To Pay, or not To Pay? — that is the question (original) (raw)

These letters graciously have been shared with the Victorian Web by Eunice and Ron Shanahan; they have been taken from their website. The letters give an insight into the daily lives and concerns of ordinary people without whom history would not exist. The letters are a wonderful example of how much history may be gleaned from such primary sources.

• General Information
  • Penny Posts, local posts, poverty (Mrs Belcher's plea for help), agricultural labourers etc.
• Free postage for the rich and powerful
  • who could send their letters free — and the postmarks by which they can be identified.
• Currency
  • Costs — although basically for Victorian times, much of it is also applicable for the previous decades.
• The relative costs of sending and receiving a letter
  • Further information on prices other than postage.
• How much?
  • Postage rates from 1805-1839, with images of letters showing the amounts charged
• Who paid?
  • Explanations as to who paid and why, with examples

Many of the letters in our collection are unpaid. Those that have been pre-paid usually have a note to that effect on the front address panel, by the writer of the letter. This letter of 1717 is such an example: for the contents of this letter click here

3 December 2002