Lot 210
Great Britain – Stamp Office
A Table of Stamps
Rare Books, Manuscripts, Maps & Photographs
Auction: 21 September 2023 at 10:00 BST
Description
London: Stamp-Office, 1795. Oblong folio, contemporary half calf with red morocco gilt label to upper cover, comprising 10 leaves (title and 9 numbered leaves), possibly lacking two initial (blank?) leaves, no records traced on the ESTC [ESTC N43331 lists what appears to be an earlier edition from 1791], covers rubbed, various notes in early hand to endpapers including an illegible gift inscription
Footnote
Note: A very rare item, no other copies traced. This volume lists various licenses, certificates and their costs, including the controversial ‘hair powder certificates’ costing £1.1.0. The Duty on Hair Powder Act was introduced in 1795, requiring every citizen who wished to use hair powder to buy a certificate from the stamp office costing one guinea per year. Those who wore hair powder without a certificate could be prosecuted, such as the Reverend Francis Barstow, who was fined £20 for his indiscretion.