As reported by the British Philatelic Bulletin newsletter, the Bath Postal Museum, housed under the City of Bath Post Office has displays of original artefacts and objects that are excellently presented and captioned. In the Room of Firsts, it documents big moments in world postal history where Bath played a major role. One display reveals the personal story behind the famous occasion of the first stamp ever posted - the Penny Black in 1840. The museum records that it was sent by Bath postmaster Thomas Moore Musgrave's daughter Ann on 2 May, four days before the official issue date. Research showed that the letter went to the Collyer family in Peckham, South London. And on display nearby us one of only three surviving Two Penny Mulready envelopes used on the first day of issue, 6 May 1840, believed to be sent by Ann Musgrave. Also in the museum is the only surviving contract signed between Bath postmaster Ralph Allen and the Post Office in 1727, granting permission for Allen to create and run the network of cross-country postal roads that did not pass through London. Previously, all long-distance post went via the capital and was charged according to mileage covered which was an inefficient and expensive way of doing things.
Bath Postal Museum: 27 Northgate Street, (on the corner of Green St.) Bath, BA1 1AJ / Opening Times: 11.00am - 5.00pm / Monday to Saturday (11.00 am - 4.30pm in winter) / Last Entry: 4.30pm. (4.00pm in winter)
Credit: British Philatelic Bulletin Vol. 49 No. 11 July 2012
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