Hunt & Son. Successors to Gibson. 1803.
Die No. 116 2nd recut. 52 complete. Excellent condition. The tax on cards at this time was a staggering two shillings and sixpence a pack! In 1765 the tax on cards had been one shilling a pack, proof of payment being inherent in the duty ace itself, with the tax amount, one shilling, being indicated on the wrapper. However after that date, to help pay for the incredibly expensive wars with France, the tax increases, always sixpence, occurred with such alarming frequency that to avoid the cost of having to print new wrappers and aces each time, the words, “add'l sixpence” were simply stamped on the existing ace as the increases became law. In 1776. 1789 and 1801 respectively. Not surprisingly some tried to avoid this tax by forging the ace, eventually, after much loss of revenue, this "criminal" act was made a capitol offence and one maker was hanged in 1803 Free postage for UK only