Lot 1631
Great Britain. Hill, Rowland (1795-1879). British administrator and educator, primarily known for his development of the modern postal service in Britain, which became the model for the world.
Autograph Letter Signed ("Rowland Hill"). Three pages, quarto, London, n.d. Written at the Reform Club, on Reform Club embossed stationery. Notation in another hand at top right of first page. Small repaired sections which do not affect text and some toning. In very good condition.
Wonderful content from the "Father of the Postal Stamp" as he is preparing to make his case before Parliament and the British public! He explains: "My wish is to follow the arrangements settled when we met at Sir Thos. Wilde's chambers. When the evidence appears I shall prepare matter for the Chronicle to work up into articles…I shall at the time prepare my pamphlet. Other papers will no doubt assist, perhaps some of the reviews also…In Parliament the course proposed was to move early for certain returns and at the same time to give notice that the attention of the House will be called to the evidence on an early day. Wilde will assist on field days & I trust there will be no lack aid at all times. You were so good as to undertake the general management of the question. I don't think that more than this can be considered as settled. Does anything occur to you?" Thomas Wilde, the gentleman mentioned above, introduced Hill's plan for Postal Reform to the House of Commons and was instrumental in its success. Rowland's pamphlet, "Post Office Reform: Its Importance and Practicability" (1837) introduced his ideas to the British public and almost immediately went into second and third editions. Hill's reforms and the social and economic changes they promised (and delivered) were wildly popular. Parliament passed a bill instituting his extensive postal reform measures in September 1839. The first postage stamp ("label") was released May 1840.
Estimated Value $700 - 1,000.
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| Realized $489 |
