Miniature letter | Thought to be the smallest known letter from 16th century England

Miniature letter--William Hill

Autograph letter signed, to John Horsmonden

referring to an order for scythes and a payment of £20, 1 page, 8vo (196 x 140mm), 16 August 1556, originally folded to a 40x40mm square with integral autograph address panel ("To John Horsmonden of Gouders yn the shyr of Kynte by thys dd with spede, Sythe Smyth"), folds, seal tears with loss of about 8 letters

Said to be the smallest known 16th-century letter (1.5 x 1.5 inches). A full transcript is in Philip Beale, 'England's Mail'.

PROVENANCE:

Spink, London, 26 October 2006, lot 42