Page 295 - Sierra Leone to 1961 - The Collection
P. 295
Ship Letter to Sierra Leone
1828 Half Packet Rate Letter from London
16 February 1828 - London to Sierra Leone by Private Ship via British Post Office
An entire from James Windows, a London banker, giving a summary of financial details for the period 1825
to 1827 relating to the affairs of William Barry MD. The accounts show that Dr Barry was charged 9s 8d for
postage in 1825 and 3s 8d in 1826.
The letter has a manuscript date of 30 January 1828. The London datestamp is 17
days later, illustrating the delays frequently encountered in sending mail to Sierra
Leone at this time.
As there was no direct service provided by the Post Office, mail from the UK to Robertson Type S47
Sierra Leone was sent via the South American service and charged at half that rate.
In 1828 the charge to Brazil was 11d for postage from London to Falmouth plus
2s 7d packet rate, total 3s 6d. Hence the letter was charged half of this total, 1s 9d.
