VERY RARE RED HANDSTRUCK "R.L.B./REGISTERED" MARK ON P.O. "R...

VERY RARE RED HANDSTRUCK "R.L.B./REGISTERED" MARK ON P.O. "ROWLAND HILL" RETURNED COVER; 5 Jan. 1865 OHMS "General Post Office./No.24" envelope (slight toning; flap tears closed neatly for display - printed "ROWLAND HILL, Secretary" message under flap) sent from London to Weedon (Northants.) with a very fine red oval "REGISTERED/LONDON" d.s. on the front along with a matching very fine and very rare "R.L.B./REGISTERED" mark in the 'stamp' position. Unusually, the Rowland Hill returned mail printed text - regarding the prepayment of mail to overseas - beneath the flap has been crossed through. We have only handled 3 examples of this RLB mark in the last 20 years, and they were all dated in 1863. Attractive Exhibition Item.Cross Reference: REGISTERED MAIL, ROWLAND HILL