1750 (April 19) – letter sent from Barbados to Bristol p. Capt. Thompson, landed in Ireland and showing the usage of an Irish SHIPP handstamp. The initial charge of 11 included (1d ship rate+ 4d inland single – 6d combined rate) re-rated to JN3 (4d London to Bristol, over 80 miles+ 11) and on the reverse a London bishop. The inland Irish rate of 4d would indicate that this handstamp was probably in use at Cork. One of only three usages of the SHIPP handstamp yet recorded.
The 1711 Act of June 9th (9 Anne c 10) instructed the master of the ship to hand inward letters over at the port of arrival, be paid one penny for each letter, or face a penalty for evasion.
- During the 18th century the Post Office issued the first “Shipp” / “Ship Letter” handstamps to postmasters at ports in Ireland to identify the letter as a ship letter and also the specific port of entry. This enabled the fee to be paid to the ships’ master and inland postage from port of entry to place of addressee to be calculated accurately .
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