1787 SWEDISH KING GUSTAV III
ROYAL PROCLAMATION

Royal Decree from King Gustaf III concerning the selling and buying of arsenic and rat poison. The King announces that, due to accidents, no types of poison, such as arsenic and rat poison, can be sold by other than an Apothecary (pharmacist). Apothecaries need to keep arsenic under lock and key and hand it out personally. Further, Apothecaries need a prescription from a Doctor or Surgeon to sell arsenic. A paper has to be signed by both the buyer and the Apothecary. Arsenic should not be used to kill rats. Artists, craftsmen and manufacturers who may need arsenic in their work need to prove this and get approval from government officials. Apothecaries who break these laws will have to pay fifty riksdaler, if someone dies, the Apothecary will be put under church surveillance.

Contents in Swedish. Condition: Very Fine Black Print Broadside on single sheet, batonne laid paper, bifolium into four pages. Text on four pages. Handstamped with Albino Crown Postmark showing postal delivery through the Swedish Royal Crown Post to Löderup, Skäne, for public proclamation. Measures 153mm wide x 195mm tall folded.

King Gustaf III - Gustav III
House of Holstein-Gottorp
13 January 1746 – March 29, 1792
Reigned (1771 - 1792)

Svensk Kronopost - Swedish Royal Crown Post
with Handstamp Albino Crown Postmark

Post Detail:

 Albino Crown Postmark
 of the Royal Post

The Albino Crown (crown design in white rather than in black) Postal Handstamp indicates that this was to be sent through the Royal Swedish Crown Post. The text below likely indicates it was sent to a church in Löderup, in Skäne near Ystad, in the southeast of Sweden, where it was to be publicly proclaimed.

Offered by Berryhill & Sturgeon, Ltd.