Envelope

This pre-paid penny post envelope, dated 1840, was known as a Mulready after the artist William Mulready who designed the illustration printed on the envelope face. The envelope is addressed to H Graves of 6 Pall Mall. Mulready's design represents Britannia sending mail to countries throughout the British Empire including Asia and the Americas. Mulready pre-gummed and pre-paid envelopes were first issued in May 1840 as part of the postal reforms that year that introduced the universal penny post regardless of the distance to be travelled.

The elaborate design of the Mulready's was effectively a frank to prove that postage had been pre-paid but they proved unpopular with the public who preferred to use postage stamps. Within two months the Mulreadys were withdrawn from circulation and stocks destroyed.