Page 11 - Delcampe Collections classiques EN-006

Stamps

service, then visiting the Post Office to obtain in Alexandria were once again sent back
postage to Alexandria. to the Galignani bookshop! The “public-pri-
Users found this very complicated and com- vate partnership” did not last long. Despite
plained about it. The ledgers of the Paris Waghorn’s regular visits to France reported in
postal council contain an amusing story on the press, his meetings with the French autho-
this subject. In October 1838, the postal ad- rities and his meetings with postal officials, his
ministration became aware of the difficulties name did not curry much favour in France. His
caused by compulsory passage through the agents, suspected of carrying mail on French
bookshop. It proposed that the post office territory, in breach of the postal monopoly,
collect duties on Waghorn’s behalf, applying were arrested in Marseilles or Boulogne and
the famous oval seal. Galignani did not want had to pay fines. Although he also had a repre-
to give up his “stamp”, so they had a similar sentative in Marseilles from December 1837,
one made for 15 francs. On 10 November, the he was not allowed to open the branch he had
postage stamp was available at the post of- announced in the Bordeaux newspapers. This
fice and the public could pay for Waghorn’s must have been vexing for someone who pre-
private service and frank their letters. Barely sented himself as the pioneer of the Egyptian
a fortnight later, the seal was withdrawn and overland!
users who did not have a correspondent

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Delcampe Magazine 11