Description
Franking Signature ‘W free Wilberforce’, in the centre of an address panel entirely in his hand, thus allowing free postage on a letter, addressed to Charles Broadley, Hull. 3 x 5 inches, Free postmark. London, 31 October 1795. William Wilberforce (1759-1833), philanthropist and slavery abolitionist, had the M.P.’s privilege of signing franks for free postage. The unusual, but appropriate, signature, ‘W free Wilberforce’, indicates that the signature was for franking purpose only, and could therefore not be removed and used for a fraudulent purpose.