Stamps and Their Stories Week 6 - Printable Version

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Stamps and Their Stories Week 6 - Janet MacD - 21-10-2025

Yesterday Hugh MacDonald delivered “500 Years of Postal History” to the group - illustrated with actual physical covers from 1510 to 2025. He included a brief visit to Old Assyria to see a clay letter and envelope from about 1900 BCE. To be clear, he showed a photo, not the actual artifact.   

The group asked lots of questions. Two members are experienced collectors with a good understanding of postmarks and the evolution of the postal system. At the end of the presentation, Hugh handed out a selection of covers and invited participants to take something that appealed to them and examine it using the Four C’s: Covers, Cancels, Context, and Curiosity.

Next week - “Collecting Countries - Germany” with Ted Luhtala.

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RE: Stamps and Their Stories Week 6 - Hugh - 22-10-2025

Thanks ... had a great tine. It was a very engaged group. Clearly, they are enjoying themselves every week. 

The 1510 cover is one of my favorites ... here's a quick overview;

It's official mail ... addressed from the governor of Narni to the governor of Todi. Both cities are in Umbria just under 50KM apart. At the time it was written both cities had been annexed by the Papal States. Narni, by the way, gave its name to Narnia the world created by C.S. Lewis (The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe). He stayed there one summer. 

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Anyway, in a very formal 16th C Italian, the cover reads, 'Al molto mag.coSr. Como frello / honor.de il Sr. Governatore di Todi / In Todi". That is, 'To the very important gentleman, with friendship, the honourable governor of Todi ... in Todi". 

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As official correspondence it would have been carried to Todi by a messenger. It has a couple of interesting features. First, there is a long paper seal ... that is still largely intact. A simple form of letterlocking was used. The wide end of the seal was glued to the back of the letter and the short, pointy end was inserted inside and attached to the letter. 

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The text of the letter deals with a 'criminal' matter. Narni is holding a man who allegedly has a family in both cities. In other words, the crime is bigamy.

Cheers, Hugh

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