cover 1841 (7 Jul.), the unique and extraordinary entire bearing the world's first three adhesive postage stamps, being 1840 1d. plate VI, OK, 2d. plate 1, IB and 1841 1d. plate VIII, JG, cancelled in black on entire dated 7 July 1841 from Thirlstane Castle to the Earl of Lauderdale at Dunbar and then redirected to Dunse; the adhesives with margins all round; also included is the companion cover dated 7 July, similarly addressed and redirected, bearing 1840 1d. plate VI, NK (which originally formed a vertical pair with OK on the other cover) and 1841 1d. plate VIII, FK, both stamps crossed by filing fold and NK cut-into at left. The world's first three colour franking and an unequalled exhibition item for the student of classic philately. B.P.A. Certificate (1996). Photos and see back cover