Rating An 1838 Cover, Trieste To Berwick

Hi,

I could use some help figuring out the rate on an 1838 cover from Trieste to Berwick. The cover left Trieste on 10 April 1838, passed through London on 20 April 1838 and was delivered up to Berwick via their penny post. Initially rated at 2/5, that is crossed out and increased 1d to 2/6, which I'll assume is the PP cost.

Working backwards, I make it 341 miles from London to Berwick, as per Robertson, "GB Post Roads, Post Towns and Postal Rates", the rate for distances between 300 & 400 mile being 1/1. So, the portion of the trip from London to Berwick was 1sh & 1d. That leaves 1/4 for the portion of the trip from the continent.

For the rate from Trieste to London, I am looking at Robinson, "for Port & Carriage" and I am seeing a rate of 1/8 via Germany or 1/7 via France, either of which puts me way over the 2/5 or 2/6 written on the front.

There is a red crown mark in the upper let and I can't make out any writing in the stamp, but I am lead to beleve it is an inspector's mark. There is also a manuscript "47"in the upper left.

Could anyone help me better understand this cover?

Thanks,

Larry

Not too sure of the weights/rates but it seems the cover was originally rated at 2/5 then had that canceled by inspector who rated it as 2/6. In my opinion the left hand side states 2/7 (not 47) and would be the additional penny for the Berwick Penny Post delivery. Trieste/ Aachen/ Ostende/ London would be the obvious route, I would say.

My guess is that the rate 2/6 was calculated as:
(Act, 1 Victoria, cap 34, effective 1 Aug 1837)

+ 1/7 Trieste - London
+ 1/1 London - Berwick
- 2d reduction on inland letters on foreign letters (for any place exceeding 20 miles from London)

Then as already said an additional 1d for the penny post.

The letter was sent to Broadmeadows, 6 miles far from Berwick according to the below map:

Thanks for that.

What are you using as a source for period maps, if I might ask?

The maps can be found here:

http://maps.nls.uk/

It's an incredible resource !

Aryeh,

Thanks for the link. Not sure yet how to find anything, but looks very interesting and useful.

Thought I'd share a link with you, in return, though perhaps you have it. But, very useful...

http://www.british-history.ac.uk/to...ict/scotland

All best,

Larry