Page 68 - Fenning_Scoland

Scotland's First Handstruck Postmark introduced In August 1693

25th August 1693. Letter from Aberdeen to Rotterdam via Edinburgh and
London. The letter was prepaid to London as per the regulations for letters to
Holland.

Rates and Postmarks:

The first recorded use of the Edinburgh Bishop mark is 5th August 1693. Very
few examples of this datestamp are known from the year 1693 and only two or 'pd 3d to Edbr' charge for Aberdeen to Edinburgh per Scottish Privy Council (1689).
three are recorded from the first month of use.
This manuscript charge was probably applied at Aberdeen.
This letter bears one of those August 1693 examples.

The Edinburgh datestamp was modelled on the London Bishop mark, but was
oval in shape rather than round. It was constructed of two segments. Each day
one of twelve 'month' segments was paired with one of thirty-one 'day'
segments to make up the datestamp for that day.
'pd 5d to London' charge for Edinburgh to London per Act of the English Parliament
The Edinburgh Bishop mark, in the 1 th Century, was used only on outgoing (1660). This manuscript charge was applied at Edinburgh.
letters from Edinburgh.
Before despatch to London the oval Edinburgh Bishop mark 'AV/29' was struck.

At London the circular Bishop mark 'SE/4' was struck.

On the Continent the XI' stuivers rate was added to account for the London to
Rotterdam charge, payable by the recipient.