STAMPLESS COVERS OF GREAT BRITAIN

RARE 1796 TWO-LINE BARBA/DOES CANCEL ON PRINCE EDWARD PACKET COVER
LATEST KNOWN USE OF THE TWO-LINE CANCEL WITH TWO SEPARATE POSTAL RATINGS.
 AN EARLY BRITISH COLONIAL MAIL EXHIBITION PIECE CONCERNING CODRINGTON COLLEGE, THE OLDEST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE.

Edward Clarke writes from Barbados to ask for more Beef and Pork
 for the Workmen who are building the foundations of a College

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John Brathwaite Esq. / to the care of / Marmeduke Trattle / Merchants in / London
per Prince Edward Packet


Reverse of Cover
Rare two line BARBA/DOES Cancel and London Receiving Mark with Manuscript Rates

1796 RARE BARBA/DOES CANCEL: — A desirable exhibition piece. Clarke, Radfor and Cave, in their defining book "Barbados Post Office Markings to 1881", describe this two-line "BARBA/DOES" cancel, Type A-2, as the earliest known used handstamp, first dating from 22 February 1762 and last known used in April of 1796. The large type straightline "BARBADOES", Type A-1, cancel was used from 1766 to 1793. This letter is docketed the 20th of December 1796 which would make it the latest known use. The next form of cancel, Type A-3, is a dated Barbados cancel and first reported 1 September 1799. Clarke, >>Radfor & Cave note that "In specimens recorded between 1771 and 1782 the lower line is only 22mm. long and the letters are 4½mm. high." This example matches the original handstamp dimensions of 27mm top line, 24 mm lower line and letters 5mm high.

While it appears that the first part of this letter is missing, below is quoted the extant text. The writer is Edward Clarke from the well known Clarke's of Barbados (note for example the author above). We believe that the "College" mentioned is Codrington College. Codrington College is located in St. John Parish in Barbados in the Caribbean and is the oldest Theological College in the western hemisphere. This is based upon our review of the West Indies Records of the United Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, an Anglican based missionary group. In 1701 the leading plantation owner of Barbados, Christopher Codrington (also past Governor of St. Kitts) left several plantation estates to the Missionary group from which to establish a school, which did not open until 1749. From 1783 to 1793 the estates were managed by a leading Barbadian attorney, one John Braithwaite, the recipient of this letter. Similarly, Marmeduke Trattle (to whom the letter is sent in care of) were the Merchant Bankers in London who handled the Society's accounts. It is also known that a major renovation of the school took place in 1796. We think it likely that Edward Clarke might have been the succeeding manager and was applying to Braithwaite in London for more supplies and likely money in order to finish the work. Letter has a nice tie in to Barbadian history and Codrington College which flourishes even today.

A Note on the ratings. It appears that there was a 1 shilling rate that was struck through and a 2N8 or 2 shilling and 8 pence rate applied. Where could these have come from? The presumptive controlling rate from Barbados at the time was the 10 October 1765 Act, 5 George 3, c25, which set forth a 1 shilling single sheet, 2 shilling double plus inland charge to London rate. Often ships from the West Indies would land first at Falmouth or Plymouth to drop the mail. At this time the rate from Plymouth was 8d (not including the ship charge). If the letter was first thought to be a single rate and charged 1 shilling in Barbados, then changed to a double rate and the 8d charge added in London, that would explain it. However, the ink of the two manuscript rates matches the London receiving mark and it is likely all the rating took place at one time - in London. This is supported by David Robinson (Port and Carriage Charges) comments that, "No combined British and West Indian charges have been seen, but these might have occurred as with North American rates." So it is possible that the 1 shilling rate was applied in Barbados, but not likely.

Following is the remaining letter text:

Mr Thomas has left the College in consequence of his being appointed to the Living of St. Andrew Parish [located in the northeast of Barbados] and in his room we have got a very worthy young man by the name of Mr. Anderson. I must request the favor of you to direct the ???? to send out five Barrels of Beef more & five of Pork extra of the Annual Score that has hitherto been Imported for the number of Workmen that have been employed about the College, & the addition of Six more Boys upon the Foundation, will of course consume more salt Provisions than was formerly used. There are Eighteen Boys upon the Foundation at present & has been so from Five Months past.

I must conclude now with wishing you Health & every other Comfort that you can desire

I Remain Dear Sir
Your Most Obed't Serv't
Edward Clarke

Docket Notation: Barb'dos 20 Dec'r 1796
Edward Clarke
per Pacquet
rec'd 28 March 1797

Cover is generally in very fine but slightly faded condition. There is a stained docketing fold which runs vertically through the front and reverse of the cover, not affecting cancel. This is an exceptional cover not only for its rarity and early colonial association, but also as it mentions the specific mail packet used

Two-line  BARBA/DOES
Clarke Type A-2
latest known use
docketed December 20, 1796
Measures 27mm top line, 24mm on lower line and letters are 5mm high

Manuscript 1 Shilling Rate crossed out

Manuscript 2N8
2 Shilling 8 pence rate

London Morning Duty Receiving Cancel
Jay Type L 6a

Manuscript "per Prince Edward Packet"

Please note that stampless cover catalogue numbers and research come from some of the following reference works: Clarke, Radford & Cave, Barbados Post Office Markings to 1981; Robinson, The Port and Carriage of Letters, Inland & Foreign Rates of the British Isles; R. M. Willcocks, England's Postal History to 1840 with Notes on Scotland, Wales and Ireland (1975); R. M. Willcocks & Barrie Jay, The Postal History of Great Britain and Ireland 1981; Willcocks & Jay, The British County Catalogue of Postal History - Volumes 1 & 2, 2nd Ed. (1996); Barrie Jay, The British County Catalogue of Postal History Volume 3 London, 2nd Ed.(2005); Willcocks & Jay, The British County Catalogue of Postal History - Vol 4 (1988), Willcocks & Jay, The British County Catalogue of Postal History - Volume 5 (1990); American Stampless Cover Catalogue 2nd Ed. (1997); J.C. Arnell, Atlantic Mails - A History of the Mail Service between Great Britain and Canada to 1889 (1980); F. Jarrett, Stamps of British North America; W. S. Boggs, The Postage Stamps and Postal History of Canada; Hargest, History of Letter Communications between US and Europe 1845-1874, Starnes, US Letter Rates to Foreign Destination 1847-GPU; Tabeart, United Kingdom Letter Rates 1657-1900; Moubray, British Letter Mail to Overseas Destinations 1840-1875, J.J. MacDonald, The Nova Scotia Post, Its Offices, Masters and Marks (1985)

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