Uniform Penny Postage was adopted in Britain on Jan. 10, 1840, with
the end of free franking by Parliament and most government
officials.
When Parliament opened on Jan. 16, the Members could purchase
preprinted envelopes ("letter covers"), valid for use only at the
Houses of Parliament. After the 1838 Sydney envelopes, these
were the second items representing prepaid postage, though neither
was intended for wide-spread general use. The Parliamentary
envelopes remained valid only until May 6, when they were replaced
by the new generally-available postage stamps, envelopes and letter
sheets, the Penny Black, and Mulready's.
The Parliamentary envelopes were not reported in a philatelic
publication until 1881. For their history and a census of
surviving examples, see Alan Huggins and Edward Klempka, Great
Britain: The 1840 Prepaid Parliamentary Envelopes, London : The
Royal Philatelic Society London, 2013. See also, the debates
of 17-18 Jan. 1840 (below), and F.A. Philbrick's notes from Rowland
Hill's correspondence, in the Crawford Library (British Library
shelfmark Crawford
1173; in the PDF
available from the Global Philatelic Library, found on p. 27 of
162).
List of Bills, Reports, Estimates, Accounts and Papers, Session 1840
(with General Alphabetical Index).
List of Sessional Papers, and General Index: Sess. 1840.
1840 (Sess. 1840) XLIX.561, xlix (list) + 68 (index) p. PDF [ProQuest]
13th Parliament of the UK, 3rd Session, 3 & 4 Victoria
Indexes to Reports and Papers relative to Post Office and Postage,
1735-1839.
Indexes to Parliamentary Reports and Papers relating to the Post
Office and Postage: 1735-1839.
1840 (10) XLII.1, 479 p.; PDF
[ProQuest]
General Index to Bills, Reports, Accounts and Papers of House of
Commons, 1832-38.
General index to the bills, reports, accounts, and other papers,
printed by order of the House of Commons: 1832-1838.
1840 (11) XLIX.219, 342 p.; PDF [ProQuest]
6 Feb. 1840, vol. 1, p. 793-795 (link),
Post Office
7 Feb. 1840, vol. 1, p. 824 (link),
West Indian Mails; p. 828 (link),
Post Office Arrangements
etc.
Bills and Acts
Bill for Regulation of Duties of Postage.
Postage. A bill for the regulation of the duties on postage.
1840 (513) III.319, 34 p.; PDF [ProQuest]
Journals of the House of Commons, vol. 95, p. 542, 543, 550, 576.
Bill for Regulation of Duties of Postage as amended by Committee.
Postage. A bill [as amended by the committee] for the regulation of
the duties of postage.
1840 (565) III.353, 36 p.; PDF [ProQuest]
Journals of the House of Commons, vol. 95, p. 584, 595, 599, 606
(passed), 635 (agreed by the Lords), 647 (Royal Assent).
Reports and Papers
Account of Sums paid into Stamp Office in Great Britain and Ireland
on Insurance from Fire, 1839.
Fire insurance. Accounts of all sums paid into the Stamp Office for
duty by each insurance office in Great Britain and Ireland, on
insurance from fire, for the quarters ending 25 March, 24 June, 29
September, and 25 December 1839; and of the sums insured by each
office on farming stock, exempt from duty, for the like periods.
1840 (267) XXIX.445, 8 p.; PDF [ProQuest]
Journals of the House of Commons, vol. 95, p. 245, 294, 299.
Return of Number of Stamps issued at One Penny to Newspapers in
United Kingdom, 1839.
Newspaper stamps. (Quarterly accounts.) Returns of the number of
newspaper stamps at one penny and one halfpenny, issued to the
several newspapers, in England, Scotland and Wales, in the quarters
from the 1st day of July to the 30th day of September, and from the
1st day of October to the 31st day of December 1839 inclusive;
specifying each newspaper by name, and the number of stamps issued
each month during that period to each newspaper. Returns of the
number of stamps issued to each newspaper in Ireland, in the same
period.
1840 (15) XXIX.483, 20 p.; PDF [ProQuest]
Journals of the House of Commons, vol. 95, p. 21, 26, 31.
Return of Number of Stamps issued to Newspapers in Great Britain,
1839.
Newspaper stamps. Return of the number of stamps issued to the
several newspapers in Great Britain and Ireland, from the 1st day of
January to the 31st day of March 1840; specifying each newspaper by
name, and the number of stamps issued each month during that period
to each newspaper.
1840 (266) XXIX.503, 10 p.; PDF [ProQuest]
Journals of the House of Commons, vol. 95, p. 294, 299.
Return of Number of Stamps issued for Newspapers in United Kingdom,
April-June 1840.
Newspaper stamps. A return of the number of stamps issued by the
Stamp Office, for all newspapers in England, Scotland and Wales,
from 1st April to 30th June 1840. Similar return for Ireland.
1840 (525) XXIX.513, 10 p.; PDF [ProQuest]
Journals of the House of Commons, vol. 95, p. 537, 548
Return of Number of Stamps issued to Newspapers and Amount of
Advertisement Duty, 1839-40.
Newspapers. A return of the number of stamps issued to each
newspaper in England and Wales during each of the three years ending
the 5th day of January 1840; specifying also the amount of
advertisement duty paid by each paper in each of the above three
years. Similar returns for Scotland and Ireland.
1840 (294) XXIX.523, 26 p.; PDF [ProQuest]
Journals of the House of Commons, vol. 95, p. 259, 326, 332.
Return of Number of Newspapers, Number of Stamps issued to
Newspapers and Advertisement Duty, 1836-39.
Newspaper stamps and advertisements. Return of the number of
newspapers and number of stamps issued to newspapers in the years
ending 15th September 1836, 1837, 1838 and 1839; also, of
advertisements, and duty thereon.
1840 (88) XXIX.549, 4 p.; PDF [ProQuest]
Journals of the House of Commons, vol. 95, p. 43, 117, 124.
Account of Produce of Post-Horse Duty, and Mileage Duties on
Railways, Carriages and Stage Coaches, 1837-40.
Post horse duties. Accounts of the produce of the post horse duty,
and of the mileage and composition for duties on railway carriages
and stage coaches.
1840 (561) XXIX.565, 4 p.; PDF [ProQuest]
Journals of the House of Commons, vol. 95, p. 467, 578, 583.
Return of Stamps for Bills of Exchange issued at Stamp Office,
1835-39.
Stamps. A return of stamps (for bills of exchange), issued by the
Stamp-Office in the last five years, at each rate of duty, and of
bankers' composition for bill stamps.
1840 (297) XXIX.695, 2 p.; PDF [ProQuest]
Journals of the House of Commons, vol. 95, p. 289, 326, 332.
Estimates, Miscellaneous Services, 1840-41 (VI.).
Estimates, &c. Miscellaneous services: for the year ending 31
March 1841. (VI)
1840 (434-I) XXX.885, 4 p.; PDF [ProQuest]
(Aberdeen Post Office)
Journals of the House of Commons, vol. 95, p. 477, 513.
Treasury Warrant directing that Letters or Votes of Parliament, on
Stamped Paper, in Stamped Covers, or having Stamp affixed, shall
pass Free of Postage.
Postage. Copy of Treasury Warrant, directing that Letters or
Printed Votes or Proceedings of the Imperial Parliament, written on
Stamped Paper, enclosed in Stamped Covers, or having a Stamp or
Stamps affixed thereto, shall pass by Post, free of
Postage;--(pursuant to Act 2 & 3 Vict., c. 34.).
1840 (277) XLIV.197, 4 p.; PDF [ProQuest] http://books.google.com/books?id=KHJbAAAAQAAJ
[Oxford]
-- Crawford, col. 153, shelfmark 1870(14).
Previously published in The London Gazette, April 25, 1840, issue
19850, p. 1073-1075 (link).
Dated Apr. 24, 1840.
Journals of the House of Commons, vol. 95, p. 300, 310.
Journals of the House of Lords, vol. 72, p. 260.
Treasury Warrant, regulating Rate of Postage on Printed Votes and
Proceedings of Parliament, and of Colonial Legislatures.
Postage. Copy of Treasury Warrant regulating the Rate of
Postage on Printed Votes and Proceedings of the Imperial Parliament,
&c.
1840 (70) XLIV.201, 4 p.; PDF
[ProQuest] http://books.google.com/books?id=KHJbAAAAQAAJ
[Oxford]
-- Crawford, col. 153, shelfmark 1870(12).
Previously published in The London Gazette, January 31, 1840, issue
19819, p. 199-200 (link).
Dated Jan. 31, 1840.
Journals of the House of Commons, vol. 95, p. 83, 93.
Treasury Warrants regulating Duties on Postage.
Postage. Copies of Treasury Warrants regulating the Duties on
Postage.
1840 (17) XLIV.205, 12 p.; PDF [ProQuest] http://books.google.com/books?id=KHJbAAAAQAAJ
[Oxford]
-- Crawford, col. 153, shelfmark 1870(10).
1. Previously published in The London Gazette, Nov. 22, 1839,
issue 19793, p. 2345-2348 (link).
Dated Nov. 22, 1839.
2. Previously published in The London Gazette, Dec. 28, 1839,
issue 19808, p. 2717-2720 (link).
Dated Dec. 27, 1839.
Journals of the House of Commons, vol. 95, p. 26, 31.
Return of Amount of Postage collected in London, Dublin and
Edinburgh, and Number of Letters delivered in United Kingdom,
1839-40.
Postage. Returns, showing the total and weekly amount of postage
collected in London, Dublin and Edinburgh, during the establishment
of the fourpenny rate; similar return during the penny rate; and
other returns upon the same subject.
1840 (129) XLIV.217, 8 p.; PDF [ProQuest] http://books.google.com/books?id=KHJbAAAAQAAJ
[Oxford]
Journals of the House of Commons, vol. 95, p. 34, 173, 182.
Return of Amount of Letters posted in United Kingdom and London,
1839-40.
Postage. Returns of the number of chargeable letters passing through
the general post, inwards and outwards, during the weeks ending 4th
January, 1st February, 29th February, 28th March, 25th April, 23d
May, and 20th June 1840:--of the number of letters for the London
district post, exclusive of all general post letters during the
above periods:--and, comparative estimate of the number of letters
delivered in the United Kingdom in the weeks ending 24th November,
22d December 1839, and 23d February, 22d March, 26th April, 22d May,
and 21st June 1840.
1840 (501) XLIV.225, 2 p.; PDF [ProQuest] http://books.google.com/books?id=KHJbAAAAQAAJ
[Oxford]
Journals of the House of Commons, vol. 95, p. 496, 530.
Account of Sums paid by Public Depts. on Postage in Great Britain
and Ireland, 1839-40.
Postage (public departments). An account of all sums charged to or
paid by each public department, on account of postage, from the 10th
day of January to the 20th day of February 1840, and from the 10th
day of January to the 20th day of February 1839.
1840 (201) XLIV.227, 2 p.; PDF [ProQuest] http://books.google.com/books?id=KHJbAAAAQAAJ
[Oxford]
Journals of the House of Commons, vol. 95, p. 105, Feb. 21, 1840 (link);
p. 112, Feb, 25, 1840 (link);
p. 244; p. 250, Apr. 2, 1840 (link).
Order, December 1839, by Postmaster General respecting Registration
of Money-Letters.
Post Office (money letters). Copy of the order issued on 20 December
1839, by the Postmaster-General, respecting the registration of
money letters.
1840 (562) XLIV.229, 2 p.; PDF [ProQuest] http://books.google.com/books?id=KHJbAAAAQAAJ
[Oxford]
Journals of the House of Commons, vol. 95, p. 556, 578, 583.
Return of Appointments of Deputy Postmasters, Clerks and Assistants
in Great Britain by Postmaster General since October 1839.
Post Office. Returns of appointments of deputy postmasters and
clerks or assistants, since 5th October 1839.
1840 (196) XLIV.231, 2 p.; PDF [ProQuest] http://books.google.com/books?id=KHJbAAAAQAAJ
[Oxford]
Journals of the House of Commons, vol. 95, p. 55, 241, 250; listed
in the index as paper no. 201.
Return of Government Steamers employed in Mediterranean as Post
Office Packets.
Post Office packets. A return of the government steamers employed in
the Mediterranean as Post Office packets, and steam power.
1840 (216) XLIV.233, 2 p.; PDF [ProQuest] http://books.google.com/books?id=KHJbAAAAQAAJ
[Oxford]
Journals of the House of Commons, vol. 95, p. 257, 259, 264.
Return of Hours at which Government Steam Packets left River Mersey,
and Time of Passage between Liverpool and Kingstown.
Post-Office steam-packets. Return of the hours at which the
government steam-packets have left the River Mersey, and the time
occupied in the passage between Liverpool and Kingstown, &c.
1840 (128) XLIV.235, 6 p.; PDF [ProQuest] http://books.google.com/books?id=KHJbAAAAQAAJ
[Oxford]
Journals of the House of Commons, vol. 95, p. 143, 173, 182.
Charters granted to any Joint Stock Company for carrying Mails to
Colonies.
Mails conveyance. Copy of any charter granted to any joint stock
company formed for carrying mails to the colonies.
1840 (287) XLIV.241, 6 p.; PDF [ProQuest] http://books.google.com/books?id=KHJbAAAAQAAJ
[Oxford]
Journals of the House of Commons, vol. 95, p. 70, 318, 324.
Report of Admiralty Committee on best Port for Steam Vessels
employed in Conveyance of Mails between England and Alexandria.
Mails (Alexandria). Copy of the report of the committee appointed by
the Lords of the Admiralty to inquire as to the best port of arrival
and departure for steam vessels to be employed in the conveyance of
mails between England and Alexandria direct.
1840 (626) XLIV.247, 2 p.; PDF [ProQuest] http://books.google.com/books?id=KHJbAAAAQAAJ
[Oxford]
Journals of the House of Commons, vol. 95, p. 669.
Instructions of Admiralty for regulating Inquiry on Advantages of
Ports for Departure and Arrival of Channel Islands Mails.
Channel Islands mails. A copy of instructions of the Lords of the
Admiralty for regulating an inquiry as to the advantages of
different ports for departure and arrival of Channel Islands mails.
1840 (367) XLIV.249, 2 p.; PDF [ProQuest] http://books.google.com/books?id=KHJbAAAAQAAJ
[Oxford]
Journals of the House of Commons, vol. 95, p. 379, 406, 414.
Return of Expenses of Mail Steam Packets between England and
Ireland, 1839-March 1840.
Mail steam packets. A return of the expenses of the mail steam
packets between England and Ireland from 1 January 1839 to 31 March
1840.
1840 (400) XLIV.251, 2 p.; PDF [ProQuest] http://books.google.com/books?id=KHJbAAAAQAAJ
[Oxford]
Journals of the House of Commons, vol. 95, p. 346, 442, 450.
Report of Admiralty Committee on Comparative Advantages afforded by
Ports in Channel for W. India Mails.
West India mails. Copy of the report of the committee appointed by
the Lords of the Admiralty to inquire as to the comparative
advantages afforded by different ports in the channel as ports for
the departure and arrival of the West India mails.
1840 (625) XLIV.253, 6 p.; PDF [ProQuest] http://books.google.com/books?id=KHJbAAAAQAAJ
[Oxford]
Journals of the House of Commons, vol. 95, p. 648, 669.
Contract by which Mails from W. India Islands are carried by Steam
Navigation.
West India mails contract. A copy of the contract whereby the mails
to the West India islands are to be carried by steam navigation.
1840 (369) XLIV.259, 10 p.; PDF [ProQuest] http://books.google.com/books?id=KHJbAAAAQAAJ
[Oxford]
Journals of the House of Commons, vol. 95, p. 365, 395, 414.
Instructions of Admiralty for Inquiry on Advantages of Ports for
Departure and Arrival of W. India Mails.
West India mails. Instructions of the Lords of the Admiralty, for
regulating an inquiry as to the advantages of different ports, for
departure and arrival of West India mails.
1840 (319) XLIV.269, 2 p.; PDF [ProQuest] http://books.google.com/books?id=KHJbAAAAQAAJ
[Oxford]
Journals of the House of Commons, vol. 95, p. 316, 358, 365.
Accounts of the periods of each Mail leaving London and Malta,
respectively, in 1839, and the time of its arrival at Falmouth,
Lisbon, Cadiz, Gibraltar, and Malta.
Journals of the House of Commons, vol. 95, p. 199, ordered to be
printed [but it was not].
Return of Sums paid to the French Government for the Conveyance of
the East India Mails.
Journals of the House of Commons, vol. 95, p. 339, 366, ordered to
be printed [but it was not].
Accounts of the gross and net Revenue of the Post Office for the
years ending 5th July 1839 and 5th July 1840; and for the months
ending 10 January 1839 and 10th January and 10 July 1840.
Journals of the House of Commons, vol. 95, p. 524, ordered to be
printed [but it was not].
Return showing the manner in which Postmasters are paid, Names of
Towns in which Post Offices have been built with public money, and
other Returns relating to the remuneration of Letter Carriers and
Mail Guards.
Journals of the House of Commons, vol. 95, p. 605, ordered to be
printed [but it was not].
Account of the Stamp Duties received on certain Proceedings in the
Courts of Law in Ireland, in 1839.
Account of the Stamp Duties received on certain Proceedings in the
Courts of Chancery and Exchequer in Ireland, in 1839.
Journals of the House of Commons, vol. 95, p. 65, presented.
Accounts of Arrears and Balances, Customs, Excise, Stamps, Taxes,
Post Office, Land Revenue.
Journals of the House of Commons, vol. 95, p. 201, presented.
Command Papers
Tables of Revenue, Population and Commerce of United Kingdom and
Dependencies and of some Foreign Countries, Part VIII., 1838.
Tables of the revenue, population, commerce, &c. of the United
Kingdom, and its dependencies. Part VIII. 1838. Compiled from
official returns.
1840 [275] XLIII.1, 436 p.; PDF [ProQuest]
(miscellaneous postal statistics)
Tables of Revenue, Population and Commerce of United Kingdom and
Dependencies, Part VIII. Colonies, 1837 (Supplement).
Tables of the revenue, population, commerce, &c. of the United
Kingdom, and its dependencies. Supplement to part VIII.
Colonies--1837 to 1839. Compiled from official returns.
1840 [281] XLIII.437, 286 p.; PDF [ProQuest]
Petitions, from Journals of the House of Commons, vol. 95
From the Parish of Bowden, Scotland, for a post office.
p. 80,
122.
From Mail contractors, for rescinding new regulations.
p. 334.