Page 6 - Fenning_Scoland

1593 Merchant Post Edinburgh to London Letter with 'Pd port Deus Scheling' rate

1
In the 1 s1i Century, Scotland and England were entirely separate countries and the few
letters crossing the border were carried by messengers expressly employed for that
purpose or by Merchant Posts.

151t1 July 1593. Edinburgh to London letter, taking thirty days in transit, carried
by Merchant Post and rated 'Pd port Deus Scheling'.

This is the only letter with a rate endorsement from the Corsini letters that is
undlsputedly from Scotland and it is the earliest Scottish paid letter recorded.

The addressee, Bartholomew Corsini, was an Italian merchant in London who
was trading as Bartholomew Corsini and Company by 1585 if not before. The
Corsini mansion was on the corner of Lombard Street and Gratious Street.

The writer, Bertolomy Marquis, was an Italian merchant and entrepreneur in
Edinburgh. A few days after writing this letter he is recorded as having
proposed to Edinburgh's Council a scheme to bring the Water of Leith into the
North Loch to create a port below Edinburgh Castle. This Idea was considered
by the Council but not taken forward. Two years later Marquis is recorded as
being in financial difficulties.

References: The Philatelist and PJGB'. 1984 & 1985
'Records of the Burgh of Edinburgh 0 1589 to 1603
Provenance: Lot 76, Corsini Correspondence, Christie's R.L. Auctions, 11 June 1986