Issue Date – 18 August 2009
The earliest known surviving posting slot was placed in the wall of Wakefield Post Office in 1809. Britain’s first roadside pillar boxes appeared in the early 1850s but in more remote and less populated areas, a cheaper and more practical alternative was needed, resulting in the development of smaller post boxes. Initially, they were installed in walls, buildings or brick pillars: later designs were also attached to lamp posts.
To celebrate this anniversary Royal Mail is releasing a Miniature Sheet of four stamps featuring iconic wall mounted post boxes.
Royal Mail is also producing a Presentation Pack, First Day Cover, Stamp Cards, Generic Sheet and Press Sheet to accompany the Post Boxes Miniature Sheet stamp issue.
Miniature Sheet
The Miniature features 4 iconic wall mounted post boxes that continue to remain in use.
1st Class – George V Type B Wall Box
This example with the royal cipher of George V was cast by W T Allen & Co Ltd, London, between 1933-36, and is from Cookham Rise near Maidenhead.
56p – Edward VII Ludlow Box
Introduced in 1887 this type of standardized box derives its name from the foundry where many of them were made. This example is from Bodiam, East Sussex.
81p – Victorian Lamp Box
The lamp box could also be attached to lamp post or other such structure. This example is from Hythe in Kent and was installed in 1896.
90p – Elizabeth II Type A Wall Box
This Elizabeth II Wall box is located in Slaithwaite near Huddersfield and would have been made between 1962 and 1963.
First Day Cover
Personally addressed to you and date-marked to ensure authenticity, the First Day Cover bears the Miniature Sheet. Also included is a filler card that features information about Post Boxes by Martin Robinson of the Letter Box Study Group.
Other First Day Covers >
Presentation Pack
The fully illustrated Presentation Pack is packed with information about different types of Post Boxes and is written by Martin Robinson from the Letter Box Study Group who explains how post boxes have evolved over the last two hundred years and includes the Miniature Sheet.
Other Presentation Packs >
Stamp Cards
There are five Stamp Cards in this set showing enlarged versions of the Post Boxes stamps and the Miniature Sheet.
Other Stamp Cards >
Generic Sheet
Royal Mail is also producing a stunning generic stamp sheet to support this issue. The generic sheet will contain 20 First Class Post Boxes stamps together with labels featuring archive photography of Post Boxes.
Treasures of the Archive Prestige Stamp Book
Discover some of the amazing artefacts held in trust for the nation by the British Postal Museum and Archive. The Prestige Stamp Book is written by Douglas Muir, Curator of the British Postal Museum and Archive and includes a stamp pane featuring all four of the Post Box stamps. The book contains four exclusive panes unavailable anywhere else.
Find out more about the British Postal Museum and Archive >
