17th November 1854. PB to the IR

69, FLEET STREET ;

Nov. 17, 1854.

GENTLEMEN,

In consequence of the long use of the " one penny " Postage die, to an extent not originally anticipated, it has become weakened, so that the transfers proceeding from it wear out much faster than they did originally, as we have already explained to your Honble Board, when writing for permission to make the new die and the demand now required for the remainder of the year being large, we are inconvenienced in supplying them until plates from the new die are ready for press.

We shall therefore feel greatly obliged if your Honble Board will allow us to have 8 of the 14 reserved plates for immediate use and which we will replace by others from the new die when ready.

We have, &c., &c.

[Signed] PERKINS, BACON & Co.

The Honble the Commissioners

of Inland Revenue.

Source: Bacon Vol 2, p107.

Comment: This is a very interesting letter, as it shows just how close that PB were sailing to the wind. Less than a week after they had received acceptance from the IR of the new die, they are asking for some of the reserve plates. From Perkins point of view, the plates that went into reserve were wasted work. It would have been understandable for them to make the very first plates from the new die 2 to replace the old die 1 reserve plates and then put the reserve plates from the old die to work. This did not happen apart from reserve plates 15 and 16. However it played out, Perkins were in desperate need of fresh printing plates.

AP April 2015