When Robert Brydone introduced his circular delivery service in 1865 and delivered circulars within the boundaries of Edinburgh and Leith for a farthing each, he was developing the idea of cheap commercial mail which had been started by William Dockwra in London in 1683.
In this book, the author tells the history of Brydone’s service, a branch of which had opened up in London, when the Post Office, as it had in the case of Dockwra, took successful legal action to close down the activities of the Company. However the founders of the Circular Delivery Companies had the ultimate satisfaction of knowing that their enterprise resulted in the introduction in 1870 of a national circular delivery at the reduced rate of a half-penny for every two ounces.
A well written and fascinating study of the story behind these stamps. Long out of print.