Fine little 1843 wrapper sent within London. Four margin SG8 (PLATE 30) Tied by MX with a 4 (the rarest of the 12 numbers).

Sent to Joseph Soul at the Orphan Working School.

Soul was one of the unsung progressives of the Victorian era, involved in both educational reform and the abolition movement.

He features in the famous group portrait of the 1840 Anti Slavery Society Convention by Benjamin Robert Haydon which hangs in the National Portrait Gallery.

The Orphan Working School of which he was secretary for 38 years was originally founded by a group of 14 merchants and churchmen in 1758 in Hoxton for 20 boys and then 14 girls aged 6-9 who were not given any schooling but were trained up for work in manufacturing or service. It later expanded and moved to City Road (as per address) and then to Hampstead, and under Joseph Soul evolved into a more enlightened institution, providing proper school education for hundreds of children. As was the Victorian way it relied entirely on donations and charity for its continued existence.

CV for MX with No 4 on cover is £2800. A very nice example with added historical interest.