Great Britain 6d (Embossed) With 2d Blue

It is not every day that I see these two stamps used together on a letter sheet, so I thought I might as well just buy it. I have also never come across a 'P' cancellation on an embossed stamp until now. I was told that this letter was for military use and the red cancellation is a regimental chop...

That is a beautiful cover! The embossed stamps were an early experiment in GB stamp production and were discontinued in 1856. Besides being expensive to manufacture, the stamps did not stick well to envelopes. The raised part of the stamp did not touch the envelope, leaving only a portion of the stamp stuck down. The stamps often fell off the letter in transit, causing complaints from postal staff and the public. The three embossed issues, Scott # 5,6, and 7 were the first high-value denomination GB stamps at one shilling, 10 pence, and 6 pence respectively. The estimated production number of each of these 3 stamps range from 1.5 million to 5.6 million. By contrast, the estimated number of Penny Blacks printed was more than 68 million, making the three embossed issues way more scarcer to find than the world's first adhesive postage stamp. The 6p issue was printed on paper watermarked with "VR" for "Victoria Regina" which is Latin for Queen Victoria. This use of the "VR" watermark is unique to Great Britain Scott #7, and was never used with any other stamp. Shown below is the watermark from my copy in my collection. The watermark came 4 ways: upright, inverted, reversed, or inverted and reversed. Thanks for sharing your cover today.

Linus

Are you sure the "P" is on the stamp ? Something does not look right with the cancel on the 2p stamp alignment with the cover ….

There is a C H Dedel mentioned in the Government Gazette, Potsdam, 26th March 1845.

It may / may not be of relevance. You'll need a good German translator.

Rod222, this letter was sent from London to Berlin indeed! I am not sure if it is the same dedel and who this guy really is. I need to research more.

Perf12, what's your suspicion on the 2p cancellation?

Not answering for P12, but I would suggest the bars of the Diamond 40 strike,
do not line up on the right side. (the bars also need looking at)
Warrants concern.

It would be nice to post a photo of the back too see if there are any markings.

I get what you guys mean about the bars, could it be the postmaster stuck evenly on the stamp (tilting from left to right with the chop) but ended heavily to the right, explaining the elongated right bars on the letter?

Perf12, here is the back...

CH Dedel is a hotelier who has something to do with Gefuhrte Hotel?

I Don't know how the "40" cancel was constucted.Was the central diamond with the 40
movable ? Did it have some play in it? 2 comparisons of the horizontal line through
the diamonds outer corners. It is possible the 2p stamp perhaps detached itself and was
pasted back out of line at one point in time.

I wonder if the letter sheet was distorted behind the 2d when the cancel was struck? It looks like different layers of paper right there.

Another thing is the German P in the oval cancel.The 6p is a thick stamp,there should of
been some trace of red on it.Perhaps the photo is not revealing it? Curious.
An example below:

I do see a tinge of red on the 6d...

It's possible.I suppose the cover is not in your possesion yet.If you will: you should post a clear pic when you recieve it...This way we can see things better.

Just passing by and know nothing about this subject but!

That sixpence at fist glance does not have an embossed look - it looks more like
a cutout pasted onto the paper.

Regards
Frank