Great Britain Specialised, Lot 1

POSTAL REFORMS - CHARLES WHITING "HARWOODS ENVELOPES" LETTER SHEET ESSAY WITH TWO ESSAYS (ONE EMBOSSED) PRINTED ON REVERSE WITH EXPLANATORY TEXT: Aug. 1840 Whiting Harwood envelopes letter sheet in brown (minor edge wear and slight creasing) having the rare text printed in centre; "SPECIMEN/OF/ENVELOPE, STAMP AND ADHESIVE LABEL,/SUGGESTED BY/CHARLES WHITING/TO THE LORDS OF THE TREASURY/AS exemplifying his suggestions for carrying out the mechanical requirements of/a CHEAP Postage.". The two essays printed directly on the top corners of the address-panel of the blank reverse of this Pink envelope and the blue embossed Whiting/Wyon "PAID" design so similar to the 1d Pink envelope and the blue & red "PRINCIPLE SUGGESTED/V R /BEAUFORT HOUSE" label design. Spectacular and rare triple Essay. Only a few examples with this central text are known. A similar Essay sheet without the central text sold in Cavendish's Sept. 2003 auction for £2,645.