Page 45 - Fenning_Scoland

Internal Postal Rates set by the Scottish Privy Council
1675 - Edinburgh to Aberdeen 2 Shillings Rate

Until 1667 there were no regular postal services established north of Edinburgh. In that
year the Scottish Privy Council contracted for a twice weekly foot-post service to operate
between Edinburgh and Aberdeen. The single letter rate was set at 2 shillings Scots. In
1669, on the extension of the service to Inverness, the Privy Council set charges on a
mileage scale which would have resulted in the rate to Aberdeen being raised to 3 shillings.

17tti April 1675. Edinburgh to Aberdeen letter
with a 2/- Scots postal rate. This is one of the
earliest recorded letters carried within Scotland
by a regular postal service and one of the very
few to have the manuscript charge specified in
Scots currency.

The Scottish Privy Council's rate scale of 1669 would have resulted in the Edinburgh to
Aberdeen single letter rate being 3/;, for 40 = 60 Scots miles, as before distances were
measured accurately, the computed distance between these two towns was greatly
underestimated. The 2/- charge on the letter appears to be a continued use of the 1667
rate and it is unclear as to why the 1669 rate scale was not being applied.

The writer of the letter refers to the use of the official post and other carriers when he
informs the addressee that he will "either send his two bonds to you with the post or some other
bearer according as you shall desire me".