Free Franks.

Free Franks were used by people who were allowed send letters free of charge in the post. These were usually Members of Parliament (M.P.'s). The letters should have contained parliamentary material, but this was not always the case. Government agencies and the military normally used the words O.H.M.S. (On His / Her Majesties Service) instead, but one "FREE" handstamp from the early 19th. century, used for this purpose, is shown below.

 

Free post for M.P.'s was introduced by Oliver Cromwell and the privilege continues right up to the present day (right). Until the mid 1700's the member wrote the words "Free" or "Frank", or signed their name in the bottom left-hand corner. Because of widespread abuse of the system, in 1764 the Post Office insisted that the complete address must be in the franker's hand, the envelope must be dated and the envelope must bear the stamp of the postal town of writing. In addition, the left-hand corner must contain the signature of the privileged sender. A date of 1764 is also given for the introduction of the "Free" postmark, however examples from our collection show that a "FREE" stamp was in use in Roscommon from at least 1739. A number of different stamp types were used up to 1840.

Right: Dáil Éireann and Oireachtas Éireann free-post marks (2009).

Further information and examples welcome. Please contact us.

Images not to scale.               

The following are our Co. Roscommon Free Franks.

 

Dated 22 March 1739. From Turrock to Dublin.

Black stamp "FREE" ? middle right?

Manuscript "Free / -----? French" at bottom left.

 

Dated 15 July 1746. From Clonlyon to Dublin.

Black stamp "FREE" over "ELPHIN" lower right.

Manuscript "Free Will Vesey" lower left.

 

Dated 23 May 1750. From Elphin to Dublin.

Black stamp "FREE" upper right. Albino "ELPHIN" lower left.

(Bishop of Elphin: Edward Synge).

 

Dated 01 June 1824. Roscommon to London.

Single ring with crown, FREE and date, at lower right. Good "ROSCOMMON 74" upper left.

Re-addressed to The Paymaster General, Whitehall (original addressed to Royal Hospital, Chelsea).

 

Dated 04 July 1826. Roscommon to Dublin.

Fancy "FREE" stamp with date, upper right. 1 penny additional charge in manuscript?

Signed "Lorton" (Lord Lorton) lower left.

 

Dated 11 December 1822. Roscommon to Dublin. (Front only).

Fancy "FREE" stamp with date, centre right. Clear "BOYLE 85" centre left.

Signed "Kingston" (Earl of Kingston) lower left.

 

Dated 13 March 1825. Roscommon to Carrickfergus. (Front only).

Fancy "FREE" stamp with date, centre right. Poor stamp of "BOYLE 85" just above.

Signed "Lorton" (Lord Lorton) lower left.

* Information  extracted from "Parliamentary Privileges" by Ralph Richardson, in "Stamp & Coin Mart" February 2009.

If you have any further information, or examples of Free Franks used in Roscommon, please contact us.

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