Lab
Library
Journal
Shop
Sign in
to keep
Share image
1
318
The Royal Mail: Its Curiosities and Romance
·
James Wilson Hyde
293
It
was
introduced
to
the
notice
of
the
public
at
the
time
of
the
establishment
of
the
penny
postage,
being
intended
to
supply
a
desideratum
in
this
respect,
that
the
cover
should
serve
the
combined
purposes
of
an
envelope
and
a
postage-stamp,
the
envelopes
being
good
for
a
postage
of
one
penny
or
twopence,
according
as
they
were
printed
in
black
or
blue.
Mulready,
a
member
of
the
Royal
Academy,
was
the
artist,
and
the
design
had
the
approval
of
the
Royal
Academicians,
so
that
it
did
not
go
forth
without
substantial
recommendations.
If
the
subjects
be
examined,
it
will
be
found
that
they
are
accurately
drawn,
ingeniously
worked
together,
and
apposite
in
their
references
to
the
beneficent
work
of
the
Post-office
Department.
Britannia
sending
forth
her
messengers
to
every
quarter
of
the
globe,
ships
upon
the
sea
with
sails
unfurled
ready
to
obey
her
instant
behests,
the
reindeer
as
the
emblem
of
speed
in
the
regions
of
snow,
intercourse
with
the
nations
of
the
East
and
of
the
West,
and
the
blessings
of
cheap
postage
in
its
social
aspects,
are
all
suitably
depicted.
Yet
the
whole
thing
fell
flat;
the
envelope
drew
down
upon
itself
scorn
and
ridicule,
and
it
had
to
be
quickly
withdrawn.
In
the
end,
it
was
necessary
to
provide
special
machinery
to
destroy
the
immense
quantities
of
the
envelope
which
had
been
prepared
for
issue.
It
is
amusing,
however,
to
read
the
contemptuous
and
very
funny
criticisms
which
were
showered
upon
the
artist
and
Mr
Rowland
Hill
by
the
newspapers
of
the
day,
in
one
of
which
the
following
remarks
appear:--
Marker
Marker
Fine marker
White-out
Fine white-out
Circle
Paint
Unmarker
Hand
Scalpel
Dice
Sieve
Purify
Undo
Redo
Start over
