Correspondence of H. Berthold

Administrative / Biographical History

In 1831, Henry Berthold published "Berthold’s Political Handkerchief" – a radical publication printed on linen.

In 1815 a 4d stamp duty was imposed on British newspapers. A number of radical publishers resisted the newspaper tax, printing political "pamphlets" aimed at working-class readers; William Cobbett’s weekly "Political Register" was sold for 2d. Publishers of the unstamped could be imprisoned – Richard Carlile, proprietor of the "Republican", was sentenced to three months in Dorchester Gaol and fined £1,500.

The newspaper stamp was abolished in 1855.