Article: Penny Black win gives William red letter day; Stamp bought for 264,000 times original price.(News)

Byline: By DAVID GREENWOOD

A HOTELIER yesterday snapped up one of the first stamped envelopes ever sent to a North Wales town.

Stamp collector William Alun Hughes forked out pounds 1,100 for the 165-year-old letter which was posted to a lawyer in Dolgellau and carried a rare Penny Black - the world's first postage stamp.

The envelope went under the hammer yesterday at London auction house Bonhams.

Mr Hughes, who took over Beddgelert's Tanronnen Hotel 25 years ago, successfully beat other enthusiasts with his telephone bid.

Interest was high because the envelope was given a Maltese cross - two red postmark cancellations.

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