Today's Object of the week is a letter signed by an earl and bearing an iconic stamp.

THE Post Office often comes in for some criticism, but week's object is a letter which took six days to be delivered.

This 1d Penny Black letter, written in 1840 by Henry Richard Greville - the 3rd Earl of Warwick Lord Brooke (1779 – 1853) - is to feature in the region's biggest stamp fair next week.

 Henry undertook an extensive Grand Tour of Europe between June 1801 and August 1803 - The Grand Tour was the custom of undertaking a traditional trip through Europe, with Italy as a key destination, usually by artists and upper-class young men of sufficient means and rank.

Read more: Who lived in this Durham 'house' named after a 3ft 3in Polish Count

Henry’s travels took him to Denmark, Russia, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and finally throughout Italy.

He entered Parliament as one of two representatives for Warwick in 1802, a seat he held until he succeeded his father in the earldom in 1816.

He served as a Lord-in-waiting (government whip in the House of Lords) from 1841 to 1846 in the second Tory administration of Sir Robert Peel.

This letter is addressed to Sir Fredrick Pollock MP, Queen Square House, Guildford Street. Sir Fredrick Pollock was the Member of Parliament for Huntingdon from 1831 to 1844.

The letter bears the first postage stamp the 1d Black, cancelled by a red London Maltese Cross.

The Earl had signed the front of the letter 'Warwick' at the lower left corner, which is a leftover from the Free Postage Privilege that titled gentry, the clergy and MPs enjoyed up to May 1840 when the uniform penny postage (the 1d Black) was introduced.

In order to qualify for the free post privilege the writer had to sign his name at the bottom of the outer envelope. This letter must have been written from London, as the Earl had not included London as the final part of the address.

When the letter was received at the post office the address was read as Guildford Street, 'Warwick', and sent by Mail Coach to the Post Office at Warwick. On receipt it was soon realised that there was no such place as Guildford Street in Warwick.

The address was then amended at the Post Office by underlining Guildford Street in red pen and adding London to the bottom of the address.

The letter also received the scarce lozenge instruction mark 'Missent to Warwick' struck in red ink. The letter was originally posted in London on the July 2, 1840, and returned from Warwick to the London Chief Office on the July 8. It took at least a six day round trip to arrive at its intended destination.

The letter comprised of a single sheet of paper that was folded and sealed on the reverse by a very fine red wax seal bearing the heraldic emblem of the 'bear and ragged staff' under a crown, which is the seal of the Earldom of Warwick.

The Northern Echo: The Warwick sealThe Warwick seal

The ragged staff is believed to refer to Morvidus, an early legendary Earl of Warwick who is said to have slain a giant with a young ash tree torn up by the roots.

By simply signing the letter with his name 'Warwick' under the address, the Earl had confused the Post Office which delayed the delivery of the letter by six days, which could very well have been a costly mistake.

The letter will be on view at the North-East of England Philatelic Association, Stamp Fair and Convention, being held on Saturday. March 19, 2022, at the Bowburn Community Centre, Durham Road, Bowburn, Durham. DH6 5AT.

Bowburn is the largest Stamp Fair in the North East attracting dealers from as far as Nottingham and Lincoln, together with local stamp dealers.

There will be a wide variety of material for sale including Great Britain, Commonwealth and World stamps together with Postal History, Postcards and Ephemera. The Stamp Fair open from 10am until 4pm with free entry, disabled access and Refreshments will be available.

For further information call 07742-153669 or 07849-904353.

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