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The Scottish mail — like the Irish did not seem to have a system of paying a late fee until 1840, so that the stamps here were only applied if the letter was received too late for despatch. However this type of stamp that was used for a Late Fee in England, represented the TOO LATE in Edinburgh, Scotland
It was in use in the Edinburgh Chief Office from 1828 to 1836 on letters posted too late for despatch (or for local delivery) on that same day. It was usually applied in Red ink.
This example on letter from Sir James Grant showing Edinburgh TOO LATE
May 6 1833 in a square frame applied in red ink. Another showing the same stamp is this one on a local Penny Post letter — identified by the had-stuck '1' and the fact that the address has no town, just 10 Duncan Street.
However, at this time, outside of Edinburgh other Scottish provincial towns used decorative frames, and can be identified by the particular shape of the frame. The earliest one of this type we have is this one, on an undated wrapper sent from Newburgh, addressed to Dundee. As there are no contents, the only way to date this particular item is by the Additional ½d postmark.
The three examples shown below all have variations in the frame. In the Ardrossan example, the envelope is clearly dated 1856, but Robson Lowe gives the dates of use of this postmark as 1809-1854. |
 Edinburgh 1844 |  Perth, 1845 |  Ardrossan, 1856 |
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