Crimean War letter to Exeter discovered

A rare Exeter envelope sent to the city by an officer serving in the Crimean War has been uncovered by stamp and postal history specialists Scotia Philately Ltd.

The letter is addressed to Mrs W. D. Francis, 41 St Bartholomew Yard, Exeter, and is written by her husband, a British officer serving with the Turkish contingent at Pera on the European side of the Bosphorus in Turkey.

It is franked with three 1d red-brown British stamps which are cancelled by the very rare “O*O” postmark which was only used on mail from Crimea.

The letter is today worth £550. The key to the value lies in the use of the postmark, for most letters from the Crimea were cancelled with London postmarks and are worth around £50!

The letter was sent on 24 July 1856 and arrived in Exeter on 16 August.

Scotia Philately Ltd offer free advice on anything relating to collections of stamps, old letters or postcards and experts will be at the Buckerell Lodge Hotel in Exeter on Wednesday 23 July.