c. 1875 cover with violet Great North of Scotland Railway Paid Parcel label

c. 1875 opened out envelope sent from Mintlaw to Ellon with violet Great North of Scotland Railway Paid Parcel label with MINTLAW namestamp. Until 1883, parcels were the monopoly of the Railway Companies and other "common carriers". This meant that deliveries were uncoordinated and expensive. Urgent letters could sometimes be sent as parcels, as here, provided they were tied up with string. Scarce and most attractive cover.