Ye bearer is payd". Displayed by J. Michael Jackson to the RPSL, 29 April 1993.

Until the mid 18th century mail is still rarely met with.

Gravesend Corsini cover dated 4th September 1586, written by Romano Canallyro. Marked " p. Amy" or "by a friend". Number 117 in Beale's list.

Entire from the Massingberd correspondence from Gravesend to Lincolnshire, 25 January 1699. The writer talks of being about to take ship to the Carolinas.

In his display to the GBPS on 17 March 2018, Alan Holyoake, RDP, FRPSL showed a letter from the Captain of a ship at Hope Reach to Whitehall, endorsed "hast hast post haste, for the special service of the State" and "Gravesend ye 3d of August 1653, five A clock in ye afternoon". It was also endorsed on the flap "From the post office at Gravesend post 6 att night / Reced. at Dartford Post 8 at night / Recd at Southworck past 6 in the morning". (A Holyoake, "Great Britain. English Postal History prior to the Bishop Mark", page 82, the author, 2018).

Extract from The London Gazette #1756, dated 7-11 April 1692. These are to give notice, That during the continuence of the Fleet at Buoy in the Nore, a post will be sent thither every day in the week from the General Letter Office in London, by way of Gravesend, from whence Care is taken to forward the same; and to bring back Answers accordingly, Wind and Weather permitting, being to begin on Monday the 11th of this instant April. No post is known which can be identified as using this service.

Entire from Gravesend to London, 14 February1698/9. Rated 2d

Entire to Aberdeen, dated internally 23 May 1743. The writer mentions Sir James Grant and that he has marked it "free" and signed it. There is a 29 May Bishop mark. This would appear to be a breach of priviledge. No postal markings were used on free mail until the 1760s. Maybe this is also the reason the two lined Gravesend mark, in use at the time (see below), was not applied. In this period the forts at Gravesend and Northfleet were strengthened in fear of a French invasion. The letter speaks of sailing to Ostende.

Postmark - GB Two line Gravesend

Tilley recorded two, two-lined Gravesend markings.

The first (41x20mm GRAVE / SEND) is recorded in 1741. Reputedly three examples were in one archive. One example went to a collector in the USA, one is owned by a UK collector and one is in the original archive. No scan is available.
The second (31x11mm GRAVES / END) is recorded by Tilley 19.3.1743/4. One example is clearly dated 27 AP but the year is not given. Two other examples are known, both used 17 March 1744. The second, written 9 o'clock at night mentions the first!

Gravesend 17 Oct 1744, morning example!

Gravesend 17 Oct 1744, evening example!

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