GB Triangular Letter 1856 + Pennystar

Hello everyone!

Lately I purchased this interesting letter.
Now I can´t find anything about this shape of letters from GB in the internet.
I just saw a few from Russia.
Is this qiet common or rare?!

If someone can help me with some informations or a link would be great.

What are your thoughts about this piece?

It was common to write the letter and fold it. That was cheaper than putting it in an envelope and increase the weight. So, there is nothing to stop anyone from folding it this way.

I have my doubt about the penny black. It looks odd. Also, it was taken out of circulation 15 years before 1856.
The damage at the top left appears to be from a seal. This item appears to have been re-used. that may explain why it was folded this way.

Looking at it again, it is so obvious why the stamp looks funny. There were no perforated Penny Blacks. It is a Penny Red that has been discoloured through exposure. Or it is the picture. But still, I have some reservations. The cancellation is for Bridgewater, Somerset.

Thanks for the fast reply NSK!
I never saw this before. :)


Im sorry, the colours of my scan are not that good.
The stamp is dark red on very blued paper.
I should adjust this...

It is a first for me too.

Colours are always an issue with scans and photographs. Then there is the issue with the monitor of the user, the eyes, and finally the brain.

The reason for my doubt is that the stamp looks to neat for a stamp that has been sticking out. Also, I am not sure it is in any way tied to the entire. It appears to line up with two of the black spots to the left, but the third does not fit the arched line you would expect. At the right it does not look like it. Still, the time fits.

The vague circular cancellations below those for Bath are for Bridgewater, Somerset. And could the address be in Wells, Somerset?

Sent from Marlborough 13 MR 1856 to Bath, received 14 MR, redirected to Wells, maybe Bridgewater too. Messy. Does the 1d stamp belong on this item? It doesn't look tied to me.

Penny reds would go almost black in the presence of Sulphur. Impure and inefficient burning of Town Gas could provide the sulphurous atmosphere as could poor quality coal. Though in 1856 wells probably got it's coal from South Wales where most of the coal was the highest quality Anthracite giving off containing very little if any sulphur.

More likely from the Somerset coalfield in Wells.

Interestingly we have the Postmark BRIDGEWATER
(In beautiful Somerset)
In 1877, the "E" absconded.
Felt hemmed in by the consonants?
Now BRIDGWATER

I wondered why the E was there.

I might say unusual rather than rare, but I am surprised this triangular folding was not commonly used. The reason is that this kind of folding if done correctly will result in a very secure letter since the last fold is tucked deeply inside the letter making the use of sealing wax to hold it together almost unnecessary. Rectangular folding is simpler but it results in a somewhat less secure letter that can come unfolded more easily without sealing wax.