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UK
lOd
1812

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TIIB EARLIEST RECORDED(?) BERMUDA POSTAL CHARGE - lst YEAR OF OFFICIAL P.O. - INCOMING
SHIP LETTER; 21 Aug. 1812 from "London" addressed to "Messrs. Wadson *&Astwood, Bermuda" being endorsed
"P. Catherine"; the letter would have reached the island in Sept./Nov. 1812 at which time the short-lived First Official
P.O. Act was in operation (it as declared illegal by London within a year!). There is the very first incoming Bermuda
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Ship Letter charge of "l/3d" (triple rate) changed to 10d (double rate) all in red crayon on the front, which fits exactly
the Bermuda lst P.O. Act charges (see full text of the Act in Ludington, esp. Article 3 ref incoming Ship Letters, on
p.112). This may be the earliest recorded Postage Due charge and, indeed the earliest postal marking of any kind, for
Bermuda. There were no Bermuda P.O. handstamps until 1820.

London 3 Feb 1817 to Bermuda 2/2
prepayment compulsory made up of l ld
UK inland and 1/3 sea postage, as of July
1812 Bermuda inland 5d, the Post Office
Act being passed Nov 1814.

Packet FRANCIS FREELING sailed
from Falmouth 24th Feb and arri~ed in
Bermuda 4th April.

The red crayon 4 coul~ be the fourpence
known to have been charge by Charles C.
beach, newspaper editor and distributor
who arranged rural delivery for that fee.