Note 51 — Chapter V

The earliest historical notice that exists respecting stamps freeing letters through the post, dates as far back at 1653. In that year M. de Velayer, Maître des Requêtes in the French Court of Chancery, established an office close to the law courts, in pursuance of a Royal Decree of Louis XIV., authorising him to sell for two sous each, stamped slips of paper with the words printed on them, Port payé———— le———— jour du mois———— de l’an. The date of the privilege ceasing is not known; it was at M. de Velayer’s death. As regards modern postage stamps, Sir Rowland Hill, in 1838, gave the credit of them to Mr. Charles Knight; on the other hand, Dr. Gray, of the British Museum, claimed to have suggested them in 1834; and Mr. Charles Whiting, of Beauford House, Strand, in his evidence before the Postal Committee of 1838, stated that as early as 1830, he had proposed them to the Government for franking printed matter, and he exhibited several specimens to the Committee. Mr. Lewins, in Her Majesty’s Mail, does not take a correct view on this subject.