Lot 30017 – The Famous “Lady Louis” Cover to Malta 1841 (Jan 9)

The Famous “Lady Louis” Cover to Malta

1841 (Jan 9) 1d Mulready envelope, stereo A151, sent from Bristol to Lady Louis in Malta and uprated with five 1840 1d black pl.5 (strip of 4 and single) and three 2d blue pl.1, mostly with clear margins, tied by orange MCs, with “No.17” hs adjacent and despatch bs, two stamps repaired and the address panel slightly toned, a highly attractive and rare combination franking of the 1d black and 2d blue.

Just over 50 Mulreadys sent abroad are recorded with only a dozen uprated with 1840 1d blacks or 2d blues. One of the great covers of British philately and a superb exhibition item.

Provenance: Cowan, Grunin, Gross and “Severn”.