1879 cover from London to LECHLADE (I had to look it up - a village in the Cotswolds) via SWINDON STATION

Scarce 1 1/2d inland franking with SG50/51 1/2d shield… impossible to make out it it’s plate 1 or 3 due to the postmark so we will assume it’s 3.

Sent to J Mitchell. A veritable Jack of many trades.

He was crowned the village’s first postmaster in 1867. He was also a carpenter, a grocer, an antique dealer… and later a shipping agent.

That’s him on the left of the second photo outside ‘Mitchell’s Post Office’ in 1895. And in the other pic his team of postal workers outside the same at 13 years later.

1879 London - LECHLADE via SWINDON STATION. Scarce franking SG50/51 1 1/2d