Penny post cover addressed to J. R. Smith, 4, Old Compton Street, Soho Square, London

RA Collection: Archive

Archive context

Showing item 106 of 140 in this group

Reference code

JU/7/149

Title

Penny post cover addressed to J. R. Smith, 4, Old Compton Street, Soho Square, London

Date

[09 Mar 1844]

Level

Item

Extent & medium

1 piece

Historical Background

The item is an example of the first pre-paid postage envelope, which was designed by William Mulready RA. "[T]he envelope, with its image of Britannia supervising deliveries of letters to the four corners of the globe, released in 1840, and widely ridiculed, generated large numbers of caricatures, and was quickly withdrawn, causing the artist much chagrin." [DNB]