364 / März 2017

Unpaid letter dated Kjälfer (not a post office) September 7th 1847 and sent to Stockholm. Single rate 4 Skilling banco (manuscript notation in upper left corner) when charged to the addressee. Manuscript notation "Betalas vid ankomsten" means "to be paid on arrival". On arrival the letter was stamped with RED rectangular arrival postmark "STOCKHOLM 8 SEP 47".

Insufficiently prepaid double rate letter sent February 22nd 1858 from Västerås to Stockholm. The figure "2" in manuscript indicates double rate but was paid only 4 skilling banco for single rate. The double rate was 8 skilling banco. Thus the postage due became 4 skilling banco as manuscript notation at top "felande porto 4 SBco".

Uddevalla Postage due marking type 1 on unpaid double rate ship letter (conveyed with ship Thorild as per manuscript notation) dated Gothenburg September 14th 1850 and sent to Uddevalla. The figure "2" in manuscript indicates double rate = 2x 4 skilling banco and therefore the figure "4" in this charge mark was changed to "8" in manuscript. Three or four letters, all dated between July 14th-September 14th 1850, are known to exist with the charge mark type 1, and the above is the only one where 4 has been changed into 8.

Uddevalla postage due marking type 2 on unpaid ship letter (conveyed with ship "Thorild" as per manuscript notation) dated Gothenburg May 31st 1851 and sent to Uddevalla. The recorded markings of type 2 have been struck between May 29th-November 13th 1851. Only three or four letters are known with this charge mark.

Uddevalla postage due marking type 3 1A on unpaid ship letter (with manuscript notation on top "Pr Thorild fr Marstrand") dated Marstrand June 10th 1852 and sent to Uddevalla. All recorded markings of type 3 were struck between June 10th 1852 and November 19th 1860. This is the earliest letter known with this postage due mark.

Uddevalla postage due marking type 3 1B on unpaid ship letter (with manuscript notation on top "Pr Knape fr Marstrand") dated Marstrand October 5th 1852 and sent to Uddevalla. Normally, at least once during the sailing season, the date figures in the handstamp became so worn that they had to be repaired. The first year, 1852, this was the case in October, at the end of the sailing season. 

Uddevalla postage due marking type 3 1A on unpaid double rate ship letter dated Marstrand May 31st 1856 and sent to Uddevalla. The figure "2" in manuscript indicates double rate and therefore "4" in the marking was changed to "8". Unusual item.

Uddevalla postage due marking type 3, here used for cancelling adhesive stamps on three different letters: type 3 III on letter with single rate 4 skilling banco and letter front with partly prepaid postage 5 öre Coat-of-arms (without postage due notation), also letter with type IV marking on 12 öre Coat-of-arms. Interesting lot.

Stockholm postage due marking type 1 black "STCKHLM 4 SK, 4.8.1855" on unpaid letter with contents dated Köping August 4th 1855 and sent to Stockholm. The single rate, now uniform, was 4 Skilling banco.

Stockholm postage due marking type 2 "4 sk STOCKHOLM 28.11.1856" on unpaid letter dated Stockholm November 25th 1856 and sent to Norrköping. This letter is probably the only known with this postage due marking sent FROM and not to Stockholm.

2x Stockholm postage due marking type 3 "12 öre 26.5.1859 STOCKHOLM" on unpaid double rate letter (Front only) sent to Stockholm. This is the only known letter where this postage due marking has been applied twice to indicate double postage due.

2x Västerås postage due marking type 1 on unpaid and undated shipletter sent from Stockholm to Västerås. The letter was posted in letter-boxes on board steamships in traffic between the two towns. This is the only known letter where this charge marking is struck twice.

Västerås postage due marking type 2 on unpaid ship letter dated Stockholm July 1st 1858 sent to Västerås. Strictly this letter should have been charge marked "12 öre" not "4 sk" as the monetary system was changed from skilling to öre on the exact day this letter was written.

Norrköping postage due marking "12 öre" on unpaid ship letter sent November 14th from unknown year and most likely from Stockholm to Norrköping. Four letters are known with this charge marking.

Unpaid ship letter dated Lübeck December 30th 1870 and sent to Norrköping where the addressee paid the postage due (manuscript notation "27 öre" in blue crayon) by affixing normal stamps: 24 öre Coat-of-arms and 3 öre Lying lion type 2, both cancelled "NORRKÖPING 31.1.1871". Certificate HOW (1990) Letters with postage due paid by affixing normal adhesives are rare.

Insufficiently prepaid sixfold rate local letterfront only, sent August 24th 1860 within Westerås. The manuscript "6 lod" on the bottom left-hand side of the envelope indicates sixfold rate (6x 12 öre=72 öre), the sender had prepaid 2x 12 öre. Thus the addressee had to pay the difference, 48 öre, which was accounted for by the two 24 öre stamps at bottom and marked with manuscript notation "Lösen 48 öre" on front. Certificate HOW (1990). Letters with postage due paid with normal stamps are very rare.

Insufficiently prepaid letter posted November 28th 1872 in a letter box, initially postmarked "W.A.J. 28.11.1872" (Wexiö-Alfvesta railroad), sent to WIMMERBY 30.11.1872". Prepaid, the single rate was 12 öre but only 3 öre, the local letter rate, was paid. The addressee had to pay the missing 9 öre plus the notification fee, 6 öre (in force since July 1871), and the total postage due became 15 öre, as quoted with manuscript notation "Lösen 15 öre" on front. Certificate HOW (1991). Attractive item.

Insufficiently prepaid double rate letter postmarked STJERNHOF 8.12.1873" and sent to Arboga. From Arboga the letter was delivered to the addressee in Koberg, who had a delivery agreement with the post office in Arboga that their letters could be carried in an open mail bag (lösväska) without any notification fees being paid (normally 6 öre) so only 12 öre postage due was charged and cancelled "ARBOGA 9.12.1873". Letters with postage due paid with normal stamps, are very rare.

Official letter dated Likenäs July 23rd 1880 and sent to Stöllet. Without an official postage stamp of 12 öre, the letter was not accepted as an official letter. According to a GPO decree of December 7th 1877, Parish constables (=Fjerdingsmän) were allowed to send unfranked letters to, among others, county sheriffs (=Länsmen). Upon receipt, these had to pay the normal postage but no notification fee. The letter is franked with a 12 öre postage due stamp cancelled "STÖLLET 24.7.1880". Postage due stamps on official letters are rare.

1860 (ca.), Essay of proposed postage control stamp for unpaid letters from mail-boxes, inscribed "Porto Kontroll Stämpel för obetaldte Låd-Bref.", printed on gummed paper, very fine and fresh; This specimen is  the only recorded in private hands; 2 copies are in the possession of the postal museum. Certificate HOW (1987).

Unpaid address letter for a parcel weighing 13 skålpund 20 ort, cancelled and sent from "NORRKÖPING 15.2.1874" to Öregrund with notation "Härmed ett paket". Postage due collected on arrival with 13 stamps of 6 different values amounting to postage due of 252 öre, all stamps of the very first shade cancelled "ÖREGRUND 19.2.1874". Certificate HOW (1990). Beautiful and very attractive item.

Insufficiently prepaid printed matter "Prof utan värde" (=sample) sent March 27th 1882 from unknown place (postmark unreadable) to Söderköping. Prepaid the single rate was 8 öre, the minimum postage for samples. Franked with 2x 3 öre pair of Circle type perforation 13, meaning 2 öre was missing from the postage, double the missing postage had to be paid, so done on reverse with postage due stamps 1 öre + 3 öre perforation 13. Certificate HOW (1991). Folded out for display and trimmed at edges.

Prepaid local letter sent July 28th 1889 within Stockholm but readdressed to Hästede. From Stockholm the letter was conveyed by steamer "Östanå II", operating between Stockholm and Berghamra, and was postmarked "ÅNGBÅTS PXP. No 67. 16.8.1889". When the letter was readdressed it became a normal letter requiring domestic postage which from January 1st 1885 was 10 öre. The total postage due became, 5 öre missing postage + notification fee 6 öre = 11 öre as marked on letter. The letter is opened up for display. Readdressed letters with postage due are very rare.  

Local postcard sent December 31st 1887 within Stockholm. The postcard is franked with a Stockholm City Post stamp. By mistake, it was put in the ordinary letter-box instead of in the special one for the private Stockholm City Post. The postcard was handed over to the City Post which was charged 5 öre. This was later paid by the addressee. The Stockholm City Post began its operations on December 6th 1887, thus this postcard is of a very early date, and the charge mark by the City Post has been recorded to exist on two items of mail only.

Address letter for an unpaid packet sent September 5th 1876 from "MALMÖ PAKET 5.9.1876" to "SUNNANSJÖ 9.9.1876", with manuscript notation "Obet Ludvika" (=unpaid Ludvika). From January 1873 the postage for a parcel was depending on weight and the distance (divided into zones) to the addressee. Parcels could be sent paid or unpaid. The postage for this parcel, weighing 6 skålpund and sent over 5 zones, was 144 öre and was paid by the addressee. Very attractive letter signed "Sjöman".

Unpaid private postcard sent locally January 2nd 1880 within Strängnäs. The postage was 6 öre and not prepaid. Thus, 6 öre + the notification fee, another 6 öre, had to be paid by the addressee. Postage due 12 öre perforation 14, cancelled "STRÄNGNÄS 2.1.1880".

Notification form no 171 sent to addressees informing that an insufficiently prepaid letter had arrived and was to be picked up at the Post office. This form was used for letters from abroad. No notification fee was charged. 2x 20 öre Postaged due stamps postmarked "EKSHÄRAD 31.3.1888". 

Insufficiently prepaid printed matter, commercial paper or letter sent January 13th 1880 from Söderfors to Jönköping. Most likely the contents was not accepted as printed matter but considered to be a letter. The postage due + notification fee then became 15 öre. In Jönköping a 3 öre distribution fee was added and in total 18 öre had to be paid by the addressee. 2x 3 öre + 12 öre Postage due stamps perforation 14, on reverse cancelled with Lilac "JÖNKÖPING 14.1.1880". Attractive cover with centerfold not affecting stamps.