Stamping around with Nick [The PSM magazine, 9(3)]

Abstract

An extraordinary, maybe unique cover bearing the world's first three postage stamps has recently come to light. Writing under the above heading in "The Philatelic Tournal of Great Britain" (PJGB id short) well-known postal historian and publisher Robson Lowe opened his report of the discovery by stating "Anything is possible but the use of the first three adhesive stamps in the world on one cover is something which we never expected to see". Discovered in the archives of the Earls of Lauderdale, Scotland, the cover consists of a large printed "'Weekly Return" form weighing an ounce. Postage was paid with a two-pence blue plate II/IB posted at Lauder on the 7th July, 1841 travelling via Edinburgh to Dunbar where it arrived the following day. The Earl of Lauderdale, to whom it was addressed, had in the meantime moved to the South, so the form was redirected to Dunse, postage being paid by a one penny black, plate VI/NK and a one penny red, plate VIII/JG, creating a remarkable entire.